lasagna – Jellybeans in the City

Come home to delicious homey flavors at House of Lasagna, Katipunan

Find yourself needing a little bit of comfort lately?

How about some good ole’ comfort food, the kind that envelops you in feelings of warmth and familiarity, just like coming home?

Chances are, you won’t have to travel far to treat yourself to delicious comfort food, thanks to House of Lasagna.

Since 2009, House of Lasagna has been serving up these homey flavors, starting from the time when founder Chef Erick Congmon expanded the reach of his homemade creations beyond his family and friends by opening a hole-in-the-wall outlet in J. Abad Santos in San Juan. Today, House of Lasagna has presence in three cities in the metro and one in Lipa, Batangas.

Together with my fellow foodies, I visited House of Lasagna’s main branch along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City to sample some of its celebrated comfort food.

These included:

Truffle Mushroom Lasagna (Php350 single | Php1,240 half tray | Php2,440 whole tray). Of course, our meal included one of House of Lasagna’s namesake dishes. This rich creation is composed of al dente lasagna noodles layered with rich creamy sauce made with shiitake mushrooms and white truffle. A welcome variation of the classic lasagna most of us are familiar with!

Southern Fried Chicken Skin (Php200 single | Php380 party). One of Chef Congmon’s family recipes, this crunchy and crave-worthy appetizer consists of seasoned chicken skin, deep-fried to a delicious golden brown and served with a side of vinegar dip.

Lemon Pepper Flavored Southern Fried Chicken (Php329/6pcs | Php649/12pcs | Php999). Flavorful wing pieces that are crispy and juicy to the bite but with a bit of lemony zing that will make this dish truly memorable

Classic Margherita (Php599). One of House of Lasagna’s stone-baked pizzas, this Neapolitan pizza is made with tomatoes, mozarella cheese and fresh basil. Simple enough when it comes to ingredients but it’s big on flavor and texture thanks to its crispy edges and bottom.

Frozen Brazo Vanilla (Php750 for 8x8x2in tray | Php1,050 for 8x12x2in tray). The classic Brazo de Mercedes dessert gets a makeover, adding a graham cracker crust and a layer of vanilla ice cream to the original custard filling. A decadent treat for dessert lovers!

Ultimate Ube Halaya (Php820 for 6in round | Php1,590 for 9in round). Another homegrown dessert gets upgraded into a decadent pastry which consists of moist ube-flavored sponge cake, a filling made of real ube halaya (jam made of purple yam) and covered with white chocolate truffle frosting.

With such delectable comfort food to be had, you won’t give in to the blues, would you?

Drop by House of Lasagna to treat yourself to its homey goodness! Its branches are located at:

240 Aguirre Ave. BF Homes Paranaque, Paranaque City
218 Katipunan Ave, Project 4, , Quezon City, Metro Manila, Quezon City
3/F Dela Rosa Carpark 2 Bldg., Dela Rosa St. , Brgy. San Lorenzo Legaspi Village Makati, Makati
Ground floor, SM City Lipa Batangas, , Lipa, Batangas

You may also order online through its website, which covers delivery in Metro Manila, Batangas (Lipa, Tanauan, Padre Garcia, Rosario,Cuenca, San Jose, Mataas na Kahoy, Malvar, Sto. Tomas), Cavite (Kawit, Imus, Bacoor), Laguna ( Biñan and San Pedro) and Rizal (Cainta, Taytay, Antipolo, Angono and Binangonan). It accepts payments via GCash, Visa and Mastercard.

To keep updated of its latest promos and offers, follow House of Lasagna on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food-tasting held by this restaurant wherein food items were served at no cost to the attendees to facilitate honest feedback.

Leave the cooking up to ALPHA’s Kitchen Home Delivery

Sure, momshies, we might have just a wee bit more free time nowadays. It’s been three-and-a-half months since our lives were upended by the pandemic and many of us found ourselves stuck at home. Some even discovered a talent for cooking as I have, cooking up a storm for the fam’s meals.

But cooking up a storm for every meal can be tiring, right?

I sometimes wish that I can leave the whole menu planning and food preparation to someone else.

Fortunately, I can have the folks over at ALPHA’s Kitchen Home Delivery take care of all of that for me.

