squid ink pasta – Jellybeans in the City

Culinary delights at SilverSpoon QC

Being a foodie myself, there are few pleasures in life as universal as the enjoyment of a delicious meal. From childhood memories of dinners with my family to those first kilig dates at fancy restaurants, dining on good food has the ability to bring not just satiety, but a sense of joy.

And for people like me who are passionate about food and all its delicious possibilities, there’s no better feeling than sharing their gustatory adventures with others.

That’s what I did when on the first day of our #ReturnToOffice, I took my teammates to one of my favorite places in the Tomas Morato area for our first #HappyLunch after nearly three years: SilverSpoon Kitchenette.

Located in one of the side streets off Tomas Morato Avenue, this cozy little kitchenette is a hidden gem that has been making waves in the local food scene.

The kitchenette is run by a team of passionate foodies who are dedicated to bringing dishes that are not only delicious but also made with the freshest ingredients. They source their produce from local farmers, ensuring that every dish is packed with the goodness of the season. They also instituted a quarterly showcase of classic Pinoy food from various regions to make these heritage dishes more accessible to their clientele.

However, for this particular food adventure, my coworkers and I focused on SilverSpoon’s pastas and mains, which included:

Creamy Spinach Ravioli (Php365). Handcrafted ravioli stuffed with creamy spinach filling served on a flavorful sauce bed.

Pasta al Nero (Php330). Squid ink pasta tossed with crisp vegetables and calamari.

Crispy Lechon Kawali (Php330). Deep-fried pork belly served with saffron rice with lechon sauce on the side.

Honey Garlic Liempo (Php330). Tender grilled pork belly glazed in a sweet-savory honey garlic sauce and served with garlic rice.

Gambas in Tomato Sauce (Php385). Plump tiger prawns flavored with paprika and tossed in a sauce of pureed tomatoes.

Beef Salpicao (Php495). Tender beef strips and mushrooms stir-fried in Worcestershire sauce, butter, garlic and chilis served on a bed of garlic rice.

But the food is only part of the story. SilverSpoon Kitchenette is a warm and welcoming space that’s perfect for everything from a quick lunch for office workers to a leisurely dinner with friends.

The decor is simple and minimalist but has a charming vibe that makes you feel right at home. Whether you’re sitting at the bar with your coffee and a sandwich or feasting with your buddies at one of the cozy tables, you’ll be feeling quite at ease.

In a world where fast food and pre-packaged meals have become the norm, SilverSpoon Kitchenette is a refreshing reminder of what real food is all about. So the next time you’re in the mood for a meal that’s made with love and care, head over to SilverSpoon Kitchenette and prepare to be delighted.

Silverspoon Kitchenette is located at 81 Scout Gandia Street, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily for dine-in, takeout or delivery from 11am to 10pm. For inquiries, reservations or delivery orders, call +63 917 1603327. It also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Plus, here’s a something to make your culinary adventure even more delightful!

Scan this code and present your boarding pass when you dine in at SilverSpoon to enjoy 10% off on your bill! (Applicable to dine-in transactions only)

For updates on its latest offers, follow Silverspoon on Facebook or Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about SilverSpoon:

‘Tis the start of the season for fam celebrations with Silverspoon

3 reasons to treat your Valentine to a meal at Silverspoon, Tomas Morato

Sumptuous snacking at Silverspoon, Tomas Morato

Take a bite of classic Kapampangan food at SilverSpoon QC

Healthy choices and fresh flavors at Hillside Cafe & Juice Bar, Paligsahan

Making healthy food choices is important.

More than the amount of calories consumed, healthy eating is also all about the nutrients that fresh and wholesome ingredients bring.

Hillside Cafe & Juice Bar, located inside Cedarhills Garden Center along Mother Ignacia Avenue, is one of Quezon City’s prime destinations for healthy food.

Aside from its healthy food choices, visitors can also enjoy green space of the plant nursery beside the resto, and maybe even learn a thing or two about urban gardening.

