Keep Calm and Eat Sisig: Uncle John's Sizzling House ng Barangay Karuhatan, Valenzuela City

Malaki ang tsansa na lahat tayo ay may isa o dalawang tiyuhin na magaling magluto - mayroong ang specialty ay crispy pata, barbecue, o di kaya ay chicharong bulaklak. Alam mo na yun! Ito yung mga tipo ng pagkain na gusto mong lantakan kapag matatapos na ang mahabang linggo ng pag-aaral o pagtatrabaho. Gaya ngayon. Biyernes na!

Usapang tito na rin lang naman, eh alamin na natin kung sino si Uncle John ng sizzling house na ito sa Karuhatan. Ang kainang ito ay may dalawang 'John' - ang tatay ng may-ari at ang kanyang business partner na si Reynon. Na pwedeng-pwede mo rin namang tawaging uncle kapag kakain ka sa kanila. 

Uncle John's Sizzling House ng Barangay Karuhatan

"Nagugulat kami na may nangangatok na ng 11:00 ng umaga kahit na 12:00 pa ng tanghali ang bukas namin," sabi ni Jofi, ang isa sa may-ari ng kainan. Sila ni Reynon ay matagal nang nasa food service industry kung kaya't alam nila ang pisil ng masa. "Nung minsan naman, buong pamilya ang pumunta kahit magsasara na kami ng hatinggabi. Mula pa sa Canumay West," dagdag pa niya. Madalas rin daw na punuan sila kapag tanghalian at hapunan.

Family Rule Number 1: Be happy!

Anong meron sa kainang ito? Bestsellers nila ang sizzling plates na may UNLI RICE at UNLI GRAVY. Yes, you've heard it right, UNLI. At natikman ni One Valenzuela dito ang dalawang panalong sizzling plates nila: ang Sisig (P99.00) at T-Bone Steak (P149.00). 

Matutuwa kayo sa sisig nila dito. Tulad ng sisig na natikman ni One Valenzuela sa isang sikat na kainan sa Pampanga, hindi gumagamit ng mayonnaise ang Uncle John's. Wala ring MSG. Malasang-malasa at may crunch ang sisig ng Uncle John's. Solid, ika nga. 

Gravy pa lang, ulam na!

Ito naman ang T-Bone Steak. Malambot ang karne at masarap lagyan ng maraaaming gravy. 

Off the Menu: Laing Pasta. Inaabangan ng marami ang pagpopost ng Uncle John's Sizzling House sa Facebook kung mayroong Laing Pasta na available. Wala ito sa regular menu, ha. Para sa mga mahilig sa laing, you should not miss this. 

At dahil feel na feel na natin ang Friday, punta tayo kina Uncle John, our next-door Tito sa Karuhatan. Time to relax na,  just keep calm, and eat sisig. 

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Uncle John's Sizzling House
Location: 1252 Cristobal Street, Karuhatan, Valenzuela City
Sizzling Hours: 12:00nn-12:00mn, daily
Accepts deliveries and advanced orders.
Contact Number: Smart: 0920-4556324 / 0915-7869268
Follow Uncle John's Sizzling House on Facebook here.

Paano Makararating sa Uncle John's Sizzling House:

Mula sa Marulas (BBB McArthur), sumakay ng jeep papuntang Karuhatan. Bumaba sa Karuhatan Jeepney Market at lumakad papasok sa Karuhatan Public Market. Di na kailangang sumakay - maglakad lamang hanggang sa lumagpas ng Jeepney Terminal. Malapit ang Uncle John's Sizzling House sa lumang LTO sa Karuhatan. Ang Cristobal Street ay ang kalye bago mag-barangay hall.

Need to Fuel Your Cravings? Dine at Krave of Brgy. Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City

Craving for something really good to eat? Now, exactly a month old since it opened last July 28, 2019, Krave, a family-owned restaurant, of Brgy. Gen. T. De Leon is quite busy in continuously serving diners with their very own rice meals, pasta, snacks, and sweet treats. 

