From filling plant-based options, vegan ingredients, to sweet homemade beverages and bite-sized desserts – here’s another curated list of food picks for anyone looking for something new to try this week!

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Food picks: Shrimps, sangria, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes

Moose Corner

Ever had cheesecake in bite form? If you haven’t, try out home-based bakery Moose Corner’s sweet specialty – homemade cheesecakes served in bite-sized balls, available in four flavors.

If you enjoy the classic New York-style cheesecake, try out Moose Corner’s addictive Classic Cheesecake flavor – creamy, soft, tangy cheesecake covered in graham cracker crumbs.

For fans of rich dark chocolate, silky hazelnut spread, and nuts, check out the Nutty Oreo Nutella and Dark Choco Nutella flavors (the balls are covered in white sugar, so expect it to be sweeter). If you like Oreo-flavored cheesecake, Moose Corner also has a White Chocolate Oreo Cheesecake flavor.

An assorted box of nine pieces costs P800, while a smaller box of two flavors costs P500. You can also get a box of 15 assorted pieces. Moose Corner is based in Mandaluyong City. You can order via Instagram.

Prism Café

Prism Café, a proudly LGBT-owned cloud café, specializes in hand-crafted cold brews, fruity milks, iced tea, cocktails, and other beverages, served in aesthetically-pleasing and convenient to-go bottles.

Prism’s best-sellers include their caffeine-powered Café Cola (P135), strong cold brew mixed with the sweet, fizzy taste of cola and a hint of vanilla; the sweet, creamy, and smooth Salted Caramel Cold Brew (P150); and their refreshingly fruity must-try Strawberry Ade (P150), which combines sparkling lemonade, strawberry syrup, and fresh strawberry chunks.

Among their famed cocktails is their sweet, light Escandalo (P200), their version of a margarita made with tequila, triple sec, lime, and gold glitters. For something sweeter and more indulgent, try out Prism’s Berry Ube Milk (P200), a seasonal option that became a mainstay due to popular demand. It combines creamy milk with Prism’s homemade sweet ube sauce, chia seeds, and fresh, tangy strawberry chunks.

Prism’s drinks are all 95% homemade – no artificial flavorings or powders are used. The drinks are worth their price, as each one can serve up to two people. You can order them for same-day delivery via foodpanda, JRMall, or their website.

Mean Greens

Trying to eat cleaner? Kapitolyo-based business Mean Greens serves appetizers, salads, rice bowls, and smoothies fit for one’s healthy lifestyle.

For appetizers, they have crunchy pita chips with a garlic hummus dip (P80) which is satisfying but could be a bit thicker. For their salads, the Caesar Salad (P160) can serve up to two people, and is made up of tender grilled chicken strips, bacon bits, egg, cheese, crisp croutons, and locally-sourced crunchy greens.

Among their warm grain Bowlsome options is their plant-based Falafel Bowl (P180), which is both filling and flavorful. Their tasty falafel patties are crisp on the outside and moist and chewy on the inside, and pairs great with their garlicky aioli. The falafels come with brown rice, grilled tomato, cucumber, feta, and charred cabbage.

Pair everything with their refreshing Dragonfruit Blueberry Smoothie (P170), made with fresh blueberries, local dragonfruit, apple, banana, apple, coconut water, and honey (note that the consistency is closer to a juice than a smoothie). You can place your orders via GrabFood, foodpanda, or Instagram.

Fia’s Fud

Fia’s Fud, the home-based food lab and personal passion project of home cook Fia, serves a variety of her own favorites: poke bowls, homemade pasta, and thin-crust pizza.

Fia’s filling, chunky poke bowls (P350) use only fresh salmon and tuna daily, and are available cold or torched. You can have the salmon in either spicy, wasabi, or ponzu sauces with shoyu or kimchi rice. A must-try combo is torched wasabi salmon with kimchi rice – a creamy, flavor powerhouse with a spicy kick. For the tuna, try the savory ahi shoyu variant, made with salty soy sauce.

