sizzling sinigang – Jellybeans in the City

Delightful takes on Filipino food: Locavore Kitchen + Drinks, Eastwood City

If you’re on the lookout for a place that beautifully reinvents Filipino cuisine, where the heartwarming flavors of home-cooked Filipino dishes intertwine with a dash of innovation, well, nestled in the vibrant Eastwood City neighborhood, is your ultimate destination for an unforgettable dining experience that brings classic Filipino flavors to new heights.

That is Locavore Kitchen + Drinks.

History and Mission

The story of Locavore is one of culinary passion and a commitment to reinventing Filipino cuisine. Four couples, including the dynamic Speedy and Alta Lyttle, teamed up with the daring and talented chef Kel Zagguire. Their vision? To take the comforting essence of home-cooked Filipino food and transform classic staples into something that appeals to a broader and more diverse palate.

Locavore’s journey began along Brixton Street in Kapitolyo, Pasig City, becoming a haven for locals in search of a community bistro within months of opening. With its playful and unique menu that still stays within the essence of straightforward Filipino flavors, Locavore became the place where you can enjoy “Filipino food you wouldn’t be able to eat at home.”

Unique Approach to Filipino Cuisine

At the core of Locavore’s identity lies an unyielding dedication to employing exclusively fresh, locally sourced ingredients, nurtured and cultivated by nearby farmers and growers. This devotion extends to fostering strong relationships within the local agricultural community, resulting in every mouthful being not just audacious and adventurous, but also naturally organic and environmentally sustainable. This holistic approach stands as a heartwarming gesture of reciprocity, echoing their commitment to empowering local businesses and embracing a more connected culinary ecosystem.

My Family’s Brunch Experience

One fine Sunday morning, after the family has attended mass, brunch seemed like a great idea. Given the fam’s developing taste for foodie adventures, we decided to dine at Locavore’s Eastwood branch.

In this restaurant with a chic hispter vibe, we found modernity and creativity in equal measure. The sleek interior design set the stage for an extraordinary meal. Its high ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of natural light give a sense of spaciousness. For diners who prefer to enjoy their meal in the open air, Locavore offers an al fresco dining area where they can savor their food amidst the relaxed atmosphere of Eastwood’s surroundings.

For our Sunday brunch, the fam and I feasted on:

Salted Egg Chips (Php445). A tantalizing creation of thinly sliced taro coated in salted egg puree, topped with quesong puti and a zesty salsa, serving as a great start to our meal!

Boneless Lechon Belly (Php800). A nod to Cebu’s finest, served with pinakurat vinegar and bagoong, complemented by pickled cucumber.

Sizzling Sinigang (Php680). Locavore’s most famous dish, boasting tender beef cubes and vegetables served sour and garlicky on a sizzling plate. This is definitely a family favorite and not a dish to be missed!

Dining at Locavore is an experience that encapsulates the heart and soul of Filipino cuisine while weaving in innovative twists. So, whether you’re seeking something entirely different or yearning to rediscover a beloved favorite, Locavore is the answer. Gather your loved ones and embark on a culinary journey that tickles both your imagination and palate.

Head over to Locavore Kitchen + Drinks at Ground Floor 1880 Eastwood Ave Building, Eastwod City, Bagumbayan, Quezon City, open daily from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 5120159.

Other Locavore branches are located at:

10 Brixton Street, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City (+63 917 6842014)
Ground Floor, Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Oranbo, Pasig City (+63 917 7742023)
Forbes Town Center, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (Tel: +63 917 5742017)
Ground Level, Three Central, Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati (Tel: +63 917 1782018)
Ground Level, S’Maison, Seaside Blvd, Pasay (Tel: +63 917 8472747)
Upper Ground, SM Bacoor, Bgy Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Highway corner Tirona Highway, Bacoor, Cavite (Tel: +63 917 1472022)

To stay updated on its menu and offers, follow Locavore Kitchen & Drinks on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous post about Locavore:

C lassic Filipino dishes with a twist at Locavore, Kapitolyo

Not your ordinary Filipino food at Locavore, BGC

Balikbayans’ re-introduction to Pinoy cuisine at Locavore Kitchen & Drinks

We Pinoys have a special relationship with our food.

For many of us, Filipino food is synonymous withe comforting home-cooked meals lovingly prepared by our nanays, or special heritage dishes passed down through generations in our family.

All of these delicious food is always best enjoyed in the company of our kin.

This is why when our tita and pinsan from the States came over, our extended family hosted a dinner for them at Locavore Kitchen & Drinks in Kapitolyo.

