Culinary Discoveries

The opening of Ikea in the Philippines in November 2021 generated a great deal of excitement among affluent individuals who now had a renowned foreign brand to indulge their wealth. The country’s first Ikea store was promoted as the largest in the world, but that claim turned out to be false. The title of the largest Ikea store belongs to the Älmhult store in Sweden, covering a total area of 155,000 square meters. The Gwangmyeong store in South Korea takes second place with 145,000 square meters, followed by the Rotterdam store in the Netherlands with 140,000 square meters.

While the Ikea store in the Philippines is the largest in Southeast Asia, it is not the largest worldwide. Therefore, it appears that the claim of being the largest was likely a piece of fake news aimed at creating hype for its opening. Leading up to the opening, people were particularly eager to try the Swedish meatballs served in the Ikea restaurant. Social media was abuzz with posts from individuals boasting about having tasted these meatballs either in Ikea US or other locations around the world. Once the Ikea doors finally opened, people flooded social media with nonstop posts about their shopping adventures and food trips to Ikea. Numerous influencers jumped on the trend, showcasing their Ikea hauls on YouTube.

However, this post is not about Ikea; rather, it focuses on a noteworthy food discovery I made some time ago. During a holiday party, my sister served a meatball dish reminiscent of Ikea’s. She paired these meatballs with the most delicious pickles I have ever tasted. Though a simple potluck dish, it left a lasting impression, prompting us to regularly stock our fridge with both items. The meatballs became a trusted ally for quick dinner fixes and school lunch boxes for the kids. Simply simmering them in a little water without the need for oil yielded a satisfying meal. Sometimes, I even added a few meatball pieces to my ramen for a complete lunch.

You can purchase both the meatballs and the pickles at SNR. The meatballs come in a 2.72 kg bag, priced at approximately P1,500, and this quantity lasts us for about a month. The pickles, on the other hand, are available in a 700ml jar for only P249, and occasionally drop to P199 during sales. I highly recommend this brand, as it completely changed my perception of pickles. I vividly remember removing pickles from my burgers as a child because I despised them. Oh, how mistaken I was back then!

These are simply my personal suggestions, devoid of any sponsorship or promotional motives. Consider them as helpful tips or hacks, if you will.