shawarma – Jellybeans in the City

Middle Eastern classics at OK Bob

If you’re a fan of Middle Eastern cuisine, here’s something that’s sure to catch your fancy.

OK Bob, the newest stall in The Grid Food Market, recently launched new menu items crafted by Chefs Decker Gokioco and Jorge Mendez, giving the metro’s foodies more chances to sate their cravings for kebabs, curries and more.

Middle Eastern food is comprised of a variety of cuisines from a long list of countries, it is generally characterized by the frequent use fragrant spices, olive oil, nuts and creamy elements.

The resulting flavors and textures from this culinary tradition come into play with OK Bob’s newest dishes.

Crab Biryani (Php2,500).

Indulge yourself with the flavors of the sea and spices with OK Bob’s Crab Biryani. Fresh 500g crab is braised in curry-spiced yogurt and served on a bed of spiced Basmati rice with fried onion, cilantro, papadum and coriander cream.

OK Bob Plate Meat Combo (Php450).

Grilled chicken and beef served on a bed of spiced Basmati rice accompanied by fresh tomatoes, onions, lettuce, buttered Naan bread with garlic sauce and Tikka spiced hot sauce.

Beef Kabab Roll (Php320).

Grilled marinated ground beef skewer on top of romaine lettuce and cilantro encased in a bread roll and served with Persian-spiced fries, cucumber raita and sumac salad.

Don’t miss this chance to expand your food horizons with these exciting dishes from OK Bob!

OK Bob is open for pickup and delivery at thegridfoodmarket.com. It is also available for dine-in at Stall 2 at The Grid Food Market, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati. It also delivers via GrabFood, FoodPanda and Pick-A-Roo.

For more details on its menu items and offers, follow OK Bob on Facebook and Instagram.

The Grid Food Market is the resident food hall of Powerplant Mall which offers a wide range of flavors to cater to various cravings.

Check out my previous posts on other cuisines available at The Grid Food Market:

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

Mediterranean food delivery from Jamie’s Kebabs

To many, the word “Mediterranean” calls to mind sun-kissed rooftops, sparkling waves in an cerulean sea, and vibrant vistas. For foodies like me, it brings forth images of hearty dishes made with fresh produce and flavorful spices.

My love story with Mediterranean food came about because of Hubby. He introduced me to kebabs, shawarmas and hummus back when we were still dating. Twenty-plus years later, we share our love for this cuisine with our kids who look forward to our food adventures involving kebabs.

Thankfully, thirty-three-year-old food entrepreneur Adam Tan seeks to provide the metro’s denizens easy access to great-tasting Mediterranean dishes, even during quarantine.

Maximizing the existing kitchen space of his other food venture, casual dining resto Main Street in Kapitolyo, he decided to open Jamie’s Kebabs last April on a delivery basis. Its menu includes Middle Eastern staples, dishes familiar and appealing to the Pinoy palate. These include:

Hummus (Php189). A savory spread or dip made with mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice and garlic. Jamie’s Kebabs’ version is made even more appetizing by the addition of roasted bell peppers and fried chickpeas. This dish is served with a piece of fresh pita bread. It’s quite good when enjoyed on its own with the pita bread but adds a new dimension of flavor when added to the other dishes as a dip or a condiment.

Beef Kebab Pita Wrap (Php159). Marinated ground beef grilled in skewers and served wrapped in pita bread together with garlic sauce, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onions and cucumbers. Each bite brings an explosion of flavor and pleasant textures in my mouth. Like I said earlier, this also becomes phenomenal when a bit of hummus is added to the wrap.

Kebab Sampler (Php329). Beef, lamb and chicken kebab served on top of buttered rice with one grilled tomato, alongside garlic and red hot sauce. It would be enough for two (I shared it with Hubby) but a really hungry (or selfish!) Mediterranean food fanatic can easily polish this off by herself.

Jamie’s Kebabs’ offerings are great, not just of kebab fans but for budding foodies seeking to broaden their culinary horizons to include Mediterranean cuisine.

