The metro seems to be in the midst of a mango mania with mango desserts and drinks (at last!) taking center stage.
And why shouldn’t they?
The unofficial national fruit is known for its succulent and juicy sweetness, and our homegrown mangoes are among the best globally.
It’s therefore no surprise, that after lunch at Il Terrazzo with my friends, I veered away from my original quest to get myself a cup of healthy lemon juice from a nearby stall and instead ran down to the Miguelito’s Hyped Mangoes stall.
For one thing, Papa Piolo (or at least, a tarpaulin-mounted likeness of him) was there beckoning me with his limpid eyes and his sweet smile, promising me the health benefits of mangoes, which are a source of:
Vitamin C to boost the immune system
Vitamin A to improve vision
Healthy probiotic fiber
Potassium and Magnesium
Also, these mango offerings are also quite affordable. My chosen dessert, a Mango Supreme, is 16 ounces of soft-serve mango ice cream, topped with chopped mango and mango syrup, all for only Php65!
Needless to say, I gave in to this sweet temptation. And giving in to temptation has never been so rewarding!
This Miguelito’s Hyped Mangoes stall is located at Il Terrazzo – 305 Tomas Morato Ave. cor. Scout Madriñan St., South Triangle, Quezon City.
Other branches are located in:
Mandaluyong: Starmall EDSA-Shaw Boulevard, SM Hupermarket Bagong Silang,
Taguig: Market! Market!, SM Hypermarket FTI
Marikina: Ayala Malls Marikina
Makati: Alphaland Southgate Mall, SM Hypermarket Makati
Manila: University Mall, Harrison Plaza, SM City San Lazaro, Manila Ocean Park
Quezon City: Fisher Mall, SM Hypermarket Quirino Highway, Robinsons Novaliches
After eating our fill of Szechuan seafood earlier, what else could my foodie friends and I be looking for?
Dessert, of course!
And what better dessert for that particular day than one that features our favorite fruits?
So off we went to the recently opened Hui Lau Shan branch in SM North EDSA’s The Block, where we set about getting out dessert drinks.
Hui Lau Shan is actually a Hong Kong-based brand which incorporates Philippine carabao mangoes from Guimaras in most its drinks and desserts.
And who can blame Hui Lau Shan for this? Our homegrown mangoes really are unbeatable when it comes to sweetness and succulent texture.
One can say that these Philippine-grown fruits has helped catapult Hui Lau Shan to fame in the 1990s, being the key ingredient in the brand’s breakthrough Mango Sago which became a hit in Hong Kong.
Today, Hui Lau Shan has brought this delicacy back home with six stores already in operation in Metro Manila.
And at this particular store in SM North EDSA, my foodie friends and I indulged our thirst and craving for sweets with these signature dessert drinks that feature mango and coconut:
Mango & Coconut Juice with Mango Jelly (Php120 for 18oz | Php130 for 22oz)
Mango & Coconut Juice with Red Bean (Php110 for 18oz | Php120 for 22oz)
Mango & Coconut Juice with Sago (Php110 for 18oz | Php120 for 22oz)
In these beverages, the coconut milk serves to further highlight the flavor of the mangoes. The sinkers such as the mango jelly, red bean and sago all add texture and a different dimension of taste to the drinks.
Hui Lau Shan also recently introduced its Cheesy Milk series: three fruit flavors – mango, avocado and watermelon – topped with a generous layer of the store’s original cheesy milk, each at Php140.
I already tasted the Mango Cheesy Milk at Hui Lau Shan’s Greenhills store, and the Avocado Cheesy Milk is (sadly!) unavailable at this store, so that left the Watermelon Cheesy Milk.
I found this drink refreshing but it still doesn’t beat the sweetness of the mango variant.
Still, I’m glad I was able to sate my craving for sweets with my foodie buddies at Hui Lau Shan. On my next visit, I hope I finally get to taste the Avocado Cheesy Milk!
Thanks to Kian of Kainventures for sharing his GCs with me during this adventure!
This Hui Lau Shan branch is located at Ground Floor, The Block, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City.
Other branches are located at:
Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City
Mega Atrium, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
When it opened its first branches in the metro a few months ago, Hui Lau Shan made waves as the go-to place for mango-based treats.
And why wouldn’t it?
Especially for dessert lovers, Hui Lau Shan’s imaginative creations featuring the Philippines’ unofficial national fruit are just the ticket to soothe their sweet tooth.