A part of Krave's dining area. The whole place can be reserved for intimate functions, parties, and gatherings of 20-25 people.

To travel is to love.

Another cozy spot in the restaurant.

 "Lumaki kami sa pamilya na kapag may handaan, lahat ay kasama na mag-prepare ng pagkain. Kaya halos kaming lahat ay inclined sa pagluluto," Cath mentioned. Majority of the dishes on Krave's menu are the crowd favorites during their reunions and gatherings: her ate's carbonara, bunso's embutido, and her partner, Chef Chy's Malunggay Pesto (Admiringly, Chef Chy has won and was awarded a bronze medal in the Chef Wars competition at the World Trade Center back in college for the Filipino Fusion Cuisine category). Meanwhile, the boys of the family were tasked to work on the restaurant's interior. Thus, Krave is the result of everyone's efforts, bringing in their talents on cooking and designing together.

Munch on some crackers while waiting for the food to come.

Or maybe get a basket of nachos for a good start. Krave's nachos can be shared or eaten solo.

Good food is here na. Where na you?

For its rice meal line up, Krave has Breaded Pork, Tapa, Embutido, and Leny's Laing as its bestsellers. The pasta plates are also well received by diners, having adobo flakes, tuna pesto, carbonara, and mac & cheese as their favorites. The chicken wings of Krave is also a crowd drawer which comes in 6-pieces or 12 pieces. To end a good meal, churros, coffee jelly, and waffle may be ordered. "My nieces and nephews love waffles," Cath shared, further explaining that kids will definitely like the mentioned dessert.

Moreover, the meals that are served in Krave are all from scratch so you can be assured that what you are eating are all made with TLC.  For example, their tapa and embutido are all made from raw ingredients, not store-bought.

Leny's Laing is a favorite of One Valenzuela. Mommy Leny, the owners' mother, makes this signature dish out of gabi leaves and coconut milk as its main ingredients.

Adobo Flakes Pasta. An interesting twist where you will enjoy eating Classic Pinoy Adobo served with spaghetti. Adobo is a star among Filipino viands and this fusion dish nailed it so far.

Chicken Wings. The chicken wings come in three flavors: Original, Teriyaki, and Buffalo. The buffalo wings are really good - savory and just a bit spicy. "We adjust the spice level depending on our customer's request," the Krave team mentioned.

Finally ended the meal with a tall glass of Krave's creamy Coffee Jelly.

Look at those coffee jelly cubes! Sarap di ba?

Just like a car which needs some gas after a long drive, dining here will make you happy and all fueled up! So the next time you drop by Gen. T. De Leon, try this new dining spot and fill up that craving tank up to the brim. 

Thank you, Krave! 

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Krave: Fuel Your Cravings

Location: 3004 Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City (Landmark: across San Roque Supermarket)

Open Hours: 12:00nn-9:00pm, daily

Contact Number: 0927-6045165

Like and follow Krave on Facebook here for updates.

How to Go to Krave:

If you are coming from Valenzuela City Hall in Malinta, ride a jeepney (i.e. Monumento/Pier/Divisoria) which will pass by Karuhatan. Go down Karuhatan Jeepney Market and cross the road via bridge. Pass by the Karuhatan Wet and Dry Market. Go to the Jeepney Terminal which will go to Ugong (P9.00 as of this writing). Ask the jeepney driver to drop you near San Roque Supermarket. Krave is just a few meters across the said supermarket.

The Search for the Hidden Pancit Malabon in Malanday, Valenzuela City

There are food spots which are somewhat tricky to look for but are worth the effort and time to search for. One Valenzuela found herself looking for a humble pansitan in one of the streets of Barangay Malanday, Valenzuela City. The blog has recently received several messages regarding this pansitan, mentioning that this family-owned kainan cooks really good Pancit Malabon.