Jamie’s Kebabs is located at 10 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 8pm for dine-in, pickup and delivery. To order, call +63 2 72392827 or +63 917 8158187. Payments via cash, credit card, BDO bank transfer and GCash are accepted.

You may also course your order via FoodPanda or GrabFood (the resto is included among the establishments available for long distance delivery).

Taguig, Pateros and Makati residents may soon also get a taste of Jamie’s Kebabs’ dishes as a new branch is set to open Barangay Sumilang, Pasig City which could serve those markets via delivery.

Download the Grab App and get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order.

Disclosure: Food samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.

Check out my posts on other restaurants serving Mediterranean cuisine:

Easy dinner delivery from Delanders Pizza + Cafe

I’m all for home cooking; in fact, I’ve been taking the extra time spent at home to cook up delish dishes for the fam.

Every once in a while, however, I find myself lacking the inclination to whip up something in the kitchen. It may be because of a videocon that extended past office hours, or the depletion of supplies in the pantry.

Whatever the reason, I’m glad that a busy work-at-home mom like me – one that’s still adjusting to the New Normal – have a myriad of options for her family’s meal.

One such option is the delivery of pizzas from Delander Pizza + Cafe via FoodPanda.

Both of the kiddos are avid pizza fanatics and both welcomed the break from our usual ulam with pizzas ordered from a relatively new store.

Delander Pizza + Cafe opened its doors in Manggahan, Pasig a little over two years ago, bringing local residents a taste of freshly baked and topping-rich pizzas.

Thankfully, it has remained open through the various stages of community quarantine since mid-March to present for takeout and delivery.

Thanks to FoodPanda, the kiddos and I supped on:

Delander Special (Php90 solo | Php240 regular | Php320 mega). Topped with cheese, ham, bacon, beef, pepperoni, pineapple, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions.

Quadro Pizza (Php405). Four flavors all in one pizza: the Delander Special, Hawaiian (Ham, Cheese and Pineapple), Pepperoni and Cheese, and Shawarma (beef shawarma, cheese, onions, bell pepper and fresh tomatoes). This was an excellent choice as we were able to enjoy all four pizza variants for the price of one.

So, this busy mom got a kitchen duty reprieve, thanks to Delander Pizza and FoodPanda.

Delander Pizza + Cafe is located at 451 RL Reyes Building, Amang Rodriguez Avenue, Barangay Manggahan, Pasig City. To order your pizzas, call +63 2 85439843 or +63 975 7306240.

Late last year, it opened a branch a bit nearer to my home (but, sadly, does not yet offet delivery) at 7 Ilang-ilang Street, De Castro Subdivision, Barangay Santa Lucia, Pasig City. To order for pickup, call +63 2 73737751 or +63 999 9908910.

You may also course your orders through FoodPanda. Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order.

Check out my posts on other pizza joints in the metro:

Hassan Kababs & Steaks, Katipunan

Have a sudden and irresistible craving for Mediterranean food at an inconvenient time?

There’s no need to wait for the conventional mealtimes to have your taste of strong and fresh flavors of Mediterranean cuisine because Hassan Kababs & Steaks along Katipunan Avenue is open 24/7.

We went here during a night out with the extended family as this restaurant is highly recommended by my bro who found the food served quite delicious yet affordable.

Among the highlights of our meal are:

10″ Keema Pie (Php200). Flavorful bits of grilled ground beef and minced onions doused with strewn across a layer of melted cheese on top of a crisp pita bread crust. I think I can eat several of this all by myself.

Koobedeh Beef Kabab (Php160 regular | Php290 large). Two pieces of grilled ground beef served with grilled tomato, onion and rice with butter. Always a safe bet!

Beef Shawarma Plate (Php120). Minced rotisserie-grilled marinated beef served on a plate with fresh tomato, onion, cucumber and pita bread.

