takeout – Jellybeans in the City

Dessert takeout from The French Baker

Back when I was in grade school, a French Baker branch opened in the only nearby shopping mall at the time and introduced me to the amazing pastry called the Danish.

The Danish is viennoiserie baked good which was among the pastries introduced by Austrian bakers hired to replace the bakers of Denmark who went on strike in 1850. After the labor disputes were ironed out and the Danish bakers went back to work, they adapted the Austrian Plundergeback pastry and made it their own by adjusting the amount of egg and fat, coming with what is now known as the Danish pastry.

The French Baker is said to have revitalized the breadmaking industry in the country, bringing to light various ways to enjoy breads and pastries with European origins – such as baguettes, scones, crepes, bagels, sourdough, ciabatta, and, of course, Danishes – which were unfamiliar to the Philippine mass market when the chain opened its first stores more than thirty years ago.

The French Baker’s version of the Danish Pastry consists of the layered and glazed pastry topped with a creamy custard and a fruit filling. My favorites since childhood are the Blueberry Danish (Php88) and the Peach Danish (Php88).

On my way to parking lot after running some errands, I espied a takeout counter at The French Baker branch inside the Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall. I dropped by and picked up a few pieces of my favorite Danish variants as my pasalubong for the kiddos (and a treat for me!) as well as a bag of Crack Pan De Sal (Php102 for 10 pieces).

The pastries were a hit with the kids; we liked the sweet and flaky bread that frames the creamy custard and luscious fruit filling perfectly.

I saved the pan de sal for later when I prepared my midnight snack with Hubby. I heated a couple of pieces and filled them with shredded Purefoods Fiesta Ham. Oh my! Those fluffy pan de sal went so well with the ham and really sated my late night food cravings.

From my childhood to today, I continue to appreciate how The French Baker has expanded my foodie horizons.

Aside from dine-ins and takeouts, you can also enjoy The French Baker baked goods by having them delivered to your home. For inquiries, call +63 917 6353026 or +63 917 5423125. Order online or via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

Check out my reviews of other dessert shops in the metro:

Meringues from Brownies Unlimited, SM Megamall

Brownies Unlimited may be your go-to place for various kinds of fudgy brownies, but did you know you can also pick up some special meringue desserts here, too?

Meringues are light and airy confections traditionally made with whipped egg whites and sugar baked at low temperatures to achieve a signature crisp exterior.

Variations of meringues can be found in many parts of the world.

Here in the Philippines, among of the most popular meringue desserts are the silvanas. Made of cashew meringue wafers coated with cookie crumbs enveloping buttercream, it is a decadent delight for many dessert lovers.

Sambos, on the other hand, is the twin dessert of silvanas, wherein cocoa powder and coffee are added to the buttercream before sandwiching it between cashew meringue wafers then coating the resulting confection with chocolate cake crumbs.

After a bout of shopping, Hubby brought home a box for the kids to get a taste of these desserts. I found that these differ from traditional versions by having a rounder, puffier shape as opposed to the ones from Dumaguete that are more disc-shaped.

You can get these meringues at Brownies Unlimited for Php40 a piece or get a box of 6 for Php220.

These silvanas and sambos go well with coffee for a post-meal dessert or with iced tea for a late afternoon sweet snack. These are also great for pasalubong, contributions for potluck parties or as holiday gifts for dessert lovers.

It’s best to keep them frozen prior to serving.

So, are you Team Silvanas or Team Sambos? How about Team Both? 🙂

Check them out are your nearest Brownies Unlimited outlet.

Brownies Unlimited also delivers via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Check out my reviews of other dessert shops in the metro:

Krispy Kreme, SM Megamall

Donut takeout from Krispy Kreme, SM Megamall

As some of you may have gathered from my previous blog posts, my kiddos are avid Krispy Kreme fans. Since the start of the quarantine, we have been relying on delivery services to get our hands on these donut treats.

