Milk Tea Cravings Satisfied with ZTea Cups

Honestly its been a while and I think its time I need to be back to blogging. I MISS WRITING! HONESTLY! 

Okay since we are back to business I would just like to share to you this milk tea place I collaborated with for a video about a month ago. Yes I know its weird that its just now that I decided to share to you this but just remember that we are on a state of pandemic and I don't want to be that person people will cancel just because I share food posts - There are people like that look it up! haha! 

Okay enough with the chit chat lets get on with this my dearies. 

Ztea Cups is a small business that offers milk tea, fruit tea and other specialty drinks. They are located at Veterans Village here in Quezon City but they do offer delivery. 

They sent me four drinks which were the Mango Yakult Fruit Tea, Red Velvet Overload, Premium Chocolate and Oreo cheesecake overload.

 I am going to be 100% honest here but their milk tea is one of the best. It may be a month since I last tried their drinks and did a video on it but I swear the taste does last. 

I would definitely try their Oreo Cheesecake Overload because I remember it was like a whole cheesecake slice was put in the drink by how thick it is. The premium red velvet cheesecake as well is amazing because the consistency is not that watered down and also the cream cheese they add on the drinks are definitely homemade compared to those made with a powder agent which tends to have a gritty sand-like texture compared to the homemade version. Ztea Cups is definitely legit for sure. 

If you want to order from Ztea Cups and try their amazing drinks you can order via their Official Facebook here. You can also order via food Panda if you are within 3KM Delivery Radius. But don't worry they do have an in house delivery that has free delivery within Brgy. Veterans Villahe, Bungad, San Antonio and Katipunan. 

Their delivery charges to nearby areas are also quite affordable at around P30 to P49 if you are within Cubao, Tatalon, Q.Ave, Timog and nearby locations. 

Address:

2 Danupra Street Brgy. Veterans Village Quezon City

Business Hours: 

WEEKDAYS: 11AM-7PM

WEEKENDS: 12NN -7:30PM

Check out Ztea Cups and have a great time with their one of a kind drinks this quarantine! And also lets not forget to support small brands such as these that give out great products even during this time. 

Much Love! 

xx Alice 

Enjoy Samgyupsal at Leann's Tea House!

CAUTION: THERE WILL BE A LOT OF FOOD SHOTS. HANDA NYO NA SNACKS NYO GUYS DAHIL MAGUGUTOM KAYO. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED MAMSH!

One of my luxury treat is eating samgyupsal, I know its surprising since I have eaten at several for quite some time but trust me when I say that I rarely eat samgyupsal I really do. Another thing I would like to say is I am also quite picky with places to eat samgyupsal because not a lot of samgyupsal places really serve great quality meat or their service is not at par to my liking.

And I think I have found a place I can say I am comfortable because of the variety of meat selections and also its near my place so if I want to splurge for a bit I think this will be the place I can go to. I am talking about Leann's Teahouse.

Located at Mother Ignacia, Quezon City this restaurant actually started out as the typical Korean restaurant that serves ala carte Korean dishes and since samgyupsal has risen into popularity, they also included unlimited Samgyupsal in their menu!

They have three sets which are the Unli Pork (399.00 pesos) Unli Pork & Beef (499.00 pesos) CPB Premium (599.00 Pesos) I would suggest getting the CPB Premium because you get the best of everything PLUS Meltique Beef. I will tell you guys more about Meltique Beef in a while.

To be honest the selection of meat they have are similar to other restaurants but their secret weapon is their meltique meat. Meltique is actually Top graded meat from Australia which is similar to the Japanese Wagyu beef. Its soft, melt in your mouth goodness is what I actually love. Another one of my favorite is their thinly sliced pork belly and beef cuts because they are so amazing to eat I think I ate about 3 servings each of those alone. napakamasiba mode lanangpake ganun!

Aside from the meat, They have one of the best tasting Kimchi in town because its not that spicy and doesn't have that pungent smell. I was able to take home some and made kimchi pancake with it and its the best thing to eat late at night while writing reviews if you ask me haha!

Aside from samgyupsal I was able to try also their ala carte servings of Pajeon or Korean Pancake which is fit to feed about 3 people (Large eaters) or about 6 people if they are not large eaters. The Pajeon is actually great and full of the toppings into it which makes the taste better than other places.

I was able to try this Cheese Kimchi Rice and I am in love. Its creamy and salty from the cheese with a kick of spice from the Kimchi. Another one is the Korean Fried Chicken. Its sweet with a bit of spice into it which I can suggest great to pair up with beer.

