mediterranean food – Jellybeans in the City

Timberland Highlands Resort’s Ridge Cafe introduces Arabic Dinner Buffet

Would you like to give in to your flights of fancy and embark on an exciting journey?

A journey among extraordinary flavors, that is. 🙂

Well, head on then to Ridge Cafe at Timberland Highlands Resort up in the mountains of San Mateo, Rizal. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy the fresh mountain air as you dine in style, thanks to its opulent interiors and al fresco area overlooking the metro.

Ridge Cafe - Timberland Highlands Resort — Ridge Cafe from outside

Here, your tastebuds can certainly go on a flavor tour, thanks to its recently unveiled Arabic Dinner Buffet.

Expanding gastronomic possibilities in the Rizal area

Every Saturday, from 6m to 9pm, you can eat your fill of flavorful and nutritious viands that boast of having Arabic, Mediterranean and South Asian origins, as well as free-flowing iced tea, all for just Php980++.

This exciting culinary curation is the brainchild of Timberland Highlands Resort’s new Executive Chef, Ranuka Hettiarachchi, who sought to include healthy Mediterranean dishes in Ridge Cafe’s buffet, as well as providing guests with vegan and vegetarian diets with suitable options.

Ridge Cafe - Timberland Highlands Buffet — A preview to the Arabic Dinner

Also, given that restaurants offering Arabic food are not that common in the Rizal area, local residents now have a new convenient destination if they want to expand their food horizons.

Representing exotic flavors from the Mediterranean and Arabic regions

Ridge Cafe’s Arabic Dinner Buffet presents travel-hungry foodies with the opportunity to enjoy signature dishes of regions such as Greece, the Middle East, Egypt and South Asia, all cohesively curated and mouthwateringly presented in their respective stations.

Carnivores will be (quite understandably!) drawn to the carving station where beautifully roasted beef striploin and leg of lamb take pride of place, accompanied by roasted veggies and a variety of sauces to choose from.

Those seeking healthier fare can always go to the cold section and check out the fresh salads comprised of crisp greens and veggies as well as filling proteins.

Then diners can hop from station to station to sample distinct tastes from various countries in a virtual food trip across the Mediterranean, Gulf and Indian subcontinent with these flavorful offerings:

Dessert lovers can also look forward to sampling the popular desserts from these regions as well as their favorite sweets in the dessert station.

While you can always take this journey by yourself, it’s best to experience it with family and friends!

Ridge Cafe also offers other buffet meals including:

Top of the Morning Buffet: intercontinental breakfast menu and classic Pinoy almusal favorites at Php650 net per person (weekends from 7am to 10am)
Filipino Buffet: favorite Filipino dishes with free-flowing iced tea at Php980+ per person (lunch from 11.30am to .30pm | dinner from 6pm to 9pm)

To reserve a table, email timberlandfbm@timberlandresort.com or message 0999-889-2659 | 0995-840-3206 | 8891-8288 local 1030 and 1032.

Ridge Cafe is located at Timberland Highlands Resort, inside Timberland Heights, Barangay Guitnang Bayan II, San Mateo, Rizal 1850 Philippines.

Book your room via Klook today to enjoy great savings!

To know more about Timberland Highlands Resorts latest updates and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about Timberland Highlands Resort:

The Jelly List: Top breakfast finds at Lamp Quarters, Marikina

Foodies in Marikina and nearby places, it’s time to rise and shine, especially with the sumptuous breakfast choices awaiting you at Lamp Quarters!

This food hub nestled in the quiet suburb is a perfect place to enjoy the first meal of the day because:

It houses a diverse collection of restaurants offering various cuisines
It has a spacious outdoor dining area where you can meet up and dine with family and friends in comfort (you can also bring your fur-babies with you)
Its San Diego-inspired decor will make you feel like you’ve stepped into sunny Southern California

So if you’ve been feeling cooped up at home for the past few months, you can definitely step out and enjoy the morning in the great outdoors with these fab breakfast finds from Lamp Quarters’ restaurants.

Dampa sa Cogeo Marikina Branch

Get a taste of the sea’s bounty with Dampa sa Cogeo’s various seafood dishes plus more for a wonderful start to your day.

Breakfast Bilao (Php599, good for 2-3 people). What’s Pinoy breakfast without the silog? Enjoy a hearty meal with this breakfast staple along with daing na bangus, tocino and beef tapa, all classic flavors we just love to wake up to!

Seafood Stir-fry (Php699, good for 2-3 people). For breakfast with a bit of zing, check out this sumptuous seafood dish made with fresh crab, squid, mussels and shrimp stir-fried with veggies in a slightly spicy tomato sauce. You’d definitely be asking for extra rice to go with this!

Dampa sa Cogeo also delivers its seafood bilao and party trays. For more details, call +63 945 8646423 or +63 961 4207400 or follow it on Facebook.