However, when Hubby and I recently went shopping for school supplies at SM Megamall, our first visit to this mall since March, the opportunity to grab a box or two of Krispy Kreme donuts presented itself.

As required among all mall-based retail outlets, Krispy Kreme’s branch at SM Megamall adheres to safety and sanitation protocols such as requiring patrons to wear face masks and face shields, answer a contact-tracing questionnaire and sanitize hands prior to entering the store premises.

Dining in is no longer allowed, so unlike during my previous visits before the quarantine, there were no customers hanging out inside the store. In fact, only a handful of customers are allowed to be inside the store to maintain physical distancing.

All those restrictions are well worth following to keep ourselves safe. Plus, Hubby and I were still able to bring home a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts for the kiddos (which I paid for using GCash, again, to minimize physical contact).

I got a Box of 12 (Php425) which contains Krispy Kreme’s “light as a cloud, melt in your mouth, pillows of goodness” yeast-raised donuts. Since the fam fave is still the Original Glazed donut, the package included nine of those.

I just added a piece each of Red Velvet, New York Cheesecake and Kreme-filled with Gold Sprinkles for variety and to complete the dozen.

Needless to say, the kiddos were delighted with our pasalubong and the fam demolished the donuts in no time.

I’m glad that despite the pandemic and the restrictions brought about by the quarantine, we are still able to enjoy simple and delish delights such as these.

This Krispy Kreme branch is located at Upper Ground Floor, Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City.

To get your box of donuts, call +63 2 88879000, order online or via GrabFood.

Download the Grab App and get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Check out my reviews of other dessert shops in the metro:

Spice it up with McDonald’s new Spicy Chicken Burger and Spicy Shake Shake Fries!

Time to spice up your meal as McDonald’s Philippines launches the new Spicy Chicken Burger and Spicy Shake Shake Fries!

Available for a limited time and in select stores only, the Spicy Chicken Burger is just what you need to excite your taste buds during this time. Imagine a thick, juicy, and wonderfully spiced fried-chicken cutlet, topped with creamy mayo, sandwiched between a toasted sesame seed bun! To add more thrill to the Spicy Chicken Burger, you can upgrade your meal and pair it with the new hot & Spicy Shake Shake Fries to get that full, mouth watering experience.

If you want to give your family a spicy treat, you can grab the Burger Bundle for three, which is perfect for sharing! It includes three Spicy Chicken Burgers, one BFF Spicy Shake Shake Fries, and three regular drinks – all for Php 399 only!

What are you waiting for? Satisfy your spicy cravings with the new Spicy Chicken Burger and Spicy Shake Shake fries! Enjoy them all day and by ordering via McDelivery, GrabFood, Foodpanda, or McDonald’s Drive Thru.

Follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook to stay up to date on all McDo announcements.

Product image and details provided by McDonald’s in a recent press release.

Momshie, grab a takeout from Baliwag

One of the challenges we moms face during this period of enhanced community quarantine is planning the family’s menu.

Stocking up on food items, hunting for that missing but all-important ingredient, adding twists on old recipes so that the little ones won’t get tired of eating the same viands week after week, tracking which refrigerated item is nearing its expiration date… All these can be quite overwhelming, huh?

So momshie, just this once, give yourself a break: order takeout from your nearby Baliwag Lechon Manok ATBP stand. (And chances are, wherever you are in the metro, there’s a Baliwag outlet near you.)

You won’t have to break the bank to give yourself a rest from the kitchen woes.

Get a Whole Lechon Manok for just Php290 and let the kiddos enjoy the tender and juicy chicken pieces roasted just right for the Pinoy palate.

Get a whole Inihaw na Liempo for just Php224 and savor the crunchy skin and flavorful pork belly meat.

All you have to do is cook up lots of steamed rice and have a liter of juice ready and you’re good to go!

You can always go back to menu planning and cooking tomorrow, right?

Can’t go out because of the enhanced community quarantine? Have your order delivered to you instead by GrabFood or LalaFood.