I wasn't able to try the soups since I was quite full at this point but those are seafood soup which smelled amazing, I will have to go back for sure to try those.

One thing I can say I love about Leann's Tea House is its not just your regular samgyupsal place because it also offers authentic Korean food if you don't want to stuff yourself too much. The place might be small but its not stuffy or hot. Its very cozy and perfect to spend time with your friends and family.

Share to me your favorite Samgyupsal spots on the comments section and have a great week!

Much love!

xx Alice

Going Crazy For Takoyaki at Crazy Tako

One thing I haven't told you guys is I grew up eating a lot of Japanese food because of my mom's work and I am so happy that one of my favorite Japanese snack is locally available and I think I have found the perfect place to get it from and the place I am talking about is Crazy Tako!

But before we go on to Crazy Tako let's define first what is Takoyaki.

Takoyaki is a ball-shaped Japanese snack or appetizer made of wheat flout-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan. Usually it is filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion.

And one of the best places I have tried takoyaki is at Crazy Tako in UP Town Center. To be honest, UP Town Center is quite far from where I live but I am willing to commute there or to any location to have this. 

The reason why is because their Takoyaki reminds me of the one I had as a child that was prepared to me by my second Oka san or mother Ayumi. The batter to octopus ratio is just right and it was cooked to perfection. As someone who has eaten authentic Japanese food from childhood I know that this was made from products from Japan o sadyang perfected ko lang tastebuds ko sa ganitong bagay.

 With Crazy Tako, most of the ingredients are imported from Japan, not including the octopus which is locally sourced. Another thing that makes me like Crazy Tako more is their special sauce that is also homemade which is quite hard to perfect. 

Aside from Takoyaki, Crazy Tako also serves octo fingers which are deep fried octopus tentacles and I will tell you even without the dipping sauce it is so good! this was actually the first thing that I first munched on was this and I honestly got addicted to it that I have actually went back a couple of times this week just for that. By the way you can try the octo fingers for only 99 pesos which is well worth every piece. 

And if you are also wondering Crazy Tako's Takoyaki is available in 4pc for 58 pesos and 8pc for 99 pesos so its definitely not something to break the bank.

For more info you can check out Crazy Tako's official Facebook account here for more information and also their locations (Which is 10 and counting!!) 

Much Love! 

xx Alice 

The Felicidad Mansion Celebrates Their First Anniversary

I don't normally post these kinds of things on this side of my blog but I guess this is where I can place them since its definitely something you really have to check out. 

The Felicidad Mansion is a one of its kind events venue in QC.

It is originally a mansion built in the 1970's that was converted into a spacious events place and had just celebrated their anniversary!

This was named after Dona Felicidad Tayag-Martin, the Matriarch of the Martin clan. In which after years of being a residential place, the family turned it to an events place but still preserving its beautiful wood ceilings, one of a kind chandeliers and the vintage doors.

Quite honestly this is my first time going in this venue and I am amazed by the exterior and also interior of this events place because it has that very vintage feel that is not forced. You would really love this place.

The cool thing about this venue is that they have their own catering partners and also they can help out in setting up what you want your event to look like. Its a one stop shop for the party of your dreams.

And quite honestly, I might just pick this venue if ever I get married.

Ayan na guys nagsabi na ko! #AlamNaThis

How to get to Felicidad Mansion: 

Located at Baler Street Corner Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City, You can get to the venue via car, taxi or Public Utility Vehicle either from Quezon Avenue or from Munoz. The nearest landmark is you'll see is McDonald's. 

Okay now lets move on to the function rooms that they offer to your needs. Currently they offer 5 function rooms that varies with how many people that will be attending to your event. 

 

Here are the names and pax. 

Venice - 130 pax

Paris - 150 pax

Venice and Paris - 250 pax

Roma - 30 pax

Madrid - 50 pax

They also have a bridal suite so if you are having a wedding and you need a place to touch up on your make up or have a costume change (aminin may brides na ganun!) you can also add it in the package. 

And did you notice something about the name of the rooms? It is inspired by European cities that really highlight the aesthetic feel of the room. 

And as I've mentioned, Felicidad Mansion is a one stop shop since they are tied up with catering companies that suit your taste buds like Hizon's, Rich Gold, and also Taverna Catering just to name a few that also sponsored amazing food for the festivities. 

To add to the festivities, Richard Poon entertained the guests with a couple of songs. 

