party venue – Jellybeans in the City

Fun celebration at ATOM Bar + KTV, Tomas Morato

It’s that time of the year when celebrations abound, not just among families, but also among coworkers.

After nearly three years of Zoom parties, officemates can now converge in a single location to party, have fun while enjoying each other’s company!

Those are exactly what my teammates and I did for our department’s Christmas Party held at ATOM Bar + KTV in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

When our boss tasked our team’s millennial newbies to find a place suitable for our varied personalities, interests and ages – considering there are some Gen X’ers in the group (me included) plus an almost-Boomer division head – the newbies more than rose to the occasion and organized our group’s holiday shindig at ATOM Bar + KTV.

This establishment is a combination of a bar, a family KTV, a comedy bar, a restaurant and a party venue, conveniently located near our pre-pandemic workplace, so most of us are familiar with the area.

Our group of eleven plus a few guests were comfortably accommodated at the VIP Room 6 situated away from the main stage and overlooking Timog Circle.

Luckily, the room also overlooks the parking area in front of its building so I can periodically check on my car parked outside. My other officemates unfortunately had to contend with the building’s basement parking which I heard was a bit too steep for my liking.

The room was furnished with adequate seating areas for our group, as well as two tables to hold the food or facilitate our games that require surfaces. It also had a seating area on top of the loft, a setup similar to the one employed at Cafe I’m Here right next door to ATOM Bar + KTV.

Apparently, two things that united this disparate generations of office workers are the love of song and the love of food. In between bouts of belting out our favorite tunes and competing for prizes, my officemates and I feasted on ATOM Bar + KTV’s menu items such as:

Sweet Soy Chicken (Php599/platter).

Buttered Shrimp (Php375).

Sisig (Php380).

Crispy Pata (Php799).

Of course, what’s a party without some drinks? With a Beer Bucket (Php520) (actually, two!), our Christmas party was definitely swingin’!

After encountering many trials for our team this year, we’re glad to be able to finally meet face-to-face in a fun and stress-free setting.

Want to get an earlier start to your group’s holiday celebrations? Take advantage of ATOM Bar + KTV’s extended hours in December: it now opens daily from 1pm to 3am. Call +63 936 3120405 or +63 985 2401560 or email atomluxuryhr@gmail.com to book your reservation.

ATOM Bar + KTV is located at Third Floor, CTTM Square Building, 68 Timog Avenue corner Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City.

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

New flavors made with #HeatToPerfection at 390 Degrees

Do you know what it takes to get a sumptuous meal of Western dishes that appeals to the Pinoy palate?

The answer is 390 Degrees.

That’s the name of the vibrant and well-appointed restaurant located at Sequoia Hotel in Aseana Business Park, Paranaque.

That’s also the temperature maintained in the restaurant’s signature charcoal brick oven which cooks all the viands it serves, all masterfully curated by Chef Mark Griffin.

Operated by the same team behind Ombu Kusina in Quezon City led by its owner, Edison Lo, a veteran in the Filipino F&B scene, and its Marketing Manager Tammy Lim, 390 Degrees brings imaginative takes on classic Western dishes, served in generous portions and in a luxurious setting.

I had a sneak preview of its offerings in time for Valentine’s Day almost two years ago and was looking forward to its grand opening. However, the pandemic struck and 360 Degrees’ grand launch was postponed.

In the meantime, the restaurant set about making its signature dishes available to the dining public despite the lockdowns and restrictions on the restaurant industry by innovating on its offers. Thus, its much celebrated party trays and DIY Black Burger Kit made their way into many a foodie’s heart during the community quarantine.

A little under two years after its soft opening, 390 Degrees is finally ready to unveil its delicious signature dishes for dine-in, which include:

Tomato Soup with Ravioli (Php240). A comforting bowl of roasted and pureed local tomatoes topped with spinach-cheese raviolo.

Beef Brisket Sandwich (Php490). Tender slices of 5-star Angus beef topped with lettuce, tomato, crispy-fried onions, caramelized shallots and seasoned mustard served inside house-made charcoal activated buns.

Chicken Skewers (Php360). Flavorful and juicy grilled chicken pieces in house-made sauce served with buttered vegetables on thyme-infused rice pilaf.

Signature Iced Tea (Php120). House-brewed black tea infused with pineapple and lemon.

Thinking of having a get-together here with family and friends? You can reserve the place for exclusive private dining (with a sanitized set up) for three hours. The place can accommodate a maximum of thirty people (to be able to observe physical distancing and other safety measures) for a consumable food and drinks order of Php15,000.

Want to bring its delicious dishes to your home or office parties? Check out 390 Degrees’ party trays of charcoal grilled creations good for six to seven people.

Beef Brisket (Php880 ala carte | Php3,490 quarter slab | Php5,900 half slab | Php10,700 whole slab). Five-star Angus beef slab slow-roasted in 390 Degrees’ oven.

BBQ Pork Ribs (Php1,370). Oven-roasted pork ribs dressed in house-made BBQ sauce.

Blackened Salmon (Php2,650). Oven-baked salmon fillet with creamy dill sauce.

You can even bring home desserts from 390 Degrees’ Breads and Pastries line such as these decadent Chocolate Banoffee Pie (Php150 pie | Php575 box of four) and Mango Banoffee Pie (Php150 pie | Php575 box of four).

Its grand opening may have been derailed by the pandemic, but with all its innovative and delicious offers, I still stand by my prediction that 390 Degrees is all set to be hottest foodie destination in the metro.