Download the Grab App on the App Store or Google Play. Get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Download the LalaFood App and get a free delivery coupon when you use my code: BEINGJMR53.

This Baliwag Lechon Manok ATBP outlet is located along Countryside Avenue, Countryside Village, Barangay Santa Lucia, Pasig City.

Other branches may be found at:

Pasig: De Castro Avenue, Manggahan, Santolan
Quezon City: Eastwood Citywalk 2, Robinsons Galleria, Project 2, Project 4, Project 6, Project 8, Ali Mall, Gateway Mall, Farmers Plaza, Sikatuna Village, Diliman, Tomas Morato, Paligsahan, West Triangle, Fisher Mall, Trinoma Mall, SM City North EDSA, Del Monte, Citiplaza Commercial Center, Walter Mart North EDSA, Bago Bantay, La Loma, Tandang Sora, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Sangandaan, SM City Fairview, Zabarte Road, Maligaya Park
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall, Shangri-La Plaza, Plainview, Addition Hills, New Zaniga
San Juan: Greater San Juan
Marikina: SM City Marikina, Barangka
Makati: Guadalupe, The Landmark, Olympia, Cash & Carry Mall, Ayala Malls Circuit
Taguig: Market! Market!, Greater Taguig
Manila: SM City Santa Mesa, Santa Ana, Pandacan, Paco, Sampaloc, Santa Cruz, Lucky Chinatown, 999 Mall, 168 Shopping Mall, Tutuban Center Mall, Tondo, Dragon 8 Mall, New Divisoria Mall,
Pasay: Buendia, Victory Pasay Mall, W Mall Bay City
Paranaque: Sun Valley, Don Bosco, Moonwalk, Marcelo Green, BF Homes
Malabon: Longos, Fisher Mall, San Agustin, Concepcion
Navotas: North Bay, M. Naval Street
Valenzuela: Puregold Paso de Blas
Caloocan: Deparo Road, Zapote Road
Muntinlupa: Festival Mall

Check out my posts on other chicken places in the metro:

A new Korean food haunt – Yoo’s Korean BBQ, Ortigas

For some time now, I’ve been singing the praises of one of my first and favorite Korean BBQ joints in the metro: Jang Ga Nae along Escriva Drive in Ortigas Center.

That was where I had my first real taste of Korean food like samgyeopsal, woosamgyup, bibimbap and tteokbokki. Whenever the fam had a craving for Korean food, Jang Ga Nae was on top of the list.

Imagine my family’s dismay late last year when we went there, eager for our Korean food fest, and then discovered that it was closed and the place was being renovated.

Well, months later, we got to meet its successor: Yoo’s Korean BBQ, which now occupies the space vacated by Jang Ga Nae.

It also offers many of our faves from Jang Ga Nae (apparently, it’s Jang Ga Nae under a different name… and maybe under new management?)

Whatever the reason for the change of name, we’re just glad we are still able to enjoy the Korean BBQ fare we love.

It has an unli offer which includes refillable servings of Bacon Pork Belly, Sliced Pork Belly, Chicken Fillet, Beef Shortplate and Beef Bulgogi for just Php445 per person, refillable banyan (side dishes included).

We also ordered our go-to Korean dishes such as Dolsot Bibimbap (mixed rice and veggies in a stone pot – Php350) and Jeukbokeum (spicy pan-fried pork – Php350).

After our very satisfying meal, we went to Yoo’s Korean Grocery next door and got ourselves some Korean ice cream. Yum!

With the metro under the Enhanced Community Quarantine, we were worried that our family’s enjoyment of Korean BBQ would be curtailed.

Thankfully, Yoo’s Korean Grocery offers pre-packed frozen meats and other items for pickup or delivery. The other day, Hubby and I got a 500g of Beef Bulgogi, a kilo of Fishcakes and a bag of Korean rice which we incorporated into our Samgyupsal-at-Home last night. We grilled the Beef Bulgogi along with some Bacon-Cut Pork Belly from the supermarket, while my daughter #ExhibitA whipped up some Gimbap (Korean sushi rolls) using the Korean rice and some Deokbokki (Spicy Fishcakes and Ricecakes).

Well, now we know that we don’t have to break quarantine (or the bank!) to enjoy our Korean food faves.

Yoo’s Korean BBQ is located at Ground Floor 8137 Plaza, Escriva Drive, Barangay San Antonio, Ortigas Center, Pasig, Metro Manila. For inquiries, reservations or to order for delivery, call +63 2 6336960, +63 956 5164926 or +63 998 9311113.

Check out my posts about other Korean restaurants:

Winner chicken dinner, thanks to Chooks-to-Go

If you run out of grocery items and are at a loss on what to have for dinner during the enhanced community quarantine, well, help is just a few clicks (or phone taps) away.

Why not order a lechon manok from Chooks-to-Go and have it delivered to you?

Lechon manok is sure to appeal to everyone in the family: it is a favorite, fuss-free yet flavorful viand that goes so well with that other Pinoy staple, steamed rice.

I would go for a Sweet Roast Oven Rosted Chicken. A whole rotisserie chicken marinated in a mixture of local incgredients and expertly roasted in an oven that still brings about the classic lechon manok flavor we all know and love.

Ordering it won’t break the bank, either. At only Php259 for a whole chicken, and with lots and lots of steamed rice, you can already feed the entire fam a tasty meal.

This Chooks-to-Go branch is located at De Castro Avenue corner Ilang-Ilaang Street, Santa Lucia, Pasig City.

It delivers through its hotline +63 2 86871010 or via FoodPanda. Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order.

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants:

Steakin’ it easy at Meat Depot

Truth be told: I came from a family of true-blue steak-lovin’ carnivores and so did my Hubby. Apparently, through the interplay of “nature” and “nurture”, our kiddoes turned out to be just like us.

Little wonder, then, that the thought of indulging our inner carnivores by having a steak lunch at Meat Depot after a bout of shopping in Greenhills was enough to have us practically salivating with excitement for the upcoming meal.

Meat Depot has the unique quality of being both a butcher shop and a kitchen at the same time. First established in 2014, it aimed to provide consumers with quality meats for home or institutional consumption, and to bring excellently cooked meats to hungry diners.

At any of its branches, diners can browse through and select their choice from a wide selection of premium cuts which they can bring home, or turn over to Meat Depot’s master grillers for cooking those meats to bring out all of its possibilities in flavor, tenderness and juiciness.

So that’s how we ended up gorging ourselves with our tender and juicy medium-cooked AB Rib-Eye Steaks (Php2,410/kg with Php125 cooking charge per piece which already includes mushroom gravy and choice of rice or mashed potato).

Well, what can I say? We really are a family of steak lovers!

This Meat Depot branch is located at Second Floor. O Square Building 2, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan.

Steak lovers in the metro will be happy to know that although this branch is closed for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine, selected Meat Depot branches are still open for pick-up and take-out.

Available products in these branches include:

Pork: lean ground (Php268/kg), menudo cut (Php304/kg), pork cubes (Php288/kg), pork chop (Php278/kg), country style (Php380/kg) and baby back ribs (Php330/kg)
Beef: ground (Php275/kg), shank (Php400)
Angus Beef; T-bone (Php2,070/kg), Striploin (Php2,130/kg), Rib-Eye (Php2,410/kg), Tomahawk (Php2,535/kg) and Tenderloin (Php3,920/kg)
Wagyu: Japanese Wagyu Striploin (Php10,070/kg) and Japanese Rib-Eye A4 (Php11,130/kg)

Just call or message the branch closest to you, indicate your name, order and time of pick up, make your payment via BDO and pick up your order or have it delivered to you through Grab Express or Lalamove.

Banawe, Quezon City: +63 966 7444366
Paseo de Magallanes, Makati: +63 926 0755187
BF Homes, Paranaque: +63 926 6474778