silog – Jellybeans in the City

A Flavorful Family Reunion: Sumptuous Breakfast Buffet at Guevarra’s

There’s something magical about the idea of a leisurely breakfast, isn’t there? It’s that comforting embrace of a hearty meal that warms both your belly and your soul, setting the perfect tone for the day ahead. And when it comes to weekends, the allure of a great breakfast spread is irresistible – a treat that turns ordinary mornings into memorable occasions.

Recently, I had the pleasure of treating my US-based kuya and nephew, as well as my family, to a special breakfast experience mere hours after the balikbayans touched down in Manila. This was more than just a meal; it was a chance to re-introduce my erstwhile Amboys to the flavors of Pinoy cuisine and, more importantly, to share precious moments together as a family, something we hadn’t enjoyed since the pandemic happened.

The Filipino Breakfast Tradition at Guevarra’s

In Filipino culture, breakfast is more than just a meal—it’s a tradition. It’s a time when families come together and share hearty, flavorful dishes. Guevarra’s by Chef Laudico understands the importance of this tradition and has curated a breakfast buffet that truly pays homage to it. Led by culinary maestros, Chefs Rolando and Jackie Laudico, Guevarra’s has become a renowned spot for a delightful breakfast buffet that captures the essence of Filipino breakfast culture.

Chef Lau, as he is affectionately known, draws inspiration from Pinoys’ love for silogs (sinangag-itlog), creating a menu that allows diners to create their personalized garlic fried rice meal with a variety of eggs and mains.

Their culinary philosophy is simple yet profound: a commitment to quality, freshness, and authenticity in every dish. No shortcuts, no artificial flavorings, and definitely no MSG. It’s this dedication to the essence of Filipino breakfast that makes Guevarra’s stand out.

The Breakfast Buffet Experience

Stepping into Guevarra’s feels like you’re being welcomed into someone’s home. The restaurant’s vintage interior combines rustic old-world charm with modern comfort, setting the perfect stage for the family’s breakfast adventure.

And what an adventure it was!

Guevarra’s breakfast buffet laid out an astonishing array of over 40 dishes, each a masterpiece in its own right. Our culinary journey began with a visit to the bread station, where local favorites like ensaymada, pan de coco, and Spanish bread await. Adding a dash of novelty to this Filipino breakfast experience are the unique pizza creations inspired by beloved ulams like tocino and tuyo.

The heart of the buffet, however, is the build-your-own silog station. Here, the diners call the shots. We started with the egg station, where we had our eggs prepared just the way we like them – perfectly scrambled with all the add-ons or runny sunny side up. Then came the exciting part – choosing our mains which include garlicky Vigan longganisa, daing na bangus, crispy danggit, and chicken pork adobo. We made it a point not to miss the star of the show, Guevarra’s signature Angus Beef Tapa, with its tantalizing smoky flavor.

But breakfast at Guevarra’s isn’t just about silogs. We also enjoyed a variety of Filipino breakfast classics, including champorado and arroz caldo. For those with a sweet tooth, the dessert table didn’t disappoint with its array of Palitaw, Sapin-Sapin, Pichi-Pichi, and more.

What’s remarkable is how everyone at our table found their favorites despite our varied tastes. My balikbayan relatives couldn’t get enough of the silogs, while my health-conscious husband and daughter appreciated the veggies and healthy options. As for me and my son, we happily indulged in the breakfast sweets.

Want to treat yourselves to a breakfast buffet experience at Guevarra’s?

You can find this delightful breakfast haven at 387 P. Guevarra corner Argonne Streets, Addition Hills, San Juan City. For more information and reservations, visit www.guevarras.com, or send a message through its Facebook Page.

The Breakfast Buffet at Guevarra’s by Chef Laudico’s is available every Sunday, from 7:30 to 10 a.m., priced at a reasonable Php589 net per person (Php420.71 for Seniors and PWDs).

In the midst of our busy lives, taking the time to savor a lavish breakfast buffet at Guevarra’s is like hitting the pause button and indulging in a moment of pure joy. It’s an experience that encapsulates the heart and soul of Filipino breakfast culture, with Chefs Lau and Jac’s unwavering commitment to quality shining through in every bite.

So, if you’re seeking a flavorful family reunion, a delightful breakfast outing, or simply a way to treat yourself to some mouthwatering Pinoy delights, make Guevarra’s your destination. Really, it’s more than just a meal – it’s a memory waiting to be savored.

Check out my previous post about Guevarra’s:

Celebrating in style at Guevarra’s by Chef Laudico

Top of the Morning weekend breakfast buffet at Timberland Highlands Resort’s Ridge Cafe

Weekends are for leisure and enjoyment, do you agree? That should certainly include your breakfast.

Weekend breakfasts provide you with the opportunity to take things slow – in contrast to the mad rush during workday mornings – and spend time with your loved ones.

At Ridge Cafe in Timberland Highlands Resort, you can do that and more!

Ridge Cafe is one of the resort’s dining venues which boasts of well-appointed interiors, definitely an elegant venue to enjoy a show-stopping meal.

It also has an al fresco dining area where diners can enjoy the crisp and clean mountain air as well as the magnificent view of the surrounding mountains and the Metro Manila cityscape.

Aside from its usual menu of Filipino and international dishes available ala carte, Ridge Cafe also serves a sumptuous buffet on Saturday and Sunday mornings, dubbed as the Top of the Morning buffet.

Curious as to what you can look forward to at this weekend buffet spread? Check these out:

Imagine waking up to your true-blue almusal faves: the silogs! Pair your choice from viands such as Corned Beef with Potatoes, Tocino, Longganisa and Tocino, with Garlic Fried Rice and your choice or fried eggs from the Egg Station.

