new menu launch – Jellybeans in the City

The term “hidden gem” gets thrown around quite an awful lot, particularly in the foodiesphere. Often referring to largely unrecognized, underrated or out-of-the-way places that offer unique and delightful dining experiences, hidden gems serve as the Holy Grail for many of us foodies. Being able to discover one and share it to our networks is usually a highlight experience.

One such hidden gem is AMAH in Taguig.

The rooftop restaurant with awesome scenic views of Bonifacio Global City is the brainchild of Chef Jose Villareal. Together with his fellow culinary students from Enderun Colleges, particularly co-Chef Gab Escalambre, he set up a fine dining restaurant serving Filipino-Chinese heirloom dishes in his family home during the pandemic. This is where they can gain real-world, on-the-job experience while continuing to hone their craft.

AMAH recently reopened its doors, with new features for its diners to enjoy which I discovered during a visit with my foodie friends.

Renovated restaurant premises

Since my last visit to this restaurant in 2023, some improvements have been implemented in the restaurant which are sure to enhance the dining experience.

The former al fresco dining area has been converted to a fully air-conditioned space. This change makes the restaurant a lot cooler and comfortable during the summer months while sheltering the diners from unwanted downpours during the rainy season.

More tables and chairs have also been added to the main dining area as well as well as to the upstairs section, significantly expanding the restaurant’s capacity and making it suitable for large gatherings and parties, while retaining pocket spaces for more intimate meals.

Bold menu updates

Chefs Jose and Gab also revamped AMAH’s menu with even fresher twists on Filipino and Asian-fusion viands, all prepared with exacting methods and exquisitely served by their wait staff. These show-stopping fare give diners an experience of the delicate balance between presentation, flavor and textures. These include:

So whether you’re planning a special intimate dinner for two in a picturesque setting or a large family or office gathering with show-stopping dishes, AMAH is surely your best bet, especially with its recent improvements.

Book your table by messaging AMAH on Facebook or Instagram or call +63 962 8767085.

AMAH is located at 27 F. Segundo Street, Phase 4, AFPOVAI, Western Bicutan, Taguig City, open Mondays to Wednesdays from 5pm to 10pm and Fridays to Mondays from 11am to 3pm and 5pm to 10pm.

Disclosure: Together with fellow content creators, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant.

If you haven’t gotten your fill of food trips over the holiday break, the good news is that you won’t need to leave the metro to get a taste of the best of Filipino food.

SilverSpoon Kitchenette is launching its 2023 Travel Lokal Campaign which highlights dishes that represent regional culinary traditions every quarter of the year.

“SilverSpoon’s mission is to give a spoonful experience to our customers – part of which is to bring something new to the table,” shares owner Decie Montefrio. “That’s why we decided to immerse ourselves and travel to places to understand to understand the culture and tradition of our local dishes and to give homage to our own cuisines.”

From January 6 to April 5, 2023, Pinoy food lovers will be able to enjoy a well-curated selection of Kapampangan dishes.

Pampanga’s culinary heritage is heavily influenced by Spanish cuisine (by way of the Spanish friars and sailors who introduced their way of cooking to the locals during the Spanish occupation), while also sharing characteristics with Malay and Mexican cuisines. Kapampangan cooks also incorporated local produce into the resulting dishes, and pioneered in methods of pre-cooking (“sangkutsa”) and food preservation, earning for their region the moniker “culinary capital of Luzon.”

SilverSpoon’s limited edition menu is a product of extensive research by the SilverSpoon team, made by traveling to Pampanga collaborating with a local homecook who shared heritage recipes and provided insights into Kapampangan cuisine. This menu includes:

Pako Salad. Made with local vegetable pako (fiddlehead fern) tossed with tomatoes, onions and hard-boiled eggs in a honey citrus dressing.

Suam na Mais. Also known as sinabawang mais, this is a healthy and hearty soup made from white and yellow corn kernels.

Pork Sisig. The famous Kapampangan dish made with pig’s face (“maskara”), belly and chicken liver, seasoned with calamansi, onions and local chilis. Traditionally, this dish does not include the mayonnaise and pork cracklings (“chicharon”) that figure prominently in the version present in many Metro Manila restaurants.

Bringhe. Also known as biringhi, it is the local version of the Valencia paella, but uses local glutinous rice (“malagkit”) cooked in coconut milk (“gata”) and turmeric which gives the dish its distinct flavor and color. Giving more heft to the dish are the bits of chicken , chorizo and vegetables that are cooked along with the rice.

Palitaw. Popular local rice cake dessert made with glutinous rice that was washed, soaked and ground then shaped into flat discs and cooked in boiling water. The dish gets its name from the way that the palitaw floats to the surface to indicate that it’s done. It is then topped with grated mature coconut (“niyog”) and served with toasted sesame seeds, muscovado and washed sugar.

Leche Flan. The classic Filipino dessert made with fresh egg yolks, milk and topped with chocolate flakes.

Drinks. To complement the meal, SilverSpoon serves various beverage options which include hot and iced chocolate, as well as mocktails such as Blue Lagoon (citrusy drink made with blue curacao syrup) and Shirley Temple (made with ginger ale sweetened with grenadine and garnished with a maraschino cherry).

So if you feel like going back to our culinary roots and delving into our heritage cuisines, drop by SilverSpoon Kitchenette and take advantage of its Travel Lokal offerings.

Watch out for other local cuisines to be featured later in the year!

Note: SilverSpoon’s regular menu of sandwiches and rice meals is also available.

Silverspoon Kitchenette is located at 81 Scout Gandia Street, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily for dine-in, takeout or delivery from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries, reservations or delivery orders, call +63 917 1603327. It also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Plus, here’s a special treat for your food trip!

Scan this code and present your boarding pass when you dine in at SilverSpoon to enjoy 10% off on your bill! (Applicable top dine-in transactions only)

For updates on its latest offers, follow Silverspoon on Facebook or Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food-tasting event held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to facilitate an honest review and were not paid for by the attendees.

Check out my previous posts about SilverSpoon: