vongole – Jellybeans in the City

If you’re seeking to transport your taste buds straight to Italy, Mamma Mia in Uptown Mall, Fort Bonifacio is your ultimate culinary destination. From the moment you step through its doors, you’re greeted by an ambiance reminiscent of an Italian villa, exuding warmth and rustic charm. The airy outdoor dining area, the brick-walled interiors adorned with colorful knickknacks and the dynamic energy from the open kitchen set the scene for an Italian feast straight out of a movie.

A Taste of Italy in BGC

Mamma Mia doesn’t just stop at its decor; it aims to bring the full Italian resto-bar experience to its patrons. The brainchild of Giulius Iapino, owner of Rigatoni Corp., this place offers a one-stop-shop experience. As the day progresses, the atmosphere evolves – from morning coffee to lively nights with dim lights, louder music, and DJs spinning tracks, mirroring the dynamic ambiance of Italy.

The core of Mamma Mia’s mission is to encapsulate the essence of a family-owned trattoria in Italy, a place where great food brings people together for social gatherings, much like a mother’s kitchen. The owner, Giulius, noted the gap in all-day offerings in the Philippines and decided to bring a piece of Rome to the country. This concept allows customers to enjoy meals throughout the day and even transition seamlessly into a party vibe as the night unfolds.

Italian Comfort Food: A Mother’s Love on a Plate

Gulius has noted that in the Philippines, a mother’s love often translates to sumptuous meals that leave you feeling welcome and satisfied. Mamma Mia aims to encapsulate this comfort within its restaurant, presenting a diverse array of Italian classics that range from wood-fired pizzas to hearty entrees. Each dish is meticulously prepared using top-tier ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, embracing the heart and soul of Italian comfort food.

Every bite at Mamma Mia takes you on a culinary journey through the regions of Italy. The commitment to authenticity extends to the use of fresh herbs, imported meats, cold cuts, cheeses, and premium olive oil. These elements ensure an unparalleled dining experience that captures the true essence of Italian cuisine, making Mamma Mia a haven for Italian food enthusiasts.

The Great Pizza Eating Contest: Are You Up for the Challenge?

Recently, Mamma Mia introduced a thrilling challenge to the #WeLoveToEatPH community, a group of dedicated foodies in the metro. The challenge was to conquer the Great Pizza Eating Contest featuring the star of the show – the Pizza Lunga, a remarkable 6-foot long pizza. This colossal pizza is divided into three mouthwatering sections: Margherita with Anchovies, Crema Tartufo, and Pepperoni.

Teams were tasked to devour as many slices of the Pizza Lunga as possible within a 30-minute timeframe. Though no team managed to polish off their pizza slices entirely (given its impressive size!), the event was a delightful and entertaining experience for both the contestants and the supportive audience, including myself.

Think you can outdo my foodie friends? Take on the challenge yourself and savor the Pizza Lunga for just Php1950.

Beyond the Pizza: Other Italian Culinary Delights

At Mamma Mia, the Italian gastronomic adventure doesn’t end with the Pizza Lunga. The menu boasts an enticing selection of Italian dishes, promising a delightful journey for your taste buds. It includes:

Formaggi Misti (Php770). Indulge in a traditional variety of Italian cheeses, a treat for cheese aficionados.

Antipasti Fritti (Php450). Immerse yourself in the crispy delight of deep-fried suppli (rice balls), croquettes di patate, and mozzarella bites.

Fettuccini Alfredo Con Pollo (Php420 single | Php1,400 sharing). Enjoy homemade sauce combined with cream and perfectly sliced chicken, a creamy pasta delight.

Vongole Php420 single | Php1,400 sharing). Delight in sautéed clams, garlic, and a slightly spicy white wine sauce, a taste of the sea and Italy combined.

Stinco di Miale al Forno (Php990). Experience succulent meat taken off the bone of a twice-cooked pork leg served with seared apples, apple gravy, and Mamma Mia’s special stico sauce.

Aperol Spritz. A light and refreshing cocktail made with prosecco, aperol, and soda water.

Buon Appetito at Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia at Uptown Mall is more than just a restaurant; it’s a culinary journey through the heart of Italy. From the inviting ambiance to the extensive menu featuring traditional and modern Italian dishes, it’s a haven for food enthusiasts seeking genuine Italian flavors. Don’t miss the chance to savor the diverse Italian dishes that Mamma Mia has to offer. Buon appetito!

Mamma Mia is located at Ground Floor, Uptown Mall, 9th Avenue corner 36th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, open daily from 11am to 9pm.

For more information on its menu and offerings, visit its website or follow Mamma Mia on Facebook or Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting event hosted by Mamma Mia. Food and drinks were served to attendees were served at no cost in exchange for honest feedback and features.

Tucked away in a quiet corner along Scout Rallos Street in Quezon City is a newly opened restaurant with something new up its sleeve.

Always change.

