Random Cravings of Pasta, Cake and Coffee

What better way to start the week than with something savory, sweet and deliciously sinful!  
Picture this...

Rich, creamy, mocha frappé using a blend of native tablea chocolate and brewed coffee, topped with heavy whipped cream...

Mocha Manila Frappe

After my recent initiation of the best-selling Filipino dishes and sweets at Sérye Café Filipino, the images of those yummy treats still haunted me for the past week.

Since I didn't get to try the Cafe Mocha Manila the first time, which my companions raved about, I vowed to go back and treat myself to a glass of this coffee and tablea concoction made from the best locally available coffee beans and chocolate. And this I did yesterday to satisfy my cravings, after I fetched the kids from school.  That's my girl up top, licking away the cream off Sérye's special ice-blended coffee drink -- Mocha Manila Frappé. This beats all other mocha fraps I usually order from coffee shops by a mile!

Before the frappé, I had a filling lunch of this flavorful spaghetti putanesca with a twist -- the local kesong puti (white carabao cheese) adds the Pinoy zing to this classic Italian pasta dish. The cheese complements the fresh tomatoes-and-olives sauce perfectly. Kesong Puti Putanesca served with lightly buttered pandesal toast -- although I wished the bun was more toasted.  Great for vegetarians too!  I was totally satisfied with this one, yum yum!

Kesong Puti Putanesca

All-time favorite Boneless Chicken Barbecue -- the kids' choice! Well-done grilled chicken that's juicy and tasty, matched with signature java rice and java sauce. Winner!

Boneless Chicken Barbecue

This was a really good meal for me and the kiddos!
* Lunch photos above were taken from my mobile phone's camera.

Over a week ago, I was invited to 'Ladies Who Lunch' bloggers' get-together. After raving about Sérye's outstanding Filipino cuisine, I promised to do a follow-up post about our desserts. Now it's time to share the 'sweet side' of the restaurant which I held off earlier.  See what triggered my random cravings:

Mocha Manila cake

Here's Make or Break's Pehpot P. having a shot at her hot Cafe Mocha Manila and Mocha Manila cake.
Mocha Manila and the Macapuno Pandan Cake are made using select local ingredients. Both are equally scrumptious with just the right sweetness. Mocha Manila is a layered mousse-and-cake tower with the same rich flavor as its beverage counterpart. The special coffee crunch in the center was a nice surprise that tease the palette. Plus points for not being too chocolate-y sweet, though some might argue the lack of it.

This Macapuno Pandan Cake was my favorite since it's so light, moist and fluffy, and has the natural essence of my favorite pandan flavor. From the look and smell, this confection is unique and balanced in texture and flavor. Again, the cake has the right amount of sweetness that you can eat another serving without having soar throat!

Macapuno Pandan Cake

This Decadence Cake needs much improvement. For me, it was too dense and lacked the deep tablea chocolate flavor -- not really decadent.  The owner welcomed our insights and suggestions since he admitted that this particular cake was still in the development stages and will be improved by serving it in a pool of caramel sauce.  That's more like it! I also added that making the cake more moist and serving it warm will enhance the 'decadent' appeal.

Chocolate Decadence

Aside from a wide selection of savory dishes, you can choose from an array of refreshing beverages and tempting pastries the cafe has to offer.  Cheers to perfect sweet endings!

In good company:  blogger Pehpot, Abbey of Protege Agency, blogger Joy, and Serye owner Alvin Lim

p.s.
I got this one after I dined in yesterday.
Coupons!!! Discounts and Freebies on the next visit. :)))

Here's my initiation to gastronomic delights at Sérye Café Filipino.


If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it! Stay connected and Follow me on Google friends, Facebook and Twitter @mymomfriday, or Subscribe here via email and get the latest updates!

read more

Pinoy Food Shines at Sérye Café Filipino

"With culinary roots that date back to the 1930s, Sérye Café Filipino continues the tradition of pleasing guests by staying true to the family heritage of celebrating Filipino coffee, cuisine and culture." Sérye is an anagram from Reyes, the family that brought us the famed Aristocrat chain of restaurants. 

Sérye Café Filipino, a casual-dining family restaurant (formerly Sérye Restaurant and Cafe), has a new look and is currently updating their menu with a wider line-up of delectable Filipino dishes. From all-time favorite comfort foods to light merienda (snack) fares, siphon-brewed coffee, tea and chocolate beverages, and sinful desserts, Sérye's specialties will surely satiate your cravings for authentic Filipino cuisine and more.

