Category: Food Reviews

Whether it’s summer or rainy season, one thing is the same: ice cream is delicious! While we can’t go out as much as we want to because of the community quarantine, we can still get our ice cream fix thanks to GrabFood, LalaFood, FoodPanda, and restaurants and cafes that deliver straight to homes. Recently, we’re happy to learn that Black Scoop Cafe has launched their newest sundae ice cream pints. These come in three exciting flavors: Okinawa Brown Sugar with Pearl, Black Mascarpone with Graham, and Halo Halo Surprise.

The Newest Scoop at Black Scoop Cafe: Sundae Ice Cream Pints!

These Black Scoop ice cream flavors are all good. There’s no wrong choice. But if I were to choose only one, it has to be the Black Mascarpone with Graham, which gets its black color from activated charcoal. Ice cream with graham will have you wondering where it has been all of your life. 😉 It’s equal parts adorable and genius. A must-try!

When you’re in the mood for ice cream, milk tea, or both, Okinawa Brown Sugar with Pearl gets you covered. What makes this brown sugar ice cream even better are the pearls that start out solid especially when frozen then slowly thaw and turn out chewy. We removed the pint from the freezer for about 30 minutes before serving. Eating ice cream with pearls is a different experience because once the creamy part is gone, the pearls remain in the mouth to prolong the fun.

Our yaya tried the three flavors and her best bet is the Halo Halo Surprise. Everything was perfect – the texture, the taste, the creaminess of the ube ice cream. It is nice that there are actual halo halo ingredient inside mangoes – something to bite. Enjoy this swirl goodness at home as a snack, dessert, or even an appetizer. Talk about getting your priorities straight.

If the Black Scoop To-Go Pints collection intrigues you, don’t let the weather dictate when you can and can’t have these treats. Get them from Black Scoop Cafe at only P185 each via GrabFood for home delivery or straight from their store. 🙂 They’re best consumed immediately as these are sundae swirls with fresh toppings and best shared with your loved ones.

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Who isn’t up for a nice cup of milk tea these days? Love it, hate it, or you haven’t tried it at all (*gasps*) – there’s no mistaking that milk tea is still trending until now. Unlike many trends that have come and gone, the milk tea craze won’t seem to be cooling down anytime soon.

Milk Tea Obsession

Did you know that Southeast Asians drink at least 4 cups of bubble tea per person each month? Thailand ranking at the top with 6 cups per person, and the Philippines following in close second with 5 cups. :O

According to a recent study, “the bubble tea industry is expected to grow by almost $2 billion to a whopping $4.3 billion by 2027.” Nowadays, milk tea stores continue to diversify their menus with different flavors, tea bases, chewy additives, and other creative ingredients.

There’s something special about having these drinks in their original form from the store. Now with the community quarantine, we usually have them delivered via the major food delivery apps. The con? Sometimes our craving hits too early in the morning or too late at night that these shops are still or already closed. The good news? Serenitea now offers DIY milk tea kits so milk tea lovers can enjoy their Okinawa Brown Sugar Milk Tea or Taro Lover no matter what time of day, without even leaving home.

Serenitea Express: Serenitea DIY Home Kits

Given the limited number of open stores during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) period, Serenitea could not cater to the milk tea cravings of loyal customers and milk tea lovers. To better serve those who prefer (or are forced) to stay at home, Serenitea Express was launched in April 18, 2020. With Serenitea Express, you can recreate the Serenitea experience at home with DIY (do-it-yourself) home kits.

Serenitea DIY Home Kits consist of instant drink mixes and ingredients. These are available at select Serenitea stores, online stores, third party deliveries (Happy Move), pabili services (Joyride), and the country’s most popular online shopping platforms, Lazada and Shopee.

How to Make Milk Tea at Home “The Serenitea Way”

I got the 3-in-1 Okinawa Home Kit D. Inside the kit, there are 15 sachets of 3-in-1 Okinawa Milk Tea (55g per sachet) and 2 packs of uncooked pearls (500g per pack).

