hristmas is a wonderful time to showcase one’s cooking skills. It’s a great time to stay in the kitchen for hours, to enjoy each other’s company as you prepare food with love.However, it should be acknowledged that this is not always the case for everyone. There are a lot of us who simply do not have the time (or the ability) to cook. Some of us would just rather order our meals than make food that could potentially flop. Some of us suck in the kitchen no matter how hard we try.
Here are 8 places where all of you busy, un-gifted ones could get your Noche Buena this December.
P.S. Things are going to get busy very soon, so if you’re doing a no-cook Noche Buena, you better start placing your orders ASAP.
8. Dulcelin’s American Wagyu Tri-tip and Callos
955-2306 | Website (and contact numbers of other branches)
Dulcelin is famous for their Mango Torte, but they have a lot of amazing meat dishes as well. One of which is the American Wagyu Tri-Tip (P3,000 per kg), tender and flavorful beef (cut from the bottom sirloin) served with Japanese steak sauce. Their Callos (P900, good for four people; P1,700, good for 12 people), an authentic Spanish recipe, is also excellent for family dinners.
7. Bizu Patisserie’s Mini Quiches
+632 8450590 to 93 | Website
Bizu’s wide canape selection includes mini quiches that are excellent for appetizers or pre-Noche Buena snacks. You can choose from Mini Spinach and Feta (P445), Mini Quiche Lorraine (P355), and Mini Wild Mushroom (P335). Minimum order is 10 pieces (order by packs of 10).
6. The Plaza’s Roast Corned Beef
729 0001-02 | Facebook
The Plaza Catering, which has been around for over four decades, is a caterer known for its sugar-coated ham. Another favorite is the Roasted Corned Beef, (P250 for 100 grams), beautiful US Angus beef that is cured and roasted by their own chefs.
5. Cakes by Miriam
09178737378 or (02) 330-5950 | Facebook
Spoil yourself sensless with good sweets this Christmas! Cakes by Miriam’s Merry Berry cake should be everyone’s go-to dessert for special occasions. The price tag (P3,500+ delivery fee) may be a bit steep for some consumers, but trust: it is absolutely worth every centavo. It also doesn’t hurt that the stack of berries on the moist vanilla cake with light frosting is also gorgeous, therefore Instagram-worthy. This one does not have a shop (yet), so all orders are placed through calls and SMS.
4.Tomato Kick’s Salsa Pork Liempo
09178250338 | Facebook
Quezon City favorite Tomato Kick now serves crowd favorites Salsa Pork Liempo (P650, good for for 8-10 people) and Garlic Mushroom (P1,350, good for 15-20 people) in trays. Orders can be picked up at Tomato Kick Malingap on December 24 (until 4pm). They’re also accepting orders for delivery until December 23.
3. Adelina’s Ham
(02)531-6833 | Website
Adelina’s has been around for almost 60 years, and their honeycured ham continues to be a hit, especially during the holidays. Another favorite from this Mandaluyong institution is their sweet ham scraps, which is excellent with pandesal, rice, or potatoes.
2. Calderon’s Paella Valenciana and Pollo Iberico
Via URL
Calderon |12-C East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City (Kapitolyo branch) 09052666982 / 09997033299 | Facebook
If you plan on going Spanish, Paella is a must! Calderon, a restaurant located in Pasig and San Juan serves excellent Paella Valenciana and Paella Negra, as well as the flavorful, fall-off-the-bone Pollo Iberico, which is marinated for 24 hours prior to cooking.
1. Lechon de Leche by Pepita’s Kitchen
09178660662 or 425 4605 | Facebook
Pepita’s, which has been rated by Lifestyle Asia as the best dining experience in the country, is famous for its 12-course Lechon Degustacion, a reservation-only private dining session in chef Dedet de la Fuente’s home, where guests can enjoy a wide array of lechon recipes.
Don’t want a 12-course dining session? You can order the Lechon de Leche dishes with “international” stuffing, including French Lechon, which is stuffed with truffle rice; and the Pinoy Lechon, which is stuffed with laing rice.
Are you having take-out for Noche Buena, too? Share your food ideas in the Comments Section below!
