Crispiest Liempo and more at PenPen Restaurant

It was a Saturday night and almost every bar along Tomas Morato was jam packed as usual. It was almost midnight and so we no longer expect to find a decent bar within the area where my friends and I could spend the night. Good thing my friend Pol encouraged us to try to check out the resto bar where he and his other friends have gone to for a get-together. Upon arriving, I was in awe that he actually took us to a resto I’ve been wanting to visit for a food review.

It was late last year, when I started bugging my friends to accompany me to PenPen Restaurant in Tomas Morato after one of the owner and actor Ping Medina, started posting photos in Facebook of dishes that they serve. Due to different schedules and other pending Restaurants and Food Reviews, it was only this month that I had a chance to go out with friends, and as luck would have it, in front of me that night was my next target for Restaurant Review.

It was almost midnight when we get there and it looks like they were about to close. Luckily, the lady-in-charged told us that they can still accommodate us since there’s still a party on the Up-stair Bar. We were thankful for the kind gesture and so we started placing our orders.

Their menu consist mostly of Filipino Cuisine but with a remarkable PenPen twist, the main reason why this resto is slowly but surely gaining raves and good feedback from their customers.

Aside from the buckets of beer, we decided to order Crispiest Liempo and Mini Cordon Bleu for our pulutan (appetizer).

Also, we tried their Bicol Express, Chicken and Bacon Creamy Carbonara, Pesto Veggie Carbonara, and Pen-Pen Pandesal with Kesong Puti and Basil Pesto Sauce.

Their Crispiest Liempo, considered as PenPen Restaurant’s pride, I must say is the main star of the night. It is pork loin strips, sliced thinly and fried until golden brown and crispy. It can be paired with hot steamed rice, but it is the best when you eat it with a bottle of cold beer.



The Mini-Cordon Bleu are baked chicken nuggets stuffed with garlic cream cheese served with creamy mayo dip. This one has a distinct taste not comparable to any other cordon bleu I have tasted; I guess that’s what makes this restaurant special.

Their Bicol Express is the first dish that graced our table and it is an instant hit in the group. You can have it Spicy or Semi-spicy depending on your taste buds. The chunks of pork is so tender and the bagoong they used for the thick sauce is not that strong therefore it doesn’t over-power the taste of the entire dish.

Chicken and Bacon Creamy Carbonara is so far one of the best carbonara I have ever tasted. The tasty and creamy sauce is smothered in the al dente pasta with a generous mixture of bits and chunks of Chicken and Bacon.

Although I love their Creamy Carbonara, I am more impressed with their Pesto Veggie Pasta. The small chunks of vegetables are generously mixed on the creamy pesto sauce which gives it a little kick once it hits your palate. A good choice for vegans and for those who would want to stick on a healthy diet.

Lastly, we tried PenPen Pandesal with Kesong Puti and Basil Pesto Sauce. It is a big pandesal with Lettuce, Tomato, Cucumber, and Kesong Puti (Cottage Cheese) drizzled with Basil-Pesto Sauce. I never had Kesong Puti with any of these added veggies and so I never thought that the crunch on the vegetable compliments the distinct taste of the cheese. The basil Pesto sauce gives little kick of sweetness to it, so, if you’re the type who doesn’t want something sweet on your bread, you could just forgo the sauce.

PenPen Restaurant, having a tag line of “Comfort Food Araw-Araw” is true to every word of it since their home style cooked dishes are not just delicious, but affordable as well. The friendly and accommodating staff adds to the laid back and homey feel of the entire resto and so anyone would instantly feel that they would want to go back there anytime.

I recommend this resto to foodies who are looking for affordable and delicious food in a relaxing atmosphere. The next time that I’ll visit there, I’ll definitely give the Aligue Pasta, Creamy Garlic Calabas Soup, and Baked Bangus Belly a try.

PenPen Restaurant

Comfort Food Araw-Araw
105-C Scout Castor Street,
South Triangle, Quezon City.
Contact no. 411-41-57
They accept Reservation and Catering

The House of Lasagna

Having spent most of my adult life living in San Juan City, if I am in the mood to have a break from the usual home cooked meal but do not want to go far, there is always the reliable J.Abad Santos St. in San Juan and its other neighboring streets that has variety of Restaurants to choose from. The area is just a stone throw away from where I am living and so, over the years, I witnessed new restaurants proliferates the streets which make it worth the visit especially for foodies.

Another addition to this foodies haven street is The House Of Lasagna, Cakes and Pastries, owned by a good-looking and friendly Chef Erick G. Congmon. Being a pasta lover myself, I dragged along my good friends and fellow foodies Chris and Glenn out of curiosity. And I must say that we are not disappointed because we had tasted the best Lasagna ever.

Upon having a conversation with Chef Erick, I learned that their family owns the famous Sunburst Restaurant in Cebu. Since it runs in the blood, this College of Saint Benilde Alumni decided to put up his own business, The House of Lasagna June of 2009 after receiving orders of his specialty and mastered recipe which is freshly homemade Lasagna from friends. Through word of mouth, his ordering customers eventually increase up to now that he’s already running his own restaurant.

Aside from Beef Lasagna, we also tried their Pesto Lasagna and Lengua Pastel.

Their Beef Lasagna is simply superb. The pasta is al dente, the sauce is not too sweet nor too sour, the beef is tasty enough you can distinguish it from the Chicken Lasagna which they also offers, and the generous cheese they used is heavenly.