Beef Kabab with Ox Brain (Php270). The beef kababs are accompanied by a serving of ox brain along with with grilled tomato, onion and rice with butter. Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!

Hassan’s flavors are bold and fuss-free. While the presentation of the food and the place may not be Instagrammabale, the resto is well worth a visit.

Personally, I’m just glad to discover there’s a place to go for my late-night kabab cravings.

This Hassan Kaban & Steaks branch is located at 197-C Katipunan Avenue, Barangay Milagrosa, Blue Ridge, Quezon City. While it maintains its 24/7 operations during the enhanced community quarantine, it only caters to takeout/pickup (call +63 935 7150253 to pre-order) and delivery requests via Lalamove Purchase Service and Grab Assistant.

Other branches are located at:

9 Visayas Avenue Extension, Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City
Aquilina Street, Fronting Marikina City Engineering Office, Santo Nino, Marikina City
The Avenue, Felix Avenue, San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal

Check out my posts on other restaurants serving Mediterranean cuisine:

Three reasons to have your Sunday brunch at Sultan Mediterranean Grill, Makati

I believe that Sunday mornings are a time to be lazy in the sense that you deserve some downtime after each hectic work week. It is a time to wake up a bit late (catching up on some zzz’s you cut short Monday to Friday by having to get up at the crack of dawn to make it to work on time), take a stress-free drive along the city’s streets (with only a bit of light traffic, thankfully!) and meet up with friends to catch up over a tasty meal.

That’s what I did last Sunday together with my foodie friends from #SaanSaPH and #WeLoveToEatPH.

The venue for this lovely get-together? Sultan Mediterranean Grill in Salcedo Village.

And here are three reasons why you should hold a similar Sunday brunch here.

One: It’s a hidden gem in the heart of Makati

You would think that the Makati area is always a hotbed of frenetic activity but come weekends, it is actually quite laid-back and quiet, perfect for the titas who just want to have a catch up with friends while enjoying a tasty meal.

This restaurant is located in one of the old buildings along one of the side streets from Paseo de Roxas which, sans the weekday office crowd, is free from traffic jams and has lots of available parking space.

The resto itself, which opened in 2010, has a cozy hole-in-the-wall quality. Walls lined with white subway tiles are accented by Middle Eastern-style artworks and spice shelves. The seating area can accommodate thirty people so if you want to hold an intimate family party here, you’d be right on the mark.

Two: It takes you on a journey through the deliciously complex flavors of Mediterranean cuisine

You know that basic and blah flavors will not do for you, especially not for your Sunday brunch, right?

Well, Sultan Mediterranean Grill brings you exciting flavors through exotic dishes that will tease your tastebuds while sating your appetite.

The resto’s menu is comprised of the flavorfully diverse dishes from countries spanned by the Ottoman empire. This cuisine is influenced by impact of the Mediterranean Sea to the region’s climate, agriculture and history, giving rise to food centered around oil (from olives), bread (from wheat) and wine (from grapes) with many influences from nearby European countries such as Spain and Italy.

For our Sunday brunch, Sultan Mediterranean Grill laid out a feast of its bestsellers which included:

Wild Mushroom Soup (Php150). A creamy and hearty soup made from scratch with porcini, shiitake and button mushroom. It has a rich and earthy flavor and it got us all excited for the rest of dishes.

Combination of 3 Dips (Php330). Freshly made pita bread carefully wrapped in cloth to be dipped into hummus (made from blended chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon and garlic, muhammara (a subtly sweet dip with smoky undertones made from roasted red peppers) and baba ghanouj (the classic Middle Eastern dip made from roasted eggplants blended with olive oil and spices). The pita bread were warm, soft, slightly chewy and perfectly frame the flavors of the dips.

Grilled Vegetable Salad (Php280). Crisp lettuce tossed with grilled beef, eggplants, zucchini, pumpkin, corn, bell pepper and onions and served with homemade tarragon dressing. If you don’t often eat vegetables, try this and the smokey flavor of the veggies will help you develop a new appreciation for plant-based food.

