Category Desserts

Mercato Centrale now in a better location in BGC

Mercato Centrale has officially moved to a new and more accessible location in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Now set up at the corner of 7th Avenue and 25th Street, foodies can now easily find it across The Forum and in front of the “Between  The Lines” art mural (or The Spaceman as it is more popularly known. It’s now nearer to the offices which is good news for the yuppies of BGC who are looking for an affordable place for a Friday hangout.

RJ Ledesma, co-founder of Mercato Centrale

RJ Ledesma, co-founder of Mercato Centrale

Mercato Centrale is open every Friday and Saturday from 6 pm to 3 am. It still has the same lively, food fair vibe it’s known for. Most especially, old-time favorites such as Auntie May, Cuisiner, and Don Churro, are still around to serve their famous fare.

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1st Colonial Grill, Naga City Centro

In the summer of 2014, my business had me and Alex driving to Legazpi City in Albay. Being the adventurous foodies that we are, of course, we also grabbed the chance to try out what’s offered by the province’s local restos. One of the restaurants in Legazpi City that we tried was 1st Colonial Grill in Pacific Mall.

While the husband ordered something that’s not so Bicolano, I got Pasta Bicolana (which was more like Aglio Olio with siling labuyo) and the restaurant’s specialty, Colonial Burger. For dessert, we each got a serving of its Sili Ice Cream and Pili Ice Cream. The frozen delights were enough to convince us to come back with Ralph in tow.

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Real free-range chicken from Pamora Farm

Filipinos nowadays are leaning more into healthy organic food and my family is no exception. We try to buy and eat organic food as much as we can. I admit, it could be a luxury especially when you’re living in the city like we do. But what’s a few additional bucks compared to a sound and healthy body.

Some of the organic produce that are just within our reach are free-range chicken and eggs. There are now a handful of  brands, both commercially-known ones and new players in the industry,  that offer free-range chicken in the country today. One of these is Pamora Farm, a Filipino-European joint venture that operates in Pidigan, Abra.

2013-04-27 Pamora Free-range Chicken event

Owners Tina and Gerard Papillon (both in yellow) with the chef of Brasserie CiÇou.

My wife and I had the pleasure of sharing an intimate lunch with the couple behind Pamora Farm, Gerard and Tina Papillon.  Pamora is actually a combination of Gerard and Tina’s family names – Papillon and Morados. Tina’s mother is from Abra which explains why the farm’s 4-hectare property is located there. The chicken production started in early 2000 after Tina attended a seminar on raising free-range chicken.

2013-04-27 Pamora Free-range Chicken event

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Adobo Connection now open at World Corporate Center

When we think of Filipino food, adobo instantly comes to mind. Even with countless of variations, adobo is still the ultimate Pinoy comfort food. “Adobo connects us all,” don’t you agree?

2012-05-09 Adobo Connection WCC LR (4)
This is what the founders of Adobo Connection believe. They have designed Adobo Connection to be a place where friends and family connect over adobo and other home-cooked meals.

2012-05-09 Adobo Connection WCC LR (6)
From it’s first-ever branch in Dela Rosa, Makati, Adobo Connection has grown to be a franchise of nine branches, the latest of which is this one at World Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard (near EDSA). New ones are opening soon at One Archer’s Place in Taft Avenue, Manila, at SM City Fairview, and at Valero, Makati.

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