pancake – Jellybeans in the City

Indulgent weekend brunch at Rustic Mornings by Isabelo

Weekend brunches are always something to look forward to, wouldn’t you agree?

They give us the opportunity to leisurely enjoy a sumptuous meal with our family and friends, time well spent catching up on each other’s news and making plans for the next get-together.

That’s what we #OfficeMaritesses were up to one rainy weekend: we embarked on a foodie adventure at one of Marikina’s top brunch destinations, Rustic Mornings.

In this quaint eatery, we were able to surround ourselves with gorgeous greenery, eclectic artworks as well as other points of visual interest made from scrap and recycled materials while enjoying a delicious meal which consisted of:

Spinach Dip (Php400). Isabelo’s famous rich and creamy spinach dip accompanied by pieces of toasted ciabattaa. A tasty start to our lovely brunch!

Berry Cream Cheese and Bacon-Stuffed French Toast (Php500). Thick pieces of French toast generously stuffed with berry cream cheese and crispy bacon.

Waffle Churros (Php290). Sweetly spiced crisp waffle tossed in sugar and cinnamon powder.

Brunch Platter (Php990). Group platter good for two-to three persons that includes breakfast favorites: pancakes, waffles, bacon, scrambled eggs and hash browns.

Filipino Platter (Php990). Group platter good for two to three persons that has a delicious sampling of the classic Pinoy almusal: beef tapa, tocino, crispy bangus, fried rice and sunny-side-up egg.

Drinks. Brunch wouldn’t be complete without hot drinks to perk us up or iced drinks to cool and refresh us.

We loved the fresh and airy feel of dining al fresco in such a beautifully reinvigorating setting, which is quite conducive towards sharing all the hot goss on various office and barkada topics.

We found the group platters to be well-curated as they combine various breakfast favorites in reasonably priced packages.

So if you want to enjoy your own a setting for spilling the proverbial tea with your fellow Maritesses or to enjoy a lovely morning meal with family and friends, it’s high time you indulge yourself at Rustic Mornings.

Rustic Mornings is located at 11 Isabelo Mendoza Street, San Roque, Marikina City, open from 8am to 4pm.

While walk-ins are welcome, the place can get full pretty quickly so it’s best to call ahead of your visit to reserve your table via +63 2 8425 8610.

You may also course your takeout or delivery orders via Viber at +63 995 2493732.

@beingjellybeans
Enjoy wholesome breakfast faves and al fresco dining surrounded by eclectic art and nature at @Rustic Mornings by Isabelo. Deets at beingjellybeans.com! #beingjellybeans
♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim

Know more about Rustic Mornings via its website or follow it on Facebook or Instagram.

#EatsInTheEast: Pancake House, Sierra Valley

With so much development going on east of Manila, residents and visitors can definitely look forward to beloved restaurant brands making their presence felt in the area.

One such brand is Pancake House which has been serving up comfort food to Pinoys – morning, noon and evening – since the 1970s.

One of its newer branches opened at the gate of Sierra Valley in Cainta, a soon-to-rise real estate development planned to contain a mall and mid-rise condominium.

This makes it an ideal stopover for motorists traversing Ortigas Avenue Extension from Antipolo and Taytay to Cainta and Pasig, and vice versa.

That’s how it was for my fam: on the way back from an errand in Tanay to the metro, we stopped by this Pancake House branch for lunch and enjoyed the restaurant’s offerings such as:

Caesar Salad (Php245). Bacon bits and croutons tossed with crisp salad greens in Caesar Salad dressing and sprinkled with grated parmesan.

Best Taco in Town (Php99). Mexican-seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese encase in a crispy taco shell.

Classic Pan Chicken (Php230/2pc). Juicy chicken pieces are fried to a beautiful golden-brown with a satisfying crunch with every bite and accompanied by its unique savory and buttery gravy.

Classic Country Medley (Php310). A filling combo consisting of 2 pieces Classic Pancakes, 2 pieces of Country Sausage and Pineapple Juice.

House Specials Set (Php325). A sulit bundle consisting of Pancake House favorites: a Best Taco in Town, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and garlic bread and a piece of Classic Pan Chicken with its sIgnature gravy.

Golden Brown Waffle (Php199). A classic waffle cooked to a crispy and delicious golden brown.

Our Pancake House favorites like the Classic Pan Chicken, Caesar Salad and the Best Taco in Town are always a hit with the family, and we enjoyed tasting the unfamiliar dishes.

So, whether you’re a resident of a nearby village or a motorist passing by, you know you can always drop by this Pancake House outlet for a bite or two of delicious comfort food.

