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.

A few weeks ago, Berylle invited Sumi and me to have our supposedly annual Christmas Lunch (late by a few months) at Tittos Latin BBQ & Brew. 

I was really looking forward to meeting the girls because we haven't seen each other for almost a year!  I'm mostly guilty for the difficulty with the schedule...

I was surprised at how huge, bright and colorful the place was. 

Everything meshed together gave a casual and festive vibe.

And if your looking for a more cozy experience, check out this cool lofts on the second floor.

Food

Platittos! (Small Plates/Starters)

Nacho el Gigante (375 php)

Better bring the whole gang if you're ordering the Nacho el Gigante.  We failed to finish this.

Elote (195 php)

I never thought I'd love a char-grilled corn until I tried Elote.
 

Elote (195 php)

But, I'm still as lazy so I prefer Elote in this form.  It's a brilliant idea for them to offer diners an option.

Tittos Wings (245 php)

The Tittos Wings is sweet and spicy.  A well-made combination of barbecue and chiptotle. 

♥ Carne Asada Frittas (245 php)

If I could have a bowlful of my favorites placed in a single dish, it would be the Carne Asada Frittas.  Let's see it has grilled skirt steak, melted mozarella and cheddar cheese, molted egg and chimichurri. 

Gambas con Setas (P320)

Fellow mushroom lovers, let's rejoice over addition of oyster mushroom chicharones.  I think that is what made the Gambas con Setas sensational for me. 

Churassco Beef Salpicao (295 php)

The Churassco Beef Salpicao is a savory and garlicky treat with big chunks of tender beef cubes. 


Quezadilla

Pollo Pizzadilla (295 php)

The Pollo Pizzadilla is an open-face tortilla with grilled chicken and pimientos bits drizzled with cheese, sour cream and chimichurri.  This reminds me of a crispy thin crust pizza but with its unique Mexican twist.

Street Tacos

♥ Beef Barbacoa (145 php)

I love street tacos so I was quite delighted to try some again.  The Beef Barbacoa is my favorite among those we tried because of the delicious slow cooked beef belly bits. 

♥ Sisig (135 php)

 The Sisig with liver sauce is simply irresistible.  Everyone adored this!

Salted Egg Shrimp (145 php)

I could never have expected that the salted egg craze which is an Asian innovation could work as a taco.  The Salted Egg Shrimp is so good!

Paellera! (Paella)

♥ Paella de Carne Medio (395 php)

Perhaps the texture of the rice isn't perfect but taste-wise, I couldn't have wished for a more flavorful Paella de Carne.

♥ Arroz Negra Medio (495 php)

I love the surprising tinapa ingredient in the Arroz Negra.  This is a must try!

Entradas! (Mains)

Pollo Asado Mitad (Half) (340 php)

I wonder if there was just too many dishes but I don't remember anything remarkable about the
Pollo Asado.  But, I highly recommend eating it with the sweet mango relish.

♥ Costillitas (310 php)

The Costillitas or their version of cuban baby back ribs is perfect!  A visit isn't complete without it.  The price is so reasonable too.

♥ 18 Hour Gaucho Steak (480 php)

For men and meat lovers who crave for meat in every meal, the 18 Hour Gaucho Steak is of course a must order.

Drinks

Pineapple Ginger (95 php), Tamarind Cola (95 php), Cucumber Elderflower (110 php), Almond Horchata (125 php), and Tittos Iced tea (95 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
There's no other place that can offer a fun and playful twist to latin food like Tittos Latin BBQ and Brew.  I have to commend Chef Jerwyn Rabo for his instinctive choice in ingredients in delivering comfort food for the soul.  And, the price is so reasonable that you can easily invite and share your delightful experience with your friends and family.