This street leads us towards the hidden pansitan in Malanday, Valenzuela City

The eatery is named after their well-loved grandmother, Aling Norma. This humble place serves authentic Pancit Malabon which many Valenzuelanos have already raved about since it opened. By meeting the Valdez family, One Valenzuela learned that Pancit Malabon was among the favorites of Aling Norma, who was a long time fruit seller just across Malanday Market. She also cooks well - a talent which she was able to pass to her children.

Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon


Feast on some pansit palabok!

Aling Norma during her younger days. Papa Arnel Valdez also recounted that their house was transferred from Malabon to Valenzuela in 1962. "Nilipat yung bahay kubo namin mula sa Malabon papuntang Malanday, Valenzuela. Nagkaroon ng bayanihan noon," Sir Arnel remembered.

Papa Arnel Valdez, her eldest son, now cooks Aling Norma's favorite meal. "Nineteen years old palang ako, sumasakay na ako ng barko," Papa Arnel mentioned. He has been a ship cook for 37 years already. From there, he accumulated a rich cooking experience and exposure to a wide variety of cuisines.

Papa Arnel Valdez of Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon. One Valenzuela saw the dedication and perseverance. A Valenzuelano worth emulating.  

Artworks adorn the walls of the eatery.

Another amazing painting on the wall. This reminded One Valenzuela of the fishes in the park.

Authentic Pancit Malabon. Sir Arnel gets their pansit's ingredients from Malabon. You can have a plate of pansit at Php50.00 each. It is very filling and flavorful. You may also order this in packs.

One plate will lead to another plate... and another...and another...

What's different about Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon? It has strips of caramelized onion on top which gives it a richer taste. Of course, it has those big shrimp slices, pork strips, egg chunks, chicharon, and crisp veggies as well.  

Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon also serves lutong ulam every Friday. Some of the dishes that you have to try are the following: Dinuguang Malabon, Fish Burger / Bidbid, Tortang Alimasag, Japanese Pork Teriyaki, Burger Steak with Mushroom Sauce, Korean Hot Pork, Lumpiang Hubad, Mexican Fish Fillet, Indian Tandoori Chicken, Ginisang Tahong, Stuffed Bell Pepper, Sweet Chicken Wings, Camaron Rebusado, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Bola-bola, etc. The menu varies and may also include more Japanese, Korean, Indian, and European dishes.

Photo Credit: Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon

A big heap of Pancit Malabon for Php300. This bilao can serve six people. Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon has a variety of bilao sizes which will fit your needs. 

Pansit na di tinipid. One of the reviewers on Facebook mentions that it is the best palabok in town.

Finally finding Aling Norma's Pancirt Malabon at A. Duque Street in Malanday was like finding a piece of Malabon, one of our neighbor city, in Valenzuela. Another food spot uncovered for more people, especially Valenzuelanos, to enjoy.

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Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon

Address: 38 A. Duque Street, Malanday, Valenzuela City 

(Landmark: Street beside CDO Malanday)

Open Hours: 8:00am - 6:00pm, daily (except Thursday)

Contact No.: 432-2870 / 0905-2334431 / 0956-4296837

Like Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon on Facebook here.

Aling Norma's Pancit Malabon is open daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm, except Thursdays.

The landmark is CDO Malanday. A. Duque Street is just beside it.

Year End Foodie Giveaway! Food Trip at the Valenzuela Food Fiesta and Christmas Bazaar 2018

Valenzuela Food Fiesta and Christmas Bazaar 2018

How would you describe your 2018? For One Valenzuela, 2018 is definitely one colorful year. She had new gustatory adventures, met awesome and inspiring Valenzuelanos who willingly shared their stories, and explored places she has never been to. And just like you, she also has to surmount challenges along the way. We all have our slice of difficulties and from there we become more resilient...be better individuals. In a nutshell, she learned more about herself and gained new perspectives. 

And as a way of saying "Salamat po" for accompanying her in her little escapades and rumblings in life, here's a simple foodie giveaway to end the year. Special thanks po to the establishments who are participating in this yearend tradition of One Valenzuela. 