Vitamin Boost (Php280). A salad of mixed lettuce, grilled chicken, quinoa, mango, orange slices, cranberries, onions, cucumber and walnuts and served with orange cranberry dressing. I just love the mixture of fresh and fruity flavors in this salad.

Beryani Rice (Php100 for solo | Php250 for family). A classic Persian rice dish flavored with special herbs and spices.

Beef Shawarma (Php160). Sultan’s signature shawarma makes use of the resto’s secret blend of seasoning that helps to tenderize the beef prior to grilling. Served with cucumbers, tomatoes and onions and packed inside a warm pita, it is already a meal by itself or a welcome addition to our feast.

The Sultan’s Kabab Platter (Php625). A combination of any four of Sultan’s kababs and skewers, ours consist of chicken kabab, beef kabab, lamb kabab and beef koobideh. Made from imported meats, these kababs are flavorful and juicy, well-complemented by the beryani rice or by any of the dips then wrapped in a piece of pita bread.

Braised Lamb Shanks (Php625). Juicy lamb shanks stewed and braised in mixture of herbs and spices for three hours before being served with buttery Basmati rice. The meat is so tender, it literally falls off the bone!

Fruit Yogurt Shakes (Php115 each). Fresh fruit blended with yogurt, adding a bit of tartness that complement the sweetness. Mine is the Mixed Berry shake which blends blueberries, blackberries and strawberries into a refreshing drink that goes well with Sultan’s signature dishes.

Three: A Mediterranean food is good for you

Mediterranean cuisine’s predilection for vegetables, fruit, whole grains and the use of healthy fats from olive oil make Mediterranean dishes quite healthy. Dining on these exotic fare gives you the double benefit of great taste and good health. However, as with everything else in life, moderation is key.

So this Sunday, make Sultan Mediterranean Grill the setting for your brunch with friends or family (or both!) to enjoy great flavors in cozy and quiet surroundings.

Many thanks to Ms. Remy and the crew of Sultan Mediterranean Grill for the warm welcome and the delicious meal!

Sultan Mediterranean Grill is located at Valero Plaza Condominium, San Agustin Street, Salced Village, Makati City, open daily from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8944900.

Other branches may be found at:

Victoria Plaza, 1 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City
The Corner Market, Second Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, 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 restaurants serving Mediterranean dishes:

Quick snack time at Turks, SM North EDSA

So, here’s the deal: I’ve got some Turks GCs and my friends from #SaanSaPH and I are in the mood for a snack.

What to do???

Why, share the wealth and #MakeItATurksDay for everyone, that’s what!

At 10am and waiting for our first foodie meetup for the day, yes, we’re feeling just a wee bit peckish. So, off we went to the Turks stall at the SM North EDSA Foodcourt to get ourselves a small Beef Pita Doner each.

This tasty little snack is made of 100% pure beef, infused with Turks’ signature doner recipe and grilled to juicy goodness, served with freshly cut cucumber, tomatoes and onions, doused in cheese, garlic and hot sauces and wrapped with a slice of cheddar cheese in a warm, freshly baked pita bread.

You might think that there’s only one way to enjoy your Beef Pita Doner, but no! You can have it with all the bells and whistles (that is, all the veggies and sauces it usually comes with) like I did, sans onions, sans the sauces, or just all meat wrapped in the pita. Really, how you enjoy your wrap is your call.

With our hunger pangs chased away by our quick snack, our merry group went about our merry way, merrily tasting, noting and picture-taking what the day had to offer.

Photo Credit: Russell Vargas

Photo Credit: Shishi de Leon

Thanks to Turks for the GCs!

Turks is one of the country’s most successful and fastest growing brands in the food industry with over 400 branches nationwide.

This Turks branch is located at Food Court, Lower Ground Floor, Main Building, SM North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City.

Another branch located nearby is located at Second Floor, SKY Garden, SM North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City.

