rice meal – Jellybeans in the City

Pinoy comfort food at Goodah, Timog Avenue

Whenever I feel stressed or harassed, I always get a strong craving for comfort food. These are dishes that I usually associate with delicious home cooking, the kind that my mom would serve me whenever I was sick or sad.

For over thirty years, Goodah has been the has been the go-to place for people seeking fuss-free comfort food that appeals to down-home Pinoy palate. These include the traditional hot and quickly-served Filipino snacks like goto and lugaw, as well as the hugely popular silogs. Being so popular among all sorts of people, it soon adopted the monicker “ang pagkaing for every all!”

During the height of the lockdown due to the pandemic, I was able to enjoy Goodah’s comforting dishes with my fam while stuck at home through its Salo-Salo Set Meals (thanks to Rowena of TravelEatPinas for thoughtfully sending me this meal set!)

However, as the lockdowns gradually eased (but my work and life stresses did not) I wanted to experience Goodah’s down-home Pinoy dishes in a dine-in setting.

So off I went with my fellow unnies to the Goodah branch along Timog Avenue.

Here, we were able to sit down and take a break from our daily grind as we gossiped about our Hollywood idols and K-pop stans while we feast on Pinoy comfort food.

These include:

Batangas Lomi with Tokwa’t Baboy (Php134). A noodle dish made with thick yellow noodles in a thick and starchy soup topped with bits of pork meat, pork offal, pork rind and kikiam. It’s best enjoyed with a side dish made with tofu and pork bits in vinegar sauce.

Arroz Caldo Special (Php179). A porridge made with glutinous rice and accompanied by chicken pieces, hard-boiled egg and topped with crunchy fried garlic and chopped scallions.

Pork Bingoongan (Php319). A classic Pinoy dish wherein pork belly is stewed in shrimp paste (bagoong).

Kare Kare (Php345). A Filipino stew wherein ox and pork meat and offal are served in a thick and rich peanut sauce along with vegetables.

Supermeal A (Php150). A budget-friendly rice meal that includes tocino, lumpiang shanghai, pancit canton, kropek (prawn cracker) and leche flan.

Supermeal B (Php160). Another rice meal that’s light on the budget which includes tapa flakes, lumpiang shanghai, pancit canton, kropek (prawn cracker) and leche flan.

Ribsilog (Php195). Crispy fried pork ribs served with garlic fried rice, fried egg and atchara.

Leche Flan (Php39). The Pinoy version of creme caramel which is made of egg-and-milk custard with a soft caramel layer on top.

With such comforting dishes to be enjoyed, should there still be room in my psyche for stress and negativity? I guess not!

Dispel your own blues with Pinoy comfort food by dropping by a Goodah branch near you today!

This Goodah outlet is located at 57 Timog Avenue, Bgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily for dine-in and takeout from 8am to 8pm, and for delivery from 7am to 9pm via Pick*A*Roo, and 25-hours via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Other Gooodah outlets are located in Alabang, Valenzuela, Pasig, Granada and Fairview in Quezon City, as well as in Sucat and Bicutan in Paranaque.

Know more about this much-loved Filipino food brand through its website. Stay updated on Goodah’s latest offers and promos by following it on Facebook and Instagram.

#FruitTeaParty at Colobaba Cafe

In these last few days of summer, don’t you sometimes feel the need for ways to relax and refresh yourself as well as a break from the monotony of responsibilities at work and at home?

How about getting together with your pals for a refreshing Fruit Tea Party at Colobaba Cafe?

This fruit tea brand originated from Taiwan and has now spread to over 500 branches worldwide. One of its outlets in the Philippines is located along Timog Avenue in Quezon City.

Here, you and your buddies can relax in the laid back atmosphere as you feast your eyes and sate your tummy on wondrously colorful and refreshing drinks and snacks on offer.

With the reinvigorating blend of fresh fruits and premium Taiwanese tea, Colobaba Cafe’s drinks are high on both taste and nutritional content.

