Quirky Details

A delightful restaurant situated along quiet Luna Mencias Street in Mandaluyong City is "The Frazzled Cook." One can find some lovely eccentricities in the restaurant, including a whole shelf lined with Maneki Neko's (まねき猫, the Japanese cat), and Hello Kitty spoons. 

 

The interiors are cozy and elegant, an eclectic mix of period furniture and more contemporary furnishings. Books and memorabilia adorn the shelves. The menu brings to mind the down-to-earth goodness of a home kitchen with a lot of soul, that is. 

 

First the fennel bulbs energized their palates with a delicious fruit and walnut salad (Php200). Two big slabs of melon, mixed greens, walnuts, and a vinaigrette comprise a nutritious dish. The croutons taste like days-old butter garlic toasts, the locally made ones like La Pacita, which conjure cozy feelings of eating a home-spun meal. 

 

 

Next is the Potato and Basil Chowder with Prosciutto (Php150). The soup is hearty and very comforting especially on a stormy evening. The basil is just enough to provide a pleasant sweetness to the soup and the prosciutto adds a contrast with its innate saltiness.

Next is the tenderloin and sausage pizza (Php350). The pizza is good enough to serve 2 people, but a hungry stomach can devour it all. This is not authentic Italian pizza but a more domestic take on the dish. The crust resembles the ready made pizza crusts one can buy at the grocery store (like Bambi's). The real goodness of the dish though lies on the toppings. Generous portions of tenderloin chunks, chopped sausages, capsicum, and cheese is a definitely a treat. One can drizzle chili oil over it for more flavor. 

Last but not the least is Spicy Cajun Fish with Saffron Rice (Php375). A huge fillet of fish (most probably dory, 500g of it) placed on top of saffron-flavored rice. The fillet is rubbed generously with spices. A salsa consisting of onions, olives, and other spices enhances the flavors. A very tasty and spicy dish indeed! 

Overall, The Frazzled Cook is a very good restaurant; its ambiance and food both have a lot of character. And the fennel bulbs still have a lot of dishes to try out!