Check out my reviews of other restaurants serving Mediterranean food:

The Cafe Mediterranean, Rockwell Power Plant

Noor, BGC

Holy Shawarma, Marikina

John Lloyd Cruz first endorsement appearance after 2 years: Is he coming back to the limelight?

Photos and videos of matinee idol John Lloyd Cruz have been surfacing after being on hiatus from the showbusiness since 2017.

Cruz, one of the most bankable actors of the Philippine cinema and very effective endorser once again proved that his fans are still waiting for his return. In a teaser video, which lasted only for a few seconds and only shows the back shot of Cruz’s, and posted in the Facebook page of the number one selling shawarma Turks a few weeks ago had been viewed 3.2M times, shared almost 800 times and gained a huge number of comments.

Without any clue in that teaser video, his fans already assumed that it was him in the video. Actress Bea Alonzo on her Instagram also posted a screenshot of that teaser video, which garnered almost a million likes.

This Monday morning Turks finally revealed in the 1-minute and 17 seconds video of Cruz showing the actor walking through different destinations, which somehow depicts Cruz’s sojourn. The video is very simple, yet there’s drama the way it was created, and in a very subtle shot, he stopped and took a bite of a Turks pita donner.

The rugged look of Cruz in the Turks video titled Ang Pagbabalik is way too far from his guy-next-door image and a lot of people in the industry are asking if this signals his return to the limelight. His fans are still wondering about the life he’s been living since his hiatus.

According to Turks president Gem L. Zenarosa that during the course of his talks with Cruz, they never talked anything about his showbiz career or plans. He added that he got Mr. Cruz as the latest ambassador of Turks because of his great confidence working with Cruz.

“I am really grateful that John Lloyd trusts our company, he is a brilliant and very creative young man. Aside from acting we have discovered some of his remarkable talents,” Zenarosa stressed.

The Ang Pagbabalik according to Zenarosa is actually about Turks Small Pita Doner, which will be available again in all its branches.

“John Lloyd is the best endorser for this because like him, despite his absence in the showbusiness for a couple of years, the warmth and love of his fans for him never dwindles. With our Small Pita Doner we believe that our customers will be happy to know that it is back in our menu,” Zenarosa explained.

Just like Cruz who is seen to have a different image since he last appeared in the big screen, a clear indication that the actor is recreating himslef and exploring different grounds, Turks is also doing the same thing to keep its customers excited whenever they visit a branch.

In time for the release of Cruz’s endorsement video, Turks also released to the market its newest offering — Turks Rice Bowl, which is a complete meal. You can choose beef or chicken for your rice topping, and it is priced at Php50. The Small Pita Donner on the other hand, is priced at Php35.

“To keep up with the demands of our customers, Turks continues to improve our menu and offerings to satisfy the discriminating taste of our loyal patrons,” Zenarosa stressed.

John Lloyd Cruz now joins the roster of endorsers of Turks such as Piolo and Inigo Pascual.

For more details, visit Turks’ FB Page.

Product details and images provided by Turks in a recent press release.

Relaxing Sunday brunch at Noor, BGC

The day was warm with the sun shining down brightly from blue skies unmarred by clouds as I made my way to an area of Bonifacio Global CIty I seldom find myself visiting.

Megaworld’s Lifestyle Malls Forbestown Center (also known as Burgos Circle) is home to many new concept restaurants, cafes and dessert places. It is a wonder how I’m seldom here but that can soon be rectified. 🙂

This particular Sunday morning, I was headed to one restaurant in particular: Noor Modern Mediterranean. The place may look quite posh with its well-appointed modern interiors and the tasteful display of art and wine bottles throughout the premises but the overall vibe is one of freshness and warm hospitality. Its second floor dining area features a green wall as its focal point and floor-to-ceiling windows that affords a view of Forbestown Center as well as lots of natural light which will become quite handy when we do our food photos later on.

Yep, this hip and happening resto is to be the setting of a relaxed and banter-filled gathering among myself and my fellow foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH.

Firstly, we were warmly welcomed by Noor’s Isreali-born Chef Or Hakmimi, who brings to the table the Mediterranean culinary influences he grew up with. The chef also espouses a friendly and casual dining atmosphere for his establishment; in between his adventures in the kitchen preparing Noor’s signature dishes as well as new ones he is experimenting on, he takes the time to chat with his guests and share more about his philosophy when it comes to food.

Foremost among his rules of thumb is the preference for having at least three flavors and textures in the food he serves, “so it won’t be boring.” He is right, too. Each bite of Noor’s dishes presented us with wonderful complexities: smokeyness, tartness, a hint of spice and more.

These complexities are in evidence in the brunch feast he and his staff laid out for us, which include:

Salmon Tartare. Not yet on the menu, this dish is made of thinly sliced chilled salmon topped with roe and served on crunchy black sesame seed-studded phyllo cones, an awesome start to the meal!

Cauliflauer (Php300). I read somewhere that this dish is life-changing and I can definitely agree! Cauliflauer are deep-fried and tossed in ceasar aoili and parsley.

Moroccan Shrimp (Php480). Succulent shrimps grilled then served on a bed of tatziki (a Greek yogurt-based side dish flavored by mashed vegetables, dill and olive oil) together with charred eggplant.

Lamb Baklava (Php470). Ground lamb sauteed in olive oil and spices encased in sheets of sheer phyllo dough baked to a lusciously crispy golden brown. Served with sesame dressing and a raspberry sauce, its combo of meaty savory and tart fruity flavors is a winner.

Chicken Skewers (Php590). Tender and flavorful chicken pieces, grilled together with onions and bell peppers and served with Syrian Basmati rice and seared tomato.

Shawarma Tacos (Php630). A triad of shawarma variants – roasted chicken with tahini, tomatoes and amba aoili; roasted fish with tsaziki, coleslaw and cilantro; and roasted mushrooms with garlic aioli, sumac onions and parsley – served open-faced on warm pita bread. These are best eaten by hand! (A bit messy but that’s part of the experience!)

Knafe (Php390). A classic Arab desert made of shredded buttery phyllo pastry, ricotta cheese, rose water syrup and yogurt ice cream topped with chopped pistachios. That interplay of warm and cold inside my mouth, together with the sweetness and rich buttery flavor is quite decadent. My only regret is that I have gone through forty plus years in life and I’ve only tasted this heavenly dessert today.

Almond Creme Brulee (Php330). A mildly sweet, creamy almond cream custard garnished with raspberry sauce and mint.

All of these dishes are made from scratch in the kitchen by Chef Or. Ingredients are locally sourced and the produce are organically grown in local farms.

Chef Or and his staff also served us with the resto’s signature cocktails to complement the dishes and to add to the day’s happy vibe.

Gypsy Mango (Php380). Rum mixed with organic mango liquor, fresh mango and cilantro. A perfect drink for this summer day!

Cinnamon Fashion (Php340). A version of the Old-Fashioned cocktail made by muddling sugar with bitters and adding some brandy, but here, it is garnished with a cinnamon stick.

Built to Spill (Php350). A blend of bourbon, ginger root and mint leaves.

Noor (Php390). The resto’s house-recipe cocktail made with gin, freh basil, cucumber, fresh lemon juice and tonic water.

Flavored Soda Water. Sparkling water flavored with juices of sweet fruits such as lychee, passionfruit and strawberry to quench our thirst and refresh our palates.

With such a lavish spread of good Mediterranean food, refreshing cocktails that kept us in high spirits and the company of great friends, it was a very enjoyable Sunday brunch!

And here’s some good news: did you know you can get free drinks at Noor, 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.

Noor is located at Unit F133, Forbeswood Heights, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, open daily from 11am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 956 1563426.

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.

Holy Shawarma brings an affordable yet authentic taste of the Middle East to Marikina

Remember that scene at the end of the Avengers movie when Tony Stark suddenly had a craving for shawarma? One of the most iconic moments from the movie is the after-credits scene which shows the superheroes munching on some shawarma in a store which miraculously stayed open despite the chaos of Battle of New York.