The dish on this new entrant in the local food business is that it began as the home service massage company ALPHA Massage & Wellness Therapy.

With their original business severely affected by the quarantines and rules on physical distancing arising from the pandemic, the owners landed upon a great way to pivot for the New Normal: their massage therapists turned to cooking!

Curious on what delicious delights they came up with? Well, here’s a sampling:

Lasagna. Al dente lasagna noodles layered with beefy, slightly herby tomato sauce and thick cheesy bechamel. A hit with my little boy!

Crispy Bagnet Kare Kare. Crrrrrrunchy oven-baked bagnet pieces and crisp veggies in a rich peanut sauce.

Bicol Express. Tender pork cubes cooked in creamy coconut milk and chilis make for a hearty viand with a bit of a kick.

Spicy Salmon Pesto. Flavorful salmon flakes tossed in pesto sauce along with spaghetti noodles. A little too spicy for me but would appeal to those who like their pasta hawt!

Leche Flan. The classic Pinoy version of creme caramel, this is creamy, milky-sweet and smooth on the tongue.

Maja Blanca. The traditional coconut pudding topped with latik (caramelized coconut creme).

These delish dishes come in affordable yet hearty servings – medium (serves two to three people), family (serves six to seven people) and party (serves twelve to fifteen) – that will surely satisfy hungry tummies!

Chicken or Pork Dishes:

Medium: Php299
Family: Php699
Party: Php1,499

Beef or Seafood:

Medium: Php349
Family: Php799
Party: Php1,799

Dessert:

Medium: Php249
Family: Php499
Party: Php999

You can also try the Famous Bundle – five medium tubs – for just Php999.

To have these tasty viands delivered right to your doorstep, send your name, address, contact number and food orders to Alpha Kitchen Home Delivery on Facebook or Instagram, or call +63 906 5955707 (delivery costs shouldered by buyer). Payments via cash on delivery, GCash or online bank transfer are accepted.

So momshies, now you know how you can whip up a satisfying meal for the fam without having to slave all day in the kitchen!

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

The Jelly List: Food Deliveries for Your Party at Home

Just because we’re quarantined at home doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate, right?

After all, celebrating important occasions and significant milestones helps us in staying sane in these extraordinary times. We and the people around us need a little break every now and then from the somewhat monotonous routines we’ve established since the quarantine was implemented.

What better way to celebrate than to have a party? And what kind of party can it be without lots and lots of delicious food?

Luckily, you won’t have to sweat it out in the kitchen to come up with delicious party fare. With a few taps on your mobile, you can have your party food delivered to your doorstep for you and your family (or housemates) to enjoy.

Check out these yummy delights that can fuel your house party fun!

Grazing Box from Platterea Luna

With Platterea Luna’s stylishly assembled grazing boxes, there’s no need to trouble yourself in sourcing the elements for an elegant charcuterie experience at home. Each box is filled with a well-curated selection of meats, cheeses and accoutrements, perfect for grazing while catching up with friends.

To get your hands on a lovely Platterea Luna grazing box, course your order through Platterea Luna’s Facebook page or Instagram account, or call +63 977 8211591.

Hidden gem of Italian Cuisine: Cucina di Francesco, Libis

When you think about food places in the Libis area, chances are this Italian restaurant hidden away from the busier sections of the metro has escaped your notice.

Cucina di Francesco got its name from the name Francesco Forgione, the name that Saint Pio of Petrelcina, more affectionately known to devotees as Padre Pio, was born with.

Incidentally, the restaurant is located in the same compound as St. Pio Chapel, so I would imagine families fresh from Sunday mass coming in for lunch.

In this instance, however, I took my fam here on the way to our weekend staycation.

From outside, the restaurant presents a comfortable, homey and welcoming facade.

Inside, the place is bright and cheery, with large windows letting in lots of natural light and large hand-painted murals giving the premises an eclectic vibe. There are more seats to dine in on the second floor, while the third floor is mainly used for events.

I booked our table the night before via Zomato. We were a few minutes late but I called the resto to apprise them of our arrival time so our table was waiting for us when we arrived.

My daughter #ExhibitA, who’s trying to eat healthy, requested for a salad so we ordered a Ceasar Salad (Php180). The focaccia croutons, fresh microgreens and rough-chopped walnuts delectably add to the taste and texture of this classic dish.