But why would a Hong Kong brand such a be so associated with our homegrown mangoes? Well, Hui Lau Shan shot to fame in its home country with its Mango Sago which made use of mangoes from Guimaras.
Now, with four branches already established in the metro and a new one opening soon, Hui Lau Shan has introduced another yummy innovation which rides on the cheesy drinks trend.
I’ve recently sampled one of these concoctions when I accompanied my fellow foodie friend Nina to Hui Lau Shan’s newly-opened Greenhills branch.
There, amidst the happy yellow decor and the upbeat crowd enjoying or waiting for their drinks and sweet snacks, I had my first taste of the Mango with Cheesy Milk (Php140).
Served with a smile in Hui Lau Shan’s signature sippy cup, the resto’s own recipe of cream, cheese and milk add a rich and creamy dimension to the mango-based beverage. It was a tasty and refreshing treat, one of the highlight of that sweltering-hot afternoon.
With such a yummy treat and more in its arsenal of flavors, Hui Lau Shan is sure to bring a Big Smile Everyday to dessert lovers.
In my future visits, I would love to try out another drink from the cheesy milk series that features my other favorite fruit: the Avocado with Cheesy Milk.
Many thanks to Nina of TakawTikim.net for sharing her GC!
This Hui Lau Shan branch is located at Second Floor, Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan.
Other branches are located at:
Mega Atrium, SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Ground Floor, The Block, SM North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
For a coffee lover like me, that morning cuppa signals the start of a new day, and that mug in the afternoon is all I need to pick me up from the post-lunch slump.
I also look forward to trying out new brews and coffee concoctions. It’s actually amazing how coffee is versatile enough to be mixed and matched with new ingredients to come up with an exciting new beverage.
Last night, together with my fellow foodies, I trooped over to Caffe Freddo in Bonifacio High Street to find out what the cafe has been brewing as part of its Philippine Independence Day offering.
The new Ube Freddo (Php150) localizes Caffe Freddo’s coffee experience by adding the very Pinoy flavor of ube (purple yam) to the Freddo, the cafe’s signature iced coffee drink which contains a double shot of espresso and sweetened frothed milk. The resulting purple concoction makes for a pretty and Instagrammable drink. It joins the cafe’s roster of imaginative Freddo flavors which already include Mocha, Chai, Matcha and Coco starting June 12.
Along with the Ube Freddo, we also got a taste of the cafe’s carefully curated Modern European brunch menu which included:
Appetizers
Crunchy Calamari (Php240). Crispy battered squid rings served with basil and lime mayo.
Spring Rolls (Php260). Shrimp and corn-filled spring rolls served with coriander tomato dip.
Dried Figs Burrata Flat Bread (Php380). The dried figs add a sweet element that complements the savory flavors from burrata cheese, caramelized onions and the arugula in this flatbread.
Panzanella Salad (Php290). Fresh flavors abound in this mixture of kale, watermelon, cherry tomatoes and croutons tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette.
Mains.
Nasi Goreng (Php330). Chicken satay served with Indonesian spiced shrimp, vegetable fried rice and fried egg.
Beef Tagliatelle (Php350). Pasta tossed in beefy tomato ragu and basil.
Aglio Olio (Php350). Spaghetti tossed in virgin olive oil, garlic and spiced bacon.
Soy Grilled Salmon (Php480). Salmon topped with wabiko cream and served with wasabi mashed potato.
Fried Chicken Confit (Php320). Crispy fried chicken served with cole slaw.
Croque Madame (Php320). Smoked ham over a brioche toast and a layer of gruyere cheese, topped with a fried egg and mornay sauce.
Desserts.
Mango Granita (Php220). Succulent cubes of mango mixed in strips of fresh coconut, crumbled macaroons and coconut milk.
Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta (Php220). Light and tangy panna cotta served with blueberries in a pinot syrup.
Sans Rival (Php220). The classic Pinoy cake made of decadent layers of buttercream, meringue and chopped nuts.
Choco Paradise (Php190).This rich chocolatey confection is perfect for those craving for chocolate after a meal.
With its slew of dishes, coffee offerings and cozy atmosphere, it’s easy to see why Caffe Freddo has become a prime foodie destination.
Thanks to Pat of ThePatKidInside for extending the invitation!
About Caffe Freddo
Caffe Freddo prides itself in offering a very unique selection of coffee, not found anywhere else in the metro. The coffee selection is all specially brewed from premium coffee beans of Bluestone Lane from New York City. Strategically located in the busy commercial business district of Bonifacio High Street, Caffe Freddo has refreshingly inviting interiors, with its off-white distressed brick walls, ample seating good for 50 people, and columns with hand-painted coffee plants in vibrant hues of green and red. Caffe Freddo is cozy enough for group meet-ups and family dining.
Caffe Freddo is located at The Spa Building, 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 7am to 11pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 7am to 12 midnight. For inquiries, call +63 9988479410.
Disclosure: Together with my fellow foodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.
I’m blessed to have coworkers who like to celebrate milestones with a good meal.
An officemate’s birthday falls within a few weeks of mine so two of our former bosses decided to treat us out to a joint birthday lunch.
And for that, Lola Cafe is our best bet, considering its proximity to our workplace, its Instagrammable modern interiors and its menu of imaginatively prepared homey dishes.
Similar to other restaurants in the Tomas Morato area, Lola Cafe was built from a renovated house. It boasts of a sizeable parking area (a big plus in this vicinity), a high-ceilinged bar area, and a dining area that combines the old architectural layout with a modern black and white aesthetic and a refreshing view of the lush green space outside.
Lola Cafe serves Filipino food that makes use local ingredients in imaginative ways such as:
Crispy Tinapa (Php220 for solo). Tinapa, bits of ripe mango, kesong puti tossed in romaine lettuce and arugula with slightly sweet and citrusy honey dalandan dressing.
Baked Tahong Express (Php220). Baked mussels generously topped with mozzarella, garlic, Bicol Express sauce and green chilis.
Tartufo (Php295 for solo). Spaghetti noodles tossed in a cream sauce with truffle oil and portobello mushroom.
Shrimp Aligue (Php295 for solo). Spaghetti noodles tossed with plump shrimp in a rich and decadent cream sauce of crab fat and kesong puti.
Lola Fried Chicken (Php310 for solo). Juicy pieces of chicken thighs in garlic butter sauce.
Prawns in Aligue (Php420 for solo). Succulent poached prawns in a spicy sauce of crab fat, chili garlic and lemon butter.
Mango Pavlova (Php160). Crunchy cashew meringue and bits of mango layered with chantilly cream.
Kesong Puti Cheesecake (Php220). A rich cheesecake made of kesong puti topped with bukayo (sweetened coconut strips) and salted latik (caramelized coconut cream).
These delicious dishes, Lola Cafe’s attentive staff and the awesome company helped to make that birthday lunch truly memorable.
Since Lola Cafe is a Zomato Gold partner establishment, and all four of us unlocked or Zomato Gold privilege, our group got some of our food orders for free!
Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 (Buy 1 Get 1) deals on food or 2+2 (Buy 2 Get 2) deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.
Lola Cafe is located at 99 Scout Lozano Street, Laging Handa, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11.30am to 10pm, Fridays to Saturdays from 11.30am to 11pm, and Sundays from 10.30am to 9pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 5012620 or +63 917 8176045.
Another branch recently opened at the Fifth Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.
It took me a while to bring myself to the sole outlet of Hong Kong’s go-to mango dessert place since it opened a month ago.
Having a sweet tooth (and a strong preference for the sweet and succulent mango that Hui Lau Shan is known to feature in its sweet creations, I knew it was only a matter of time.
After attending Fire or Ice: A GOT-inspired musical spectacle at the SM Skating Rink, my friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and I decided to satisfy our cravings for sweetness at Hui Lau Shan at the SM Atrium. Jen of SandUnderMyFeet.com generously shared her GCs with us so we can all sample the shop’s delectable desserts which make use of our homegrown carabao mangoes from Guimaras.
Did you know that our mangoes helped catapult Hui Lau Shan to fame in the 90s? These produce became the key ingredient of Hui Lau Shan’s breakthrough product Mango Sago which became a hit in Hong Kong. By the 2000s, Hui Lao Shan has established 280 stores globally which have become hot spots for dessert aficionados alike seeking to experience the stores’ sweet offerings.
And now, with the opening of this branch managed by the Josiah Catering group, the famed mango desserts have come home to the Philippines to delight us Pinoys.
This being my first visit, I decided to go for the basics for my drink: the Mango & Mango Jelly in Mango Juice (Php95 for 18oz | Php110 for 22oz). The drink was anything but basic, however; it fruity, succulent and sweet mango was there for me to sip on and enjoy.
I also opted to get myself some dessert. This time, since I couldn’t decide which particular mango-based dessert to try, I went for the option that gave me several treats to taste: the Mango Romance (Php170). It consisted of Mango Mochi, Mango Chewy Ball and Mango Crystal Jelly.
I indulged myself in my mango dessert and drink inside Hui Lau Shan’s small but comfy store, which, with its bright decor from the wallpapers to the wait staff uniforms, is designed with fun and happiness in mind.
I’m looking forward to tasting more of Hui Lau Shan’s desserts and drinks to satisfy my cravings for sweets and to bask in the store’s happy vibes.
Hui Lau Shan is located at Level 4, SM Megamall Atrium, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, open from 10am to 10pm.
A new branch is a set to open soon at the Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City.
Summers are for great times with great food, and spent with great friends.
Together with my fellow foodies, I experienced what certainly seems to be the start of a great summer.
In a recent Foodie Event hosted by Ombu Kusina, it launched its newest and coolest offerings: three new scrumptious halo-halo flavors!
The halo-halo is a favorite Pinoy dessert made of crushed ice, evaporated milk and other sweet ingredients such as nata de coco, beans and coconut strips, served layered on top of each other, but then mixed together so that each spoonful is a mixture of sweet ingredients and the crushed ice. Ombu does its own take on this classic icy treat, with three flavors, available only during the summer, at only Php160 each. These include:
Milk Tea. The milk tea craze has surely hit the country and how! Now this exotic drink which originated from Taiwan flavors the Pinoy halo-halo through the use of brewed Earl Grey black tea.
Mango. Fresh ripe mango are pureed, mixed with milk then frozen to create mango-flavored crushed ice, served with the usual halo-halo ingredients and toppped with succulent mango cubes.
Tres Leches. As the name implies, the crushed ice is flavored with three kinds of milk and topped with creamy leche flan. This is my favorite among the new halo-halo variants.
Ombu’s Chef Griffin Oraiz explained that what sets Ombu’s halo-halo treats apart from similar offerings from other restaurants is the use of flavored ice: the flavors are infused into the ice, resulting to a more intense taste and creamier mouthfeel.
Ombu also showcased some its signature dishes which are well-suited for the summer, such as:
Suzi Wong Sandwich (Php270). A three-layered sandwich made of ham, cheese and pickles between four slices of butter-toasted crusted bread and served with house-made deep-fried purple camote chips.
Tinapa Croquettes (Php240). Tinapa (smoked milkfish) is combined with a creamy bechamel sauce and sauteed onions, then coated with breadcrumbs, deep-fried to a crisp golden brown and served with a house-blend special garlic mayo dip.
Three-Cheese Pizza(Php420). Mozzarella and cheddar cheeses are combined with the local kesongputi, a home-grown cheese made of carabao’s milk, on top of a crisp oven-baked pizza crust.
Tokwa’t Baboy (Php260). Tokwa (tofu) are cut into cubes, fried and served with hearty pork chunks in a house-blended spicy soy vinegar sauce. This is actually a great complement and a traditional companion to the next dish which is the…
Arroz Caldo (Php130). The traditional Pinoy version of rice porridge with chicken pieces, it is highlighted by the use of cured, soft-boiled “ramen-style” eggs that adds a different dimension of flavor to the Pinoy merienda staple.
These dishes and the seasonal halo-halo flavors all adhere to Ombu Kusina’s modern take on Filipino cuisine: infusing classic Pinoy dishes with new and exciting cooking styles and influences. These help to make Pinoy cuisine fresher and more relevant to a growing number of foodies, who are looking for their next food adventure.
And if that isn’t reason enough for you to hie on over to Ombu for a taste of its innovative and flavorful dishes, how about this: use my code – VIPBeingJellybeans – when you dine in and get 10% off your food bill!
Ombu Kusina is located at the Ground Floor, Sequioa Hotel, Mother Ignacia corner Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 6.30am to 10.30am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 441179.
Read my review of a previous visit to Ombu Kusina here.
Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.
Fruit infusion drinks are a growing trend, particularly among the health-conscious, and are often cited as a weight-loss or detox secret. Proponents of this trend report feeling healthier and more invigorated after including this type of beverage in their diet.
