spanish food – Jellybeans in the City

Say hello to satisfying paella at Hola Paella, SM Megamall

I’ve always had a soft spot for paella. As one of the most well-known Spanish dishes with a long history, it enjoys great visibility, not just in Spanish restaurants but also in Pinoy fiestas.

The paella got its name from the shallow frying pan in which it is cooked and even served. Originating from the Valencia region in Spain, it combines both the Roman and Arab culinary traditions. Most iterations of this dish is characterized by its vibrant yellow color owing to the generous use of saffron which also contributes to its unique taste. One of the exceptions here is the Paella Negra which gets its color and flavor from the squid ink mixed in with the rice.

Having been colonized by Spain for three centuries, it is hardly surprising that the Philippines would develop a love for this dish, even making our own version – the arroz ala valenciana – which uses glutinous rice with chicken and longganisa or chorizo.

Well, the good news for us paella lovers is that we don’t have to travel far nor wait for a fiesta to get a taste of our favorite dish.

At the newly opened stall at SM Megamall’s Eatogether Food Hall, we can get this flavorful rice dish and pick the toppings we want to go with it.

Together with my fellow foodies, I was able to sample some of its solo servings.

Check them out:

Roasted Chicken Paella (Php235).

Pork Belly Paella (Php215).

Seafood Paella (Php185).

Paella Negra (Php290).

Aside from its many paella iterations, Hola Paella also serves appetizers such as:

Chicken Burrito (Php250).

Nachos with Pulled Pork (Php160).

It’s great to see that one of my favorite dishes is so readily available.

In fact, I brought home a Paella de Carne (Php710) for the fam’s dinner the next day. All I had to do was reheat the rice (with a little bit of stirring at first) in a large cast iron skillet and leave it alone on the stove for a few minutes to form a little bit of soccarat – the toasted and caramelized rice crust that forms at the bottom of skillet which gives the dish a whole new dimension of flavor.

Hola Paella is located at Eatogether Food Hall, Second Floor SM Megamall Building A, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.

If you want to have your paella at home, you can order from Hola Paella via GrabFood, FoodPanda or Poodtrip.

For more info on Hola Paella and its latest offers, follow it on Facebook or Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food-tasting here together with fellow foodies. All food items mentioned here were served for us to sample the fare and elicit our honest feedback.

Check out my posts on other stalls at Eatogether Food Hall:

Comfort food elevated at ALTA by Relik, San Juan

Weekend brunches have grown popular lately, with many establishments offering hearty comfort dishes that can be leisurely enjoyed by diners.

At ALTA by Relik at Santolan Town Plaza, families can enjoy the flavorful comfort food amidst vibrant and colorful surroundings.

The restaurant is an offshoot of the popular BGC restaurant Relik. Restaurant owner Gen Mortel and Chef Jam Laboriente collaborated on a Filipino-Spanish menu to provide an elevated dining experience to San Juan’s foodies.

Last weekend I had brunch together with my fellow foodies from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH at ALTA by Relik where we had a taste of its comfort food elevated with fresh twists such as:

Relik’s Nachos (Php350). Homemade tortilla chips topped with meat sauce, crisp lettuce, tomato and cucumber relish, cheddar cheese and sour cream.

Chilean Mussels Croquettes (Php495). Chilean mussels topped with thick bechamel sauce and bread crumbs and served a with a lemon slice.

Pulled Pork Quesadilla (Php235). Tender pulled pork, cheddar, mozzarella, corn kernels, lettuce and source cream encased in homemade flour tortillas.

Watermelon and Kesong Puti Salad (Php265). Mixed greens, arugula, watermelon cubes, bits of kesong puti and candied walnuts tossed with balsamic reduction.

Longanisa Flatbread with Salted Egg Cream (Php375). Crisp flatbread topped with sweet pork longganisa, tomato salsa and salted egg dressing.

Seafood Chowder (Php295). Shrimp, squid and herbs incorporated in a flavorful cream soup and garnished with croutons and parsley.

Bagnet Sinigang (Php395). The classic sinigang dish deconstructed into pieces of bagnet and vegetables served with a broth made of fresh sampaloc dialed up to its asim-est level.

Lamb Pares (Php355). Slow-cooked shoulders of grass-fed New Zealand lambs in garlic soy sauce served with garlic rice.

Sizzling Bulalo Steak (Php489). Tender beef shank with its decadent bone marrow served sizzling in a garlic bulalo gravy together with fried potatoes, green beans and garlic bits.

Seafood Paella (Php995). Rich saffron-infused medium-grain rice with white shrimp, squid, Chilean mussels and roasted bell peppers served in a special paellera pan that helps it develop a nice toasty crust at the bottom. (Fun fact: that flavorful toasty crust is called socarrat in Catalan. Paella connoisseurs consider this the key to paella’s fabulous flavor).