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2018 FOODIE GIVEAWAY MECHANICS:

The Valenzuela Food Fiesta and Christmas Bazaar is One Valenzuela's most awaited event every year in the city. Almost all her favorite food establishments are present in this event every weekend of December along C.J. Santos Street in Malinta. This allows more people to eatsplore Valenzuela City in just one spot rather than going around the various barangays. Saves everyone time and money, right? It's even made cooler by the Valenzuela LGU by adding a great program (with awesome hosts and fireworks!) for all to enjoy. You get to bond with your friends and family nearer your homes (Why go far pa?) while supporting local establishments! And yes, if you are joining the giveaway, you will be claiming your food here as well!

Here are the mechanics:

1. The giveaway is open to all who are willing and are available to claim the prize at the Valenzuela Food Fiesta and Christmas Bazaar on the following dates: December 21,22,23, 2018.

2. To enter the giveaway, (1) choose which food/drink you would like receive. Then (2) put the tag #SarapNgValenzuela at the Comments Section, and (3) tag one friend as well whom you will share the food/drink with. You may place an entry on each food/drink photo. 

3. There are seven (7) winners in this giveaway. They will be chosen via raffle and will be announced by December 20, 2018 (Thursday).

4. Winners must (1) bring an ID when claiming from the booth/resto and (2) show them the code which One Valenzuela will give to you. Also, (3) take a photo that shows that you have claimed the prize and send this to One Valenzuela's Facebook page (for posting). 

Join the giveaway and have the chance to have these awesome food freebies served by our local food establishments!

 #EatLocal #SupportLocal in #ValenzuelaCity

Two Big Bad Burger's USDM burgers. (1 winner)
Big Bad Burgers is from Barangay Malinta (Malinta-Nova Bayan Jeepney Terminal). #SarapNgMalinta

One Eufrocina Special Pizza.(1 winner)
Eufrocina Pizzeria is from Barangay Malinta (along CJ Santos street). #SarapNgMalinta

One box of donuts (6-pieces). (1 winner)
Homemade Donuts by Mikae is from Barangay Gen.T. De Leon. #SarapNgGTDL  

Two Giant Chix with rice meal by Armored Chicken. (1 winner)
Armored Chicken is located behind the Valenzuela City Hall (Along A.Pablo Street). #SarapNgKaruhatan

One winner: 3 orders of California Maki
One winner : 3 orders of Takoyaki
Aki Oishi is from Barangay Coloong. #SarapNgColoong

Three iced milk tea with pearls by Jazzi's Old Town Kitchenette. (1 winner)
Jazzi's Old Town Kitchenette is located at Boxyard Food Park. #SarapNgKaruhatan

Polo Food Tour: Eating and Sharing It Forward

Hindi ka pa nakapunta sa Polo, Valenzuela City? Eh kung pumasyal kaya tayo doon para mag-food trip? Sama ka?

Simple lang ang konsepto nito. Pitch in tayo ng minimum na tig-P650. Lakad-lakad, kwentuhan, at kain tayo sa mga food stops sa Polo. Parang magkakabarkada lang! Tapos yung part ng fund na hindi natin makokonsumo sa food trip ay ibibigay natin sa isang inspiring na youth organization sa city. Deal?

Dates: December 16, 22, 2018, 3:00pm-7:00pm; Meet up at 7-Eleven Malanday

Fine Print:

1. Everyone is invited to join the food walking tour. The group will be composed of 4-6 individuals only. Small group lang para masaya!

2. We (kasama ako) pitch in a minimum of P650 each (you may share higher). This will serve as our food trip fund.

3. We will walk from one food spot to another in Polo, nibbling and sharing samplers in each stop. A seat-down activity while waiting for the food will be conducted during the trip. We will visit 5 food spots and drop by Dr. Pio Valenzuela's house.

4. Money raised and left in the food trip fund will be given to the Valenzuela Youth Runners, an inspiring group of young athletes who is making us proud in every race that they enter.

For all those interested, send a message to the One Valenzuela Facebook page or e-mail the blogger at onevalenzuelano@gmail.com.