My office friends and I recently visited Hillside Cafe & Juice Bar where we nourished ourselves with the resto’s deliciously prepared dishes made with organic and all-natural ingredients that demonstrate the gustatory possibilities of healthy food, such as:

Roasted Vegetable Salad (Php285 solo | Php475 to share). Roasted carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and squash tossed together and doused in a cauliflower-tomato-garlic dressing and topped with herbs.

Pesto Crusted Chicken Parmigiana (Php435). Large pieces of tender chicken cutlets, breaded with basil and deep-fried to a golden brown served on top of zucchini spaghetti aglio olio, accompanied by stewed chickpeas, edamame and sweet corn.

Squid Ink Pasta (Php265). Linguine pasta in tossed in rich, natural squid ink sauce along with sauteed shrimps, clams, mussels and squid. Here’s a warning, though: Get your selfies before you eat this dish because the squid ink is so rich and dark, your teeth will show the evidence of what you ate whenever you smile, hehehehe!

Citrus Crush (Php165). One of Hillside Cafe’s cold-pressed detox juices made with orange, lime and lemon to boost immunity, lower cholesterol levels and cleanse the skin.

Cacao Fudge (Php145 junior | Php185 regular). One of the classic flavors of Hillside Cafe’s Superfood Smoothies made with cacao, banana, cacao nibs and almond milk.

Choco Peanut Butter Nana (Php150 junior | Php195 regular). A Premium variant of Hillside Cafe’s Superfood Smoothies made with banana, dates, peanut butter, cacao, coconut sugar and cashew milk.

With restos like Hillside Cafe & Juice Bar, foodies can consider benefits food brings, not just to their palate, but to their overall health.

Hillside Cafe & Juice Bar is located inside Cedarhills Garden Center, 57 Mother Ignacia Street, Paligsahan, Quezon City. To order or inquire, call +63 2 77927475 or +63 915 6474706.

Check out my blog posts on other healthy eats in the metro:

Upscale dinner at St. Marc Cafe, UP Town Center

St. Marc Cafe is a Japanese brand of cafe with presence in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, aside from here in the Philippines. The resto’s concept is centered on the promise of providing diners with friendly service and a vibrant environment with which to enjoy their delicious food.

When my daughter #ExhibitA spent a day with her UP friends, we met up for dinner at St. Marc Cafe’s UP Town Center branch.

The cafe has a hip vibe, with a cozy and upscale dining area accented by its avant-garde ceiling lights. The counter also serves as a showcase for the desserts and sweets available, so I found myself considering dessert while I was still looking at my options for our main viands.

To feed a group of four (myself and three young ‘uns), I ordered:

Carbonara (Php300). Pork stock flavored carbonara topped with bacon, parmesan and fresh egg yolk.

Sepia Nero (Php320). Squid ink infused pasta with fresh squid, cream and cherry tomatoes.

Menchi Katsu Burger (Php245). Deep-fried patty of ground beef and pork, with sliced cheddar cheese, fresh shredded cabbage and the resto’s secret sauce, and served with crispy fries.

Original Crotoast (Php180). Homemade French croissant toast served with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with maple syrup.

Who would have thought that these would be enough for me and the kids to dine on?

It was great meal spent getting to know and hanging out with my baby girl’s pals.

What’s even better is that the whole meal actually cost Php1,045 but I had a Php400 discount because of a Metrodeal offer gives Php500 worth of food in this cafe for only Php299 (I bought two vouchers).

This St. Marc Cafe outlet is located at Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 10am to 10pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 11am. For queries and reservations, call +63 2 6254065.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City (open daily from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 5318062)
Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Greenbelt, Makati City (open daily from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 7518456)
Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City (open daily from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 6254065)
Upper Ground Floor, Main Building, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City (open daily from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 3721026)
Ground Floor, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila (open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 9pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 2421483)
Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari Road, Alabang, Muntinlupa City (open Mondays to Fridays from 10am to 10pm, Saturdays from 10am to 11pm and Sundays from 10am to 11.30pm | Tel No: +63 2 7768548)
One Parkade Building, 7th Avenue Corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (open daily from 10am to 10pm | Tel No: +63 2 5050245)
Ground Floor, Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)