Our little boy #ExhibitB, on the other hand, is a well-known pizza monster. We got him a Tre Formaggi (Php350) whose lethal combination of bleu cheese, emmenthal and mozzarella on top of creamy bechamel got my baby reaching for slice after slice.

Hubby got himself a Pasta Puttanesca (Php195). The sauce made from olives, anchovids and capers in fresh tomato sauce makes this a tasty pasta dish. (Hubby liked it well enough but insists that his mom’s version tastes better.)

We split orders of Lasagna al Forno (Php260), a meaty baked lasagna with bechamel cheese sauce (which I found a bit dry) and Italian Beef Stew (Php485), a dish made of beef chunks, Italian sausage and vegetables braised in tomato wine sauce and served with parsley rice.

All in all, I wouldn’t mind another visit to Cucina di Francisco and checking out more of its Italian viands. The place certainly is charming and even has free WiFi! Plus, the wait staff are also friendly and accommodating.

It’s quite near my home and is easily accessible. Since it is a free-standing resto that shares a sizeable multi-level parking lot with the church, I wouldn’t have to stress myself in looking for a parking space as opposed to the likely scenario if I were to visit a mall-based eatery during mealtimes.

It also employs persons with disability, such as those in the autism spectrum. This is an advocacy near and dear to my heart, being a parent to a child with special needs myself.

For those who are artistically inclined, Cucina di Francesco also serves as a venue for art and crafts workshops on weekends in partnership with Maartsy such as Plush Keychain Making and Acrylic Flower Jewelry Making in January 26 and Mandala Coffee Painting and Doodle Art with Lettering on January 27. For inquiries, call +63 2 9175861785.

Cucina di Francisco is located at RER Compound (St. Pio Chapel), 188 E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, Bagumbayan, Libis, Quezon City, open daily Tuesdays to Thursdays from 8am to 8pm and Fridays to Sundays from 8am to 9pm. For reservations, call +63 2 5349935 or book your table via Zomato like I did. 🙂

Here’s some trivia for you: Did you know that puttanesca translates to “in the style of a whore” in Italian? While some food pundits would attribute the name to seedier origins, some food historians date the sauce back to the 1950s when Sandro Penti of Rancio Fellona were requested by hungry late-night patrons to “Facci una puttanata qualisiasi” or “Throw together whatever.” Which was what the good Penti did with what he had at the time: tomatoes, olives and capers. The rest is history. More on that here.

Check out my reviews of other Italian restaurants:

Carbo-loading at House of Lasagna, SM Megamall

I decided to try a new restaurant reservation app that comes with discounts. After braving the crowds and lugging the books I bought at the National Bookstore #BookBingeBazaar at the Megatrade Hall, I was in the mood for some carbo-loading and chance to rest my feet.

I chose to book a table (all by my lonesome) at House of Lasagna because I love lasagna (it’s among the few popular pasta dishes that my mom has not been able to master so I was deprived of it when I was young), and it offers a 20% bill discount right around lunchtime.

This resto is located at the lower ground floor of SM Megamall Building A, quite near the foodcourt. The place may seem small but it can seat around forty people or so. The mall’s airconditioning is not as strong here so I opted to sit at one of the outer tables, which has a couch that is too low to eat comfortably from the table but this location did afford me some good lighting to take #foodporn pics. (And really, which one is more important, hmm?)

I ordered its best-selling Beef Lasagna (Php295) served piping hot from the oven with some freshly toasted garlic bread on the side, and a plate of Southern Fried Calamari (Php220).

The beef lasagna has a creamy and cheesy bechamel sauce that frames the al dente cooked noodles and savory meat sauce. It does have a strong herby oregano taste which sometimes overpowers the cheese (not always a good thing for a cheese lover like me).

The calamari, on the other hand, is has the right blend of tenderness and firmness that shows it was properly cooked. I liked the blend of spices and the texture of its coating: it’s not too bready and has a peppery taste.

The lasagna is a bit rich and heavy on the stomach so I took half of my order to go.

I had trouble getting the wait staff’s attention for water refill and bill out requests but I don’t mind that too much.

With the discount, my bill came out at Php412, a bit steep for a single person but worth it if the orders were for sharing.