It's Everyone's Fiesta!: Eatsploring the Valenzuela Food Fiesta and Christmas Bazaar 2017 (GIVEAWAY ALERT!)

Filipinos love to eat and Valenzuelanos are no exception. One Valenzuela observed a very steady food movement in the city and this trend culminates on the month of December with the annual Valenzuela Food Fiesta and Christmas Bazaar which is organized by the City Goverment of Valenzuela.

Picking up from the very successful event last year, the Valenzuela Food Fiesta and Christmas Bazaar 2017 came in with a huge buzz which left Valenzuelanos and city visitors hungry after shopping or after going to the Valenzuela City People's Park but very full right after going to the food fiesta. C.J. Santos Street (Old City Hall), the location of the food festival, is very easy to spot since it is just across the park and City Hall Complex. Thus, it is also very accessible via McArthur Highway or Maysan Road.

Valenzuela Food Fiesta and Christmas Bazaar 2017. This huge sign will greet you at C.J. Santos Street.

Everyone is welcome to eatsplore the food fiesta from 5:00 in the afternoon up to 1:00 in the morning every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this December. The street turns into a foodie's paradise once the clock turns 5! As of this writing, you can still catch up on the following dates: December 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30. There are new food stalls and trucks on each weekend so there's always something new to discover.

Laugh at jokes and sing along with comedians on the stage. Look at that big crowd! 

What to expect at the food fiesta? A variety of food which will make you go loco on what to try! One Valenzuela suggests that you bring your barangay with you because it is more fun to eat and share plates of food with family and friends. Now, let One Valenzuela guide you amongst some of the food stalls at this year's food fiesta through a picture walk below. WARNING: The following graphic content will make you hungry. Really hungry.

Sweet Surprise!

Hungry for hungarian? These sausages are literally hogging the limelight at Php50.00 a stick. 

Gotta slice 'em all! There are three flavors to choose from: Ham & Cheese (Php70), Hawaian (Php89), and Special (Php99).

This plate of burger and fries goes for Php100 from RM Grill Hauz Burger. There are other varieties. Choose between Autobots and Decepticons burgers (Php100 to 170). They also have a humongous burger named Nemesis Prime which can feed  4 to 6 persons (much like a big family! or the crew!) and is priced at Php555.

Chef Yu's Fried Siopao (Php22 a piece). Chef Yu is only open until 8pm in the evening so try to be early at the food fiesta if you want to get some of these soft and fluffy buns.

Ethan's Cafe is also at the food fiesta! Look at these gorgeous boneless bangus ensalada (Php150/piece)

One of the things that One Valenzuela likes about the food fiesta is that it brings together many of the local burger joints, bakeshops, food stalls, and restaurants which are located in the various barangays in Valenzuela City. Some of these are the following: Big Bad Burger (Malinta),  Chef Yu (Malinta), Ethan's Cafe (Marulas), Hakobe Takoyaki & Food Hub (Arca Yard - Karuhatan), Lucky Garage Grilled Burger (Pariancillo Villa), and RM Grill Hauz Burger (Pariancillo Villa). Thus, you no longer need to travel from one barangay to another just to have a taste of Valenzuela.

Love Ice Cream's (LIC) fried ice cream is a labor of love. Watch as they work on your ice cream (Php60/cup). Flavors? LIC has: oreo and mallows, strawberry and graham, blueberry and graham, mango and graham, banana and chocolate, rainbow and mallows, popcorn and caramel (interesting!), cookies and chocolate, coffee and chocolate, and matcha and caramel. LIC also has crepes: mango nutella, banana nutella, blueberry caramel, and peanut butter caramel.

A line of takoyaki babies! (4 pieces for Php50). Want okonomiyaki? Get it from Hakobe at Php120.

Snapped at a Lucky Garage Grilled Burger order before it was delivered to its rightful owner! Burger price range is Php65 to PHp300+ depending on the size. 

Wagyu Steak Rice? Malcolm's Burger truck is also in the house!