After biting into the juicy and smokey meat wraps at Holy Shawarma, you would understand why.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Shawarmas were derived from the Turkish doner kabap, a way of roasting stacked slices of marinated meat and cutting off pieces as they cook. It is served sandwiched inside a piece of flatbread along with hummus, tahini and sometimes fried potato strips, or piled high on a plate accompanied by tabbouleh and slices of tomatoes and cucumber topped with yogurt.

The name shawarma is the Arabic version of the Turkish word cervirme which means “turning.” This refers to the meat turning on a rotisserie; today, shawarma stores in the country use a motorized spit to slowly turn the stack of beef or chicken pieces against a heat source, evenly roasting the outer layer which are then sliced off.

Normally, you can enjoy this savory delicacy in food courts and tiangges but now, denizens of the beautiful city of Marikina can enjoy their meat wraps in relative comfort in the newly opened restaurant Holy Shawarma.

Owner Mon Tolentino shares that the store’s name is akin to an expression of joy or surprise which he hopes to elicit from his patrons with his food; something like “Holy Shawarma, that’s so good!”

Together with fellow foodies and bloggers, I was invited to visit this store and sample its offerings. Our group of nine bloggers settled ourselves in the store’s seating area and got ready to get our fill of the shawarma and other Middle Eastern delicacies.

We were welcomed by the glorious aroma of roasting meat as the store’s crew bustled about to prepare our food.

For starters, we snacked on some French Fries (Php25/plate) and Dynamite Wraps (Php65/plate). The fries are crisp and not-too-salty; I may have single-handedly polished off a plate of these. I had a bout of anxiety prior to biting into the Dynamite Wraps – large green chili peppers stuffed with ground beef and cheese – but it turned out to be quite tasty; the spiciness of the chili peppers framed the flavors of the cheese and meat quite well.

Afterwards, we feasted Beef Kebabs (Php200/plate) and Chicken Kebabs (Php180/plate) which were well-complemented by the buttery Shawarma Rice (Php120/plate).

The real stars of the show, of course, are the meat wraps: Beef Shawarma (Php80/piece) and Chicken Shawarma (Php80/piece). Those savory slivers of meat are wrapped in warm pita bread together with sliced tomatoes, onions and cucumbers, a strip of cheese and drizzled with garlic sauce and hot sauce. Each bite into these wraps was like going on a magic carpet ride: the warm flavors trigger feelings of comfort to the soul.

We washed down these strong-flavored food with refreshing Mango Shake (Php80/glass).

So, if you’re a superhero done vanquishing a frightful foe, or just a regular Joe looking for a filling snack, drop by Holy Shawarma for some holy-shawarma-that’s-so-good and affordable food.

Thanks to Holy Shawarma for having us and to Marikina Foodies for extending the invite!

Want to bring a friend over? Enjoy beef or chicken shawarma food for two along with iced tea for only Php165!

Going solo? Why not go for a Shawarma Meal of composed of Shawarma on a plate with buttered rice together with iced tea for only Php110.

Holy Shawarma is located at 113 Gil Fernando Street corner Mayor Chanyungco Avenue, Santa Elena, Marikina City, open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 2pm to 10pm and Fridays to Sundays from 3pm to 12 midnight.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend 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.

4 Things to Like About The Pallet, Poblacion

The area of Makati called Poblacion, previously known as the city’s red light district, has evolved into a pretty happening place. It has given rise to concept restaurants, quick chows and bars that offer Makati workers and residents alternative choices for dining, hanging out and entertainment away from the usual malls.

One such place is The Pallet.

A food park located at the corner of Dona Carmen and Jacobo Streets in Poblacion, backroads to Kalayaan Avenue, The Pallet is an off-the-beaten track venue.

