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Showing posts from April 13, 2021

When the longing for authentic Pinoy dishes strikes in the U.S., Isla Grand stands ready to transport your taste buds back to the Philippines.

Carmina is traveling to the United States to spend time with her family. My dad planned a family gathering for Mother's Day at their favorite Pinoy restaurant . Since reservations aren’t possible, we arrived an hour early to ensure we could get a table for twelve before everyone else showed up. As my dad approached Isla Grand , the branch we visited in Pleasant Hills, California , the host at the door said they could prepare a table for twelve at five o'clock. Later, the server called my dad's name and guided us to our table. The place was bustling with people enjoying meals and celebrating Mother's Day. On our first visit to Isla Grand, I was captivated by the décor, noticing many native items that gave the place a fancy yet authentic Filipino feel. They usually have a live band, but unfortunately, there was no entertainment the night we went. My family had spoken highly of Isla Grand and encouraged us to try the Filipino dishes we’ve been missing from back home. Lech...

Senor Pollo (Latin American) in the Philippines

Let's say you want to try a different type of grilled chicken for how many months you have been ordering food. You tend to get tired eating at the same restaurants that your family want to eat. You decided to try something out of the ordinary by making your own choices without any family member knowing what meal they will eat for lunch for the day. You come across from Grab Food which is Senor Pollo that has a Whole Chicken with choice of 4 sides that are available in the branch you've decided to order for PHP 1,020.00 ($20.40). The four sides I had ordered that was available are the following: Cilantro Garlic Rice French Fries Sweet Potato Mash Mac n Cheese The other side dish wasn't available I had made an additional order which was the Garlic Mashed Potato for PHP 116.00 ($2.32). There we're sauces that had arrived to dip it with the chicken The outcome the roasted chicken is spicy although I would say I liked the taste having to try something different at  Senor Pol...

Teaza Milk Tea Philppines

Carmina was craving Filipino taho, the kind we usually buy from vendors outside our home. Being stuck at home during the lockdown, we started looking for alternatives to satisfy our cravings. While browsing Grab Food, Carmina searched for "taho" on the app and stumbled upon Teaza Milk Tea. They offered a unique Taho and Brown Sugar Slush that piqued her curiosity, especially since it was part of their Soy Series. This new drink is available in two sizes: small for PHP 114.00 ($2.28) or large for PHP 138.00 ($2.76). You can customize the sweetness level too, choosing from 100%, 75%, 50%, or 25%. Carmina is enjoying her Taho and Brown Sugar Slush, which has made her too full to eat dinner, but that’s perfectly fine. Vanilla Milk Tea is available in Medium for PHP 90.00 ($1.80) or Large for PHP 102.00 ($2.04). Choose your tea type—Assam or Oolong—and customize the sugar level to your liking. It’s merienda time for Carmina, the perfect snack break between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM befo...

Pepi Cubano in the Philippines

Carmina decided to switch venues and explore cuisine from different countries. For now, we can travel through the flavors of food served in the Philippines and share these experiences with others. This time, I decided to try some Pepi Cubano sandwiches. Pepi Cubano features slow-roasted pork , ham, pickles, mustard, and cheese for PHP 190.00 ($3.80). Tito Choropan with chorizo hamonado , sliced jalapeños , cheese, and chimichurri sauce for PHP 170.00 (around $3.40). Tip: We asked for the chimichurri sauce to be served on the side to keep the Tito Choropan from getting soggy during delivery via Grab Food . Pan De Verdura , packed with roasted eggplant, bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese , is priced at PHP 210.00 ($4.20). Review from Carmina: I really liked the Pan De Verdura; all my favorite vegetables were included. I just made sure to inform them when placing the order not to add bell peppers to my sandwich. I could taste a hint of jalapeno, possibly from t...