The restaurant was established in 2014 by a group of friends who shared a passion for food and sustainability. Since then, it has gained a loyal clientele and eventually expanded its operations to multiple locations.

Its cozy and laid-back vibe also makes it a perfect spot for our family get-together.

Locavore got its name from a restaurant concept that emphasizes the use of locally sourced ingredients in their dishes. This means that the restaurant sources their ingredients from local farmers and producers, reducing the carbon footprint associated with food transportation and supporting the local economy.

Locavore’s menu is inspired by traditional Filipino cuisine but with a modern twist, using locally sourced ingredients, including fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat.

To re-introduce our balikbayan relatives to the tasty possibilities of Filipino food, we ordered our tried-and-tested favorites:

Fried Oyster Sisig (₱450). Aklan oysters fried with chopped white onions and green chilis.

Sugpo con Mayonesa (₱990). Prawns stir-fried with garlic in butter, crabfat amd mayonnaise.

Gising Gising (₱370). Julliened sigarilyas, French beans, garlic, spring onions and shallot confit simmered in coconut milk.

Sizzling Sinigang (₱660). Locavore’s deliciously fresh take on the classic sinigang made with beef short ribs in tamarind gravy with sauteed garlic confit and French beans.

Tuna Panga (₱520). Baked jaw of tuna drizzled with bagging java glaze and served with shredded radish and lime slices.

Sizzling Pandesal Pudding (₱260). Cheese pandesal soaked in custard with salted egg and dulce de leche topped with vanilla ice cream.

With its mouth-watering showcase of the possibilities present in Filipino cuisine, is it any wonder that we chose to Locavore to re-acquaint our balikbayan relatives to Pinoy food and reconnect them to their Pinoy roots?

This Locavore Kitchen & Drinks branch is located at 10 Brixton Street, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City, open daily from 10am to 9pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 6842014.

Other branches are located in the following areas:

GF 1880 Eastwood Ave Bldg, Bagumbayan, Quezon City (Tel: +63 917 5120159)
Forbes Town Center, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (Tel: +63 917 5742017)
Ground Level, Three Central, Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati (Tel: +63 917 1782018)
Ground Level, S’Maison, Seaside Blvd, Pasay (Tel: +63 917 8472747)
Upper Ground, SM Bacoor, Bgy Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Highway corner Tirona Highway, Bacoor, Cavite (Tel: +63 917 1472022)

To stay updated on its menu and offers, follow Locavore Kitchen & Drinks on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous post about Locavore:

Not your ordinary Filipino food at Locavore, BGC

Hubby wanted to celebrate his birthday with me and his office buddies and so looked for a special place where we can all spend time together over good food.

Having eaten several times before at Locavore’s branch in Kapitolyo, we set upon the resto’s branch in Burgos Circle, BGC as the venue for his celebration.

Locavore is known for applying unique twists to classic Filipino dishes, influenced no doubt by Chef Mikel Zaguirre’s background in French cooking and his preference for fresh ingredients from around the country.

This branch has more of a “pub” kind of feel to it: dim lights, chill sounds and the smell of sizzling food wafting to your nose.

Hubby’s birthday feast consisted of several orders of the resto’s best sellers:

Boneless Lechon Belly (Php650). Prepared Cebu-lechon style, it is served with Pinakurat vinegar, bagoong dipping sauce, and pickled red onion and cucumber.

Mac’s Boneless Fried Chicken (Php270). The resto’s own recipe of the glazed boneless fried chicken.

Gising Gising (Php275). The traditional Pampanga dish made of finely chopped sigarilyas (winged beans), French beans, garlic and shallot confit, gata (coconut milk) and spring onions.

Sizzling Sinigang (Php550). Usually the highlight of our meals at Locavore, this is made of beef short ribs, served with sauteed French beans in a sampaloc (tamarind) gravy with garlic confit. This time, however, it was initially served quite cold and, after several bites, I had to request for it to be reheated so that the full potential of the dish can be tasted.

These viands were accompanied by Locavore’s Roasted Garlic Organic White Rice (Php70).

Plus, since both Hubby and I unlocked our Zomato Gold Privilege, we got several free glasses of refreshing ice-blended mocktails for the ladies in the group: the Cucumber Lime Cooler (Php150) and the Apple Lime Cooler (Php150).

I usually fully enjoy my meals at Locavore, but in this branch, some executions have gone awry such as serving the sinigang as anything less than sizzling hot.

Still, Hubby’s birthday celebration was an enjoyable time spent among his friends.

Want to score a similar discount on drinks? 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

This Locavore branch is located at Forbes Town Center, Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, open daily from 10am to 2am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 917 5742017.