Night & Day Restorante

A fusion of Italian and American flavors await you at Night & Day.

With its Breakfast Buffet (Php299, available on weekends from 8am to 11am), you can feast on a whole slew of tasty, all-you-can-eat breakfast dishes. This July, the breakfast buffet consist of beef salpicao, corned beef, daing na bangus, aglio olio, pancakes and waffles, sanwiches and sliders, eggs, roasted sesame salad and breads, accompanied by iced tea, lemonade or hot chocolate.

Night & Day is open everyday from 8am to 10pm. To reserve your slots for its Breakfast Buffet, call +63 917 1079678.

For updates on its offers and promos, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Kebomb

A wise man once said “Why have abs when you can have kebabs?”

Why, indeed, when you can indulge yourself with delicious yet very affordable Mediterranean-inspired food that will also appeal to Pinoy tastebuds!

Widen your morning meal horizons with Kebomb’s breakfast dishes such as beef shawarma tapa, kebab longganisa meal and chicken tocino meal, as well as its best-sellers like beef or chicken kebab rice plates, keema, keemadilla, hummus, Persian burgers in shawarma wrap and my newest favorite: chicken skin nachos!

Kebomb also delivers via Grabfood and FoodPanda. Pickup options are also available. For more details, call +63 956 9781805 or follow it on Facebook or Instagram.

So if you want to catch the sun’s early morning rays as you fill up on tasty breakfast meals with family and friends, drop by Lamp Quarters in Marikina!

Lamp Quarters is located along Gil Fernando Street, Centro de Buenviaje, Bgy Santo Nino, Marikina City. For updates on its special promos and events, follow Lamp Quarters on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Together with my foodie friends, I attended a food tasting held at this venue. Food items mentioned here were served to elicit honest feedback and were not paid for by the attendees.

Mediterranean food delivery from Jamie’s Kebabs

To many, the word “Mediterranean” calls to mind sun-kissed rooftops, sparkling waves in an cerulean sea, and vibrant vistas. For foodies like me, it brings forth images of hearty dishes made with fresh produce and flavorful spices.

My love story with Mediterranean food came about because of Hubby. He introduced me to kebabs, shawarmas and hummus back when we were still dating. Twenty-plus years later, we share our love for this cuisine with our kids who look forward to our food adventures involving kebabs.

Thankfully, thirty-three-year-old food entrepreneur Adam Tan seeks to provide the metro’s denizens easy access to great-tasting Mediterranean dishes, even during quarantine.

Maximizing the existing kitchen space of his other food venture, casual dining resto Main Street in Kapitolyo, he decided to open Jamie’s Kebabs last April on a delivery basis. Its menu includes Middle Eastern staples, dishes familiar and appealing to the Pinoy palate. These include:

Hummus (Php189). A savory spread or dip made with mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice and garlic. Jamie’s Kebabs’ version is made even more appetizing by the addition of roasted bell peppers and fried chickpeas. This dish is served with a piece of fresh pita bread. It’s quite good when enjoyed on its own with the pita bread but adds a new dimension of flavor when added to the other dishes as a dip or a condiment.

Beef Kebab Pita Wrap (Php159). Marinated ground beef grilled in skewers and served wrapped in pita bread together with garlic sauce, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onions and cucumbers. Each bite brings an explosion of flavor and pleasant textures in my mouth. Like I said earlier, this also becomes phenomenal when a bit of hummus is added to the wrap.

Kebab Sampler (Php329). Beef, lamb and chicken kebab served on top of buttered rice with one grilled tomato, alongside garlic and red hot sauce. It would be enough for two (I shared it with Hubby) but a really hungry (or selfish!) Mediterranean food fanatic can easily polish this off by herself.

Jamie’s Kebabs’ offerings are great, not just of kebab fans but for budding foodies seeking to broaden their culinary horizons to include Mediterranean cuisine.

Jamie’s Kebabs is located at 10 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 8pm for dine-in, pickup and delivery. To order, call +63 2 72392827 or +63 917 8158187. Payments via cash, credit card, BDO bank transfer and GCash are accepted.

You may also course your order via FoodPanda or GrabFood (the resto is included among the establishments available for long distance delivery).

Taguig, Pateros and Makati residents may soon also get a taste of Jamie’s Kebabs’ dishes as a new branch is set to open Barangay Sumilang, Pasig City which could serve those markets via delivery.

Download the Grab App and get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order.

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

Check out my posts on other restaurants serving Mediterranean cuisine:

Hassan Kababs & Steaks, Katipunan

Have a sudden and irresistible craving for Mediterranean food at an inconvenient time?

There’s no need to wait for the conventional mealtimes to have your taste of strong and fresh flavors of Mediterranean cuisine because Hassan Kababs & Steaks along Katipunan Avenue is open 24/7.