Instructions:

1. Cook the pearls.

1. Boil water. Water capacity should be two times the weight of the pearls. For example, if you’re cooking 500g of pearls, water should be 1000ml.
2. Pour pearls once water is boiling. Use an egg beater to spread out the pearls.
3. Cooking time is 5 to 10 minutes depending on your preferred pearl texture. I cooked mine for 10 minutes and the pearls turned out chewy. They’re bouncy, soft, and fun to munch on, much like chewing gum.
4. Next, rinse the pearl in running water until pearls cool down. Use filtered water as much as possible.
5. Drain out all the water.

Optional: Add sugar syrup or washed sugar as preferred into the pearl and mix well. I didn’t add any sweetener because I know the milk tea mix will already be sweet enough for my liking.

2. Prepare the milk tea.

1. Tear off sachet and pour the milk tea mix into a cup or a glass.
2. Pour about 350ml of hot water and stir until powder has completely dissolved.
3. If you want it cold, fill with ice up to 90% of the cup or glass.

3. Assemble the milk tea with the pearls.

Pour some pearls and mix well to combine and taste for sweetness. If desired, add additional sugar or sweetener, then serve with large straws or long spoons.

How to Make the Sweet, Rich, and Creamy Taro Lover

I got the Taro Lover Home Kit C, which contains 1kg of taro ready-mix powder and 1kg of panna cotta powder.

Instructions:

1. Prep the panna cotta at least two to four hours ahead of time.

1. Boil water. When water is boiling, pour the panna cotta powder and stir until it dissolves. Turn off heat. Note that the cooking ratio is 1:5, or like 200g of panna cotta powder and 1000ml water.
   
2. Pour in a heat-proof try or small cups (for individual portions). Set aside to cool and set. I placed the glass tray inside the refrigerator and waited for four hours.

2. Mix taro powder with milk.

1. Pour powder into a cup. Dissolve 50g (or 3 tablespoons) of taro powder in a 7-oz. hot water.
2. Add either 15 to 20g of powdered milk or 100g of fresh milk to the dissolved taro mixture.
3. Add sugar to taste and ice cubes.

3. Put them together.

Scoop in some panna cotta into the glass and stir several times to swirl the milk and the taro drink together. Enjoy your Taro Lover while cold. Pinkies up!

Should you try it?

Yes! If you love drinking milk tea or an ube-flavored “taro” ice drink and especially if you miss Serenitea, then Serenitea Express is for you. Serenitea drinks are generally tasty and can be a substitute to a snack. The ingredients are simple, and the instructions are easy to follow. Since I was able to do it, for sure, you can do it, too! 🙂

Things to Know:

• There are 8 bundle sets with combinations of sinkers to match your preferences.
• Each instant mix sachet is equivalent to one 16-oz serving and can be served either hot or cold.
• One kit can make approximately 15 cups.
• Instructions on how to prepare the drinks and sinkers are included in the kits.

Price List:

• Okinawa 3 in 1 (15 sachets) – P699
• Okinawa 3 in 1 (15 sachets) + Egg Pudding (1kg.) – P1,299
• Okinawa 3 in 1 (15 sachets) + Panna Cotta (1kg) – P 1,199
• Okinawa 3 in 1 (15 sachets) + Pearl (2 packs of 500 grams) – P1,099
• Taro Powder (1kg.) + Okinawa 3 in 1 (15 sachets) – P1,299
• Taro Powder (1kg) + Egg Pudding (1kg) – P1,299
• Taro Powder (1kg) + Panna Cotta (1kg) – P1,199
• Taro Powder (1kg) + Pearl (2 packs of 500 grams) – P1,099

With the Serenitea DIY Home Kits, everyone can enjoy the Serenitea experience at the comfort of their own home. Have fun making your favorite drinks with your family!

Bonus: With a minimum single receipt purchase of P700, you can get a free limited-edition #SereniteaXPacMan reusable tumbler until August 15, 2020.

