Gridcrosser: Pancakes or Fried Bangus for Lent

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Pancakes or Fried Bangus for Lent

Garlic bangus

But this kind of abstinence does not mean having "poor" food. One can eat well even without meats, and many restaurants around Metro Manila are offering Lenten specials that are worth a try. One is Slappy Cakes.

Originating from Portland, Oregon, Slappy Cakes is known for its pancakes, as well as the opportunity for diners to be creative with their pancakes by having them cook their own pancakes. Each table is equipped with griddle. After the Portland branch, which opened in 2009, Slappy Cakes was brought to Tokyo, Japan, and then to the Philippines by Mother Spice Food Corp., which also operates other restaurants such as Mango Tree, Mango Tree Bistro, Coca Restaurant and Coca Cafe. Aside from do-it-yourself pancakes, Slappy Cakes also offer American breakfast selections all day long, as well as Filipino breakfast items. Sensitive to local culture, Slappy Cakes respond with delicious offerings.

Pancakes themselves are allowable during Lent, but Slappy Cakes offer a more diverse choices — a selection of international and local dishes.

The new appetizers include cheese sticks, mango ponzu salad, and tomato soup, already tasty and filling. Pasta dishes are safe choice for the Lenten season and Slappy Cakes introduces two kinds-pesto pasta with anchovies and salmon pasta with cream sauce. One may want those with grilled three cheese sandwich and fish bites.

Three breakfast items are given no-meat twists. The favorite Eggs Benedict has salmon or vegetables instead of ham. One local favorite can be ordered at the very American dining outlet-fried, garlicky, boneless bangus (milkfish) which goes with garlic rice.

"Given the timeliness of our offering of these non-meat fare, we believe we are giving our diners more alternatives that are in accordance to their preference," said Karen Caballero, general manager of Slappy Cakes.

Slappy Cakes branches are at Eastwood Mall, open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (9 a.m. to 11 p.m. during Fridays and Saturdays); SM Aura Premier, open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; SM North Edsa The Block, open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (10 a.m. to 10 p.m. during Fridays and Saturdays); and SM Jazz Mall, open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. For the Holy Week, they are open from Palm Sunday until Holy Wednesday and will resume operations on Black Saturday. For more information, visit www.slappycakes.com.ph. Follow Slappy Cakes on Facebook, Instragram and Twitter (@slappycakesPH, SlappyCakesPH and @slappycakesPH)