We went here during a night out with the extended family as this restaurant is highly recommended by my bro who found the food served quite delicious yet affordable.

Among the highlights of our meal are:

10″ Keema Pie (Php200). Flavorful bits of grilled ground beef and minced onions doused with strewn across a layer of melted cheese on top of a crisp pita bread crust. I think I can eat several of this all by myself.

Koobedeh Beef Kabab (Php160 regular | Php290 large). Two pieces of grilled ground beef served with grilled tomato, onion and rice with butter. Always a safe bet!

Beef Shawarma Plate (Php120). Minced rotisserie-grilled marinated beef served on a plate with fresh tomato, onion, cucumber and pita bread.

Beef Kabab with Ox Brain (Php270). The beef kababs are accompanied by a serving of ox brain along with with grilled tomato, onion and rice with butter. Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!

Hassan’s flavors are bold and fuss-free. While the presentation of the food and the place may not be Instagrammabale, the resto is well worth a visit.

Personally, I’m just glad to discover there’s a place to go for my late-night kabab cravings.

This Hassan Kaban & Steaks branch is located at 197-C Katipunan Avenue, Barangay Milagrosa, Blue Ridge, Quezon City. While it maintains its 24/7 operations during the enhanced community quarantine, it only caters to takeout/pickup (call +63 935 7150253 to pre-order) and delivery requests via Lalamove Purchase Service and Grab Assistant.

Other branches are located at:

9 Visayas Avenue Extension, Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City
Aquilina Street, Fronting Marikina City Engineering Office, Santo Nino, Marikina City
The Avenue, Felix Avenue, San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal

Check out my posts on other restaurants serving Mediterranean cuisine:

Get your delish kabab at Behrouz

My son, #ExhibitB, is such a fan of Behrouz’s beef kabab that when we dined another Mediterranean restaurant and he tasted the kabab there, he said, “Mom, I think we’re in the wrong place.”

I really couldn’t fault the little one for his loyalty to Behrouz’s beef kababs. For over twenty years, it has been the gold standard for beef kababs as far as his dad and I concerned.

Behrouz had its start in the country in 1985 when Iranian-born Behrouz Mojde established a hole-in-the-wall restaurant along Scout Rallos Street in Quezon City and called it Behrouz Persian Cuisine. Today, it’s being managed by his son, Modj, and his family, who continue Behrouz’s no-frills approach to managing the restaurant.

Central to Behrouz’s appeal is Beef Kabab (Php70/pc). The juicy and tender ground beef is flavored with herbs and aromatics then grilled over charcoal to produce that appetizingly smokey flavor. Honestly, whenever the fam eats at Behrouz, we order at least eight pieces because each of us have to have at least two pieces of these kababs.

The kababs go so well with Basmati Rice (Php80) with Butter (Php50). We just couldn’t imagine enjoying our kababs any other way.

We normally have Grilled Tomatoes and Onions (Php50), Ox Brain (Php80) and Hummus (Php80) with our kabab meal to bring out even more yummy flavors.

When I’m ordering for just myself when eating out with friends, I usually go for an order of Chelo Kabab Makhsos (Php300 with Basmati Rice). It combines the beef kababs, grilled tomato, basmati rice and butter, and iced tea. It may not be Instagrammable, but it brings practically all the flavors of my favorites good for one person.

Well, Behrouz is a family favorite of long standing and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

During the enhanced community quarantine, two of Behrouz’s branches – Scout Tobias (+63 2 89627615) and Santana Grove (+63 933 4196444) – are available for takeout and delivery via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Download the Grab App on the App Store or Google Play. Get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order.

This Behrouz branch is located at Ground Floor, Metrowalk Commercial Complex, Meralco Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City.

Other branches are located at:

Wilson Street, Greenhills, San Juan City
Scout Tobias Street, Laging Handa, Quezon City
Santana Grove, Dr. A. Santos Avenue, San Antonio, Paranaque City
226 Aguirre Avenue Corner J. Ramirez Street, BF Homes, Paranaque

Check out my posts on other restaurants serving Mediterranean cuisine:

Holiday sets at Medley Modern Mediterranean, BGC

Being a self-confessed bookworm, the Fully Booked building in Bonifacio High Street used to be one of my favorite places. I loved its rows upon rows of books and how it seemed to warmly welcome book lovers into its premises.

Sadly, the worsening traffic situation curtail many of my trips to the area and it has been some time since I last visited this building.

Well, last night, I discovered a new motivation to brave the traffic to spend time at this happy place. The Fully Booked building also houses a new concept restaurant called Medley Modern Mediterranean.

The restaurant had its beginnings as a small kiosk at the Legaspi Sunday Market. There, the father-and-son team of Michael and David Tweg (both hailing from Israel), offered Mediterranean snacks to the market goers. The demand for his offerings grew and soon, David decided to set up Medley, a Mediterranean restaurant with home-style dishes that harken back to his childhood but also caters to the on-the-go lifestyle of Metro Manila’s denizens.

