Tag: pancit palabok

Ferino’s Bibingka Merienda Blowout

With all the time spent at home with the fam, I’m glad I was able to find the opportunity to reacquaint the kiddos to our rich culinary heritage.

This initiative was greatly helped by my mother-in-law when she treated her kids and their respective families to a Pinoy-style merienda during her recent birthday by having local delicacies from Ferino’s Bibingka delivered to our respective homes.

Ferino’s Bibingka

Bibingka is kind of kakanin or rice cake made with galapong (glutinous rice flour) and cooked in clay pots lined with banana leaves. While it can be enjoyed year-round, bibingka is especially popular during the holiday season; it is the go-to food to be enjoyed after Misa de Gallo.

Ferino’s Bibingka started in pre-war Tondo, Manila when Ceferino Francisco, Sr. (also known as Mang Ferino) starter selling bibingka and puto bumbong on the sidewalk outside their rented apartment. The business grew after the war, such as when they opened Ferino’s Cafe in the Manila Hotel in the 1950s, another branch at the Fiesta Carnival in Cubao in the 1970s and more afterwards.

Most of these stores closed down with Mang Ferino’s passing but the Ferino’s Bibingka brand was revived by his grandson, Sonny Francisco, who began to operate bibingka dine-in and takeout stores in 2016.

Ferino’s Bibingka

Ferino’s Bibingka’s storied dishes made their way to our table by way of the Family Set 1 (Php880) sent by MIL as her birthday blowout. This set consisted of:

Bibingka Extra Super. Pure galapong mixed with two fresh eggs, topped with salted eggs and kesong-puti.

Ferino’s Bibingka
Ferino’s Bibingka

Pancit Palabok (Small Bilao). A traditional Filipino noodle dish which is made with round rice noodles doused in a gold-colored savory sauce topped with shrimp, crushed chicharon (pork rind), slices of hard-boiled egg and chopped green onions.

Ferino’s Bibingka
Ferino’s Bibingka

Pork Barbecue (6pieces). This popular Pinoy street food of pork barbecue consists of slices of pork skewered on bamboo sticks, marinated in sweet and savory barbecue sauce then grilled to smokey and tender doneness.

Ferino’s Bibingka
Ferino’s Bibingka

Palitaw sa Linga. Another kakanin which is made of flattened ground glutinous rice which are dropped in boiling water. The rice cakes rise up to the surface (“litaw“) when cooked which is how the dish got its name. It is served dipped in grated coconut, with a side of sugar and sesame seeds (“linga“).

Ferino’s Bibingka
Ferino’s Bibingka

Thanks to MIL, the fam was able to explore the richness of our local cuisine!

To order from Ferino’s Bibingka, you can:

  • Call +63 2 76227104 or text +63 917 6502331
  • Click/Tap the SHOP NOW button on Facebook Messenger
  • Order via GrabFood

Fun Barkada Lunch at Gerry’s Grill, Tomas Morato

Gerry’s can be counted on for no-frills Pinoy food for large family celebrations, corporate lunches or for drinking with friends.

This particular instance, however, saw the brief return of one of my close office friends (the one who went to greener and less stressful pastures), who offered to treat our group to lunch.

So we trooped over to nearby Gerry’s Grill for food and chicka. 🙂

Gerry’s Grill started out as a place where people can have a drink or two, with its first branch opening right here in Tomas Morato. Over the years, the brand evolved into a family restaurant, serving familiar and homegrown Filipino food. Today, Gerry’s Grill has branched out beyond the country, with outlets in the US, Qatar and Singapore.

For our barkada lunch, we ordered a group meal that had most our favorite dishes along with rice and iced tea for only Php1199:

Sisig. Gerry’s is famous for its crispy and savory sisig. It seems like no visit to Gerry’s is incomplete without it.

Gerry’s Grill, Tomas Morato

Pancit Palabok. This brings to mind meriendas in the province.

Gerry’s Grill, Tomas Morato

Kare Kare. With its thick peanut sauce, tender beef cuts and crisp veggies, it served as the main viand of the group meal.

Gerry’s Grill, Tomas Morato

Spicy Chicken Wings. I usually shy away from spicy food but this dish offered a nice contrast in taste and texture to the other viand.

Gerry’s Grill, Tomas Morato

We also added Inihaw na Pusit at Php405 and a combo of two brewed coffees and a yummy moist chocolate cake for an additional Php200.

Gerry’s Grill, Tomas Morato

It was a fun time with a good meal and spent with friends.

This Gerry’s Grill branch is located at the corner of Tomas Morato and Eugenio Lopez Street, Brgy South Triangle, QC. It’s open from 10am to 2am Mondays to Thursday, 10am to 3am Fridays to Saturdays, and 10am to 1am Sundays. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 4159514.