For this third installment of Food in the Time of COVID19, I am pleased to present many of my friends and family’s small business along side some bigger and more familiar food and beverage businesses that we are all familiar with. The one thing everyone has in common? Bringing what we love into our homes in a safe and fun way for us to enjoy with our families in a safe and wholesome way.
Food in the Time of COVID19 Part 3
Serenitea
Serenitea has always been a favorite stop over for the kids when we would be out and about in the malls or walking around BGC. #MILKTEAFOREVER
But once we all went into lockdown, we thought we had to do without our sweet milk teas with the accompanying chewy tapioca balls. That is, until my friend Rowena asked if I wanted to try Serenitea’s Home Kits.
We had a blast making this together, and it also empowered us to try and make some copy cat recipes of our own. The beauty in ordering the Home Kits? You can have a constant supply of your favs, while can also include scheduling a subscription delivery, which means you will never run out of milk tea again!
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Ma Rosa Bagoong
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Candishhh Bakes
Didi Tiu has been blogging for years. She has often shared her own foodie finds with her followers generously through her articles on her website, as well as her Instagram Feed. You will certainly get honest reviews on all of the products and dishes that she comes across, and you will enjoy her sharp witted commentary to go along with it!
This blogger turned baker has 8 different varieties of focaccia and only bakes upon receiving your orders so you know each batch is freshly made.
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Puto Filipino
As we settled into the routine of quarantine late last year, there were so many food trends that would pop up periodically, giving us kitchen mavens something new to try and create. From Dalgona coffee, to Sushi Bake and more, Gia and I tried to create fun dishes for “The Feed,” that were both fun to create and delicious.
One thing I have never tried to make for all of the food in the time of COVID19 that we have tried our hand at, is sapin sapin. I have tried to make palitaw. I LOVE cheesey casava cake. Nino and I would even go on dates for puto bumbong and bibingka.
Puto Filipino takes our humble kakanin and brings all of our favorites together. I have always loved “samplers,” and with IG sellers like this, you can have all your favs in one bilao.
PS. This was the best sapin sapin I have ever tried. Mind you, sapin sapin was never one of my favs from the kakanin family.
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Sourdough Cafe and Deli
I met Chef Alvin because we worked together on a project for Real California Milk. He prepared the recipes for a set of videos that Nino and I created for their social media content.
Nino and I learned a lot about working together, and in quarantine, while creating these delicious dishes using California cheeses. And we also learned that Chef Alvin has so many more dishes and desserts ready to offer than we realized.
Since he opened Mono Wine Cafe in Makati. His basque cheesecake is closer to me, and his delicious Chocolate Chunk Cookies. OMGOSH. SOO GOOD!
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Kajuayan
Kajuayan (short for Kaya ni Juan Yan) is a social enterprise aimed to uplift the lives of our beloved farmers. Their beginnings came with coconut farmers, to consolidate efforts in shifting the way they farm. Did you know that our coconut farmers are often considered to be the poorest of the poor in the Philippines earning an average of 20,000 a year?
Shifting from copra farming to selling young coconuts(green) gives the farmers significantly more income. Husband and wife team Jan and Karmi then decided to start selling freshly bottled young coconut water which are bottled and delivered on the same day the coconuts are cut.
Expanding the line of fresh products to marinara sauce, free range eggs, and Peruvian group apples from Nueva Vizcaya farmers widens the people they serve in both the farming and metropolitan communities. Plus, they just launched a premium line of buko sherbet which is perfect for the hot summer days that we are facing, now!
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The Saucery Manila
Nino’s cousin Geomel is a chef. He lived abroad before the pandemic hit, and has always provided inspiration for foodie trips and fun in the kitchen. Nino and I had plans of visiting him while he was still living in Japan, unfortunately we couldn’t get our act together to take advantage of his offer.
One of our routines when Gia was still playing volleyball in the different courts around the metro, would be taking advantage of the opportunity to indulge in street type food in the little make shift food courts that would be set up, to cater to the spectators of the ladies’ volleyball games. I would always get my mix of fish balls and kikiam with the combination being both sweet and spicy sauce to accompany this crunchy, chewy fried treat.
The Saucery has given us the opportunity to make this crispy snack at home mixing sweet and spicy sauces with no preservatives, and only quality ingredients that reminds us of street food before the time when we would worry of viruses and leaving the house.
Geomel makes this sauce in small batches, taking only a set number of orders, but providing us all with big flavor, and a little taste of comfort and nostalgia.
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The Boba Bar
The sibling duo behind this creative brand, offers 3 kinds of Boba Kits for milk and fruit tea lovers. I consider their family as part of our tribe when #TeamGellibean came to life, so their parents are great friends, and their little brother is one of Gelli’s classmates in DSAPI.
Bea and Ethan make sure that each Boba Kit is good for serving two and is delivered with modern minimalist aesthetic.
My absolute fav is their Mixed Fruit Tea, which is a light Green Jasmine Tea mixed with pineapple, pear, passionfruit, apple, and tangerine jam.
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El Bonino Taco Kits
I have shared about The Bento Mommas, many times before here on the blog, and on my Instagram feed. I have a fierce love for the momprenuers behind this brand, and I am happy to support anything they do!
El Bonino Taco Kits have come out of the kitchen love of Monet Aquino. With everything you need to make your own Taco Tuesday Terrific, you can choose from beef, pork, or chicken and even add on Flautas, to finish off the meal.
Since I tried her kit which includes ingredients and 5 shells to share, she has also added a Taco Bake, which is perfect for snacking, and sharing for merienda!
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Hungry Yanna
Yanna is the granddaughter of a dear friend of mine who has been there for our family during some very trying times. Whenever I see photos of her I want to squeeze her cheeks and bite her chunky legs.
Her grandma is a volunteer for Best Buddies Philippines, and she is a hard working woman of integrity and fortitude. My kids LOVE her empanadas, and often when I order, I have to order 2-3 dozen at a time because #TeamGellibean gobbles them up so quickly!
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If it is anything that I have learned in the past year and a half, it is that we can very easily turn our passions for food and cooking, into something more. So many Filipinos have taken to Instagram to offer their “specialties” so that others can enjoy them in the comfort and safety of their own homes.
This third installment of Food in the Time of COVID19, has reminded me just how generous and creative so many of my friends have been through this time offering tastes and feelings of comfort and home goodness.
I hope that you enjoyed this medley of different friends and acquaintances who have pivoted their restaurant offerings to offer DIY kits and deliveries, as well as some of passionate home cooks and home chefs operating out of their homes.
Team Gellibean is yet again, so grateful, for all the opportunities to be the first to try out these kits and dishes which have made us all very happy while we #StayAtHome.
P.S. Stay tuned for a fourth list of different ways to enjoy our favorite foods and baked goods at home!
Do you have something that you tried and think is worthy of our new Food in the Time of COVID19 series? Leave a comment below so we can order and try!
