Snacks to gift and where to eat a feast at P688
TFrom flavored popcorn to ‘lengua’ thins
here’s a new snack line that I can’t stop snacking on— delectable munchies fit to give as gifts this holiday season.
The Creamery, primarily a catering company, has since the pandemic reinvented themselves to become not just savory food providers but bakers of one-of-a-kind taisan variants and snack makers, as well.
In the food business since 1999 with their cart and kiosk concepts, The Creamery is behind Orbitz Pearl Shakes, Thumbs Up ice cream (those cute ice cream cones as small as your thumb) and Masatami Shave ice.
According to Michelle Co, it was in 2007 when they established themselves as The Creamery upon the prodding of Nestlé Philippines, which approached them to conceptualize a restaurant and ice cream bar in their factory on Aurora Boulevard.
Michelle created her own catering niche when requests for kiddie parties came her way.
The Creamery’s strength was in their reasonably priced packages, presented with flair. According to Michelle, theirs was an elaborate and extensive looking setup. From their offerings, there were a lot to choose from. They served dishes from around the globe, while constantly offering innovative and exciting products that piqued the curiosity of their clients.
All was rosy till COVID. Necessity, the mother of invention, pushed them to create and adapt to the new normal. It was duting this time that I first came across their bibingka, puto bumbong, queso de bola and ube taisan that I loved and featured.
Then came their bucket series that consisted of Taro Sago, Avocado Sago and Coffee Jelly.
Snack line
Recently they introduced a sublime snack line and I remain confused as to which I like best.
The popcorn—oh, I love them all! The corn is popped so well that each and every piece is soft, gently crisp and tooth-friendly—there are hardly any of those whole bits of hard kernels. It is sweet but just perfectly so, with each and every flavor tasting exactly as it should.
The matcha tastes like matcha, the truffle like truffle, but this is really aromatic. The cheddar is sharp and slightly sweet. The blue cheese is also very good! They even have their own rendition of the Chicago-style popcorn.
Then there are cheese puffs that are delicate as clouds. So, so good! They’re high-class cheese curls!
The freeze-dried strawberries are a wonder, as well. Perfectly tart and sweet at the same time. I love how it crumbles!
Michelle also offers lengua thins, that come in matcha, black sesame, Asiago cheese with chia and classic (which is still my favorite).
Oh, and they have Crusthins! Buttery, phyllo-like sheets, some capped with pistachios, others with cranberries. There are many variants to choose from. The Crusthins are addicting!
The Creamery’s kitchen makes it a point to constantly create and introduce new products every two to three weeks. Michelle intimated that this constant innovation is brought about by the need to adapt and be resilient.
She tries to come up with simple, straightforward products with pronounced flavors, yet somehow unique and always reasonably priced.
“We strive to be the first to introduce something new to the market,” she said. And for that, congratulations are in order! Well done, Michelle! (Looking for a caterer this holiday season? Give The Creamery Catering a try. Tel. 0917-8800203; follow @creamerycatering on Instagram)
Buffet feast for only P688
I would also like to congratulate my dearest friend, chef Mike Santos, who recently took over the Alley Buffet by Vikings.
In one of our conversations, he said that the Alley Buffet at Capitol Commons is offering a lunch special starting this holiday season. What was regularly P888 is now only P688!
And at that price, you can eat to your heart’s content, devour offerings such as: roast beef, roast pork loin, baked oysters, bagnet. You may also enjoy everything from the sushi bar, pastas and pizzas made on demand, Chinese dishes and dim sum, sizzling fare, the dessert and antipasto bar, plus their shabu-shabu corner. Even beer, soda, cocktails, juice, coffee and tea are all included.
Where else can you find a treat like this?!
Chef Mike, however, is proudest of Alley by the Bay—a 400-seater food hall offering 12 different food stations, a dessert and antipasto bar, an elaborate kakanin station where on can have puto bumbong and bibingka on the spot, a full coffeeshop and a cocktail bar! All these can be enjoyed for only P1,088.
He will be showcasing his Christmas carving station from Dec. 16 where one can savor: Christmas Turkey with Cornbread Stuffing, Leg of Lamb, Ham Leg and Pan de sal with Queso Bola, Binusog na Lechon which is his stuffed pork belly, holiday desserts and cookies. What a feast for the price!
Kudos, to chef Mike! (For reservations: The Alley Call Center, tel. 88454647; The Alley by the Bay, 3/F, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, tel. 0917-5104888; and The Alley Capitol Commons, tel. 09778096888.)