Want to break your fast with something wholesome and healthy? You can opt for locally-grown fresh produce for salads or fruit desserts.

If you prefer baked goods for your first meal of the day, then you can have your fill from a woundrous variety of freshly baked breads and pastries. These include four types of pan de sal (regular, ube, cacao and malunggay), cinnamon and fruit Danish, as well as various jams, cheeses and butter to spread on them.

There’s something for the kiddos as well, thanks to continental breakfast choices such as cereals, chicken nuggets and breakfast sausages. You might as well let them indulge in sweet treats that include mini pancakes (with syrup!) and cookies.

Of course, the best part about having so many choices available in the buffet spreas is that you can pick and choose your favorites or explore a totally new cuisine for a weekend breakfast experience that you assembled for yourself.

Whether you’re on your first breakfast buffet at Ridge Cafe, or on your umpteenth visit, you can count on a delicious meal that you can savor with your nears-and-dears.

Top of the Morning breakfast spread is priced at Php650 per person, and is served at Ridge Cafe from 7am to 10am on weekends.

To reserve a table, email timberlandfbm@timberlandresort.com or message 0999-889-2659 | 0995-840-3206 | 8891-8288 local 1030 and 1032.

Ridge Cafe is located at Timberland Highlands Resort, inside Timberland Heights, Barangay Guitnang Bayan II, San Mateo, Rizal 1850 Philippines.

Book your room via Klook today to enjoy great savings!

Rise and shine with Sinangag Express

We hear it all the time: it’s best to start our day with a hearty meal. After all, we need to have nourishment to fuel us for the day.

While some would go for breads or cereals as their starter meal, we Pinoys gravitate towards silogs.

Silogs are made with sinangag (fried rice) and itlog (fried egg) partnered with the ulam (viand) of choice. There’s something about day-old-rice that’s been sauteed with garlic and sunny-side-up fried eggs that perfectly frames the flavors of classic Pinoy breakfasts.

Take the items on offer at Sinangag Express, for example.

Adsilog (Php120). Silog paired with the sweet-sour-savory pork adobo flakes.

Lucbansilog Solo (Php160). Silog paired with garlicky links of authentic Lucban longganisa.

Ilocos Bagnet Meal (Php180). Silog paired with slices of authentic bagnet, an Ilocano dish made of pork belly seasoned with garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves and salt then deep-fried until crispy.

With these hearty morning meals, we’ll definitely have reasons to rise and shine, don’t we?

Fortunately, we can have these breakfast joys delivered to our homes via GrabFood. Plus, until June 15, we get Php100 off our Php550 minimum order from Sinangag Express since this is a GrabFood Signatures restaurant (code: SIGNATURES).

So order now and wake up to deliciousness!

This Sinangag Express branch is located at Food Court, Third Floor, Eastwood Cybermall, Libis, Quezon City.

Other branches are located at:

Pasig: Ortigas Technopoint
Mandaluyong: Worldwide Corporate Center
Taguig: Intellectual Property Center
Makati: San Antonio Village
Manila: Nakpil Street corner Taft Avenue, Dagonoy Street
Paranaque: Betterliving Subdivision, BF Homes
Muntinlupa: Northgate Cyberzone
Las Pinas: Alabang-Zapote Road

For the kids at heart – Scout’s Honor, Ayala Malls Vertis North

Every once in a while, even responsible and serious adults need to let loose their inner child.

Well, guess what: you can do exactly that the camp-themed Scout’s Honor branch in Ayala Malls Vertis North.

Designed to be a place where kids can hang out and enjoy their favorite food, it can also be a place for adults to give in to their playful side.

Together with my officemates, I set out to allow my inner child free rein over lunch at Scout’s Honor.

There, we munched on kid- and kid-at-heart-friendly fare which included:

Crackers, while waiting for our order.

Campfire Potatoes (Ph135). Handcut fries deep-fried to a crisp golden-brown topped with bacon bits and doused with cheese sauce.

Crispy Calamari and Chips (Php165). Crispy battered squid rings flavored with oregano and fennel and served with freshly crisped potato chips.

Scout’s Honor Cheeseburger (Php160 + Php75 for drink and fries). Scout’s Signature beef patty topped with melted cheese sauce between buttery toasted buns.

Tapsilog (Php245). Sukiyaki-cut USDA Beef tapa served with garlic rice, two sunny side up eggs, atchara and spiced vinegar.

Burger Silog (Php235). An all-beef burger steak in savory gravy served with garlic rice, two sunny side up eggs, atchara and spiced vinegar.

1 Bite 2 Bite (Php80/10 pieces). Mini-bite size milk chocolate chip cookies that we divided among ourselves.

I love how Scout’s Honor totally gets a kid’s predilection for melted cheese sauce, and of course, cookies!

And since two of us unlocked our Zomato Gold provileges here, we got two of these dishes for free!

Want to have some of that kiddie joy right at home?

During the enhanced community quarantine, two of Scout’s Honor’s branches are open from 11am to 7pm Tuesdays to Sundays with a special menu for takeout, delivery via GrabFood and FoodPanda or pickup via Grab Assistant or Lalamove Purchase Service:

Uptown Bonifacio: To order, call +63 917 631 0765 or +63 2 79467374
Santolan Town Plaza: To order, call +63 917 7061607 or +63 2 77288902

This Scout’s Honor branch is located at Level 1, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City with store hours from 8am to 10pm daily. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 79406480 or +63 917 7021404.

Other branches are located at:

Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Oranbo, Pasig
Uptown Place Mall, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Santolan Town Plaza, Little Baguio, San Juan
SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
SM City Fairview, Novaliches, Quezon City
Century City Mall, Poblacion, Makati
Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila

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.