This Pancake House branch is located at Sierra Valley, Ortigas Avenue Extension corner Suburban Drive, Cainta, Rizal.

#TheBistroGroup Trinoma Food Crawl: Denny’s

Renowned writer Robert A. Heinlein once said “One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast.”

I can definitely agree: breakfast fuels you at the start of the day, readying you for all the challenges you will face from then on.

And where do we go to get a tasty and nourishing breakfast, in the morning or any time of the day?

Denny’s, of course!

The first stop of an epic food crawl that my foodie friends and I undertook at the Trinoma Mall, Denny’s whetted our appetites for a satisfying day of eating.

Denny’s is known as America’s diner. It started in the 1950s as a donut stand called Danny’s Donuts. Since then, it has evolved into a global restaurant chain with 1700 locations, as well as adopted a slightly changed name.

In the Philippines, it is one of the restaurants managed by The Bistro Group, a collection of international and local 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.

With these measures in place, diners can just focus their attention to the hearty and flavorful dishes that Denny’s offers, such as:

Denny’s Share for All (Php695). A filling collection of appetizers such as pancake puppies, quesadilla, chicken fingers and fries served with ranch dressing, honey mustard and caramel sauce.

Lumberjack Slam (Php675). Two buttermilk pancakes, a slice of grilled ham, two bacon strips and two sausages. Thanks to Denny’s BOGO (Buy One Get One) Everyday deal, you get a free Garlic Smoked Bangus with your order of the Lumberjack Slam.

Filipino Breakfast Platter (Php1,395). Good for sharing by up to three persons, this is a smorgasboard of home-grown flavors which include bangus belly, crispy pork, sausage, eggplant, saba and side veggies accompanied by three pieces of pancakes.

Fill up on your brekkie faves and enjoy great savings with these great offers:

Buy One Get One Everyday: 15pc Wing Basket + All-Time Breakfast (Php395), Lumberjack Slam + Garlic Smoked Bangus (Php675), Any Ribs Dish + Fried Chicken & Waffle (Php395)
Bundles: 4 pcs pancakes + 4 pcs waffles + 6 pcs wings (Php795), 2 pcs pork belly + 2 pcs Denny’s Fried Chicken + Rice (Php795)

If you’ve got a monster-sized appetite or a major craving for breakfast food, head on to Denny’s!

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 Tueadays
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 Denny’s branch is located at Fourth Floor, Trinoma Mall, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 8pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 9pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 77723371 or +63 905 3713998.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City
Ground Floor, Venice Grand Canal, McKinley Hill, Taguig City
Ground Floor, Uptown Parade, 9th Avenue Corner 38th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Second Floor, Ayala North Exchange, Ayala Avenue Corner Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Ground Floor, Midtown Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila
Ground Floor, AllHome, C-5 Road Extension, Manuyo, Las Piñas City

Denny’s delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

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

A new foodie haven: Shizuka Cafe, Little Baguio

With all the frenetic activity at work and at home, don’t you sometimes for a place where you can just relax and enjoy your time alone or with a few close friends?

Well, look no further than this relatively new cafe located a few minutes’ ride away from Greenhills.

From the outside, Shizuka Cafe may blend in among the many dining establishments in Little Baguio, but inside is a welcoming and cozy haven. Muted lighting and artfully displayed Japanese-themed bric-a-bracs make it a comfy and relaxing place, in line with the meaning of its name – shizuka, which means calm, peaceful, silent and quiet.

Shizuka’s Chef Paul Tan and his partners introduced quite a lot of innovations and advocacies to the local dining scene which include Shitzuka’s drives for artisanship (by carefully crafting its food and beverage offering), sustainability (through minimizing the use of plastic in its operations), local commerce (by sourcing its ingredients for its homey Japanese cuisine and finely craft coffee beverages from local merchants) and diversity (by employing differently abled staff).

Together with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH, I was able to sample some of the well-crafted dishes that Shizuka brings to the table. Check them out:

Onion Tempura (Php125). Onions coated in tempura batter then deep-friend and served with wasabi aioli. I love how texture of the onions and the flavor complexity that the wasabi aioli adds to the dish.

Pork Gyoza (Php150). Five pieces of the popular pork and vegetable pot stickers. In contrast to the usual gyoza from other restaurants, these come in pretty square shapes.

Nachos (Pho180). Crispy wonton wrappers doused with a sauce made from three cheeses and topped with soy Bolognese and parmesan cheese. I found myself reaching into this bowl and popping those nachos into my mouth again and again.

Tori Tebasaki (Php155). Tender chicken wings glazed with a sambal sauce, an exotic take on the chicken wings dish.

Tori Salad (Php180). Mixed greens with grilled chicken and miso balsamic vinaigrette.