At Medley, each dish is designed for taste and nourishment. All ingredients are freshly prepared daily and sourced local farms and suppliers, with no artificial flavorings or preservatives. Each dish is made to-order and can be customized according to the the diner’s preferences, with options for meat lovers, vegetarian or vegans.

Together with my fellow bloggers, I attended the Medley Community Christmas Party where it launched its new and exciting dishes:

Holiday Sets. These are meal sets that combine solo-sized rice or hummus bowls with Cardamon Tea and a Dates and Walnuts Bar, giving the diner a complete meal bursting with fresh flavors.

These include:

Beef Kofte Meal (Php269). Juicy grilled beef kofte kebab with sides of tabbouleh, corn salad , sumac onion salad and a dash of mamba sauce.

Levantine Chicken Meal (Php259). Broiled and shredded chicken flavored with a mix of Middle Eastern spices with sides of Moroccan carrot salad, Israeli salad, fried eggplant, matbukha and flavored with garlic sauce.

Falafel Crunch Meal (Php249). Crunchy deep-fried patties made from ground chickpeas flavored with herbs and spices with sides of Mediterranean rice, tabbouleh, corn salad, fried eggplant and tahini sauce.

By the way, diners can also opt to get the Cardamon Tea (Php80 for 16oz | Php99 for 22oz) and Dates and Walnuts Bar (Php49 per piece) ala carte.

New on the Menu.

Smoked Paprika Shrimp Power Bowl (Php399). Freshly smoked shrimp flavored with paprika in a bowl with hummus, pita bread, tabbouleh, bulgur what, Israeli salad, fried eggplant and lemon and garlic sauce.

Za’atar Fries (Php79). Sweet potato fries tossed in various seasonings.

Baklava (Php39). Rich and decadent dessert made from chopped nuts and syrup in between layers of flaky phyllo dough.

Bourekas (Php49). Savory pastries made from different fillings such as spinach, feta cheese and mushroom sandwiched inside phyllo dough.

Hummus Shake (Php169 for 16oz). I didn’t know that hummus can be made into a drink! In this exotic yet healthy beverage, the chickpea mixture is sweetened by the addition of bananas, cardamon and dates.

So whether you’re looking for a light snack or a healthy meal, do give Medley a try.

By the way, during the Medley Community Christmas Party, my fellow bloggers and I were tasked to create our own rice or hummus bowls. In this enjoyable activity, we started out by choosing between hummus or Mediterranean rice as our base, selecting our proteins among beef kofte, falafel crunch, Levantine chicken and smoked paprika shrimp, then adding up to three sides before finishing off with our chosen sauce. The best looking one won a prize.

Here’s my attempt: what do you think. (Spoiler alert: I didn’t win.) 😜😜😜

Even in the midst of such crushing defeat, I still had a lot of fun together with my fellow bloggers and ate my fill of Medley’s tasty Mediterranean dishes.

Many thanks to the management and staff of Medley Modern Mediterranean for the fun time and fabulous meal, and to Bella Javier for extending the invitation!

This Medley Modern Mediterranean branch is located at the Ground Floor, Fully Booked Building, B6 Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, open daily from 10am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8206402 or +63 949 7209914.

Another branch is set to open soon at Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Entertainment City, Paranaque.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other restaurants serving Mediterranean dishes:

Three reasons to have your Sunday brunch at Sultan Mediterranean Grill, Makati

I believe that Sunday mornings are a time to be lazy in the sense that you deserve some downtime after each hectic work week. It is a time to wake up a bit late (catching up on some zzz’s you cut short Monday to Friday by having to get up at the crack of dawn to make it to work on time), take a stress-free drive along the city’s streets (with only a bit of light traffic, thankfully!) and meet up with friends to catch up over a tasty meal.

That’s what I did last Sunday together with my foodie friends from #SaanSaPH and #WeLoveToEatPH.

The venue for this lovely get-together? Sultan Mediterranean Grill in Salcedo Village.

And here are three reasons why you should hold a similar Sunday brunch here.

One: It’s a hidden gem in the heart of Makati

You would think that the Makati area is always a hotbed of frenetic activity but come weekends, it is actually quite laid-back and quiet, perfect for the titas who just want to have a catch up with friends while enjoying a tasty meal.

This restaurant is located in one of the old buildings along one of the side streets from Paseo de Roxas which, sans the weekday office crowd, is free from traffic jams and has lots of available parking space.

The resto itself, which opened in 2010, has a cozy hole-in-the-wall quality. Walls lined with white subway tiles are accented by Middle Eastern-style artworks and spice shelves. The seating area can accommodate thirty people so if you want to hold an intimate family party here, you’d be right on the mark.