Mango Tapioca Trifle (Php215). Fresh sliced mangoes, caramel,sauce and tapioca pearls top a layer of lady fingers.

Milo Dinosaur Cheesecake (Php195). A chocolatey frozen cheesecake flavored with Milo and garnished with sprinkled with Milo powder.

So if you feel like enjoying an elevated brunch experience or dine on an excellent selection of Filipino-Spanish fusion dishes, drop by at Santolan Town Plaza to experience ALTA by Relik!

Many thanks to Gen, Jam and the staff of ALTA by Relik for the warm welcome and the fabulous food!

ALTA by Relik is located at Santolan Town Plaza, Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue, Little Baguio, San Juan City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 8am to 12 midnight and Fridays to Saturdays from 8am to 2am. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 917 3172582.

Here are more reasons to head to ALTA by Relik:

DJ Nights every Thursday night at 8pm.
Live music every Friday and Saturday at 8pm.
All-You-Can-Eat buffet breakfast every Sunday from 8am to 11.30am.

Disclosure: Together with my fellow foodies, I attended a foodie meetup held here. 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 blog posts on breakfast joints around the metro:

European lunch at Vanderlust Bistro, Tomas Morato

Europe’s rich and diverse culture is made manifest in its cuisines. While I wouldn’t mind traveling across The Continent to sample its gustatory pleasures, the expedition would surely be costly. Luckily, with Vanderlust Bistro, I can get a taste of the cuisines of various European countries all in one place.

And that is exactly what I did for lunch together with my officemates one fine day. Armed with our Zomato Gold memberships, we set about discovering what Vanderlust Bistro has to offer.

The place is cozy with limited seating at the ground floor but more tables available upstairs. The interiors are sparsely decorated, other than the wallpaper with miniature Eiffel Towers, approximating the simplicity of European bistros.

Its food offerings are focused on German, Italian and Spanish cuisines, giving us varied flavors to explore and satisfy our cravings. These include:

Fish and Wedges (Php238). Beer-battered fish and potato wedges served with aoili.

Catalan Baked Fish with Potatoes and Asparagus (Php458). Baked white fish with herb crust served with olives, sauteed potatoes, asparagus and roasted tomatoes.

Mon Cheri Poulet (Php458). Honey and red wine-glazed chicken thigh placed on top of a spinach omelette and a strip of smoked bacon.

Cacio E Pepe Mushroom Truffle (Php398). A classic Italian pasta dish of cheese and pepper with mushroom and truffle sauce.

Espaguetis con Chorizo (Php278). Pasta noodles tossed in a sauce made from simmered tomatoes and Spanish sausages with a bit of paprika.

Tuscan Chicken Spinach Pasta (Php348). Herbed chicken tops a pasta dish with sauce made from spinach and sun-dried tomatoes.

Gianduiotto (Php195). A chocolate dessert originating from Piedmont, northern Italy, which got its name from gianduja, a chocolate spread containing hazelnut paste.

Spanish Churros (Php98). Six pieces of freshly fried churros which we requested to be served with a chocolate dip (Php50).

I used to find European restaurants intimidating; I thought that menu items would be staggeringly expensive. At Vanderlust Bistro, however, European food is packaged more affordably and made more accessible to the Filipino diner.

This Vanderlust Bistro branch is located at 100 Scout De Guia corner Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City, open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 11am to 11pm, Fridays from 11am to 2am, and Saturdays from 11am to 1am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 9540401.

Another branch is located at Fifth Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.

Since Vanderlust Bistro is a Zomato Gold partner establishment, our group got some of our food orders for free!

Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 (Buy 1 Get 1) deals on food or 2+2 (Buy 2 Get 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.

You can also book your table at Vanderlust Bistro using Eatigo to get up to 50% off your food bill. Sign up using my referral link to get additional perks.

Traditional Spanish food at Alba Restaurante Espanol, Tomas Morato

Considering that Alba Restaurant Espanol has been around for more than sixty years, it’s a wonder I’ve only recently gotten around to dining at one of its branches.

Spanish cuisine has influenced Filipino food for centuries, so many of our favorite Filipino dishes actually have roots in Spain.

The flavors of Spanish food evoke the warmth and gaiety of its culture, shaped by the country’s long history of invasions and conquests wherein new ingredients, flavors and culinary styles were introduced and assimilated.

Founded by Senor Anastacio de Alba, a Spanish national, along with his son Chef Miguel in the 1950s. Since that time, it has become the de facto eatery for authentic Spanish fare by Manila’s who’s who as well as Manila’s tourists including Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and his wife Sofia during their visit to the country.

