Cabalen Group of Companies Celebrates its 31st Anniversary

Press release:

In celebration of the Cabalen Group of Companies’ 31^st Anniversary, they bring you the most exciting prizes with their Eat, Repeat, Win and Travel Raffle Promo! A trip to Asia’s dream destinations –Hongkong and Disneyland, Bali, Indonesia and Hanoi, Vietnam – awaits the three (3) lucky winners this year! Plus staycation packages to Bataan, Zambales and Tanay, Rizal will be given away. 

This is a collaboration of all the Cabalen group of restaurants – Cabalen Eat All U Can, Eat All U Want, Soi Restaurant, Mangan Restaurant, Eat Pinoy, BKK Express and Cerveseria – will surely satisfy your food cravings with their wide array of food highlights and exciting gadgets and international trips.

A minimum spend of P1,499 at any of these restaurants entitles you to one (1) raffle card for the Grand Draw. Upon completing your Grand Draw Entry you also get a bonus P350 worth of Gift Certificate valid to all Cabalen Group of Restaurants!

Aside from the international trips and calming staycations, you also get a chance to win weekly prizes all throughout the month of August. Yes! You can win gadgets, various passes and gift certificates every week!

Tickle your taste buds with the country’s best Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao favorites – La Paz Batchoy, Gatang Tambakol, Sinigang na Lechon Ilocos, Pancit Habhab and Sizzling Chicken by Cabalen Eat All U Can, Eat All U Want .  Experience Authentic Thai dishes with a local twist with Soi Restaurant’s Thai Grilled Salted Fish (Pla Pao), Thai Mixed Vegetables (Pad Phak), Thai Fried Pork Belly (Mu Krob), Thai Chicken in Basil (Pad Kaprow Gai), Thai Spicy Ground Pork (Mu Pad Kaprow), Thai Spicy Ground Pork Chicken (Kai Pad Kaprow), and Thai Grilled Chicken Leg (Gai Yang); Feast on Mangan Restaurant’s Perfect Fry & Grill Duo, Prito Paborito and Inihaw Fiesta;  Indulge on Cerveseria’s mouthwatering Artisan Meals Cochinillo and Paella Cerveseria; Of course the On-the-Go Thai favorite BKK Express offers their full Big Kombo Kraze with P10 OFF and Eat Pinoy’s delectable Quilain Babi and Pesang Dalag.

Get the ultimate food experience only with Cabalen Group of Restaurants – Cabalen Eat All U Can, Eat All U Want, Soi Restaurant, Mangan Restaurant, Eat Pinoy, BKK Express and Cerveseria and win amazing trips and staycations from Air You Go Travels,  Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar, Ten Cents to Heaven Leisure Camp and Inflatable Island. That’s not all; get exciting prizes every week from Upside Down Museum, Myphone, Western Appliances and Star City.

Hurry! Join their Eat, Repeat, Win & Travel Raffle promo now!  For more details, see posters and prints or visit their official Facebook pages. Promo runs from August 1, until August 31, 2017. Per DTI-FETB Permit No. 10653 Series of 2017.

Satisfy your Filipino cravings from Cabalen in any of its accessible branches: Alabang Town Center 809-6698 | Glorietta 2 893-9884 | Harbor Point Ayala Mall, Subic Bay Freeport Zone (045) 499-0245 | Market! Market! 728-2930 | Robinsons Place Ilocos 09392387995 | Robinsons Place Manila 536-7987 | Robinsons Starmills, San Fernando, Pampanga (045) 875-2064 | SM City Bacolod  (034) 436-5922 | SM City Bacoor (046) 484-9434 | SM City Baliwag (02)911-1584 | SM City Cabanatuan 0949-7740221 / 0977-6020222 | SM City Cebu (032) 238-5840 | SM City Clark (045) 499-0245 | SM City Dasmariñas  (02) 911-1584 | SM City Davao (02) 911-1584 I SM City Fairview 374-0843 | SM City Iloilo 0922-338-1091 I SM City Lipa (043) 756-2360 | SM City Manila 225-4580 I  SM Megamall 633-1761 | SM Mall of Asia 556-4874 |  SM City North Edsa 294-7970 | SM City Pampanga (045) 435-5511 | SM City San Jose Del Monte 0995– 1270517 & 0943-4863043 | SM City San Lazaro 244-9932 | SM Seaside Cebu (032) 254-9097 | SM City Southmall 0910-098-9652 I SM Trece Martires (046) 437–2941 | Trinoma Mall 901-3602 | West Ave., Quezon City 372-3515| Marquee Mall, Pampanga 911-1584: and Cabalen San Bruno, USA - 495 San Mateo Avenue, San Bruno, CA 94066.