I received an invitation a week ago to have an intimate lunch at Sérye with fellow bloggers. I quickly obliged since I knew the family who runs the restaurant from way back.  I must admit, I am not a big fan of Filipino cuisine, though I have a short list of favorites.  Fortunately for me, my faves are their best-sellers and these were all waiting to be devoured when I arrived (I was running late, so thank you for waiting ladies, and gent!). After a quick round of food shots, we were all ready to attack, much to the delight of our very hungry bellies!


Okay I have to stop right here and let you enjoy the food (shots)  ;-)


Kare-Kare:  Tender, chewy ox tail, with grilled eggplant and crisp greens in all-natural and flavorful peanut sauce. The sauce has a rich yet smooth consistency and sublime taste of peanuts that I was looking for in a kare-kare sauce. And don't forget the bagoong (fermented shrimp paste)!

@ P335.00 :  Kare-Kare (ox tail in peanut-based sauce)

What's missing though was my favorite part -- ox tripe. Alvin Lim, owner of Sérye, explained that since it is quite difficult to source consistently good quality ox tripe, they decided to omit this from the recipe and simply stick with the beef's tail, shank and veggies.  I still give this 5 stars even without the tripe!


Chicken-Pork Adobo:  The most popular comfort food in this country was given an extra kick with whole roasted garlic -- very aromatic! The addition of boiled quail eggs was inspired by Chinese-style adobo which usually includes hard boiled eggs. An extra serving of adobo sauce was a very thoughtful touch to this so-called national dish.

@ P250.00 :  Chicken-Pork Adobo (stew)

After savoring the kare-kare, this adobo was completely overshadowed and I regret not having a little more of this to better appreciate it.


Boneless Crispy Pata:  Just saying the name of this dish already spells a winner. The meat was well done and the skin was perfectly crisp.  You can imagine this was eaten with much gusto! It was definitely a feast for the senses. Heart-attack alert! :)))
My favorite part has always been the crunchy-chewy knuckles. I think the ladies still had a hangover from this one!

@ P115.00 per 100 gms. :  Boneless Crispy Pata (pork leg)

Honey-Style Fried Chicken:  This classic chicken dish paid homage to an old family recipe and was added a twist of flavor from "secret herbs and spices".  I was able to taste subtle flavors of the Chinese 5-spice, and still kept me guessing. A safe dish for the whole family, especially with the kids. Matched with Sérye's Java sauce and served with kropek (like fish crackers).

@ P495.00 :  Honey-Style Fried Chicken

I thought the price is steep for a fried chicken, but it was in jumbo size that can easily serve 8 people. Solved.

Now this next one came out as a surprise after we joked about our rising cholesterol levels after all the meat we had.


Vegetarian Kare-Kare:  Same delectable kare-kare flavors with tofu squares and loads of vegetables. Even the "bagoong" was reinvented and made use of salted black bean paste! You have to try this to believe me. It's as yummy as it's beefy brother, but guilt-free!

@ P250.00 :  Vegetarian Kare-Kare

Aside from the changes in the menu offerings, the cafe's make-over reflects Filipino-Spanish inspired interiors, with colorful murals and ethnic-style furniture. Food is even served in customized, hand-crafted earthenware by renowned local potter Lanelle Abueva-Fernando.

Customized Abueva-Fernando plate, woven chair, callado-inspired lighting fixtures

Warm and cozy ambiance for a relaxing dining experience

Sérye is a wonderful place to enjoy good food with friends and family. It's also open for private parties and social functions offering various menu packages that will cater to your specific needs and budget. The whole bi-level restaurant can seat up to 80 for indoor dining.


Dining in a restaurant rich with traditional family recipes and new exciting dishes, you are bound to find something that's worth coming back to. Thanks to our generous host, my initial dining experience at Sérye Café Filipino proved nostalgic and completely satisfying. 

Me, blogger Pehpot, Abbey of Protege, blogger Joy, and owner Alvin

Care for coffee and desserts?  
Coming up...  :-) The sweets are here on my Random Cravings.


Sérye Café Filipino
Eastwood Citywalk - Libis, Quezon City
Tel.:  (632) 911-2334
Quezon Memorial Circle - Elliptical Circle, Quezon City
Tel.:  (632) 924-3411  
Santana Grove - Sucat, Paranaque
Tel.:  (632) 825-4691

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it! Stay connected and Follow me on Google friends, Facebook and Twitter @mymomfriday, or Subscribe here via email and get the latest updates!

read more