Taking center-stage, of course, is Colobaba Cafe’s Fruit Tea Party (Php298). This is the 1.5-liter version of the Superfruit Tea which is made of Taiwanese tea infused with apple, pineapple, watermelon and calamansi.

If you want to make your fruity drink even healthier, you can always go for a Yogurt Baba (Php188), which is made by blending fresh fruit juice and yogurt. To enjoy this drink, simply shake then gulp it down!

Of course, what would a party be without some delicious food? Colobaba Cafe’s got this covered, thanks to delectable snack offerings.

Snack Pack (Php268). A filling combination of potato fries, chicken chops, chicken popcorn and sausage.

Orange Chicken + Veggies (Php198). A satisfying rice bowl topped with chicken glazed in a sweet and tangy orange sauce, a sunny-side-up egg and vegetables.

Nothing caps a meal quite like some sweet delight, so Colobaba Cafe’s got some treats to give you and your friends your just desserts!

Chocolate Souffle (Php188). Fluffy Japanese style pancakes topped with cheesy cream foam, drizzled with chocolate sauce and sprinkled with crushed Oreos.

Egg Tarts (Php150/pcs | Php200/6pcs). Portuguese-style pastries composed of a flaky and buttery shell housing creamy egg custard.

So take heart, you harried urbanite. Some welcome rest, respite and refreshment await you and your buddies at Colobaba Cafe. Drop by any of its outlets in the metro:

Quezon City: Unit 9 ITC Commercial Complex, Timog Avenue corner Panay Avenue, Quezon City

Manila: Unit 104 The Manila Residence Tower II, Taft Avenue, Manila

Pasay: Magdalena Jalandoni Street, CCP Complex, Pasay City

Don’t have the time to drop by a Colobaba Cafe branch? Have your reinvigorating drinks and re-energizing snacks delivered to you via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

To keep updated on its latest offers and promos, follow Colobaba Cafe on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food-tasting held at this restaurant where food items were served at no cost to the attendees.

A chicken-y twist to sisig from Manokoloco

Find yourself in a bind as what to have for the gang’s lunch while in quarantine?

Don’t stress yourself out! Go for something tasty that you won’t have to tire yourself out cooking.

How about that Pinoy staple ulam called sisig? That’s sure to have the vote of everyone in the gang!

Try it with a twist by ordering some Chicken Sisig from Manokoloco!

Instead of the usual pork cheeks, get crunchy bits of roasted chicken and chicken liver all mixed up with chilis and a bit of mayo. It’s lighter on the tummy and (hopefully, just a wee bit) healthier, too!

Get enough for the whole gang by ordering the Nalocosisig (Php250), quite plenty for a barkada of three to four. Just make sure to have lots and lots of kanin ready!

Eating all by your lonesome? Here is where it gets interesting.

You can reheat it for dinner, make a pasta sauce out of it or add it as a topping to the tortilla chips you munch on while binge-watching your fave Netflix series.

The possibilities are endless!

Thanks to Harvard of AlwaysHungry.PH for sharing from his ulam stash!

Manokoloko is located at 19 11th Jamboree Street, Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City. For inquiries or to order for curbside pickup or delivery, call +63 916 5563487.

Check out my posts on other chicken places in the metro:

Bai’s Boneless Lechon Cebu, Pasig

The holiday season brings with it all manner of parties and gatherings. And you know what that means: lots and lots of eating!

The staple for many Pinoy celebrations is, of course, the lechon. The Filipino take on the roasted pig is also considered that national dish. The communal and oftentimes merry manner of eating the lechon make it a symbol of community and joy.

The lechon Cebu, in particular, is growing in prominence among many foodies. It is prepared by stuffing a slab or pork belly with spices such as garlic, onions, pepper, laurel leaves and lemon grass, and applying salt to the skin prior to roasting. This process results to a crispy skin and flavorful meat: so flavorful, in fact, that the lechon Cebu has no need for condiments and sauces.

Bai’s Boneless Lechon Cebu, which began its operations as a takeout counter in Alabang for its lechon offerings, recently opened its newest branch along Market Avenue in Pasig City. This is the first among its branches to have a sit down area where diners can enjoy, not just its much-celebrated lechon made fresh everyday, but budget-friendly rice meals as well.

Owner Dexter Ding actually hails from Carcar, a munipality in Cebu known for its lechon.

Together with fellow foodies, I attended the store’s grand opening where I was able to sample some of its menu items:

Cebuano Breakfast. Diners can take their pick of rice meals served with fried egg featuring classic Cebuano breakfast items: Danggit Silog (Php49), Squid Silog (Php49) and Bacon Silog (Php49).

Lunch Meals. For those seeking heartier fare, Bai’s has lunch meals made of Java rice and soup paired with classic viands: Siomai Meal (Php49), Shanghai Meal (Php59) and Humba Meal (Php79).

However, the centerpiece for this store is still its mouthwatering Boneless Lechon Cebu.

Available in regular and spicy flavors, it is it can be ordered for takeout or delivery in these packs which are great for sharing:

Family (Php820). Good for 4 to 5 persons.
Barkada (Php1,950). Good for 10 to 15 persons.
Party (Php3,200). Good for 20 to 25 persons.

It is also available as a Lunch Meal with Java rice and soup for Php120.

If you want additional fingerfoods for your party, check out Bai’s Pungko Pungko Set, which brings together more Cebuano favorites: chicharon bulaklak, hamonado, ngiohong, fried chicken and lumpia.

It can be ordered for takeout or delivery in these sizes:

Small (Php449). Good for 4-5 persons.
Medium (Php799). Good for 7-10 persons.
Large (Php1,199). Good for 15-20 persons.

So whatever the celebration is, whether a solo one to splurge on yourself on a paydays or a large gathering of family and friends, Bai’s Boneless Lechon Cebu is a good bet.

Thanks to Derek, the management and staff of Bai’s Boneless Lechon Cebu for having us and to Natacia of TigaSouth Ka Ba for extending the invitation!

This branch of Bai’s Boneless Lechon Cebu is located at 22, Market Avenue, Bgy. San Miguel, Pasig City. For inquiries and delivery orders within Pasig, Antipolo, BGC, Mandaluyong, Ortigas and Marikina, call +63 917 8341010. COD, online transfer, GCash and credit card payments accepted.

For delivery in other areas within the metro, contact these branches:

Alabang: covering Muntinlupa-Sta.Rosa, Paranaque, Makati, Manila, Binondo and Pasay (+63 917 5825333)
Binangonan: covering the whole Rizal area (+63 977 4939825)
Malabon: covering the whole CAMANAVA area (+63 966 4658348)
Quezon City: covering Quezon City and Manila

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a food tasting event held here wherein food and drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare to facilitate honest reviews. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