For your Thai favorites, visit Soi at any of the following: Alabang Town Center 551-0819 I Glorietta 553-0001 I Robinsons Place Manila 523-1189 I SM Mall of Asia GF, North Arcade 0922 – 8352708/ 0932 - 8904136 I SM Megamall 361-2420 I SM Seaside Cebu (032) 273-1456 | SM Manila- 252-2287|

For On-The-Go Thai food, visit BKK Express at the Uptown Mall, Food Hall 805-1328
and for Classic Filipino Comfort Food, go to Eat Pinoy at Food on Four, SM Aura 553-2717

Cabalen Eat-All-You-Can Buffet Food Review & Contest Giveaway

Cabalen welcomes guests with a smile.

Whenever one thinks of going on a food rampage, Pampanga food always tops the list. Capampangans are known for not scrimping on ingredients. Known for being skilled cooks who spend a great deal of their time preparing dishes and sharing sumptuous meals with relatives and friends, it’s no longer a surprise when their province was hailed as the culinary capital of the Philippines. So I was thrilled when I got an invite to try dining at Cabalen—an Eat-All-You-Can Buffet restaurant noted for serving authentic Capampangan dishes and other Filipino specialties, originating from Pampanga.

As I stepped inside Cabalen, it reminded me of a childhood memory set in my grandma’s  Bahay na Bato in Taal, Batangas. Dining at Cabalen feels like coming home to your grandma’s ancestral home in the province where you get to taste a plethora of food choices (some specialties can only be found and enjoyed here). The interior itself seemed to breathe a new life into old stuff with some modern twists especially the chairs being used as well as the chandelier gives off a vintage vibe. The result is an eat-all-you-can Capampangan restaurant that feels intimate and personal, a quality that’s not usually present in large buffet resto in the metro.

Batangas Food Festival in Matabungkay Beach Hotel by Filipino Culinary Masters

What happens when you put together two extremely passionate, creative and talented master chefs, both successful in their respective fields, a managing director of a popular resort and her culinary team all together? That’s what Security Blanket had witnessed when I was invited to the media launch of Batangas Food Festival 2016 at Matabungkay Beach Hotel. It was a gorgeous lunch that could be called a symphony of flavours, tastes, aromas and textures that make up the Batangas Food Festival menu. 

Ms. Charley Leviste-Antonio, managing director of Matabungkay Beach Hotel in Lian, Batangas put together top chefs Ms. Nancy Reyes-Lumen, the “Adobo Queen” herself and Chef Jaja Andal to collaborate on the menu for this year’s Batangas Food Festival, which will run from October to December 31^st, 2016. 

Salu Restaurant in Quezon City Food Review: Taste the Flavors of the Philippines under one roof

The Philippine archipelago is considered a melting pot of South East Asia. So, a Filipino cuisine is prepared and cooked either with a touch of the Western and Asian culture.  Filipino dishes are cooked in a variety of ways dependent on the locale.  Note that the country is interspersed by the islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Security Blanket recently discovered a new restaurant that offers some of the best modern Filipino cuisine featuring the different dishes from the 7,107 islands in the country. Located in Scout Torillo corner Scout Fernandez Streets near Tomas Morato, Quezon City, Salu, The Filipino Restaurant is a brainchild of former actress Harlene Bautista, husband Romnick Sarmenta and Chef Janjie Ocoma a.k.a. “Lakwatserong Kusinero.” 

Salu Restaurant takes a proud look at provincial flavors and showcases the most popular regional recipes with a touch of decadent flair. With the 7,107 islands, the Filipino culinary palate is as diverse as the country's numerous dialects and Salu Restaurant aims to take customers and diners on a culinary tour that shares rich flavors from across archipelago. What Salu Restaurant does best is to highlight lesser known recipes from far-flung areas of the country that may taste foreign to Manila-based Filipinos. It also does a stellar job at elevating local household recipes to level-up into world-class level. 

The four pillars of Salu Restaurant

To say that a Filipino likes to eat is an understatement. ‘Like’ is not quite the term to use to describe the relationship between a Filipino and food. However, it does not still encapsulate the whole truth. A Filipino has a love affair with food. An affair describes a commitment, status, and a mutual understanding between two parties. In effect, a Filipino does not just have a one way relationship with the food; the food loves a Filipino too! 

