The heat is on as summer is fast approaching and Balayong Grill and Bar is the perfect place to have an escape from the sweltering summer heat. A “must try” is their new Flaming Halo-halo, a fiery twist on the ultimate Filipino iced dessert, with a fusion of many flavors and textures that will surely give you an explosion of thrill and indulgence.
Literally translated, the term “halo-halo” means “mix-mix”, in which you have to mix in together the wide variety of ingredients with crushed or shaved ice. A typical Halo-halo consists of sweet ingredients such as leche flan (sweet custard), sweetened red beans, pinipig, and an ube-flavored ice cream on top. But Balayong Grill and Bar added an exciting twist in the famous Filipino dessert – a flame on top, to give the guests the wow factor.
“Ang idea is of course, para ma-impress lalo yung mga guest. Yun yung pinaka-aim or yung goal namin, when someone orders the halo-halo, is to make them ‘wow’ sa initial impression. Whenever may order, yung mga servers namin they like it tableside. Pag inorder niyo, ihahatid yung halo-halo and then sisindihan, para may ‘wow’ effect,” Rex Tomen, Executive Chef of Best Western Plus – The Ivywall Hotel, said.
In terms of taste, the alcohol used to flambé the Halo-halo doesn’t have an effect on its taste; rather, it would give the Halo-halo a more “mature” flavor. This is what makes their Flaming Halo-halo different from the usual Halo-halo you usually have as a dessert. Aside from the taste, it’s an overload of goodness as they used the best ingredients possible, including two flavors of ice cream, banana, sweet potato, macapuno, leche flan, and many more.
Chef Rex introduced the idea to offer Flaming Halo-halo at Balayong Grill and Bar to give a twist to modern Filipino food, and for him, the idea to bring something new in the table is always a team effort.
“I can’t say I did the job talaga. Of course, it’s a team effort. My success is their success, and their success is my success,” he said.
Right now, they’re focusing on updating their A la Carte menu and planning to add more creative and developed dishes, such as desserts, and utilizing ube (purple yam) as it is now a famous ingredient.
Since the Flaming Halo-halo was launched on the first week of February, many guests have been ordering it every night to try it out.
“Marami na rin [ang nag-order]. Hindi pwedeng walang mag-order sa isang gabi. Of course, they’re curious,” Chef Rex said.
The Flaming Halo-halo is only for P250.00 which is good for 2 people.
To experience the excitement and ride the wave, visit Balayong Grill and Bar, relax, cool down, and enjoy their Flaming Halo-halo.