Two: It takes you on a journey through the deliciously complex flavors of Mediterranean cuisine

You know that basic and blah flavors will not do for you, especially not for your Sunday brunch, right?

Well, Sultan Mediterranean Grill brings you exciting flavors through exotic dishes that will tease your tastebuds while sating your appetite.

The resto’s menu is comprised of the flavorfully diverse dishes from countries spanned by the Ottoman empire. This cuisine is influenced by impact of the Mediterranean Sea to the region’s climate, agriculture and history, giving rise to food centered around oil (from olives), bread (from wheat) and wine (from grapes) with many influences from nearby European countries such as Spain and Italy.

For our Sunday brunch, Sultan Mediterranean Grill laid out a feast of its bestsellers which included:

Wild Mushroom Soup (Php150). A creamy and hearty soup made from scratch with porcini, shiitake and button mushroom. It has a rich and earthy flavor and it got us all excited for the rest of dishes.

Combination of 3 Dips (Php330). Freshly made pita bread carefully wrapped in cloth to be dipped into hummus (made from blended chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon and garlic, muhammara (a subtly sweet dip with smoky undertones made from roasted red peppers) and baba ghanouj (the classic Middle Eastern dip made from roasted eggplants blended with olive oil and spices). The pita bread were warm, soft, slightly chewy and perfectly frame the flavors of the dips.

Grilled Vegetable Salad (Php280). Crisp lettuce tossed with grilled beef, eggplants, zucchini, pumpkin, corn, bell pepper and onions and served with homemade tarragon dressing. If you don’t often eat vegetables, try this and the smokey flavor of the veggies will help you develop a new appreciation for plant-based food.

Vitamin Boost (Php280). A salad of mixed lettuce, grilled chicken, quinoa, mango, orange slices, cranberries, onions, cucumber and walnuts and served with orange cranberry dressing. I just love the mixture of fresh and fruity flavors in this salad.

Beryani Rice (Php100 for solo | Php250 for family). A classic Persian rice dish flavored with special herbs and spices.

Beef Shawarma (Php160). Sultan’s signature shawarma makes use of the resto’s secret blend of seasoning that helps to tenderize the beef prior to grilling. Served with cucumbers, tomatoes and onions and packed inside a warm pita, it is already a meal by itself or a welcome addition to our feast.

The Sultan’s Kabab Platter (Php625). A combination of any four of Sultan’s kababs and skewers, ours consist of chicken kabab, beef kabab, lamb kabab and beef koobideh. Made from imported meats, these kababs are flavorful and juicy, well-complemented by the beryani rice or by any of the dips then wrapped in a piece of pita bread.

Braised Lamb Shanks (Php625). Juicy lamb shanks stewed and braised in mixture of herbs and spices for three hours before being served with buttery Basmati rice. The meat is so tender, it literally falls off the bone!

Fruit Yogurt Shakes (Php115 each). Fresh fruit blended with yogurt, adding a bit of tartness that complement the sweetness. Mine is the Mixed Berry shake which blends blueberries, blackberries and strawberries into a refreshing drink that goes well with Sultan’s signature dishes.

Three: A Mediterranean food is good for you

Mediterranean cuisine’s predilection for vegetables, fruit, whole grains and the use of healthy fats from olive oil make Mediterranean dishes quite healthy. Dining on these exotic fare gives you the double benefit of great taste and good health. However, as with everything else in life, moderation is key.

So this Sunday, make Sultan Mediterranean Grill the setting for your brunch with friends or family (or both!) to enjoy great flavors in cozy and quiet surroundings.

Many thanks to Ms. Remy and the crew of Sultan Mediterranean Grill for the warm welcome and the delicious meal!

Sultan Mediterranean Grill is located at Valero Plaza Condominium, San Agustin Street, Salced Village, Makati City, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8944900.

Other branches may be found at:

Victoria Plaza, 1 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City
The Corner Market, Second Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong

Check out my reviews of other restaurants serving Mediterranean dishes:

3 reasons for titas to have a deluxe brunch at Chef Jessie, Rockwell Club

It was a sunny Sunday and two intrepid titas – Jen of Sand Under My Feet and myself – are out for brunch.

But do note that we are not braving weekend traffic and the after-mass influx of people in the Rockwell area for just any, run-of-the-mill brunch.

Oh, no… We’re there for a special kind of dining experience that only one of the most trusted names in the metro’s culinary scene can provide.

We made our way to Chef Jessie Rockwell Club for a deluxe brunch.

And as to why two titas decided to spend their late Sunday morning here, well, read on…

One: It’s a beautiful place to have a meal.

Situated inside the posh Rockwell Club in Makati, Chef Jessie’s recently renovated restaurant is infused with a modern colonial design that provides a lush tropical-themed haven for food lovers.