If you’re looking for a tomato-based handmade pasta dish, Fia’s Cherry Popping Tomato (P350) combines freshly-made fettuccine noodles with a tart, chunky tomato sauce; juicy, sweet, roasted cherry tomatoes; and fresh basil.

Fia’s Fud is located in Sampaloc, Manila. You can place your orders via Instagram.

Kabutehan Mushroom Chicharon

Looking for a healthier, plant-based alternative to chicharon? Flavored mushroom chicharon by Kabutehan caters to those snack cravings, minus the guilt.

Kabutehan uses white oyster mushrooms fried in MSG-free flour breading until golden-brown, tossed in spices. What you get is a bag of really crunchy, addictive mushroom chips, coated in a variety of 11 flavor powders.

Each 100g solo pack costs P220. You can try their original flavor, garlic, sour cream and onion, barbecue, and cheese (the last three are favorites). If you like spicy snacks, get the spicy flavor, spicy garlic, or spicy barbecue, each one really packed with heat. The chili cheese offers a nice balance.

Their premium flavors of salted egg and spicy salted egg cost P280 each. Kabutehan is based in Valenzuela City, and offers a flat rate of P150 for Metro Manila deliveries. You can order via their website.

Essence of Gaea

Cainta-based vegan business Essence of Gaea produces 100% homemade and organic plant-based products fit for your dairy-free and egg-free snacking, cooking, or baking needs.

For sweet options, try out their vegan tahini peanut butter (P259), perfect on toast or with pastries – thick, smooth, creamy, and nutty, made with freshly-roasted peanuts and lightly sweetened by muscovado and coconut sugar. The dark chocolate tahini vegan ganache spread (P288) is equally good and rich, perfect with bread or as an ingredient in desserts or cakes.

Snacking on nachos, chips, or crackers? Try out Gaea’s flavorful vegan cheese jalapeno dip (P275), a spicy, creamy, and savory faux cheese spread with chunks of the green pepper for a spicy kick. It’s gluten-free and GMO-free, and you wouldn’t think that it’s made from just carrots and potatoes!

The Italian garlic herb vegan butter (P275) is also a good pantry staple to have, as it easily melts on toasts and can be used with any plant-based dish. It’s made from fresh garlic, thyme, rosemary, coconut oil, olive oil, nutritional yeast, and almond milk. Same goes for Gaea’s vegan mayonnaise (P215) – a goopy and dairy-free asset to homemade vegan dressings, sandwich spreads, and dips. It’s made with soy milk and sunflower oil.

You can get Essence of Gaea’s preservative-free items via their website.

What On Earth

For ready-to-eat and frozen plant-based food, check out What On Earth’s line of homemade comfort food meals that are filling and tasty.

Their deep-fried vegan lumpiang shanghai (P23) is crunchy on the outside and has Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spices in the veggie meat. It works well with What on Earth’s garlicky aioli dip, but can also works with your own sweet-chili sauce.

You can also get vegan siomai (P190) with a mushroom veggie meat that is best paired with their house chilimansi soy sauce; or their vegan nuggets (P200) – golden-brown and crunchy on the outside, and chewy on the inside. They’re good eaten with their tangy-savory tonkatsu sauce.

A good pasta option is their seafood-free “aligue” pasta (P335), a red sauce-based dish that’s creamy, savory, and has that “fatty” taste of crab paste. It’s topped with chewy king oyster mushrooms (to mimic squid rings) and fresh basil, finished off with tasty nut-based parmesan cheese.

They also have a creamy white pasta with meatballs (P265), which is like their vegan version of a carbonara, topped with shitake mushrooms, hefty veggie meatballs, and vegan parmesan cheese for added saltiness. Both pasta dishes can serve up to two people.

Don’t forget What on Earth’s best-selling spicy “beef” curry (P295)! The hearty, spicy, and complex yellow curry features vegetables and tasty veggie “meat chunks” that are fibrous, just like the real thing. Have it with roti or rice!

You can place your orders via Instagram. What On Earth delivers within Metro Manila and some parts of Bulacan and Rizal. – Rappler.com

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