Katsu Sando (Php190). Breaded ground pork katsu sandwiches coated with house-made tonkatsu sauce.

Tori Pesto (Php165). Sandwich with freshly grilled chicken and shiitake tossed in pesto sauce.

Nori Mac and Cheese (Php190). Shell macaroni in a cream sauce made of mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan served a crispy nori. I tried this hearty pasta dish with both with a touch of seven spices and without and I like it better without the spice.

Gyu Salpicao (Php290). Flavorful tenderloin in garlicky salpicao sauce over rice served with a sous vide egg. Salpicao is oftentimes a hit or miss with me: any excess in salty, sweet or spicy flavors tends to detract from my enjoyment. I’m happy to discover that this version of the dish is very well-balanced with added richness from the sous vide egg.

Tori HBS (Php210). Crispy fried chicken tossed in honey butter glaze over rice, also served with sous vide egg. What makes the Gyu Salpicao a standout also applies in this dish.

Big Breakfast (Php230). Imagine waking up to a hearty breakfast of hefty pancakes smothered in premium butter, generous slices of Italian sausage and fluffy scrambled eggs. Heck, fill yourself up with this meal any time of the day.

The Nursery (Php115). Peanut butter cream cheese with chocolate soil. A real treat for a sweet tooth like me.

Better than Doughnuts (Php100). My first taste of freshly made Southern American-style beignets more than met my expectations. Fluffy and chewy and perfectly complemented by matcha or chocolate ganache, this serves as a wonderful cap to the meal.

Shizuka Cafe also brings imaginatively crafted beverages to the table. These include:

White Genmaicha Cha (Php108 for 16oz | Php128 for 22oz). One of the Flaky Sea Salt and Cheese series, this features a not-too-sweet earthy rice and green tea flavor. I would have loved it sweeter but this would be good for those who are managing their sugar intake.

Strawberry Milk (Php118 for 16oz | Php138 for 22oz). Fresh strawberries blended with milk and also topped with Flaky Sea Salt and Cheese. I wish it could have maintained its consistency (we took a long time taking pictures) but it is sweetly refreshing just the same.

Cold Brew Latte (Php108 for 16oz | Php128 for 22oz). The more caffeinated among the Flaky Sea Salt and Cheese series, this is good for those looking for a pick-me-up.

Strawberry Chamomile (Php145). Refreshing loose-leaf chamomile tea and strawberries.

Sparkling Yuzu Mojito (Php220). This refreshing citrusy drink is made with yuzu and lime fruit juice, tonic water and white rhum.

Strawberry Sakerita (Php230). Loose-leaf chamomile tea blended with fresh strawberries and sake served in a glass with salted rim. A sweeter and milder Japanese version of the margarita, one I can imagine myself enjoying again and again.

So when you’re feeling overwhelmed or just want to unwind in a relaxing and welcoming environment, head off to Shizuka Cafe. Bring your friends with you for an extra good time!

Shizuka Cafe is located at 709 Jose Abad Santos Corner F. Calderon, Little Baguio, San Juan City, open daily from 8am to 10pm. For inquiries, reservations and pick up arrangements, call +63 926 0792964.

No time to drop by Shizuka Cafe? Order what your craving for via Grab Food and have it delivered right to your doorstep.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, 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 Japanese restaurants:

Starting the day right at Milky & Sunny, Tomas Morato

We keep hearing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

No wonder, with all the health benefits that the meal has been touted to confer on those who partake of it. Among the positive effects that Natural Food Series website purports that breakfast brings are:

Promoting psychological health. Eating food rich in brain-nourishing minerals like potassium, magnesium and selenium helps in improving concentration and guarding against illnesses such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers.

Giving energy to your body. Breakfast powers your body to do the work you need to do for the rest of the day.

Promoting heart health. Food with nutrients such as omega-3 and good fats help in maintaining cardiovascular health by enhancing your heart’s cells healing power.

If these samplings of health benefits aren’t enough to get you to rushing to wolf down some breakfast as soon as you wake up, then Milky & Sunny‘s all-day breakfast menu surely would.

While most of us usually enjoy the first meal of the day at home, Milky & Sunny prides itself on breakfast dishes you will journey to their nearest branch to taste.

Together with fellow Zomato foodies, I was able to try out some of the resto’s signature dishes which include:

Buttermilk Chicken Caesar Salad (Php200). The resto claims that the the dressing is the real deal and I can agree. The Ceasar dressing is well-incorporated balanced into the crisp lettuce, while the deep-fried battered chicken breast adds some heartiness to this light dish.