Many thanks to Edison, Tammy and Chef Griffin for a wonderful meal and a fun event that became a mini-reunion of foodies. Our group missed each other during the lockdowns and appreciated the opportunity to come together again.

390 Degrees is is located at the Ground Floor, Sequioa Hotel Manila, Aseana City Business Park, Entertainment City, Paranaque, open daily from 10.30am to 8pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 82845110 or +63 921 2446502. It accepts safe and cashless payments via Alipay and WeChat Pay.

Fifteen years of celebrations at Plaza Ibarra

We Pinoys do a lot of celebrating.

For almost any occasion or milestone achieved, we like to get together with our friends and family over good food and drink.

In Quezon City’s Tomas Morato area is a place brimming with memories of fifteen years’ worth of celebrations.

Plaza Ibarra combines an elegantly designed ballroom (complete with a lighted winding staircase for that dramatic entrance) and a rustic Mediterranean garden. It has a sizeable parking space in front (with a friendly guard that also assists guests when parking) so that guests can bring their cars. Its sprawling party area lends itself well to varied designs and styling.

It recently celebrated its fifteenth anniversary with Quince Anos. During this grand food tasting event, Plaza Ibarra treated its partners and guests to a feast which featured the ouvres of its in-house catering service, which included:

Appetizer. Croquettas con Pollo y Jamon.

Soup. Cream of Pumpkin with Cinnamon and Croutons

Salad Station. Mixed Greens with Thousand Island and Ranch dressing.

Tempura Station. Freshly-made shrimp and vegetable tempura.

Carvery. Beef Tenderloin with Peppercorn and Mushroom Sauce.

Grill Station. Grilled Fish Fillet with Lemon Butter and Creamy Garlic Sauce.

Pasta Station. Choice of freshly made spaghetti, spinach fettuccini and penne noodles with choice of carbonara, pesto or herb tomato sauces.

Main Entrees. Hickory Pork Spare Ribs Barbecue, Chicken Parmigiana ala Milanese, Oven-roasted Mixed Vegetables and Paella Valenciana.

Dessert. Buco Pandan, Assorted Pastries and Fruits in Season.

Such tasty viands surely make celebrations at Plaza Ibarra even more memorable.

So what can you celebrate at Plaza Ibarra?

Toasting to the union of two hearts.

Hold your wedding reception here where family and friends and feast and drink to your future happiness.

Welcoming a new addition into the fold.

Celebrate your baby’s christening with a meal after the baptismal ceremony.

Comemorating a child’s various milestones.

Kiddie parties are a sure way to mark your child’s birthdays or achievements.

Formally introducing a young lady to society.

Celebrate the day your daughter turns 18 with the grand ball of her dreams filled with laughter, music and dancing.

Plaza Ibarra is also suited to corporate events such as holiday parties, assemblies and product launches.

Having reached its fifteenth year milestone, Plaza Ibarra gears itself up to maintain its reputation as the Ultimate Party Venue.

Book your event at Plaza Ibarra. Call +63 2 4130706, +63 2 9226868, +63 2 3748354 or +63 917 1348939 or email bqt_plazaibarra@ibarraspartyvenues.com.ph. Visit its website to view Plaza Ibarra’s event packages.

Plaza Ibarra is located at No. 77 Timog Avenue, Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City.

HBO holds party for pay TV operators at Cove Manila

Every year, one of the most anticipated events during the week of the Philippine Cable Show is the party thrown by HBO for its local affiliates.

This year is no different, and HBO more than live up to expectations with the shindig it held at Cove Manila which I attended together with my coworkers and friends from SKY.

Cove Manila is one of the metro’s premiere party destinations. Opened in 2017, it offers a fusion of music, style and dining. The nightclub boasts of employing some of the most hi-tech sound and lighting technologies to put on spectacular shows or awesome parties.

Before entering the venue, guests have the option of having their photos taken while seated on the Iron Throne. Yes, that Iron Throne. With the most-awaited final season of the network’s monster hit original series Game of Thrones set to premiere mere weeks away, you can bet that many of the attendees lost no time in getting their Westerosi royalty mode on while pretending to survey their kingdom in all their majestic glory.

I know I did! 🙂

Inside, guests are treated to a lavish array of finger food and overflowing drinks, all while being entertained with rousing music from a live band. While there are fruit juices aplenty, I couldn’t resist having a taste of the wines: House Red is the Butterfly Ridge Shiraz Australia, and House White is the La Umbra Pinot Grigio Romania. Thanks to a recent wine tasting I attended, I knew enough about my preference in wines to get myself a white wine. (I didnget myself a taste of the red wine though.)

Then the buffet opened.

Ooh, what a thrilling feast for the eyes and the tastebuds! Stations for pasta and all sorts of meats were made available for party goers to get their fill. And, of course, what is a party in the Philippines without the quintessential lechon, huh?

The celebrations went on and on, especially when the guests of honor, the White Walkers, together with their Night Kin, graced the event with their chilling presence (well, thrilling for the GOT fans, that is!)

This year’s HBO Party at Cove Manila is truly one for the books. Now, if only I can wait patiently for the Game of Thrones premiere April 15!

Cove Manila is located at Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive, Entertainment City, Paranaque.

Did you know that you could enjoy spectacular discounts on food in Cove Manila 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.

Disclosures:

I was invited to a party held at this venue. Food and drinks mentioned in this post were party fare and were not paid for by the attendees including myself.

I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Photo Credit: Mico Marco of SKY for the White Walker shots

Check out my posts on SKY’s ongoing activities for Game of Thrones.