Other branches are located at:

Brixton Technology Center, 10 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11.30am to 1am and Sundays from 11am to 1am.

S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard Corner Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City, open daily from 11am to 1am.

Ground Floor, Three Central Building, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City, open daily from 10am to 12 midnight

Ground Floor, 1880 Building, Eastwood Avenue, Libis, Quezon City

Classic Filipino dishes with a twist at Locavore, Kapitolyo

I’ve been hearing a lot about Locavore Kitchen & Drinks in Kapitolyo for the past few years since it opened but having moved offices from Ortigas to Quezon City, I just haven’t had too many opportunities to explore the Kapitolyo food scene anymore.

Luckily, the fam was invited to a lunch treat by the in-laws at this resto which also served as our welcome break from hibernating at home due to the non-stop rain.

The recipient of the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Filipino Restaurant in 2017, Locavore champions local cuisine by revitalizing classic dishes with a new twist, no doubt influenced by the French cooking background of chef and co-owner Mikel Zaguirre. Its name Locavore sums up the resto’s culinary philosophy: a person who eats and appreciates food that’s locally grown, raised and produced.

The place has a decidedly young and hip vibe to it, with a nice blend of wood and industrial-inspired interiors, designed by one the resto’s partners, Eric Matic.

While waiting for the rest of our party, we munched on Salted Egg Gabi Chips (Php350) and Kinilaw na Tanigue (Php320). The gabi chips was a definite hit with me and my daughter #ExhibitA, both of us being fans of salted egg chips per se. Eating those kinds of chips made of a vegetable we don’t normally associate with snack food is actually an appetizing novelty. Also, the chips are accompanied by kimchi, chopped white onion and kesong puti, a local cheese made from carabao’s milk, the combination of which that produced an explosion of flavors with each bite. As for the kinilaw (the Pinoy version of ceviche), I liked the texture of the raw fish that has been cured in cane vinegar and aromatics. Hubby didn’t find it spicy enough for his taste, but I liked it just fine. 🙂

Once our party was complete, we feasted on main dishes that exemplify the concept of classic Filipino dishes given unique cosmopolitan twists. For example, the Boneless Lechon Belly (Php650) is a Cebu-style roasted pork belly that had a tender, mildly flavored meat with a crisp and crunchy skin. The Mac’s Boneless Fried Chicken (Php270), has a thick yet crisp batter enveloping the juicy chicken (since this dish was intended for the little boys in our group, the wait staff served it separately from the spicy glaze). The Sugpo con Mayonesa (Php980) was a decadent dish of huge tiger prawns served with a rich sauce of aligue (crab fat), garlic, butter and Japanese mayo. The Ginataang Kalabasa (Php420) features the Pinoy version of the pumpkin cooked in gata (coconut milk) and accompanied by French beans, shrimp and sizeable pork chop slices; it’s definitely an upgraded version of the vegetable dish that Pinoy moms would force us kids to eat for our health. Not being a fan of curry nor spicy food, I didn’t sample the Green Curry Bicol Express (Php480) anymore.

Of course, the piece de resistance of the meal is the Sizzling Sinigang (Php550), the classic Filipino soup dish transformed into a sizzling viand. The sour sampaloc (tamarind) broth became a rich savory gravy that retained sinigang‘s characteristic sourness. Together with the sauteed French beans and garlic confit, it complemented the beef short-ribs slow-cooked to melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.

All of these dishes were wonderfully set off by the various options of brown steamed rice, garlic white rice and steamed white rice that we ordered to accompany the viands.

To cap the meal, we were treated to a tall tower of the house special Leche Flan (Php190), the Pinoy version of Creme Caramel, a rich and creamy custard served with a creamy caramel sauce on the side.

We experienced a minor panic when my son got some hives due to allergy to the shrimp and tiger prawns (which was unfortunate because shrimp is among his favorite food). Good thing sister-in-law came to the rescue with some antihistamine she happened to have handy.

Despite that, I’m happy to say that Locavore more than lived up to my expectations when it comes to food flavor and presentation, and I look forward to exploring more of its offerings.

This Locavore branch is located at 10 Brixton Street, Barrio Kapitolyo, Pasig City (Tel: +63 917 684 2014). Other branches are located at:

Unit 5-7AB Forbeswood Parklane, Taguig City (Tel: +63 917 574 2017)
A1-A2 Three Central, Salcedo, Makati City (Tel: +63 917 178 2018)
Level 1 S Maison, Mall of Asia, Pasay City (Tel: +63 917 847 2747)