The Pesto Lasagna is a stellar. The pesto is not over-powering, and you can taste its freshness that slowly slips into your mouth that compliments the melted cheese and creamy sauce.
Their Lasagnas are freshly made upon ordering and it comes with 2 pcs homemade garlic bread which is delicious in itself.
The Lengua Pastel is another stellar. The meat is so tender and juicy, bursting with flavors and the sauce further intensify the cuisine you would want to order for an extra rice, but since the serving is big and it comes with garden salad, you will be satisfied with just one order but would definitely go back there to other it again.

Although we were so full, we did not let the night pass without having a taste of their desserts. We ordered for their Blueberry Cheese cake and Mango Charlotte.

The Blueberry Cheesecake is simply delectable and the Mango Charlotte resembles that of Conti’s Mango Cream Cake, which I love, only it has generous mango chunks in the cake and cream itself, and it has lady fingers. So, it’s perfect.

The next time that we will be visiting the place, we would definitely try their Vegetable Lasagna, Steaks, and their Southern Fried Chicken.

The place is small but definitely cozy. The decoration of beautiful lamps and wood-framed mirrors which resembles cute little windows adds to the sophisticated aura of the restaurant. There’s a homey feel as you enter the place and their waitress are all accommodating and friendly.

With Chef Erick G. Congmon

All in all it really was a good experience. They were supposed to close the store before midnight since they have reservation the next day but they were kind enough to accommodate our late night visit and extend their store hours. That only shows how they treat their customers with consideration. The conversation we had with Chef Erick was very informative and enjoyable.

I highly recommend this place to my fellow foodies out there who would like to have a wonderful gastronomical experience without the hustle and the bustle ambiance of the metro.

House of Lasagna
Cakes and Pastries
Unit 1-B Ground Floor
J. Abad santos St.,
Corner V. Cruz St.
Little Baguio San Juan, M.m.
Contact Person: Chef Erick G. Congmon
For Reservation please call (02) 994-72-84

Healthy Holiday with White Hat Italian Frozen Yogurt

Holidays and work has been keeping me busy lately but as a true blooded foodie, I promised myself to squeeze into my busy schedule a review on The White Hat Italian Frozen Yogurt before the year ends. Not just because I've been going crazy about it for months now, but because it is timely to share to my fellow foodies that we can have a break from the usual calorie-laden dessert we normally feast on during season like this but still enjoy the goodness that good food can offer.

The White Hat Italian Frozen Yogurt offers a healthy way to enjoy dessert with their 98% fat free frozen yogurt. What makes it special are the wide variety of healthy premium toppings you can choose from. From the usual suspects to some unique but equally delicious selections.


The very first time I tried this awesome fro-gurt store I had their homemade cheesecake for topping. It was heavenly delicious! And although I have tried other toppings, it remains to be my personal favorite from the selection. The regular size frozen yogurt is 85php and there’s an additional 20php for one toppings, 35php for 2 toppings, and 45php for three toppings.

Also, they offer 3+1 Combos of different combinations of toppings. My favorite is the Bakers Hat which is the combination of Homemade Cheesecake, Blueberries or Red Ruby Cherries, and Almond Cluster.

You can click on the photo below to enlarge the picture and see what combos best suit your palate.

So, this season, with White Hat Italian Frozen Yogurt, we can celebrate the foodies in us without having to worry about the extra calories we will be consuming with all the sweet desserts available.

My sisters and I have been going crazy about it...

so is my nephew :) Indeed, healthy never tasted this good!

The White Hat Italian Frozen Yogurt Branches in

Robinson's Galleria

Shangri-la Edsa Mall

SM Mall of Asia

Robinson's Place Ermita

SM North Edsa Annex

Rustan's Supermarket Makati

SM Clark Pampanga

You can also visit their website here

Gel Sebastian's Homemade Banana Loaf with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts

Christmas is just around the corner and with all the spirit of gift giving in the air, it is important to know that with the current economic status of our country, it is best to remain practical while practicing generosity.

That is why when my sister brought us a Homemade Banana Loaf with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts by Gel Sebastian, my mother and I knew that it can be a gift to our friends this Yuletide Season.
Gift should always be something special and I know that this one fits that definition.

Gel Sebastians' Homemade Banana Loaf with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts is truly one delectable treat you can share with your loved ones.

The crunchiness of the walnut, the sinfully delicious, generous amount of chocolate chips, the softness of the bread, and the aroma of it will give you a christmasy feeling that you'll surely want to have some more.

Its taste tops that of Banana Loaf you can buy in known Pastry Shops, and you’ll be surprised to know that it costs only 89php per box. A great treat indeed. The loaf is good for 10 days after ordering, so you can order this delicious treat now and it will still last until Christmas.

If you want to experience this delectable and oh-so-yummy loaf, you can contact Gel Sebastian at 0927-9450587 to place your order.

Happy Holidays Foodies!

Mango Cream Cake by Conti's

Although most people I know adore Conti's Mango Bravo, there are still some who thinks that it's too sweet and prefer something less complicated, for that matter. One of them is my own father.

I remember Red Ribbon used to have Mango Cream Pie and everybody seems to love it. But I can no longer find a branch which carries it and that leads me to discovering Conti's Mango Cream Cake.

A layer of soft chiffon cake, delectable mango cream, and fresh mango chunks. The sweety-sour taste of the fruit is not over powering as the cream evens out the flavor as it touches your palates.

It is indeed less complicated than the Bravo, but still it is beaming with pride of decadence that only Conti's can offer.

It is best served chilled but it still tastes good even after sitting on a room temperature for an hour. Available in regular size for only 360php.

Conti's Pastry Shop and Restaurant

53 Connecticut St., Greenhills

San Juan, Metro Manila

(02) 774-4184