During one of my bouts of #ZomatoGold raiding together with my officemates, we decided to venture to the Tomas Morato branch of Alba for our lunch. The branch has been a fixture in the Tomas Morato food scene for as long as any of us can remember, and thanks to Zomato Gold’s 1+1 deal on food items, my companions and I were able to feast on some of its celebrated dishes.

Chorizos Fritos (Php350). Homemade Spanish sausages lightly sauteed in oil.

Croquetas de Pollo (Php240). Chicken and potato croquettes served with aoili sauce.

Gambas al Ajillo (Php370). Plump shrimps sauteed in garlic, chilis and oil.

Pasta de Mariscos (Php300). Pasta noodles served in a seafood and tomato sauce.

Lengua Sevillana (Php500). Stewed ox tongue with mushroom and olives served in a rich sherry brown sauce.

Callos ala Madrilena (Php420). Stewed ox tripe in rich tomato sauce.

I was happy to taste the Spanish variations of the dishes I grew up with. The callos and lengua, in particular, feature fork-tender meats and rich sauces that I just love.

On my next visit, I would love to avail of Alba’s Spanish Buffet. Imagine all sorts of tapas, paellas, carnes and postres you can eat for only Php795/head (lunch) or Php895/head (dinner)!

This branch of Alba is located at Tomas Morato Corner Scout Lozano Street, Sacred Heart, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 9251912 or +63 2 9287129.

Other branches in the metro are found at:

Westgate Center, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa City, open daily from 11am to 11pm (Tel Nos: +63 2 7712178 or +63 2 7712179)

Fourth Level, Prism Plaza, Two E-Com Center, Ocean Drive, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City, open daily from 11am to 11pm (Tel Nos: +63 2 8088210 or +63 2 8082326)

38 Polaris Street, Poblacion, Makati City, open daily from 11am to 11pm (Tel Nos: +63 2 8966950 or +63 2 8966951)
Level 2, North Wing, Estancia Mall, 1605 Meralco Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig open daily from 11am to 11pm (Tel Nos: +63 2 2534953 or +63 2 2588272)

Thanks to Zomato Gold, several dishes from our order are FREE! 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.

You can also book your table at Alba’s Mall of Asia Complex branch using Eatigo to get up to 50% off your food bill. Sign up using my referral link to get additional perks.

Check out my reviews of other restaurants serving Spanish food in the Metro:

Taste of Spain at Casa Marcos, Tomas Morato

Spain has a rich and colorful history, a fact which comes out of its equally rich and colorful cuisine.

One of the most popular cuisines in the world due to its spread during the age colonization, Spanish food is particularly close to Pinoy hearts as it influenced our own local cuisine.

Casa Marcos started in 1945, established by a Spanish national, Marcos de Guisasola, opened a Spanish restaurant in Manila which he named after himself. Driven by his love of cooking and entertaining friends, he brought his country’s signature dishes as well as the decidedly Spanish flair and passion for life to his new home.

Today, Casa Marcos is located at the second floor of the Il Terrazo Mall along Tomas Morato in Quezon City. It has a pub kind of atmosphere and was quite deserted when a friend and I went there for lunch but we were told that the restaurant’s peak hours are at night due to its offerings of tapas and craft beer.

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@casamarcos was established in 1945 when a Spanish national, Marcos de Guisasola, opened a Spanish restaurant in Manila and named it after himself. Now, Casa Marcos is located in the #foodiefriendly Tomas Morato area.

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Jun 4, 2018 at 6:43am PDT

We were also served some dinner rolls with butter while we waited for our main meal.

The purpose of our visit was to sample the resto’s Paella Valenciana (Php470 for a small serving which is good for 2 to 3 people: Php845 for a large serving which is good for 5 ton6 people), a hearty rice dish with chorizo, seafood, and chicken pieces, seasoned with paprika and served in a heated flat pan (called soccarat in Spain). We also ordered a Lengua Sevillana (Php345), ox tongue cooked until tender and served with a mushroom gravy sauce.

Both dishes have rich and earthy flavors, well worth the walk to the resto (and the hefty price tag).

Some of the paella also got toasted in the pan, adding some crunchy texture to each bite. The portion was quite large (despite us opting for the small serving) and we ended up splitting the remainder and having them wrapped for takeout.

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For lunch, had a taste of the earthy flavors of Spain with @casamarcos’ #PaellaValenciana (Php470) and #LenguaSevillana (Php345)! Check out my review at beingjellybeans.wordpress.com (search: Casa Marcos). #spanishfood #spanishfoodie #teamo #foodie #foodgasm

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on May 31, 2018 at 10:07pm PDT