Tapa Rice Meal with Egg (Php225) and Garlic Lonnganisa Rice Meal with Egg (Php190). With these hearty meals, you can choose how you want your rice (plain or garlic) and eggs (scrambled or sunny side up) to be served. Yep, it’s your call. The tender beef strips of the tapa were cooked in a special Pinoy-style marinade with a great harmony of salty and sweet flavors, while the garlicky longganisa goes quote well with the eggs.

Crispy Kare-kare with Rice (Php320). Crunchy pork belly served on a bed of rich peanut sauce together with leafy greens, eggplant and banana bud, along with a serving of salty bagoong (shrimp paste).

Lechon Kawali with Rice (Php175). The classic Pinoy dish is comprised of pork belly simmered to tenderness then deep-fried in a pan until crispy and golden. Together with rice, achara and lechon sauce, it is a filling and flavorful meal.

Margherita Pizza (Php180). A light yet tasty pizza made of tomatoes, Italian cheeses, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil on a thin crunchy crust.

Strawberry Banana Pancake (Php180). Two pieces of regular-sized pancakes mace with strawberry puree and served with frothy whipped cream, banana slices and drizzles of strawberry and chocolate syrup.

Hazelnut Banana Crepe (Php300). Vanilla-filled crepe topped with ice cream and served with banana slices and drizzled with chocolate syrup.

Malted Milkshake (Php150). Its flavor is driven by the toasty milk powder blended with milk and topped with crea, and nuts.

Soybliss Ice Cream (Php100). A non-dairy ice cream that caters to the lactose-intolerant and the health conscious. I opted for the Avocado flavor which has a strong soy flavor and is not too sweet. I wish the avocado flavor is more apparent, though.

With healthy and hearty choices of food to break your fast, Milky & Sunny is a happy start to your day. Check this place out and let me know what you think!

This Milky & Sunny branch is located at Ground Floor, Ignacia Place, 62 Mother Ignacia Corner Sergeant Esguerra Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City. It is open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 11am to 5pm.

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.

Check out my reviews of other breakfast places:

Pi Breakfast & Pies, Ugong

Spice Cafe, City Garden Grand Hotel

Fika, Capitol Hills

Little Owl Cafe, New Manila

Quarks and Quills, Banawe

Sunnies Cafe, Megamall

AM/PM Brunch. Bar. Cafe., Tomas Morato

Barkada Meet Up at Pancake House, Ayala Malls the 30th

I had another holiday lunch meet-up with close friends that I haven’t seen for so long at Pancake House. We agreed on this branch at Ayala Malls the 30th as one of my friends like practically all of Pancake House’s offerings while I, on the other hand, have yet to fully explore the dining options within the mall.

We ordered our hearty meals:

Pork Tocino (Php219). Served with garlic rice, fried egg and mango salsa.
Hot Roast Beef (Php310). Roast beef slices smothered in Pancake House’s buttery gravy, served on a thick slice of bread accompanied by mashed potatoes and corn and carrots.
Special Salisbury Steak (Php265). A thick patty of Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy and bacon bits, served with rice and vegetables.

Since our bill has reached beyond Php800, we were able to get 3 FREE mini pancakes upon presentation of my BDO Rewards Card. I ordered a Belgian Hot Chocolate (Php130) to enjoy with my pancake.

The restaurant is quite spacious and can seat a large number of people. The wait staff are also helpful and accommodating: aside from facilitating our orders, the staff gamely took our pictures.

Lunch Stopover at Pancake House

Driving home from our getaway at La Luz Beach Resort over the All Saints Day break, we stopped by at the Total Gas Station for lunch. We decided on Pancake House because its offerings are safe bets, especially when your picky eater son with you.

The resto features Pancake House’s signature orange-themed furniture and decor, with cute Halloween accents adding a more fun and festive air to the place.

The wait staff were quick to assist us with our dripping umbrella (it was raining pretty hard when we arrived) and usher us to a table.

We took advantage of an SM Advantage promo that entitles us to FREE two-piece Classic Pancakes (Php146) when our bill reaches Php700.

To reach this amount, we ordered:

Almondigas Soup (Php112). Many Pinoys grew up with this soup of steaming flavorful broth with miswa (rice noodles) and pork meatballs. Perfect for a rainy day!
Best Taco in Town (Php120). And it probably is! A crispy taco shell houses ground beef, lettuce, onions, tomato and cheese until they all find their way to your mouth.
Classic Pan Chicken (Php255 for 3 pieces) that Hubby split with little boy. My baby especially likes the buttery gravy that comes with the chicken and douses his rice with it.
Pan-Grilled Pork Belly (Php260). A thick piece of Cajun spice-marinated pork belly served with mashed potatoes and corn and carrots.