Shawarma Bros: A Different Shawarma Experience

Shawarma. Google defines it as "roasted meat, especially when cooked on a revolving spit and shaved for serving in sandwiches." Ever since I can remember, shawarma has been widely available in the Philippines in stalls along streets, or groceries, or sometimes in food courts. Shawarma is usually served in a wrap.I think I was in college when I discovered shawarma rice. 

I love the stuff. So, it was only natural for me to say yes when I got invited to try out this Shawarma place called "Shawarma Bros" in BGC. I looked up the place and saw that it had a subtitle stating "A Different Shawarma Experience. This got me curious because, well, shawarma is shawarma. There is good shawarma and bad shawarma, but I didn't see how shawarma could be an "experience."

I walked into Shawarma Bros and it was like the Shawarma Bros were telling me "here is your experience, Missy."

The place had a laid-back and fun vibe. It had plenty of seats and tables, and was clean and cool. It was definitely better than standing by a stall or being in a foodcourt.

I had fun spotting their quirky bro-themed decorations :)

The feel of the place reminds me of Army Navy. They even have a similar window where people can order.

Noobs (like me) can use this helpful guide in ordering that's placed on to[p of the window:

Their menu is also conveniently displayed by the window. Check it out:

I decided to order their Lamb Steak Rice Meal (Php219). This is the first ever shawarma place I've been to that serves lamb, and I just had to try it.

The shawarma options here are definitely a bit pricier than your usual shawarma stuff available elsewhere. The question is, is it worth it?

I had to wait a bit to find out. I was given this little buzzer light thingy to keep me company.

I waited for itttt and buzz! Light! It was time to get my food. :D

Serving time was around ten minutes. Not bad.

For Php 219, I got a plentiful serving of lamb, quite a lot of biryani rice, some mango salsa, two dipping sauces (I chose garlic yoghurt and chili tomato), and an iced tea. Portions-wise, it's a good value-for-money meal, but since this particular plate is a bit pricier because of the lamb, the lamb better be good.

Aaaaand it was. The bite-sized cubes of lamb were tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. Mix it in with that umami taste of the rice and that sweet-sour-savory kick of the salsa, and you are in heaven. 

It's good even without the sauce, but I had fun just experimenting with the extra flavors the sauces gave. I even took some of my friend's cheese sauce to try it out.

I even tried all three sauces at once. Mmmmm. Good.

So yes, it was worth it. I now know where to go whenever I want a quick and budget-friendly fix for my lamb craving. 

The only thing though was that the drink was too small for me, and I had to order an extra one.

Nevertheless, I was happy and so was my tummy :D

My friend Hazel also seemed happy with her Beef Shawarma Rice Meal (Php179). This is the store's bestseller. I tried it, and it was also good.

My other happy friend, Manfred. He ordered extra Keema (Php60) for his extra appetite.

So now I know what a shawarma experience is like, thanks to Shawarma Bros. I'm definitely going back to try out their other items. Those Burrito Bros look yummy. :p

Thanks, Shawarma Bros! :)

Shawarma Bros is located at the 2nd Floor, Bonifacio Stopover, 31st Street corner Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

It's open Mondays to Saturdays, 11:00 am to 1:00 am, and Sundays, 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.

You can order ahead for pick-up through (0977) 325-7032. 

You can find out more about this place at http://www.facebook.com/ShawarmaBros.


Be Happy!

<3 Missy

 

Tira Tira Tecipe: Spicy Peanut Butter and Tomato Pasta with Chicken

#TiraTiraRecipes. Just wanted to share this. Being a yuppie struggling with independence, I often find myself with a pantry of scraps, and no money to buy new groceries or takeout food. 

Being that I need to feed myself, I am forced to get creative. 

Made this dish with leftover pasta, leftover tomato sauce, the last of my peanut butter (stuck on the sides of the jar), my last piece of chicken nugget, and spices (cayenne and chili flakes. 

It may not photograph well, but it's yummy ^_^. Kind of like that pasta dish from PB&Co. 

Yay! <3

Feta Mediterranean

Feta. I know that it's a kind of cheese; a Greek cheese. So when I got invited to try out a restaurant named "Feta," I thought that I would be going to maybe an Italian restaurant (because I associate all cheese with Italian food) or maybe a e Greek restaurant. Well, I wasn't entirely wrong.

Feta offers Mediterranean cuisine, which includes both. However, Feta's chef, Mr. Beytullah Koc, is from Turkey, so Feta's food has more of a Turkish influence. I've never tried Turkish food before, and I was about to be delightfully educated.

The restaurant is located in the Greenhills area, so I was worried about parking. Thankfully, they have their own parking space. If it gets crowded, you can just park in Greenhills and walk from there. It's not that far.

The place has a modern, clean, and cozy feel to it. So many seating options! They have tables for families or big groups...

 

Small tables for maybe an intimate meetup...

Couches for when you just want to have coffee or dessert...

And booths, which I think is perfect for barkada get-togethers. :)

 

This is where we decided to enjoy our feast:

 

I also saw a mini-deli where I suppose one could buy food products. I'd have to check this out again when I go back (spoiler alert: I had a great time :D).

 

They have a brick oven! :) We were told that the bread they serve here is baked fresh daily. They also have a display case where you can see the meat and other ingredients that they use in their food. You can also see their kitchen through a glass window. Certainly, this place is not afraid to show people what goes into their food and how they make it. :)

This is Chef Koc. He relocated from Turkey to the Philippines in order to share with us his wonderful food. He doesn't speak much, but he is very hands-on with his work.

 

We started our feast with their Mezze Platter served with Puff Bread. 

According to about.com, a "Mezze" is an appetizer or a spread of appetizers or small foods. Feta's Mezze platter consists of Hummous, Ghanoush (eggplant, yogurt), Tzatsiki (yogurt, cucumber, mint), Ezma (tomatoes, onions, pepper, her, olive oil), and Eggplant Salad. 

We all had our favourites, but mine was the Hummous. It's thick and creamy texture and savory taste got my appetite going.

Mezze Platter (Php 500.00)

It went perfectly with the soft, chewy, freshly-baked puff bread.

Puff bread (Php20.00)

For my drink, I ordered their Yogurt Shake. You can have it sweet or salty, according to your taste. I had mine semi-sweet. Their Yogurt Shake was okay, but I've had better. 

The others in our group tried Feta's House Blend Iced Tea. They serve it in these super cute glasses, and with honey. I think I'll try that next time.

Yogurt Shake (Php129.00); House Blend Iced Tea (Php90.00)

I noticed that Feta's menu offers a wide selection of food, unlike other mediterranean places I went to, which focuses on grilled meats. They have pizza, pasta, meals, sandwiches, soups, breakfast items, and even dessert. The items are a bit pricey, but almost all are good for sharing. 

I was able to try two different kinds of pizza here.

First was the Mediterranean pizza, which is basically flat bread with minced beef, served with a side salad. Good bread. Good meat. This would be ideal for a light snack.

Mediterranean Pizza (Php150.00)

The second was the Greek Pizza, which to me appeared like a calzone, since the beef filling was baked inside of the brea, although with an opening where it was topped off with cheese and grilled veggies.

Minced Beef Greek Pizza (Php320.00)

This place has good pasta. My favourite was the Pesto Linguine with Walnut and Feta Cheese. Fresh pesto on al dente pasta is always a winner for me, and the feta cheese added extra flavor, while the walnuts gave it more texture.

 

Pesto Linguine with Walnut and Feta Cheese (Php259.00 to share)

The Verdura Siciliana was a more simple pasta, with light oil and anchovies.

Verdura Siciliana (Php259.00 to share)

I id mention that they serve breakfast here. I wasn't able to try it, but I'm posting this picture because it looks so pretty. :)

Turkish Breakfast (Php300.00)

For me, the star of Feta is their grilled meats. Beef, chicken, or lamb, they are all flavourfully seasoned with spices, and grilled perfectly. I was impressed at how even their chicken was juicy and tender, since other places usually dry their chicken out.

This is their Chicken Beyti, or chicken wrap drizzled with sauce. This is the first time I've tried beyti, and I liked it. It was kind of like a chopped up meat burrito, but healthier, because of the way it was prepared. I also tried the grilled veggies on the plate, and they were good.

Chicken Beyti (Php320.00)

If you are going to this place in a big group, I would recommend getting the Mixed Souvlaki Platter. For Php1,350.00, you will get adana (minced meat), chicken wings, souvlaki (skewered meat), and shawarma. Depending on your appetite, I think this could be good to up to six people. It's served with dips and some veggies too. Everything on this plate is good. Thinking about it makes my mouth water.

Mixed Souvlaki Platter (Php1,350.00)

If you're willing to splurge a little, you have got to try their lamb. Honestly, the best I've had so far. Their lamb chops is served with mashed potatoes and salad so you get a complete meal already. I had to share this dish with the others, of course, so I was super bitin.

Grilled Moroccan Lamb Cops (Php590.00)

If you need to calm your belly down in between all the meat, you can try their Red Lentil Soup. It's very light, with a mild flavor.

Red Lentil Soup (Php140.00)

We all had to rest a bit before going on to our dessert. I am generally wary about ordering dessert in a restaurant, because most of the time, dessert items come off like an afterthought, in that even if that food in a place is good, it doesn't guarantee that they have good dessert. Dessert, whenever I have it, should be "Worth it" for me, because its extra calories :)) This is why I usually go to  a dessert place or a coffee place after having a good meal.

I didn't have to worry about that here. Dessert was more than worth it.

I tried their Turkish Coffee, which was served in a dainty little cup. Don't let it fool you though, this coffee is pretty strong. It really woke me up; and that's saying a lot, because I've taken so much coffee I'm practically immune to it already, or so I thought. It also has a strong bitter taste, and it's not at all acidic. I like my coffee bitter, but you can always put sugar in it.

Turkish Coffee (Php125.00)

  

Mmmm. Feta's Profiteroles. I couldn't find its price in the menu, beut I know that I'll order this again if ever I go back. Flaky puffed bread with a creamy, slightly sweet centre, topped with fudge chocolate, served warm. What's not to like? 

  

Profiteroles

 If you want something a little different, try Feta's Kanafeh. It's a pastry made of cheese soaked in a sugary syrup, and topped with vanilla iced cream. The pastry is quite chewy inside and crunchy at the surface. It's more of a light dessert. It's good for up to four people, I think.

Kanafeh

Feta has a lot more to offer. Check out their menu below:

  

 I'm definitely going back. I just hope my schedule permits me to do it soon!

Thanks for inviting us, Iris! :)

 

Feta Mediterranean Restaurant is located at the Ground Floor, Intrawest Centre, 101 Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan City.

You can find out more about this wonderful place at:

http://www.facebook.com/FETAMediterranean

Be happy!

<3 Missy