We've tried Caffe Dolce before for their drinks. When we came back, we found out that they now have a Dessert Buffet for only 299 php.


The Dessert Buffet is available from Monday to Sunday from 11 am to 11 pm.




But upon trying the cakes, I  was disappointed.

Even the mousse was too sweet for me.



Aside from cakes, they also have some finger foods.

Empanada

Biko

I've always loved cool sweet treats so I was happy to see that they have Ice Cream...

and Halo-Halo.


There are also Nachos, Pasta and Mini Pizza.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Between the Ala Carte and the Dessert Buffet, we definitely enjoyed the former better.  But, if you're looking for a budget eat all you can for quantity and not quality, the Dessert Buffet could satisfy you.  Perhaps because this is our first Dessert Buffet, we still don't fully appreciate the concept.

Ever since I was invited by the Malabon Government to try their Malabon Food Trip Special, I have been a huge fan of Malabon's specialties.  So when I heard about Gabe's Homegrown Dishes, I was very intrigued.
 

See if you can spot Gabe's Homegrown Dishes signage

Because I am usually guided by Google Maps or Waze, I easily found Gabe's.  But if you're simply a passerby, Gabe's signage may be a bit unnoticeable.


Gabe's is found on the second floor.  It is the first establishment you'll see. 


Gabe's is a cool and comfort haven with a loft and some games and reading materials.

I can't believe they have my one of my favorite games as a student.  I used to have a lot of those Super Trump decks.  Aside from those, I even had helicopters, planes and more.

They got creative with their dining area by pairing the small wooden tables with chairs and lettered stools. 

There were also toy displays.

Seems they are Starwars fans too just like my family.


I wanted to leave a feedback but the wall is full of more hearty comments already.

Food
So let's get on with the food which I have to rave about.

Appetizers  

Pinoy Cheese Sticks (80 php)

Starting with something so familiar since my childhood: Pinoy Cheese Sticks.  This is great for sharing and the local tuhog-tuhog style makes it even more fun.

Main Entrees

♥ Lengua (250 php/good for sharing)

The Lengua is so good!  This has a bold fragrant garlic flavor that complements the creamy sauce and the very tender pork and beef tongue.   I highly recommend pouring the sauce over your rice.  Do that and I bet one cup of rice won't be enough for you.

♥ Tinumis (90 php)

At home, we cook the traditional version and Ilocano version (dinardaraan) of dinuguan.  Later on, I discovered that Pampanga has it's own version too called Tidtad Babi.   I didn't know that Malabon has its own version of dinuguan too.  The Tinumis is lighter in sour taste compared to other dinuguan I've tried.

♥ Tinumis (90 php)

And, this Tinumis is very chunky with innards.  I also liked that it wasn't soaking in oil because there it isn't dominated by fatty parts.

Noodles/Pasta

Pancit Malabon (100 php)

The Pancit Malabon is rich in ingredients but the sauce is light-tasting so it may not be enough for some.  On the bright side, the serving size is huge for the price.


Desserts

♥ Halo Halo (100 php)

What I really loved at Gabe's is their Halo Halo.  I've always felt ripped off when paying 100 bucks for mostly milk and ice at Razon's.  So I was really impressed that Gabe's Halo Halo has so many ingredients.  It even beats the pricey halo halo of Halo Halo de Iloko Balay of La Union.  And, it also beats our homemade version which until this time is the best in terms of variety!  Their homemade Ube is so fine and creamy. Their homemade Leche Flan is flawlessly smooth and melts-on-your-mouth.  The shaved ice is so crisp and crunchy just like that of Razon's.

♥ Halo Halo (100 php)

You can even share their Halo Halo because it really heavily loaded!  For the price, it's a steal.  I will definitely recommend this to be a halo-halo stop when in the area.

Beverages

♥ Lemonade (65 php)

Their affordable Lemonade is perfect for the summer!  Not only is this a nutritious thirst quencher, it goes well with any of their dishes too.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I can't think of a place like Gabe's Homegrown Dishes.  The price is so affordable and easy on the pocket.  They offer specialty dishes like no other.  The service is superb.  I'm very impressed with our server Naomi who is very familiar with the history and ingredient of this dish.  For those in the area, you should try this place!  They offer delivery within Quezon City and Eastwood City and they also offer party packages so just inquire.

During our Honda Bay Island Hopping in Puerto Princesa Palawan, the sun and snorkeling activities got us so hungry so we just had to make a food stop at Isla Pandan Resto & Bar.

The set up feels so tropical right?

Food

Meals

♥ Chicken Barbecue (180 php)

Although they had a lot of items on the menu, we really didn't have any choice because only the Chicken Barbecue was available.  I wonder if we were just to hungry.  But, we really enjoyed this!

Grilled Fish (180 php)

Luckily, someone backed out on this order of Grilled Fish so I got it instead.  The fish itself didn't have any seasoning so you have to pour some sauce in.


Snacks

Turon (15 php)

The Turon is still hot so we ordered some too.

♥ Turon (15 php)

Compared to the meals, we felt that the Turon was more reasonably priced.

♥ Halo-Halo (75 php)

After being exposed to the strong sunlight.  We greatly appreciate the Halo-Halo compared to other circumstances we've had one.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
If ever we'll do the Honda Bay Island Hopping, we'll probably skip the meals at Isla Pandan Resto & Bar.  It's more economical to just purchase and pack some meals.  But, a snack stop would be cool.

Whenever the family would crave for halo-halo, Razon's would always be the first thing on our mind.


For one reason, it was good enough. Another reason is that it has so many branches that one would be within your reach to answer your craving.

♥ Halo-Halo (100 php)

Personally, I am a huge fan of their very fine shaved ice.  But, as to their Halo-Halo as a whole? 
I sometimes feel like I'm cheated paying for an expensive price with so little toppings.  Some branches give more than the rest though.  However, it's not just quantity issue for me.  I also want more variety with my halo-halo.  To each his own I guess.  My best friend loves Razon's because she is a picky eater and the only ingredients she likes in a halo-halo are sweetened bananas, macapuno and leche flan and ironically, those are the only ones in a Razon's Halo-Halo.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Razon's of Guagua no doubt serve one of the best halo-halo in the Philippines.  But, is it the best for its price?  I don't think so.