To know more and to keep updated on the latest promos and activities, like Serenitea on Facebook and follow @iloveserenitea and #SereniteaAtHome on Instagram and Twitter.

Handmade pizza is one of the trending food that emerged during the Covid 19 community quarantine. While in lockdown, some people made this “culinary treat” so good both in their Instagram feeds and in real life that they decided to open up a business. Pizza X shares the same story. Everything is made in-house, using the best, quality ingredients.

At Pizza X, things are kept simple. The size is small at six inches, relatively smaller than the regular pizza you can buy from popular pizza restaurant chains, but it’s enough for one child to finish one whole (or two if he’s extra hungry)! I think that’s the whole point of Pizza X—making pizza an exciting and delectable snack for kids while they’re stuck at home. 🙂

Pizza X Variants: We got all six variants, namely: Pesto Xcellency, Pepperoni Xplosion, Xtra Cheesy, Tropical Xperience, Xtreme Angus, and Mexican Fix. Notice that the names all have X’s, all consistent with their branding.

What I love about Pizza X: The thin-but-not-too-thin crust is the exact right balance of soft and crunchy. It’s light but doesn’t sag and holds up the right balance of sauce, cheese, and toppings. The pizzas aren’t greasy and they’re just what you’ll want to have as an afternoon snack while watching Netflix or working from home. ❤

Since they arrive frozen, you can make a big stack and you’ll always have good food at the ready. No need to prep for long hours in the kitchen! They’re a wonderful meal to keep in your freezer. Simply place the frozen pizza in the microwave for a minute or two, or bake it in the oven until it’s cooked to your liking. The cheese melts beautifully at the center. Yum!

Pizza X presented in individual packages: ready to eat + super quick preparation even kids can do 😉

Cooking Instructions for Regular Oven and for Toasters

Craving for pizza now? Contact Pizza X at 0966 628 4798 or order through their online order form here. You may also message them through Facebook, and while you’re at it, check out the many video reviews of adorable kids on their page. 🙂 Pickup and delivery are available. Pizza X is based in New Manila and Greenhills, Philippines.

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There are so many incredible restaurants in Manila, that sometimes it can be really difficult deciding where you’d like to eat of an evening! Whether it’s something as simple as fried chicken, or as elaborate as a Michelin-starred tasting menu, the choice is truly overwhelming. One thing that tends to make the restaurant experience that little bit more special, though, is a table with a view. Manila is spoilt for scenery and these restaurants truly make the most of that.

La Piazza & Enbu, Okada Manila

Okada Manila is a stunning and exclusive resort set in 44 hectares of picturesque oceanfront landscape. We’re here for the restaurant, but it’s really worth checking out everything else that the resort has to offer too. The casino offers the greatest range of table games in the country, including no less than six different types of poker. Whilst each type of poker has its own flavor, they all share certain basic rules since each game involves betting on the strength of your poker hand.

Not only does Okada Manila offer choice at its poker tables though, but they also have a wide selection of some of the best restaurants in town. However, only two of their restaurants have uninterrupted views of the grand fountain. La Piazza is the first of the restaurants. It serves upscale Italian cuisine, with a menu perfectly curated by Cheg Gleb Snegin. If freshly made pasta and pizza, with a glass of fine wine, is your favorite dinner choice, then this one is for you.

Enbu is the other restaurant with a beautiful view of the fountain and serves fresh, local produce, cooked using authentic Japanese methods. The chefs work in the center of the restaurant, surrounded by firey red chochin lanterns, which makes for a pretty incredible view itself! Chef Atsushi Yoshida has created a punchy menu, which has been paired beautifully with sakes.

The Nest Dining, Vivere Hotel

Although it’s a Manila mainstay, The Sunset Lounge isn’t the only place to watch the sun go down. This restaurant is adored by many for its great food and beautiful atmosphere, but The Nest Dining at the Vivere Hotel could possibly topple its crown. The Vivere is one of Manila’s premium five-star hotels and The Nest is its top dining establishment. The restaurant itself is set on the 31st floor of the building and looks out over the Alabang district and Laguna de Bay. Grab yourself a seat by the outside pool and look past the beautiful plants and decorations into the city skyline.

As well as having a breathtaking view, The Nest also boasts a relatively simple, but perfectly executed menu. Start off with a handmade cocktail, the white peach and lychee sangria is particularly good, and then treat yourself to at least two courses. Perhaps the most comforting item on the menu is the Beef Rendang, which comes in an unctuous and rich sauce, with coconut rice, soft boiled egg and incredibly moreish crispy fried anchovies. If you still have space for a dessert then the salted caramel brownie is a guest favourite and when paired with their candied bacon ice-cream, it really is the ultimate treat.

Gloria Maris, Pasay City

Chinese food can be a divider of the people, when it’s done well it can be the most exciting culinary experience on the planet and even when it’s done poorly, a sticky sweet and sour chicken can be a guilty indulgence for many. Thankfully the team at Gloria Maris are true experts in authentic Chinese cuisine, with a particular penchant for seafood. They take all of their own staff from Hong Kong to ensure absolute authenticity and the results speak for themselves.

Book yourself into a table in the VIP room for the best views out over the bay. The room itself is bright and airy and looks out over miles and miles of cerulean ocean. Once you’re seated choose from an extensive menu of old favourites and new experiences. The Lapu Lapu with chili is one of the most exquisite dishes here. Firey heat from the chili combines with the sweet and delicate flavours of this most prized fish. Another favourite, of course, is the shark fin soup, which earned the restaurant its notoriety.

Metro Manila is now under GCQ (general community quarantine), and some restaurants have dine-in operations. However, we still prefer staying at home as much as possible and be on the safer side. Yesterday was my husband’s birthday. Instead of going out like we usually do every year to celebrate, we had a blast at home with shabu shabu! The best thing about shabu-shabu is that the ingredients can be customized to your own taste and preferences.

5 Steps to Make Shabu Shabu at Home

1. Bring out all the ingredients. 

I bought meatballs and cheese balls from Eng Bee Tin. My mom brought over some vegetables, thinly sliced beef, tofu, and vermicelli.

2. Fill a large pot with water and boil.

For home cooking, you can use a portable burner, induction heating cook-top, or hot plate. Boil water for your soup.

3. Prepare the soup base or broth.

Traditionally, the broth for shabu-shabu is a simple dashi made from kombu seaweed. Nowadays, you can choose your own: chicken broth, beef broth, kimchi broth, pork broth, or vegetable broth. In our case, we used the Bull Head Barbecue Sauce I got from Lazada. It’s a popular condiment from Taiwan. It has a spectacular harmony of salty and sour tastes which makes it a good accompaniment to meat and a base for soups. Put the Bull Head Taiwanese Sauce, and bring the broth to a simmer over medium heat. Lightly season with salt and pepper.

4. Add the ingredients in batches.

Start with the meatballs, then meat, tough vegetables, vermicelli, and tofu. Harder vegetables take longer to cook, while leafy vegetables cook more quickly. Continue to cook and simmer in a few minutes.

5. Prepare dipping sauces.

Most popular shabu-shabu dipping sauces are ponzu (a citrusy soy sauce) and goma-tare (a type of sesame sauce). Ponzu is usually for vegetables and goma-tare is used for meat. In our case, since I don’t have the time to buy these, we used ssamjang (a combination of doenjang-Korean soybean paste, gochujang-Korean chili paste, and sesame oil).

Scoop out ingredients from the pot, dip them into your own customized sauce and devour! 🙂

I’ve been wanting to try shabu-shabu at home for weeks. Since this is best enjoyed with a group of people (I can’t possibly finish everything alone), my husband’s birthday was the perfect opportunity to finally have it. Shabu-shabu at home is a glorious communal feast as it’s both fun and interactive. The good thing is it’s simple and very easy to make with the right equipment and ingredients.