sammy’s cookin’ – Jellybeans in the City

Sure, the restrictions from the pandemic may have prevented you going out on grand dinner dates with your beloved for several months but that doesn’t mean that you have to settle for lackluster date nights, right?

Certainly not when Sammy’s provides the perfect venue for wining and dining with your special someone. Let me tell you why:

1. It’s quite a hidden gem.

There’s a reason many romantic adventures take place in some out-of-the-way locale. Physically separating you from the normal hustle-and-bustle of your daily life will help bring your focus to just you and your partner.

Sammy’s is located inside a subdivision in Cainta, but still accessible from Metro Manila, so you can easily have that quick romantic escapade with your special someone.

Sammy’s also complies with safety protocols set by its LGU so be sure to fill up the health declaration form and follow physical distancing while you’re there!

2. Its decor sets a romantic mood.

Owner Chef Sammy Isidro and his wife Dorothy converted the second floor of their house into a cozy restaurant.

Its high ceilings give it an airy feel, while rustic lamps and fixtures that glow with warm lighting make it an intimate setting.

Large windows provides a view of the lush foliage outside which as a backdrop for your romantic adventure.

3. Its Indonesian-inspired cuisine is simply extraordinary.

Chef Sammy and Dorothy spent seventeen years in Indonesia which certainly influenced the food the Sammy’s serves.

These include:

Beef Konro. A large cut of beef rib slow-braised for hours until tender and drizzled with a flavorful sauce made with its own drippings. This dish is good for sharing.

Mie Goreng. Also known as Bakmi Goreng, this hearty dish is made with stir-fried noodles in a sweet and savory sauce tossed with herbs and strips of scrambled egg.

Nasi Goreng. Indonesian-style fried rice flavored with the traditional sweet soy sauce called kecap manis and other seasonings, then served with fried egg, krupuk (traditional cracker) and chicken satay.

Beef Rendang. A delicious and slightly spicy dish made with beef braised and slow-cooked in coconut milk seasoned with herbs and spices until the liquids evaporate and the meat takes on its caramlizes, becoming dark brown and tender, and infused with rich flavors.

Martabak Manis. One of Indonesia’s most popular desserts which consist of a thick pancake made with condensed milk, crushed peanuts and sesame seeds. The Choco-Cheese variant has been my favorite since I tasted it two years ago, while the newly introduced Cheese-and-Corn is a delicious new discovery.

With exotic yet flavorful dishes such as these, your dinner date is sure to become a gastronomic adventure !

4. You get serenaded after your meal.

Did you know that Chef Sammy is also known as The Singing Chef?

He and his wife spent seventeen years in Indonesia as singers in Hotel Mulia Senayan Jakarta, where they showcased the Pinoys’ vocal talent to an international audience.

They treat their guests to a song or two after dessert, and their duets are so nakakakilig!

5. You can have your favorite dishes delivered to your home.

Sammy’s now delivers via Grabfood, so if you want to relive your Sammy’s experience at home, or if you’re simply craving for Indonesian flavors, you can just grab your smartphone and tap away!

Chef Sammy also operates Sammy’s Cookin’, which provides catering services as well as deliver cakes, pastries and other sweets to foodies within Metro Manila.

So even in the midst of a pandemic, you can still find the time and the place for a little romance, thanks to Sammy’s.

Check out my previous adventures with Sammy’s:

Sammy’s is located at 14 Raspberry Bend Street, Valley View Executive Subdivision Phase 3, San Juan, Cainta. The restaurant is open Tuesdays to Sundays for breakfast from 8am to 10.30am, lunch from 11am to 1.30pm and dinner from 6pm to 9pm.

Seating is strictly by reservation so call +63 939 1483960 to book your table. You may also use the same number to order from Sammy’s Cookin’.

You can also hold intimate gatherings such as birthday shindigs, proposal dinners, engagement parties and wedding or baptismal receptions (with a maximum guest count of twenty) at Sammy’s.

For updates on its menu and offers, follow Sammy’s on Facebook or Instagram.

It’s been four months into the quarantine and with all the craziness that’s happening in and out of the country, many of us are feeling the literal and metaphorical heat.

I’m a firm believer in how the right kind of food improves one’s mood. And it just so happens that stressed spelled backwards is dessert.

Being a sweet tooth myself, of course I have a considerable bias towards desserts. (And words to the wise: biases are not inherently bad!)

Before I let my stress get the better of me, let me calm my mind down and yet excite my appetite as I present my picks for out-of-the-ordinary sweets.

These are usually reinterpretations or interesting tweaks to established dessert recipes, bringing something new to classic faves.

I also picked the ones that are currently available for pickup and delivery since most of us are stuck in our homes.

Frozen Brazo de Mercedes from Ombu Kusina

Ombu Kusina prides itself on its modern takes on Pinoy cuisine and this dessert is a prime example of that. Delightful layers of frozen soft meringue alternating custard filling, ice cream and graham cracker crust will make a great end to any meal.

Ombu Kusina is located at Ground Floor, Sequioa Hotel, Mother Ignacia Street, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 9am to 8pm for dine-in, delivery and pickup. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 84411789 or +63 922 8149086, or email omburestaurant@yahoo.com.