Former celebrities turned entrepreneurs Romnick Sarmenta and wife Harlene Bautista

Nancy Lumen Reyes' Recipe: Mama Nena's Kinulob na Manok

Mama Nena's Kinulob na Manok

Mommy Nena’s Kinulob na Manok

Ingredients:

1 Kilo Whole Fat Chicken (Remove fat and set it aside)

8-10 cups of Cold Water

2 Whole Chorizo de Bilbao (quartered diagonally)

100 gm Dried Ham Bone

100 gm Chinese Ham Bits

1 Piece Large White Onion

2-3 Pieces Large Potatoes (peeled in halves)

15 pieces Large Peppercorns

1 tbsp. Kikkoman Soy Sauce

1 tbsp. Sherry

Rock Salt, to taste

Banana Leaves to cover the casserole

String

Procedure:

Stud potatoes with peppercorns

Singe banana leaves till smokey fragrant

In a casserole, render oil from chicken fat.

Saute chorizo, oil will be orange.

Add ham bone, chicken and water to cover.

Bring to boil.

Add onion and potatoes, soy sauce and sherry.

Bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer.

Cover the casserole tightly with banana leaves.

Cook in 35 minutes then check chicken.

Chicken has to be fall-off-the-bone-tender.

If not yet tender, cook another 10-15 minutes.

Island Cove's Sangley Point and Fishing Village Restaurants Food Review

Like sunsets, life at the resort is over before you know it. While packing your bags after living a life of reckless abandon during a long weekend, you dread the thought of heading back to Manila where work is waiting to zap your energy all over again. Somehow your short vacation has put your life back together, but the point of no return is somehow tearing you apart.

I recently revisited Island Cove and Leisure Park in the hope to balance out work and play. Thankfully, Island Cove gave me a respite from work, what with the beautiful island cove engulfing me that reminds me of paradise momentarily.

I won’t talk much about what Island Cove resort has to offer here as I do have another blog post for that. Since this is my food blog, allow me to share with you my gastronomic journey on the island instead.

GoodAh's Boy's Blowout Meals for Four: Perfect for Family and Friends

 Tired of looking for that gastronomic delight that fits a family of four on a lazy weekend or the ideal meal for a group of friends/officemates during lunch hour? Look no further! There's GoodAh’s "Boy's Blowout" for you to savor to your hearts' delight.

When you don't know where to go for a quick sumptuous meal, GoodAh's "Boy's Blowout" will surely be your best bet. It promises to satisfy group cravings and it's a perfect barkada or family meal. Named after its GoodAh brand ambassador, TV host Boy Abunda, GoodAh is the first fast-food, all-Filipino restaurant chain in the country that started the "Open 25 hours" and "8 Days a Week" type of food service operations.

Goodah's "Boy's Blowout" comes in two Sapat sa Apat sets: Set A includes Pork Sinigang, Sizzling Sisig, Fried Chicken (a new item on the GoodAh menu), and Garlic Kangkong. Set B, on the other hand, has Nilagang Baka, Garlic Kangkong, Sizzling Pork Chop, and Pork Barbecue.

Both meals come with a pitcher of refreshing, ice-cold Red Iced Tea and four cups of hot rice for that extra fill everyone will surely love and enjoy at the Goodah store nearest you. 

But the best part of it all is that GoodAh's "Boy's Blowout" is priced at an affordable P499 per set meal. It fits the family's budget or the barkada can simply share to enjoy these delicious meals.

It's a truly hot season, but the rays of the summer sun can't beat GoodAh's "Boy's Blowout" meals. No matter what time of day, everyone will certainly enjoy these sure-fire winner meals for that "Pagkaing Good for Every All."

GoodAh stores are located at BF Homes Parañaque, Bicutan, Eastwood, Gate 5 (along EDSA near Connecticut), Market! Market! and Metrowalk. For more details, visit www.goodah.com.ph, "like" them on Facebook (www.facebook.com), Instagram (instagram.com/GoodahPH), or Twitter (twitter.com/GoodahPH).

Recipes 8 Missouri Specialities and Sweets Food Review

Your family can dine like royalty in Recipes 8 Missouri Specialties and Sweets. Their friendly staff is ready to attend to all your needs, and they’ve got an exciting array of dishes you’d normally see in fine dining restaurants but served at a more affordable price. And recently, they’ve also come up with special desserts to satisfy the sweet tooth in you or to simply cap off that awesome meal. And because they’re from the same people that brought you the well-loved Recipes by Metro group, you can be assured of the same quality and service.

Getting to Recipes 8 Missouri Specialties and Sweets may be a bit of a challenge especially for first-timers who’d come to visit. It’s actually strategically located at the second level of the 8 Missuouri building just across Gloria Maris and right behind Promenade in Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan. But let me tell you, it’s worth all the effort and the trip. 

Crispy Tilapia

Quezon Buffet Restaurant Fishermall Food Review

I'm always a big fan of both Pinoy and traditional Spanish cuisine, so when we found this restaurant called Quezon Buffet restaurant in Quezon City area, we immediately checked it out. I was curious to find out if they could live up to my expectations. It did!  

Coun. Yul Sevo, TV host Bobby Yan and a beauty queen.

 I enjoyed everything that I’ve tried out on: from the salted egg vinaigrette salad dressings, sinigang-based salad dressings on arugula and romaine lettuce, main dishes such as tiger prawns in garlic and butter, molo soup, pakbet, beef tapa, dinakdakan, an array of l crispy lechon and I especially loved their seafood paella.  This restaurant offers a wide range of filipino dishes with a modern take into it. I love the twist on the menu and well-loved dishes. It's not pricey but we still enjoyed quality buffet and it's still not as expensive as other restaurants in its class. Ambience is smart-casual, with a relaxed atmosphere, well-lit and homey interiors, plus service is very good. Can't wait to have a chance to go back again when I'm around that area! Highly recommended!

Quezon Buffet's Seafood Paella

Had visitors from France recently that I wanted to treat to some Filipino food and decided to go to back to Quezon Buffet restaurant [that’s why it had taken quite sometime for me to write about my experience]. My foreign visitors were really impressed and I was happy considering that one of them was eating Filipino food for the first time. And you know that the French are very particular about what they eat and drink. Service was good, quick and unobtrusive. And the best thing about this dining experience was it didn't cost much. Definitely this is a restaurant you can bring foreign visitors to. It makes you proud to be Filipino.

Present during the Quezon Buffet restaurant robbing cutting ceremony were Councilor Yul Sevo and several beauty queens.

Lovely interiors kinda brings you back to the 1800s during Spanish Times. Perfect place to end the night. I was really impressed with the Adobo, which I had come to consider a relatively unimpressive dish due to my experience elsewhere in the Philippines, but here it was delicately cooked, the meat pieces properly selected and it was tender and full of flavours. 

The staff were polite, but did not seem to be interested to advise us and left our friends to make decisions without making any suggestions. 
Due to the large variety of the dishes on the buffet there is no point in going through favourites. You will probably have to go several times to try enough dishes to know what you like best. 

Overall good value for money. The Filipino and Spanish food and were nicely complemented by the decor and atmosphere of the end of century (post colonial) Manila.

Quezon Buffet restaurant is located at the 2nd level of Fishermall in Quzon Avenue, Quezon City. 

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100 %  my own. 

Larry J Cafe's New Menu Offering Food Review

Spinach empanaditas

My family and I have been loyal clientele of the LJC Group of restaurants. We truly enjoyed Filipino foods served at any LJC restaurants because hands down, they really had the best ones. Security Blanket along with my friends found ourselves at Larry J’s Café in Serendra. Although the service was a little on the slow side, the wait was worthwhile as all the food we’ve had was just amazing, appealing and most of all, satisfying to my palate! 

Vegetable samosas

For appetizers, my friends and I shared on Spinach Empanaditas and Vegetable Samosas. I love the crunch of the phyllo pastry. They are also fresh in taste. The fillings are just right and the sauce for the veggie samosas was perfect. Imagine your beloved spinach and artichoke dip as filling for the empanaditas, that’s how good it tastes like.

Eggplant caprese

Max’s Restaurant Kapitolyo Opens

For certified foodies like me, there are specific venues where we could all satiate even the most discriminating palate—Kapitolyo in Pasig City is one of them. Here, one could find rows of hole-in-the-wall array of foodie joints and restaurants. There will surely be something you’ll fancy. But of course, it would also make you feel better to know that there’s one familiar restaurant that won’t be a hit or miss when it comes to the food they offer. And that’s where Max’s Restaurant, the home of our favorite ‘sarap-to-the-bones’ fried chicken comes in. Yes, Max’s had just opened its newest branch in the heart of Kapitolyo Pasig.

Bistro Remedios Celebrates 30th Year Anniversary with Five Exciting New Dishes

When my best friend came home early this year with her French-Canadian boyfriend, she asked me where we could bring him to introduce Filipino food. Being a food blogger whose life practically involves food tasting and review, I thought it was easy. But to be perfectly honest, it's the exact opposite. Finding an all-Filipino restaurant can be pretty daunting since most food establishments nowadays would often have what we refer to as fusion--a combination of two or more different cuisines. That's why I am so glad when I've learned about Bistro Remedios in Malate for they serve truly authentic Filipino cuisines. 

For an establishment to last for three decades (that's a meaningful 30 years!), I believe there has to be a much, much more bigger reason for one restaurant to last that long! It isn't just about the delicious food that they serve that keeps people coming back, or the cozy ambiance that attracts them but I think their secret lies more on Bistro Remedios' excellent service all through these years. 

In celebration of their 30th year in service, Bistro Remedios introduces five new flavorful dishes which loyal clientele and first-time customers will surely love. Security Blanket was lucky to have tried them all and here's what I have to say about the five new exciting dishes: 

Lechon Kawali sa Gata--Fried pork belly simmered in coconut milk. Creamy and definitely a comfort food. It had that crispy fried pork in a rich natural sweetness of coconut milk. Indeed a perfect pair with the Filipino staple rice. 

Piniñahang Baboy--Tender pork stewed in coconut milk with pineapple and vegetables. This us great for those who are fans of pork. 

Adobong Hito--Based on Ilonggo preparation, this adobo dish made out of catfish is something new to me as I've been used in seeing fried catfish but not in an adobo.

Sinugbang Manok--is half chicken grilled Cebuano style with soy, vinegar and spices. This one's similar to chicken inasal, somewhat charred but savory in taste. 

Sinugba Platter--generous helping of grilled prawns, pork belly, and chicken served with achara and spicy vinegar. I couldn't resist eating the grilled prawns. It's sooo good and fresh, words aren't enough to express my thoughts on eating them. This is great for families since it has a large serving, good for 3-4 person. 

All of the dishes mentioned above boasts of fresh ingredients and done and cooked in a creative, bistro-style plating. They are now part of the menu of traditional Filipino specialties that originally belonged to the family of late LJC Restaurant Group founder, Larry J. Cruz.

 

For desserts, Bistro Remedios’ list of new offerings also includes two new desserts of local flavors: Pandan Delight and Chocnut Cheesecake.

When Bistro Remedios first opened at the corner of Remedios and Adriatico Streets in 1984, it drew in foreigners as well as locals hankering for authentic, homestyle Filipino food. Signature dishes that have remained best-sellers through the years include Paco Fern and Tomato Salad (young rainforest fern, tomato, and salted egg with a light salad dressing), Binukadkad na Crispy Pla Pla (deep-fried fish sliced like a butterfly and served with balo-balo and fresh mustard leaves), Knockout Knuckles (a whole leg of pork deep-fried in garlic and chilis) and Crispy Tadyang “D Original” (marinated beef ribs deep fried to a delicious crispiness). Fried frog legs and the seasonal crispy rice field crickets sauteed in tomatoes and onions are also still available for those with an exotic appetite.

                                                         Pako/ Fern Salad

 

                                              Adobong Rice Field Locusts/Crickets

                     Crispy Tadyang

                                       Spicy Baby Pusit (Squid)

Today, Bistro Remedios is recognized by the Department of Tourism as one of the restaurants foreigners should visit when in the country. 

My best friend and her boyfriend will be coming home again in time for the holiday season. When they come back, I knew exactly where I'd take them this time--it's got to be at Bistro Remedios where the finest Filipino cuisine can be found. 

Bistro Remedios is located at M. Adriatico Street, across the Remedios Circle in Malate, Manila. The restaurant is open from 11am-3pm and 3pm-11pm on Mondays, Thursdays, Sundays; 11am-3pm and 3pm-12mn from Fridays to Saturdays. For those who prefer private dining, Bistro Remedios has function rooms that can accommodate 12 to 50 persons. For more information on Bistro Remedios, please call 5239153, 5229163 or visit us at www.ljcrestaurants.com.ph or like us on facebook/LJCRestaurantGroup.

Disclaimer: I am nit compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

Special thanks to Ms. Malou Domingo, Ms. Grace Cariaga and Mr. Dominic Diaz.