PS. Dun po sa magiging asawa ko pag ipunan mo na i-book si Richard Poon sa wedding naten. Gusto ko sya kumanta for our first dance and when I walk down the aisle. I love you na agad future hubby pag ginawa mo to! LOL

And also to my friends that will be getting married soon. You might want to check out this place first because it is absolutely amazing. Its like you had a destination wedding but without the expensive plane ticket. 

And yes I am making this statement on my blog that I will book this elegant venue when I get married. 

For more information about Felicidad Mansion they are located at # 2 Baler Street cor. Roosevelt Avenue, San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City. You may contact them at 964 5403, 372 5741, 0917 5152135 and 0917 5245308. 

or visit their website www.felicidadmansion.com

Much Love! 

xx Alice

Food Review: Qubiertos Grill and Restaurant

Sometimes I like to treat myself with dining alone which is great because you get to enjoy your food more. There would be less fuss about what to order because you would just be ordering for one. 

That didn't sound great. It makes me sound that I am so bitter. 

Qubiertos is a grill and restaurant located in Kalayaan, Quezon City so if you are near the City hall its just behind it and its so easy to spot that you don't need google maps for this. 

The prices of this restaurant are actually cheap and they also offer student meals because there are schools near the establishment so this is definitely a place for students and young professionals to hang out in. 

What they do offer most is Filipino food, so if you have friends who are visiting the Philippines for the first time THIS is one of the places you should bring them. 

This is their version of sisig. Their version from the typical sisig is different because they use the brain of the animal which this is made from. I know it sounds gross but who cares they taste great! 

Their version of the pinoy fried rice is also amazing because its like a meal on its own. But being Filipino, even if there is something mixed in the rice, its still rice and we need our ulam for that! 

And for dessert, I had some suman crepe! 

Its sweet from the chocolate and peanut butter drizzle yet savory from the rice cake or suman. Its definitely something for the ones craving sweets because its so yummy. 

I really like Qubiertos and I would go back over and over because the food they serve is definitely Filipino with a very homey feel to it. Check out Qubiertos with your friends and family today! 

Much Love! 

xx Alice 

Taste of Capitol in Tomas Morato

Tomas Morato is one of the 'foodie' hubs here in Quezon City because there are a variety of restaurants that can cater to any cravings you have - From sweet boba (bubble milk tea) or to a fine dining experience its basically there. 

One of the newest addition to that is Taste of Capitol. Originally based in Kapitolyo, Pasig, Taste of Capitol moved in QC since it has a larger audience here. 

If you check out their menu, its mostly American food with a Filipino twist. The prices are also very reasonable and the portions are bigger than usual so make sure to bring your friends here to enjoy their savory dishes. 

The interior reminds me of cafes and restaurants I've seen on some American television shows. Its very artsy as well since all of their tables and walls are painted with colorful street art. Its very cozy but very hipster-like. 

This is their meatball. Compared to those that I've tasted this is a bit on the sweet and savory side due to the gravy or sauce. The sauce is not too liquidy nor too thick since if its either the sauce will overpower the meat ball. The meat itself is not too dry on the inside. 

Typically a Tex-Mex staple, Nachos are actually something most Americans enjoy since its very easy to make and the recipe is easy to tweak out for your personal preference. I love how the meat was just right and the tomatoes were just as fresh as if they were just picked up from the garden and chopped up. I was not really a fan of the cheese which was weird because that is one of the things that I look forward the most in nachos. 

Tortillas! 

This is actually one of my favorite food to make since the recipe is so easy to do and you can improvise. I also love to cook this for my brother since he likes to multi task so he can eat and do his job at the same time. As for this one, I like the tortilla bread since its not too stiff nor stale. The meat and vegetables were a bit chunkier in my taste but it has a nice texture. 

They also have a smaller version if you want something for sharing. And this is literally one bite for me. Its like eating a ssambap without the lettuce and replacing it with the tiny tortilla. 

They also serve one of the yummiest mojitos in all of QC that is. And it comes in 2 sizes which was a big shock to me because when they served this to me I thought it would just be a tall glass, but it was actually for sharing - My bad! But this is really the best I tell you. 

They also serve flavored beers so if you have a liking in that kind make sure to try the ones they have at Taste of Capitol. 

I think Taste of Capitol is a nice place to hang out with your friends, especially if you are a foodie because most the food that they offer are really good and fit for your budget. Check them out on Tomas Morato and taste a different side of American dishes with a Filipino twist. 