There are also a number of stalls and food trucks which are from neighboring cities in Metro Manila. This makes the food fiesta a diverse place to find something to eat! The food fiesta boasts of a variety of cuisines like Filipino, American, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese. You would spot a number of fusion food too. 

If you are up to a challenge, One Valenzuela found this tapang kabayo (Php90) at one of the stalls.

Some shawarma action on a beautiful night! Rice and pita varieties are offered.

A taste of Bacolod in Valenzuela City? Other than the popular chicken inasal, you will also find several other meat for grilling in this stall. And of course, where there is smoke, there's good food!

Boodlefight Fiesta by Syiesha has three sets of boodlefight meals which you can choose from. Set A (Seafood with Pork Bundle), Set B (Seafood Bundle), and Set C (Chicken and Pork Bundle). Syiesha is a local boodlefight restaurant in Valenzuela City. 

Big Bad Burgers offers these gourmet burgers which you will want to sink your teeth into. Do you know that they also have a spot at the Malinta Jeepney Terminal along C.J. Santos which is open every weekend? One Valenzuela loves their epically-grilled burgers and she knows that you will love 'em too. Big Bad Burgers also churns out unique dishes from their kitchen which will make you think that the chef-owner is a wizard with a passion for cooking!

Other than the savory meals and snacks, there are also sweet pastries and desserts which one can also try out. There were yema cakes, red velvet cake, sinful chocolate cake, brazo de mercedes, crinkles, and blueberry cheesecakes slices from different stalls. J.Co donuts were also sold at the food fiesta which are good for pasalubong.  

After eating a good meal, you might want to bite on something sweet. Here is a snapshot of EJ Cakes' table of sweets and pastry goodies.

Little Joy has a beautiful rack of blueberry cheesecake slices (Php90/slice).

J.Co, anyone? Php250 per half dozen box and Php45 a piece. Half wishing that there is already a J.Co outlet in the city! 

Did you get hungry? One Valenzuela bet you did.

Feasts like this make One Valenzuela appreciate the fact that the local government extends its arms to make the city a liveable city. Its residents are provided with not only the basics in life but also the opportunities to spend quality time with their family and friends through good food and wonderful places to visit in the city. Hindi mo na kailangang umalis pa ng Valenzuela (You no longer need to go outside Valenzuela.).  

Here's a bright suggestion. Why not share the Valenzuela City experience with the people you know who come from other places? Bring them at the Valenzuela Food Fiesta and Christmas Bazaar. After all, it's everyone's fiesta!

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GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Thank you, readers for a great 2017! From one foodie to another, One Valenzuela is having a giveaway!

Blogging this 2017 has been awesome. Salamat po for accompanying One Valenzuela this year. As a way of thanking you, dear readers, One Valenzuela is having a year-end foodie giveaway. Three lucky winners will be drawn from the people who will be leaving answers to the question:

Ano ang THE BEST na nangyari sa iyo ngayong 2017? 

(What is the best thing that happened to you this 2017?) 

Just leave an answer as (1) a comment below, (2) on Twitter (Retweet + Comment), or (3) on the One Valenzuela Facebook page (Comment + Share post). You are only allowed to leave one (1) answer on each platform (a maximum of three entries per person). So, what are at stake? One Sieyesha Set C Boodlefight, another will win three Big Bad Burgers' Shaka Burgers, and one will win a Lemon Square Round Chocolate Cake. 

   

1 Winner: Big Bad Burgers' Shaka Burgers (3 pieces) (to be claimed at the Food Fiesta)

1 Winner: Set C Boodlefight by Syiesha (to be claimed at the Food Fiesta)

1 Winner: Lemon Square's big round chocolate cake (to be claimed at the Lemon Square Bakeshop along Maysan Road, near CMIC; a few meters walk from the Food Fiesta site.) 

One Valenzuela will be announcing the winners on December 23, 2017, Saturday and will be contacting the winners via Facebook, e-mail, or Twitter, whichever is available.

Hope that you will join the giveaway!

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GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

Please check the link HERE for the full post on the winners.