Liloan’s Pride Liempo, Greenhills

Abbiocco Alternative Filipino, Paligsahan

Isla Sugbu Seafood City, McKinley Hill

Chef Robert, Greenhills

The Lechon Shop, Tomas Morato

Angus Tapa Centrale, Tomas Morato

Gerry’s Grill, Tomas Morato

Luna J Filipino Gastropub, Tomas Morato

Gerry’s Grill, SM Marikina

Bacolod Chicken Parilla, Tomas Morato

Classic Savory, SM East Ortigas

Jaytee’s Tagaytay

Buddy’s, Cubao

Cabalen, Ayala Malls Feliz

Limbaga 77, Tomas Morato

Victorino’s, Tomas Morato

Locavore, Kapitolyo

Recipes, Tomas Morato

Mozu at Ming’s, Tagaytay

Siglo Modern Filipino, Tagaytay

Conti’s, Greenbelt

13 Ubay Street, Banawe

Ilustrado Restaurant, Intramuros

Rico’s Lechon, Tiendesitas

Fika, Capitol Hills, QC

Sartin, Tagaytay

Lazat, Tomas Morato

Romulo Cafe, Tomas Morato

Lobo Filipino Tavern, Poblacion

Joliant, Tomas Morato

Ombu Kusina, Tomas Morato

Padi’s Point, Sumulong

Padi’s Point, Upper Antipolo

Padi’s Point, Tomas Morato

Padi’s Point, Metro East

Sisig Society, Fisher Mall

Tapsi ni Vivian, Pasig

Lola Cafe, Tomas Morato

Pamana, Tomas Morato

Handcrafted brunch creations at Artesa Deli + Coffee, Kapitolyo

In Kapitolyo, Pasig’s foodie haven, a new mecca for brunch-aholics and more has just opened its doors.

Called Artesa Deli + Coffee (and named after the Catalan word for “handcrafted”), this cafe elevates the casual and leisurely brunch out into an artform.

Founded by three friends – Mikho Villarosa, Edrian Chua and Jef Lim – Artesa elevates seeks to be Kapitolyo’s one-stop shop for high-quality, curated yet reasonably priced coffee and food products.

My friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH and I recently visited Artesa Deli + Coffee for a late brunch experience, where we were treated to:

Chimichurri Burger (Php175). A juicy patty of 100% US beef cooked to medium doneness topped with pickled cucumbers, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, and house-made chimichurri sauce with a side of crispy fried wonton chips.

Cubano (Php235). One of the cafe’s best-selling sandwiches, this dish features ham and fork-tender, smokey pulled pork accompanied by pickled cucumbers and cheddar cheese in a lightly buttered and pressed Cuban bread and also with a side of those addictive fried wonton chips.

By the way, Artesa’s sandwiches are all buildable which means that you can customize your sandwich by adding-on items such as extra beef patties, fried chicken fillets, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, bacon strips or fried egg.

Tomato Gravy Rice with Chicken (Php220). A tender fillet of chicken is battered, panko-crusted and shallow-fried to a crispy golden brown before being placed on top of steamed rice drenched in a savory yet slightly tangy gravy of beef drippings, tomato and spices, then garnished with corn kernels.

For dessert, we had a a rich New York-style Cheesecake (Php160/slice), a decadent Chocolate Cake (Php160/slice) and a delightful Black & White Cookie (Php60/piece), all of which feature an artisanal quality. (Artesa also sells whole cakes; you just need to order them three days in advance.)

We were also given our choice of drinks which included:

Espresso Soda (Php165). This is perfect for those who like to taste of coffee with a slight fizz.

Matcha Latte (Php150 for hot). A rich comforting drink made with real matcha powder.

Iced Mocha (Php150). A masterful blend of coffee and chocolate, and, thankfully for me, may even be sweetened some more with the addition of honey syrup.

Homemade Iced Tea (Php75). This drink may be served sweetened or unsweetened.

Orange Julius (Php90). This drink is reminiscent of the beverage popular when I was a kid.

Artesa’s menu is still small but well-crafted such that each item is a masterpiece, it’s taste and quality assured. These are perfect for a leisurely brunch, a quick snack in the afternoon, or any time of the day you want a tasty treat.

Thanks to the Chef Jef and the lovely staff of Artesa for having us!

Artesa also aims to highlight the quality of local micro-entrepreneurs: it sells jars of Spanish sardines, organically grown mushrooms with tinapa or tuyo, as well as spicy and garlicky cuttlefish crunch, among others. The cafe also incorporates these in some of their dishes as an ingredient or as sides. Do check them out when you visit the store.

Artesa Deli + Coffee is located at Unit 2, D Strip, Building 20, United Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City, open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 10pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 945 5979018.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a foodie meetup held here wherein food and drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my blog posts on breakfast joints around the metro: