mojito – Jellybeans in the City

A Night of Excellent Chows and Laughter Unlocked at Vault, Greenhills

Ever fancied being part of a clandestine rendezvous, sipping exquisite cocktails in a prohibition-era inspired speakeasy? Look no further than Vault, the secret bar attached to Tittos Latin BBQ & Brew in Greenhills.

So why don’t we unravel this hidden gem?

A Well-Kept Secret

Step into the shadows and venture into Vault, a well-guarded secret kept only for the worthy few. Passing through the metal door transports you into a world reminiscent of the prohibition era with its air exclusivity and excitement, enticing you to delve deeper into this covert adventure.

Clearly, Vault isn’t your run-of-the-mill bar; it’s a journey back in time. The ambiance exudes the essence of a bygone era, featuring leather seating and granite tables that transport you to the days of the Roaring Twenties. This carefully curated decor, reminiscent of clandestine watering holes of yesteryears, sets the perfect stage for your exclusive night out.

The Perfect Pairing: Bar Chow and Drinks

No visit to Vault is complete without indulging in their tantalizing bar chow.

Crispy Onions (Php250). Crunch meets flavor in this delightful appetizer. Imagine deep-fried, thinly sliced onions tossed in a secret spice mix, served with a creamy Mexican crema sauce.

Truffle Parmesan Fries (Php275). House-made fries that have been transformed into a gourmet delight. Tossed in a tantalizing spice mix and showered with truffle parmesan snow, these fries are accompanied by a luscious aioli sauce.

Crispy Pork Sisig (P305). Crispy Pork Sisig at Vault is a crispy masterpiece—pork mask, onions, and egg sautéed in a special sisig sauce.

Grilled Angus Skewers (Php150/stick). Juicy Angus cubes marinated in a delectable barbecue sauce and grilled to perfection.

Of course, no clandestine rendezvous is complete without the perfect libations. Vault proudly presents a beverage selection that complements the mystique of its ambiance. Apart from its signature cocktails and a wide array of liquors, you can cross-order beverages from their sister-restaurant, Tittos, ensuring that your glass is never empty.

Laughter in the Vault: Writers Block Comedy Show

Adding to the allure of Vault is its recent collaboration with Comedy Manila, a production house pioneering the comedy revolution in the Philippines.

The Writers Block Stand-Up Showcase held last Thursday was an evening of laughter with the country’s top and up-and-coming stand-up comedians and comedy writers.

Be a Part of the Vault Experience

Want to get in the Vault? Keep an eye out for promos and events that add an extra layer of excitement to your clandestine visit. Don’t be shy—share your Vault experience on social media and let the world know about this hidden treasure. Just remember to tag them using #FindTheVault.

Unlock the Vault. Discover the secret. #FindTheVault.

Vault is located inside Tittos Latin BBQ & Brew at Ground Floor, O Square 2, Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Avenue, San Juan, open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 5pm to 1am. For inquiries and reservations, contact +63 917 8848867.

Know more about its menu, events and offers by visiting its website or following Vault on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this establishment. Food and drinks were served at no cost to the attendees in exchange for honest feedback.

These Tanduay holiday cocktails are sure to make your celebrations merrier

Get into the holiday spirit with these cocktails infused with Tanduay’s most-awarded and best-selling rum products.

Cranberry Champagne Rum Punch

Delight your family and friends with this twist to your regular champagne. We know you’re busy will all the other preparations, so we’ve made this cocktail really easy to make with the Tanduay Asian Rum Silver giving it that right kick.

Ingredients

8 oz Rosé Sparkling Wine, chilled
11 oz Ginger Ale, chilled
2 oz Tanduay Asian Rum Silver
Frozen Raspberries
Rosemary for garnish

Procedure

Mix all the liquids in a large pitcher and distribute it into a champagne glass or any glass you’d like to serve it in. Garnish it with frozen cranberries and a sprig of fresh rosemary.

Hot Buttered Rum

As the months have gone colder, it’s nice to snuggle up and drink a delicious warm beverage. Find comfort in Tanduay’s version of the Hot Buttered Rum. That Tanduay Asian Rum Gold in the mix gives it notes and aromas that would remind you of summer nights in the tropics.

Ingredients

1 stick Unsalted Butter, softened
2/3 cup Brown Sugar, packed
3 tsp Maple Syrup
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
1/4 tsp Ground Cloves
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
A pinch of Salt
1 oz Tanduay Asian Rum Gold
8 oz Boiling Water
Whipped Cream
Cinnamon Stick (optional)

Procedure

You can use an electric mixer or a simple whisk will do. Mix the softened unsalted butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla extract and salt until they are well combined.
Scoop a tablespoon-full of the butter mixture into a glass and add Tanduay Asian Rum Gold and boiling water.
Stir until the butter is fully dissolved. You can opt for more or less water, depending on the level of sweetness you want.
Top it with whipped cream and sprinkle with ground cinnamon.
To make it more Instagram-able, you can add a stick of cinnamon or a whole star anise on top of the whipped cream. You can transfer the remaining butter in a small ramekin to save for later use.

White Christmas Mojito

A mojito is a standard drink in any celebration and Tanduay gives its own twist to this favorite by adding its Boracay Rum Coconut. The flavor is distinctly Filipino and distinctly Tanduay.

Ingredients

10 pcs Mint Leaves
3 pcs Lime Wedges
0.5 oz Lime Juice
0.5 oz Simple Syrup
1.5 oz Boracay Rum Coconut
2 oz Coconut Cream
3 oz Cranberry Juice
2 oz Club Soda
Desiccated Coconut
Sprig of Mint
Frozen Cranberry
Ice

Procedure

In a shaker, muddle the lime wedges. Slightly scrunch the mint leaves with your hands, then add into the shaker. Scrunching rather than muddling releases the mint oils without making it bitter.
Add the lime juice, simple syrup, Boracay Rum Coconut, coconut cream, and cranberry juice.
Fill it halfway with ice and then shake.
Rim the glass with desiccated coconut and then strain the mixture 3/4 of the glass.
Top it with club soda. You can use frozen cranberries and a sprig of mint for garnish.

Boozy Peppermint Mocha

No need to line up to get your peppermint mocha fix. You can now make your own at home with this easy-to-follow recipe. Having the Boracay Rum Cappuccino into the mix makes it even more delicious. You can enjoy this drink hot or cold.

Ingredients

2 oz Simple Syrup
0.5 tsp Peppermint Extract
10 oz Whole Milk
5 oz Heavy Cream
1 tbsp Unsweetened Coconut Powder
1/4 cup Dark Chocolate Chips
2 oz Boracay Rum Cappuccino
8 oz Espresso
Chocolate Syrup
Whipped Cream
Candy Cane (optional)

Procedure

In a small saucepan, sift the cocoa powder and whisk in the heavy cream until the cocoa powder is fully dissolved. Add the milk and place the pan over low heat.
Stir until the mixture starts to steam, then turn off the heat.
Add the chocolate chips and whisk until fully dissolved. Transfer the mixture into a blender and add simple syrup, peppermint extract, espresso, and Boracay Rum Coconut. Blend it until it becomes frothy.
Get a cup and drizzle it a bit of chocolate inside for design. Pour in the mocha mixture, then top with whipped cream. Drizzle again with chocolate syrup and garnish with a candy cane.

If you prefer something cold, you can put the chocolate milk mixture in the refrigerator and wait for it to cool down. Instead of espresso, use cold brew. Then serve it over fresh ice.

If you want something ice-shaken, just add ice into the blender with your mixture.

Whichever Tanduay holiday cocktail you plan to make for your celebrations, you and your guests are sure to enjoy them. In creating these cocktails, you bring a part of the Philippines, a country known for celebrating Christmas as early as September, into your own homes during this season of joy.

Cocktail images and recipes provided in a recent press release.

Photo Credit: Jia Jia Shum in Unsplash

#TheBistroGroup Trinoma Food Crawl: Italianni’s

Don’t you sometimes miss the experience of dining out with the fam or your pals? I know I do.

It seems that the pandemic has seriously affected many of the things we so enjoyed from our life before it.

Still, while dining out may now be different, given all the restrictions and regulations, it can still be very enjoyable.

Take dining at Italianni’s at Trinoma Mall, for example.

Italianni’s espouses amore di merrier, which denotes the Italian philosophy of having more food to be shared by more people, resulting to more merriment. This is why its signature dishes, all made with the finest ingredients, come to the table in servings large enough to share with family and friends, starting with its signature Tuscan and Focaccia bread served with olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar.

In the Philippines, Italianni’s is part of The Bistro Group, a collection of imported and homegrown hospitality brands.

In response to the need of the times, The Bistro Group has instituted safety protocols for safe dining-in at its restaurants. These include: regular health checks for all its personnel, compliance of all outdoor and indoor seating to physical distancing guidelines, hand sanitizers available at the entrance and on every table, as well as contactless menu ordering and payment.

These protocols require diners to submit to temperature checks, provide contact tracing details and using the hand sanitizers and sanitation mats prior to entering the restaurant premises, as well as wearing their personal protective equipment (PPEs) while inside. Would-be diners who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to people who do, have underlying health conditions or have concerns about contracting the disease when dining out are advised to stay home and avail of the restaurant’s contactless delivery options.

During an epic #TrinomaFoodCrawl with my foodie friends, I saw these protocols in action in Italianni’s, but still enjoyed our time as we feasted on a hearty spread of sumptuous Italian dishes:

Sicilian Salad (Php595/Php795). A fresh fusion of flavors and textures made with romaine lettuce, mangoes, red grapes, walnuts, creamy anchovy dressing.