Infusing water with fruit also has the added benefit of adding flavor and zing to the otherwise plain ole’ H20 which is great for foodies like me who would gravitate more towards improvement in taste. Besides, any trend that will get one to drink more water should be good, hmmm?
Fruit-flavored or -infused water can be DIY-ed by immersing pieces of fruit into cold water for a period of time using specially designed water bottles and pitchers. However, some people do not have the time to scour the markets for fresh produce, obtain the necessary equipment and prepare their fruit infusion drinks.
Fortunately, Vida Nutriscience, the beauty, slimming and wellness company behind Snow Caps, My Slim, Crystal White and Snow Skin brands, is entering the ready-to-drink market with its new brand, Goju Natural Fruit Infusion.
Taking its name from the combination of “Go” and “Juice”, the new product line consists of five fruit juice concoctions packaged in brightly colored 330ml cans, each with its own unique taste, identity and health benefits.
Lemonade: A blend of natural lemons and packed with vitamin C, it helps in boosting energy, cleansing the kidneys and the urinary tract, losing weight and boosting the body’s defense system.
Mango and Orange: A blend of orange, mango, passion fruit, lemon and vitamin C, it helps in boosting immunity, improving digestion, losing weight and beautifying one’s skin.
Raspberry Lemonade. A mixture of raspberry and lemonade, it helps in improving blood circulation, fighting inflammation, boosting energy and maintaining kidney health.
White Peach Passion Fruit. A concoction of natural white peach, passion fruit, pineapple, lemon and vitamin C, it helps in improving digestion, circulation and bone health and rehydrating one’s skin.
Orange. The old fashioned freshly squeezed orange juice now in a can, it helps in boosting the immune system and maintaining blood pressure levels.
I was given ten cans of Goju to sample so I shared the wealth and got my family and friends to try it out with various meals throughout the day.
A friend paired her Goju Lemonade with her packed veggie lunch, adding a burst of sweetness to her already healthy meal. Meanwhile, while lunching out with officemates, I partnered our Goju Orange and Goju Raspberry Lemonade with our smoked pork ribs.
My daughter, on the other hand, snacked on a GoJu Raspberry Lemonadeto energize her while she’s doing her homework.
Our consensus on this new drink product as a whole are:
It gives a fresh (and currently relevant) twist on the traditional ready-to-drink beverage.
It has a fresh and natural flavor, similar to how a freshly made juice drink will taste.
It can be paired with various kinds of food, at different times of the day, making it a highly flexible and adaptable beverage.
It has a cool aesthetic as well, very Instagrammable and fun to look at.
To maximize your enjoyment of your own Goju Natural Fruit Infusion, remember the following:
Shake the can well before opening.
Keep it refrigerated as it is best served when chilled.
Avoid exposing the can to high temperature.
The drink contains natural ingredients so some sediments may appear.
Goju Natural Fruit Infusion is available at Landmark and Anson’s in Metro Manila and at CSI Supermarket in North Luzon.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Vida Nutriscience who also provided product samples for me to review. Product details are provided by the company as well.
Bingsu treats have grown in popularity in the metro, especially now with the searing summer heat. Bingsu is a Korean dessert characterized by shaved ice sweetened with condensed milk and topped with fresh fruits, yogurt, ice cream and bits of yummy baked goods.
While the fam is exploring options for lunch in Bonifacio Global City during a particularly hot summer day, we came across this branch of Hobing Korean Dessert and couldn’t resist having our dessert here. After eating our lunch at nearby Tenya Tempura Tendon, and, eager for something cool and sweet to counter the hot and humid weather, we proceeded Hobing.
Despite being billed as the Korean halo-halo, bingsu is best enjoyed when the shaved ice and toppings are not all mixed together. This allows you to enjoy the varying textures and flavors that went into the bingsu.
We ordered a large serving of Mango Cheese Bingsu (Php320), thinking that a regular serving will not satisfy all of us. What we got was a delectable and prettily presented confection: finely shaved ice flavored with mango syrup, surrounded by huge cubes of ripe mango and topped with rich New York Cheesecake bits, vanilla ice cream and slices of roasted almonds.
We are definitely eager to try Hobing’s other bingsu offerings soon.
This branch of Hobing Korean Dessert is located at the 3rd Floor of BGC Stopover Pavilion, Rizal Drive cor 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City. Other branches of Hobing Korean Dessert are located at:
Jellybeans in the City 