Floor-to-ceiling windows let in a lot of natural light, as well as a view of the goings-on in the nearby pool area. The green-grey walls, highlighted by large potted plants make it seem like the garden outside found its way into the restaurant and suffused the space with freshness and calm.

For us titas that already deal with office stresses during the weekdays, entering this welcoming and relaxing space is a treat.

Two: Every dish is a work of art.

Chef Jessie Sincioco is a legend among foodies. Having won the Great Maya Cookfest in 1983, she was offered a special training course at Hotel Intercontinental Manila which paved the way to her becoming the first-ever Filipina pastry chef in 1990.

Chef Jessie brings her considerable culinary expertise into play in bring dishes that provide a feast for the senses: beautifully presented and masterfully prepared to achieve the best in taste, texture and aroma.

During our Sunday brunch, Jen and I feasted on Chef Jessie’s tasty offerings which include:

Fresh Juices:

Dalandan (Php195) and Banana Shake (Php160).

Starters:

Freshly baked breads served with butter and herb vinaigrette infused olive oil.

Salads:

Salad ala Judy Ann (Php450). Mesclun and micro greens tossed with bits of fruits in season along with slivers of brie and bleu-cheese in a raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

Salad ala Joe Mari Chan (Php450). Slivers of ubud (heart of palm) molded into a circle together with alugbati (local spinach) in a sampaloc (tamarind) vinaigrette.

Soups:

Classic French Onion Soup with Gruyere Cheese (Php395).

Cream of Carrot and Pumpkin with Shrimp and Mango (Php350).

Entremets:

Dalandan Granitas (Php195) to cleanse the palate in preparation for the main course.

Mains:

Certified US Black Angus Beef Tenderloin (Php1,895) served with sauce bourguignonne, buttered vegetables and potato gratin.

Grilled Lemongrass Chicken (Php895) served with garlic rice and atchara.

Desserts:

Chocolate Souffle (Php350) and Mango Jubilee Ala Mode (Php450).

Cafe Latte (Php180).

Truly, this was a feast that any tita would find rewarding after a hectic work week!

Three: You get treated like the queens you are.

From the time we were ushered to our table to the time we left, we were assisted by the friendly staff. Plates were efficiently cleared after every course, our water glasses immediately refilled, and our inquiries on the food items sufficiently addressed.

They even gamely agreed to our multiple requests for pictures!

So whether you’re a tita, a tito or just a foodie looking to treat yourself to an amazing meal, head on to Chef Jessie’s!

Thanks to the Chef Jessie staff for the great food and warm service during our brunch and to Jen for sharing her GC!

Chef Jessie is located at Ground Floor, Rockwell Club, Amorsolo Square, Rockwell Center, Makati, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 8906543 or +63 2 8907630.

Check out my blog posts on brunch places around the metro:

Quick snack time at Turks, SM North EDSA

So, here’s the deal: I’ve got some Turks GCs and my friends from #SaanSaPH and I are in the mood for a snack.

What to do???

Why, share the wealth and #MakeItATurksDay for everyone, that’s what!

At 10am and waiting for our first foodie meetup for the day, yes, we’re feeling just a wee bit peckish. So, off we went to the Turks stall at the SM North EDSA Foodcourt to get ourselves a small Beef Pita Doner each.

This tasty little snack is made of 100% pure beef, infused with Turks’ signature doner recipe and grilled to juicy goodness, served with freshly cut cucumber, tomatoes and onions, doused in cheese, garlic and hot sauces and wrapped with a slice of cheddar cheese in a warm, freshly baked pita bread.

You might think that there’s only one way to enjoy your Beef Pita Doner, but no! You can have it with all the bells and whistles (that is, all the veggies and sauces it usually comes with) like I did, sans onions, sans the sauces, or just all meat wrapped in the pita. Really, how you enjoy your wrap is your call.

With our hunger pangs chased away by our quick snack, our merry group went about our merry way, merrily tasting, noting and picture-taking what the day had to offer.

Photo Credit: Russell Vargas

Photo Credit: Shishi de Leon

Thanks to Turks for the GCs!

Turks is one of the country’s most successful and fastest growing brands in the food industry with over 400 branches nationwide.

This Turks branch is located at Food Court, Lower Ground Floor, Main Building, SM North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City.

Another branch located nearby is located at Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City.

Check out my reviews of other restaurants serving Mediterranean food:

The Cafe Mediterranean, Rockwell Power Plant

Noor, BGC

Holy Shawarma, Marikina

Relaxing Sunday brunch at Noor, BGC

The day was warm with the sun shining down brightly from blue skies unmarred by clouds as I made my way to an area of Bonifacio Global CIty I seldom find myself visiting.

Megaworld’s Lifestyle Malls Forbestown Center (also known as Burgos Circle) is home to many new concept restaurants, cafes and dessert places. It is a wonder how I’m seldom here but that can soon be rectified. 🙂

This particular Sunday morning, I was headed to one restaurant in particular: Noor Modern Mediterranean. The place may look quite posh with its well-appointed modern interiors and the tasteful display of art and wine bottles throughout the premises but the overall vibe is one of freshness and warm hospitality. Its second floor dining area features a green wall as its focal point and floor-to-ceiling windows that affords a view of Forbestown Center as well as lots of natural light which will become quite handy when we do our food photos later on.

Yep, this hip and happening resto is to be the setting of a relaxed and banter-filled gathering among myself and my fellow foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH.

Firstly, we were warmly welcomed by Noor’s Isreali-born Chef Or Hakmimi, who brings to the table the Mediterranean culinary influences he grew up with. The chef also espouses a friendly and casual dining atmosphere for his establishment; in between his adventures in the kitchen preparing Noor’s signature dishes as well as new ones he is experimenting on, he takes the time to chat with his guests and share more about his philosophy when it comes to food.

Foremost among his rules of thumb is the preference for having at least three flavors and textures in the food he serves, “so it won’t be boring.” He is right, too. Each bite of Noor’s dishes presented us with wonderful complexities: smokeyness, tartness, a hint of spice and more.

These complexities are in evidence in the brunch feast he and his staff laid out for us, which include:

Salmon Tartare. Not yet on the menu, this dish is made of thinly sliced chilled salmon topped with roe and served on crunchy black sesame seed-studded phyllo cones, an awesome start to the meal!

Cauliflauer (Php300). I read somewhere that this dish is life-changing and I can definitely agree! Cauliflauer are deep-fried and tossed in ceasar aoili and parsley.

Moroccan Shrimp (Php480). Succulent shrimps grilled then served on a bed of tatziki (a Greek yogurt-based side dish flavored by mashed vegetables, dill and olive oil) together with charred eggplant.

Lamb Baklava (Php470). Ground lamb sauteed in olive oil and spices encased in sheets of sheer phyllo dough baked to a lusciously crispy golden brown. Served with sesame dressing and a raspberry sauce, its combo of meaty savory and tart fruity flavors is a winner.

Chicken Skewers (Php590). Tender and flavorful chicken pieces, grilled together with onions and bell peppers and served with Syrian Basmati rice and seared tomato.

Shawarma Tacos (Php630). A triad of shawarma variants – roasted chicken with tahini, tomatoes and amba aoili; roasted fish with tsaziki, coleslaw and cilantro; and roasted mushrooms with garlic aioli, sumac onions and parsley – served open-faced on warm pita bread. These are best eaten by hand! (A bit messy but that’s part of the experience!)

Knafe (Php390). A classic Arab desert made of shredded buttery phyllo pastry, ricotta cheese, rose water syrup and yogurt ice cream topped with chopped pistachios. That interplay of warm and cold inside my mouth, together with the sweetness and rich buttery flavor is quite decadent. My only regret is that I have gone through forty plus years in life and I’ve only tasted this heavenly dessert today.

Almond Creme Brulee (Php330). A mildly sweet, creamy almond cream custard garnished with raspberry sauce and mint.

All of these dishes are made from scratch in the kitchen by Chef Or. Ingredients are locally sourced and the produce are organically grown in local farms.

Chef Or and his staff also served us with the resto’s signature cocktails to complement the dishes and to add to the day’s happy vibe.

Gypsy Mango (Php380). Rum mixed with organic mango liquor, fresh mango and cilantro. A perfect drink for this summer day!

Cinnamon Fashion (Php340). A version of the Old-Fashioned cocktail made by muddling sugar with bitters and adding some brandy, but here, it is garnished with a cinnamon stick.

Built to Spill (Php350). A blend of bourbon, ginger root and mint leaves.

Noor (Php390). The resto’s house-recipe cocktail made with gin, freh basil, cucumber, fresh lemon juice and tonic water.

Flavored Soda Water. Sparkling water flavored with juices of sweet fruits such as lychee, passionfruit and strawberry to quench our thirst and refresh our palates.

With such a lavish spread of good Mediterranean food, refreshing cocktails that kept us in high spirits and the company of great friends, it was a very enjoyable Sunday brunch!

And here’s some good news: did you know you can get free drinks at Noor, thanks to Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+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.

Noor is located at Unit F133, Forbeswood Heights, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, open daily from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 956 1563426.

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.

Three reasons to get yourself a #HummusBowl at The Cafe Mediterranean

Hummus is made from cooked and mashed garbanzo beans (chickpeas) blended with tahini (a condiment made from ground hulled sesame), olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. It is rooted in the traditional cuisine of Levant, the area that covers the large stretch of land in the eastern Mediterranean which includes modern-day Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Syria and surrounding states.

In line with its promise of bringing “flavors of the sun” to its diners’ tables, The Cafe Mediterranean features a seasonal menu of hummus bowls that do bring to mind pictures of rich harvests, the bright blue sea and the hot Mediterrenean sun.

If you find yourself at a #CafeMed branch, do get a #HummusBowl for yourself or your gang. Here are three reasons why.

One: These are very nutritious.

Owing to hummus’ main ingredient, chickpeas, it provides a good amount of dietary fiber, protein, B vitamin, manganese and other nutrients. This makes it a wonderful addition to any modern diet geared towards health and proper nutrition.

Two: Their toppings not just ups hummus’ nutrition game, they also significantly add to the flavor.

Hummus actually is very versatile. Aside from its use as a dip for breads or raw onion wedges, it also serves as an ingredient for soups, hot stews and sauces.

Taking advantage of this versatility, The Cafe Mediterranean offers eight varieties of hummus bowls, made with the freshest ingredients daily, to suit your craving or to add to your already flavorful meal. There are meat and no-meat options, so whatever your diet is, there is a hummus bowl for you.

Take your pick from among these tasty variants.

With cherry tomatoes cooked with garlic and extra virgin olive oil (Php275)

With roasted red bell peppers, black olives and feta cheese (Php325)

With roasted broccoli and cauliflower (Php395)

With grilled eggplant and tomato sauce (Php300)

With mushroom and caramelized onions (Php350)

With grilled chicken (Php375)

With grilled beef (Php395)

With grilled lamb (Php435)

Each of these bowls come with two pieces of warm pita bread that you can tear apart with your hands and dip into the hummus.

Three: Getting a hummus bowl (or more) contributes to the welfare of victims of armed conflict.

The Cafe Mediterranean has collaborated with UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, to generate support and donations to the Syrians displaced by the Syrian War. Customers can rest assured that all proceeds from the sales of these bowls are coursed directly through the UNHCR to help the Syrian refugees.

So head on out to the nearest branch of The Cafe Mediterranean and get a big bowl of hummus for yourself and your friends!

The Cafe Mediterranean branches in the metro are located at:

Lower Ground Floor, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City

Basement 1, Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Oranbo, Pasig City
Fifth Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Third Floor, One Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Level 1, Greenbelt 1, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City
Ground Floor, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
Second Floor, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I was invited to attend a food-tasting 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.

A gastronomic trip at The Cafe Mediterranean, Rockwell

Mediterranean cuisine is said to be identified with a trinity of basic ingredients: olive, wheat and grape, yielding oil, bread and wine respectively.

Two of these key ingredients came into play during a lunch with my family at The Cafe Mediterranean while we were on our way to a movie screening at the Powerplant Mall. (I was with my hubby and kids so wine was not ordered, hehehe!)

The Cafe Meditteranean prides itself on bringing the “flavors of the sun.” True enough, biting into its tasty offerings brings to mind images of sun-drenched vineyards against a wide azure Mediterranean sky.

Even the restaurant’s premises evoke a similar vibe through the use of brightly colored or strikingly patterned artwork and design accents against whitewashed walls.

For our appetizers, we ordered:

Hummus with Grilled Vegetables (Php300). The classic chick pea and sesame dip from the Middle East accompanied by grilled vegetables. I love scooping it up with a folded piece of pita bread together with a grilled onion or tomato.

Moutabal (Php165). A grilled eggplant and tahini dip, also great with wheat pita bread.

For lunch, Hubby and the kids went for an order each of Grilled Beef Kebab (Php535). Small cubes of grilled beef served with Tabouleh and Labneh (the Lebanese version of cream cheese), together with buttered Basmati rice.

As for me, my choice for lunch was a Grilled Beef Gyro Plate (Php450). Tender slices of well-seasoned grilled beef accompanied by Moutabal, Tzatziki (a creamy combination of cucumber, yoghurt and garlic), Tabouleh (cracked wheat, tomatoes and parsley) and pickled chillies. I loved how the smokey flavors of the beef and eggplant dip were complemented by the cucumber dip and other elements of the dish. Together with buttered Basmati rice, this made for a flavorful and filling meal.

With these combinations of tastes and textures from different Mediterranean cuisines, dining at The Cafe Mediterranean seemed like we went on a gastronomic tour.

Too bad we didn’t have time (or room!) for dessert. I would have loved getting myself some Baklava.

Oh, since both Hubby and I are Zomato Gold members, we each got a 1+1 deal on food which basically rendered one of the beef kebabs and my grilled beef gyro plate as free! What a sweet deal, right?

This Cafe Mediterranean branch is located at Lower Ground Floor, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8981301 or +63 2 7565010.

Other branches may be found at:

Basement 1, Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Oranbo, Pasig City
Fifth Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Third Floor, One Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Level 1, Greenbelt 1, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City
Ground Floor, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
Second Floor, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Want to score a similar discount? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here as soon as slots open. (They tend to get snatched up pretty quickly so be sure to sign up as soon as slots become available.) Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.