Quattro Staggioni (Php795). Four-flavored pizza consisting of Pepperoni, Mushroom & Artichokes, Shrimp & Black Olives and All Cheese

Seafood Cioppino (Php595/Php795). Spaghetti pasta tossed with mussels, shrimps, clams and calamari in white wine, marinara sauce and chili flakes.

New York Cheesecake (Php485). New York-style cheesecake on a bed of strawberry amaretto sauce.

Fruity Drinks (Php175 each): Orange Lemonade, Four Seasons, Peach Mango

Mojitos (Php220 each): Apple and Classic

As I’ve said many times before, good food plus good company equals a great time for everyone!

You can savor more of the tastes of Italy together with your friends, thanks to these awesome deals from Italianni’s:

BFF Bundle (Php1,195): Pepperoni Pizza + Spaghetti Pomodoro + Chicken Italianni’s
BOGO Everyday: Truffle Chicken & Mushroom + Eggplant Parmigiana (Php950), Chicken Italianni’s + Spaghetti Bolognese (Php795), Porkchop Au Poivre + Margherita Pizza (Php895), Burrata + Spinach and Gorgonzola Pasta (Php795)

You can also get great savings with the BFF Card, The Bistro Group’s loyalty program that gives members exclusive perks across 15 restaurant brands such as:

30% off on Mondays
20% off on Tuesdays
Complimentary coffee or hot tea single-serve with entree purchase
Online seats reservation
Six Php250 e-vouchers with minimum purchase of Php1,000 per voucher

This Italianni’s branch is located at 4th Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 8pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 79153582.

Other branches are located at:

Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City
Level 6, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Third Floor, Uptown Place Mall, 36th Street Corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
B5, Bonifacio High Street, 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Ground Floor, Phase 2, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Venice Grand Canal Mall, McKinley Hill, Taguig City
Second Floor, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
Level 1, Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City
Ayala North Exchange, Ayala Avenue Corner Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Second Floor, Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila, Newport City, Pasay City
Ground Floor, Midtown Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila
Level 1, S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard Corner Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City
Corte de Las Palmas, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Ground Floor, Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari Road, Almanza, Las Piñas City

Italianni’s delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Check out my posts about other restos of The Bistro Group:

TGI Friday’s, Trinoma

Alibi, Tomas Morato

No need to wrack your brain for an excuse to have a night out with friends at the end of the work week at this newest bar in Tomas Morato.

Tucked discreetly in the basement of a converted house along Scout Delgado Street in the Tomas Morato area, Alibi is reason enough to chill out with your crew as you enjoy your favorite cocktail and bar chow.

But just in case you need to justify your night out for the Third Inquisition when you get home, you might want to mention how irresistible these are:

One: Tasty bar chow for a serious case of the munchies.

Chase away your hunger with these bar chows:

Tuna Sashimi and Salmon Sashimi (Php275 each).

Salpicao (Php250). Cubes of hanger steak sauteed in roasted garlic and served with mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.

Country-Style Fried Chicken (Php200), Juicy pieces of chicken tenders, breaded and deep-fried to a golden brown and served with gravy.

Baby Back Ribs (Php250). Succulent grilled pork ribs coated in barbecue sauce and served with a tangy coleslaw on the side.

Alibi Fries (Php190). Deep-fried thick-cut fries served with cheese and katsu sauces and topped with bonito flakes.

Mini Sausage (Php150). Sausages cut in bite-size pieces.

Pork Sisig (Php250). The classic Pinoy appetizer made of minced pork pieces sauteed in calamansi, onions and chilis.

Oyster Sisig (Php290). Alibi’s fresh take on the staple dish using oysters in the place or pork. Wow! (More on Alibi’s oyster offerings later.)

Two: Exciting cocktails to try.

Drink to a well-deserved weekend break with Alibi’s signature concoctions.

Lychee Mojito (Php145). Made with lychee, mint leaves and rum.

Tomato Quila (Php145). Made with tomatoes, pear juice and Jinro Grapefruit Soju.

Hello Kiwi (Php145). Made with kiwi, aloe vera, absinthe and soda.

Yakuroto Vodka (Php165). Made with cherry, peach vodka and Yakult.

Three: An oyster bar. ‘Nuff said!

Fresh Aklan oysters, whether plain, topped with Miso Bechamel or Pesto sauce, yours for Php50 apiece.

Who wouldn’t want to take a decadent taste of the sea with these glorious Philippine oysters?

So, go ahead. Take a long-awaited breather for the weekend. Hang out with your friends. You’ve already got your Alibi.

Alibi is located at 115 Scout Delgado Street, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City, open Thursdays to Saturdays, from 7pm to 3am.

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.