spam – Jellybeans in the City

Escape the holiday rush at The Cabean Cafe

With the Christmas season now in full swing, the mad rush to finish pending year-end work and holiday shopping do seem overwhelming. At times like this, wouldn’t you appreciate the chance to just sit back and sip some good brews or munch on some tasty chews and just pass the time?

If that’s the case, this quiet haven for coffee and comfort in Quezon City called The Cabean Cafe should be right up your alley.

Coffee and Comfort

Named after a play on the word “cabin” – a type of lodging constructed from logs that provide a restful abode for settlers in the American wilderness – this Quezon City coffee destination brings forth a feeling of calmness and serenity amidst the wild and chaotic goings-on in the metro.

Thanks to its minimalist design given warmth by wooden furnishings, books and knick-knacks and other homey accents, along with free WiFi and power outlets to keep your devices connected and charged up, The Cabean Cafe is the perfect venue for some alone time – whether for studying or resting – or for intimate gatherings with friends or family, all while enjoying your favorite brew.

And if you want to peek out into the wider world outside its walls, you can always choose a spot in The Cabean Cafe’s al fresco veranda.

Handcrafted Brews

Despite its relaxing ambiance, The Cabean Cafe certainly takes its brews seriously. Its fresh and high-quality Arabica coffee beans are purely local, ethically sourced from farmers in Sagada. These are then carefully selected and expertly roasted to bring that fullness of flavor that coffee lovers look for.

Taking its theme of sustainability to heart, the cafe employs environment-friendly packaging from biodegradable dining ware down to sugarcane straws.

So go ahead and take your pick among The Cabean Cafe’s handcrafted beverage creations for something to perk you up for the day or to soothe and relax you after your work is done.

Tasty and healthy bites

Should your appetite kick in while you’re holing up here, there’s no need to worry: The Cabean Cafe serves up yummy meals and snacks, along with delectable desserts, to give you fuel you up or give you that much-needed energy boost.

So if you’re looking for a place to enjoy some peace and quiet along with a good ole’ cuppa and some bites, be sure to check out The Cabean Cafe!

PS: Want to perk up your events? If you’re planning a workplace meeting or a casual get-together, why not bring Coffee Everywhere? The Cabean Cafe’s Mobile Coffee Cart can serve up heartwarming brews starting at Php7,700 (for 50 cups and 3 hours of service.

PPS: If you’ve taken your love for coffee to the next level and have become an aspiring barista, you can brush up on your coffee knowledge at The Cabean Cafe’s Barista Workshops held every Friday and Saturday. Learn the art of making premium brews from the masters and you just might get started on your own coffee business for just Php5,000 (or take advantage of the promo price of Php3,500 when you scan the QR code below).

The Cabean Cafe is located at 131 D. Tuazon Street, Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 10am to 9pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 3pm to 11pm. For inquiries, call +63 2 70066598 or email thecabeancafe@gmail.com.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting event held at The Cabean Cafe. Food and beverage items were served in exchange for honest feedback.

Onigiris with Pinoy flavors from Samurice

If you’re a fan of Japanese food but got some #PinoyPride goin’ on for our local cuisine, then Samurice PH’s got something great in store for you!

This online food shop specializes in premium onigiris – Japanese rice balls stuffed with tasty ingredients.

With its newest offerings – dubbed Filipino Favorites – Samurice PH brings to us Pinoys flavors that are closer to home, the taste of classic Pinoy ulams encased in a tightly packed ball of another Pinoy staple, garlic rice.

Curious yet?

Indulge your craving for that Japanese and Pinoy combination with these onigiri variants.

Sisig with Garlic Rice. The famed Kapampangan viand finds a new iteration with this savory onigiri.

Spam Mayo with Garlic Rice. Kiddos will love this onigiri that allows them to enjoy their favorite spam beyond breakfast.

Adobo with Garlic Rice. The national dish broadens its horizons to include an onigiri iteration.

These classic Pinoy flavors are available in a Filipino onigiri set that includes two onigiris of each flavor for just Php599.

Enjoy these onigiris at home for a quick and easy lunch in between Zoom meetings or online classes. You may also pack one of these as your baon so you can have a handy snack anytime you get hungry, or include a set in your picnic basket so you and your companions can easily munch into a tasty meal while on the go.

Other Samurice onigiri sets available include:

Japanese (Php499): includes 2 Salmon Mayo, 2 Chicken Teriyaki and 2 Tuna Mayo onigiris; all made with imported Japanese rice and wrapped with soy nori
Korean (Php599): includes 2 Korean Spicy Pork Samgyupsal, 2 Beef Bulgogi and 2 Spicy Korean Chicken Galbi onigiris; all made with Gochujang-flavored rice and wrapped with soy nori
Spam Mayo (Php599): 6 onigiris made with Spam bits with a bit of mayo in garlic rice and wrapped with soy nori

Order your onigiri set today at Samurice PH’s online store. Payments via GCash and bank transfer via BancNet, Union Bank and BPI are accepted.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature article.

Book and food lover’s paradise: Tweedle Book Cafe, Tomas Morato

A bookworm and a foodie, that’s me.

The bookworm in me allows me to be happily content practically anywhere, and even all by my lonesome, so long as I have a new or my favorite tome in hand.

The foodie in me, on the other hand, gets me seeking new gastronomic experiences in both new and familiar places, often with close friends, because sometimes, breaking bread is more fun when you have people to break it with!

Imagine my delight when I discover establishments that cater to both passions!

Such is Tweedle Book Cafe, a small eatery located in a more out-of-the-way section of the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato vicinity.

Named after the zany twin characters Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, Tweedle Book Cafe is like stepping into your dream library: the kind where you can chill and lose yourself in the pages of your favorite book while sipping on some rich hot chocolate.

Aside from the wall-to-wall shelves of books, the place is filled with references to literary works: from planks of wood citing famius authors, to clocks showing purported time in fictional settings and to a secret door masked by Platform 9 3/4.

What makes the place even more appealing is its imaginative menu which a couple of my friends and I sampled when we went here on a lunch adventure.

Cheeseburgerballs Pasta (Php230). Just think: if you can have your favorite meaty burger, loaded with so much cheese, but in a bowl nestled in pasta and tomato sauce. Sounds good?

Hangover (Php280). Ever had case of the munchies the morning after a night out drinking with friends? This rice bowl with beef sukiyaki, kimchi and egg has a whole lot of comforting heartiness and a bit of spice to kickstart your morning.

Juan Tamad (Php180). This is named so because this dish of corned beef and spam cubes in fried rice is so easy to make that you would have to be really, really lazy to still go out and order it (which I was, and no regrets here!).

Choco Lava Cake (Php120). Served piping hot, this chocolate cake with a molten chocolate center that oozes out with each spoonful.

These lovely dishes took some time getting to our table but fortunately, they were worth the wait. Also, our group was able to entertain ourselves chatting (and poring over Anne Rice’s books in my case).

On my next visit, I’ll try items from Tweedle Book Cafe’s Chocolate drinks and Tweedled coffees.

Book lover or not, this foodie haven is worth checking out!

By the way, since two of us unlocked our Zomato Gold privilege at this cafe, we got Hangover and the Chocolate Lava Cake for free!

Tweedle Book Cafe is located at 106-B Scout Gandia Street, Sacred Heart, Quezon City, open weekdays from noon to midnight, Saturdays from 10.30am to midnight and Sundays from 3pm to 10pm.

Want to score a similar discount? 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 as soon as slots open. (They tend to get snatched up pretty quickly so be sure to sign up as soon as slots become available.) Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.