When you’re a kid, merienda is, probably, the most anticipated meal of the day. Rushing home after school meant waiting for manong fishball to come around with his cart, so you could watch him expertly skewer the crispy discs from the hot oil, so you could dip it into the gooey sauce in tall Nescafe bottles.

After scarfing them down, you’d find pandesal with all kinds of palaman (fillings) or treacly sweet Spanish bread waiting in the kitchen.

For Chef Jen Gerodias, the culinary whiz behind the much beloved Casa Luisa, these are the food memories from her hometown of San Pedro, Laguna that have resonated with her. And these are the flavors that she is bringing to the big city in Cariñosa, her newly-opened spot at The Grid Food Market in Powerplant Mall.

‘Merienda Tayo’

“For me, it’s really all about nostalgia. I wanted to evoke those memories when guests come by Cariñosa,” says Chef Jen. And her menu reflects that story, focusing on dishes that you would normally find around the neighborhood. With that added “cheffy flair,” of course.

It’s hard to say which part of the menu is a good place to start, because honestly, everything is delicious, in a homey and comforting kind of way. Her panaderia selection features a fancy take on some homegrown favorites. There’s the queso de bola ensaymada, but amped up with truffle honey and smokey etag, or you can go for the Spanish bread with a French butter glaze. Instead of pandesal, Chef Jen serves up a fluffy pumpkin monay, with a choice of French Butter, Queso de Bola, or Cheese Pimiento for palaman. She also offers a rotating selection of palaman, so do go ahead and ask what’s on offer for the day.