For my first-ever Looloo Rendezvoos, I was invited to check this place out and experience the various possibilities it affords to its patrons. I found a lot to like about it so I summarized them down to a list which will hopefully help fellow foodies discover a new favorite place to hang out and dine.

No. 1: Ample parking space and helpful security guard.

Having braved the rush hour all the way from QC, I was relieved I didn’t have to worry about where to park my car. Manong guard was quick to assist me in finding a spot and guiding me while I park.

No. 2: Chill surroundings.

Being located in backstreets away from all the hustle and bustle of Makati’s busy streets and surrounded by a residential area, The Pallet has a chill and relaxed atmosphere that distanced me from the usual stresses of work and traffic.

No. 3: Lots of food choices!

Given its relatively small area, I’m surprised at the number and variety of dining choices available. I’ll blog about them in more detail later but suffice to say that the foodie in me got quite excited with The Pallet’s tenants and their offerings. These include:

Mang Jose’s Ihaw Ihaw – for yummy and fuss-free grilled meats and pulutans

Antojitos – for a taste of Mexico from cheese-filled nachos and quesadillas to filling burritos and more

Asian Hawker – for a taste of Singaporean street food from the Char Kwai Teoh rice dish to the creamy Laksa

Uncle Moe’s Shawarma Hub – for a taste of Middle Eastern cuisine from the flavorful kababs to hefty shawarmas

Takohub – it was my first time to see takoyaki balls this huge!

Heath Burger – because healthy cam be tasty too, especially those mushrooms masquerading as chicken nuggets

Ramen Attack – that Tantanmen was a revelation! And the Steak & Rice got me craving for more!

Creamco Creamery – rolled ice cream that’s as pretty as it was sweet and yummy

Inum Bar – cocktails for that relaxed after-work buzz

No. 4: Live music!

On Wednesday nights this November, enjoy live music from up-and-coming artists such as DJ Aryan (90’s Night) on November 21 and DJ SP (Hiphop Throwback) on November 29.

These are just some of the reasons why The Pallet appeals to me. Check it out and see if it might grow to be your favorite place too!

The Pallet is located at 5804 Dona Carmen corner Jacobo Streets, Poblacion, Makati City. For inquiries, email thepalletpark@gmail.com.

Disclosure: Together with other Looloo users, I was invited to join a Looloo Rendezvoos held at this venue. 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.

Unwinding at Manila Hotel’s Tap Room

Taking advantage of a credit card promo, my mother-in-law treated us to dinner at Manila Hotel’s Tap Room to celebrate my sister-in-law’s birthday.

Manila Hotel is a historic 5-star hotel located along Manila Bay. Built in 1909, it is the oldest premiere hotel in the Philippines.

The Tap Room is Manila Hotel’s English pub-inspired bar. Its dim lighting, dark wood interiors, plush seating and soothing jazz music from live performers make it an appropriate place to unwind in with your favorite drink.

While waiting for our orders, we were served with salted peanuts and green peas to go with our drinks (mine was, of course, a double shot of Bailey’s).

Our food orders included:

Pizza Manila Hotel (Php550). A thin-crust pizza topped with tomato, mozzarella, Laguna cheese and olives.
Slider (Php550). Two cheese-stuffed mini burgers with guacamole and barbecue sauce.
Chicken Shawarma Wrap (Php450). Roasted chicken wrapped in a toasted flour tortilla and served with tahina dip, garlic sauce, pickles and French fries.
Fried Fish and Chips (Php750). Battered fish fried to a crispy golden brown and served with large cut fries.
Deep-fried Calamares (Php450).
Buffalo Chicken Wings (Php450).
Sizzling Pork Sisig (Php450).

Being located in a 5-star hotel, the Tap Room’s service was top-notch. The wait staff was elegantly dressed, very accommodating and helpful. They even brought out a slice of chocolate mousse as a birthday treat for my sister-in-law.

The food was well-presented and well-flavored. However, given the pricing, hanging out at the Tap Room for dining or drinks is not something I can do too often.