Much Love! 

xx Alice 

Cozy Spanish inspired food at Mateo's

I remember my grandmother telling me stories about her grandmother preparing her some authentic Spanish dishes when she was young. We do have some Spanish lineage thus my grandmother experiencing some Spanish culture. 

Unfortunately she was not able to pass down those recipes that was prepared to her when she was younger so I actually didn't know much about it. 

Thankfully, I would be able to try some authentic Spanish food from Mateo's. 

Mateo's is located just a couple of streets away from my house here in Quezon City. 

Its a small quaint restaurant that has a very homey feel to it. It is quite small but has a warm feel to it that I am really at home to this restaurant. 

Most of their restaurant specialties are based from recipes that were brought by the ancestor of one of the owners of the restaurant which is Mateo Del Castillo which the restaurant is also named after. 

Trivia time! 

Mateo Del Castillo is Sir Miko's (one of the owners of Mateo's) Great-grandfather. According to Sir Miko when his Lolo Mateo was young, he used to have restaurants and boarding houses in Batangas in which one day he sold all of his investments to support the HUKBALAHAP or Hukbong Laban Sa Hapon during the Japanese invasion here in the Philippines. 

I really like that even though Mateo Del Castillo was not originally a Filipino, he has the heart of one because of how much he wanted freedom for our countrymen at that time.  

Okay enough trivia time. Here are some of their specialties. 

These are called Senoritas. They are soft breads with some butter or margarine filling. They are really nice to have when its a little warm. This is great to have with coffee or hot tea. 

I actually forgot what is the name of this exact dish but this has button mushrooms and they taste like they were cooked in an adobo style because of the garlic. 

Tortilla Espanola. Its the classic tortilla with some cheese and I think there was Spinach in this. It als comes with 2 dips that actually really make the tortilla taste so much better.

.

Next is Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Quesadillas. Just like its name, it is really creamy and I love the texture because of the mushroom and the spinach. 

This is Caesar's Salad Supreme. I like the presentation but I feel that the serving is quite small. I like a hearty serving of salad sometime but this tastes great. 

Binagongang Bagnet. I was quite intrigued with this because honestly I don't eat binagoongan or bagoong to be exact. I don't like the fishy smell of it but this one doesn't have that and the way the bagnet was added made the dish really awesome!

Mateo's Special Kare Kare. I love Kare Kare and I think Mateo's is my 2nd most favorite. Of course the first would be my mom's version so I placed Mateo's in the second place. The peanut sauce isn't overwhelming although if you taste it there is really a difference on what grade of peanut they used to make this dish. 

Paella Negra. It was my first time to see this so I was really excited to try it out. It contains seafood which I also like. Compared to the original kind, I think the Paella Negra does have a different taste because of the rice. 

Mateo's Spanish Paella - this is I think one of the dishes that really represent Mateo's. Its fresh and very simple but a very hearty dish to share with friends and family. 

Mateo's also serve pasta dishes like their Spaghetti Alla Vongole and Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca. I would suggest you guys try these because the taste is just extraordinary and its quite flavorful. 

And if you loves sweets, Mateo's also have an in house selection of pastries and sweet breads for everyone to enjoy. 

One of the best I can recommend is their Blueberry Cheesecake and their Mateo's classic ensaymada which are both made in their restaurant. 

 

Aside from the delicious food, they also offer classes if you want to hone your Spanish speaking skills and also some arts and craft classes like crochet workshop. The only thing is you have to pay about 850 PHP that includes 2 ball of yarns, a hook, handouts, Mateo's Houseblend Iced Tea, Spanish Quesadillas and a choice of Puttanesca or Chicken Pesto Penne this coming January 11 and 25. I got hooked in this class because once you start making your masterpiece its impossible to stop because it looks so cute! 

One of the things you can also do at Mateo's is make your own Gingerbread house as well! This is especially great to make with kids! for a fee of 1,000PHP you get decors, the gingerbread house, and frosting you can use to design your own gingerbread house that you can bring home. 

3. Spanish Saturdays - with a fee of Php 950.00 includes Handouts, Tapas, Paella, and a glass of red wine or sangria. (January 10 & 24; 3:30-6:00PM)

Lastly is their Spanish Saturdays this coming January 10 and 24. For a fee of 950PHP you get to learn Spanish and also it includes the handouts, tapas, paella, and a grass of red wine or sangria. I really had a great time in learning some new Spanish  classes and I think I will come back for more for sure this January. 

If you would like to try out Mateo's delectable treats you can visit Mateo's at 76 Malakas St. V.Luna Quezon City.

Much Love! 

xx Alice