That’s the mantra of BOA Kitchen + Socials, which aims to be the destination of choice for the titas. Enter its doors and you will enjoy the same ambiance, food quality and hospitality as any top-of-the-line stylish Makati restaurant. The difference is, especially for people up North, you get to avoid the stressful Makati traffic to get there.

Plus, you get to enjoy an ever-changing environment as envisioned by owner Joey Marcelo and menu conceptualized by Chef Julius Necor, which makes your every visit a fresh and exciting experience.

Here’s how:

From 9am to 6pm, enjoy a Bali-inspired Australian brunch service in the light and airy surroundings of BOA Kitchen.

Here, you can sate your mid-day appetite with dishes such as:

Torched Salmon and Avocado Toast (Php245). A large piece of torched smoked salmon placed and mashed avocado on multi-grain bread.

Grilled Cheese with Creamy Marinara (Php245). Cheddar and mozarella in a grilled brioche loaf best enjoyed dipped in a creamy marinara sauce.

Tinapa Aglio E Olio (Php285). Pasta tossed in a mixture of tinapa flakes, olive oil and garlic.

Pasta Vongole (Php285). Spaghetti noodles tossed in a light sauce of clams and lemons.

Alfredo Pesto Pasta (Php285). Pesto farfalle coated with Alfredo sauce, served with ricotta and sun-dried tomato.

Kimchi Fried Rice (Php285). Bibimbap kimchi fried rice topped with carrots, bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms, ground beef, spinach, zucchini and an egg cooked sous vide.

Pulled Pork Adobo (Php245). Strips of pork adobo, pickled vegetables and a fried egg topping garlic rice.

Tapsilog (Php245). The classic lunch staple of tender beef tapa and crispy fried egg on garlic rice.

Steak and Egg (Php495). A 200g grilled hanger steak served with fried eggs, house-made potato chips and mushroom gravy.

Full English Breakfast (Php325). Toast, links of breakfast sausage, bacon, roast herb tomato and potato hash served with fried egg.

Banana Pie (Php175). Caramelized banana served with buttery streusel crumbs and a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

Bibingka Microwave Cake (Php245). A deconstructed dessert of made-to-order-via-microwave bibingka cake on a bed of salted egg dulce de leche, sugar syrup, melted butter and desiccated coconut.

From 6pm to 12 midnight, when the neon lights are lit up, the place transforms to BOA Socials which serves Asian cuisine.

While you relax and unwind with your amigas, you can feast on:

Sisig Croquettes (Php225). Creamy mashed potato balls filled with sisig and served with toyo-mansi aioli.

Wonton Nachos (Php245). Crispy fried wontons topped with pulled teriyaki sauce, shredded cabbage, onions and parsley drizzled in Sriracha mayo.

Salmon Tartare (Php378). Salmon served with pork rind, wasabi mayo, urchin roe and Oriental dressing.

Pulpo (Php345). Succulent grilled octopus on smoked potato puree served with chorizo crumbs and paprika-thyme oil.

Tinapa Cream Cheese Toast (Php175). Open-faced sandwich of tinapa flavored cream cheese over toast topped with sliced cucumber, onion and halved cherry tomatoes.

Chori Burger (Php295). Chorizo patty topped with a fried egg, coleslaw and pepper sauce in a black brioche bun.

Char Kwaey Teow (Php365). Stir-fried Southeast Asian rice noodle dish with a smokey flavor.

Chicken Pad Thai (Php345). Stir-fried glass noodles with tamarind sauce, eggs, tofu, chicken pieces and bean sprouts.

Thai Fried Chicken (Php345). Crispy fried chicken served on top of curried mashed potato, garnished with grilled corn kernels and pickled vegetables and served with sweet chili sauce.

Beef Rendang with Coconut Lime Rice (Php425). A spicy Indonesian meat dish served on coco lime rice served with pickled vegetable and crispy shallots.

Crispy Pork Sambal (Php445). Crispy pork belly served with Asian slaw.

Deconstructed Anise Cheesecake (Php245). Anise cheesecake served apart from its ginger graham cracker crust.

House Blend Iced Tea (Php80). With choices among classic, mango and lychee.

Purple Potion (Pho320). One of the ever-changing drinks served at BOA, this blue gin changes to a purple hue when tonic water is added.

With these always changing elements, every trip to BOA Kitchen and Socials is something new to look forward to.

Many thanks to Joey, Chef Julius and the wonderful staff of BOA Kitchen + Socials for the amazing time and the great meal in each of my visits.

BOA Kitchen + Socials is located at the Mezzanine Floor, 45 ABDC Building, Scout Rallos corner Scout Tuazon, Laging Handa, Quezon City, open daily from 9am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 2903103 or +63 977 7078472.

Did you know you can get dishes for free when you dine with a friend at BOA Kitchen + Socials through Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks.

You can also book your table at BOA Kitchen + Socials using Eatigo to get up to 50% off your food bill.

Disclosure: Together with my fellow foodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

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Discover Mamma Mia: Home of the 6-foot Pizza Lunga and Italian Culinary Magic!