A Sandwich, Deconstructed

Sunshine Kitchen's offerings did not quite make the cut for the fennel bulbs. As they were unsatiated, they headed off to a place that has long established a good track record. Kuppa Roastery and Cafe along 4th Avenue in Fort Bonifacio Global City serves good home-brewed coffee, tea, a formidable selection of dishes for brunch or dinner, pastas, pizzas, and pastries.

This entry will not do much justice to what Kuppa Roastery and Cafe can offer, as only one dish will be talked about in detail: Salmone Affumicato (255Php). Thinking that a sandwich would be light enough as a follow-up to a half-hearted meal, the fennel bulbs soon realised that when the smoked salmon open-faced sandwich soon arrived, they would be getting more than what they initially thought.

Two circles - two slices of smoked salmon fillets, atop scrambled eggs, laced with sour cream on top, and the most sensible part of it was the kind of dough used - a brioche. This is a rather basic combination - smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. But for the same price elsewhere, one would have been given a combination of 80% eggs and 20% salmon - the fillets downsized into shreds. But the salmon fillets were there in its fullness, all of its flavour and nutrition meant to be enjoyed and to be utilised. Both of these ingredients have distinct individual flavours - one of fish, one of poultry; one of the sea, and one of the farm.

The usage of a brioche is definitely sensible. This is bread dough done with more eggs, and amongst other technicalities - it is airier, softer, and richer than the average bun. It has a hint of sweetness almost akin to sponge cake. The smoked salmon and the scrambled eggs are one component - its individual flavors mixing to form something new, one level of comfort. With a brioche, it's two levels of comfort - like a bed with the perfect cushion, and the cosiest sheets.

Some fried potatoes and a salad with a sweet vinaigrette were placed on the side. Some fragrant and relaxing Moroccan Mint (Php125) was had, as drinks.

Altogether, this is one smoked salmon and scrambled eggs that one ought to try.

More than a Coffee Shop

The fennel bulbs have lately heard about a nice coffee shop that offers more than what the other run-of-the-mill coffee shops can whip up. Subspace, located along F. Ortigas Jr. Avenue (formerly known as Emerald Avenue) in Ortigas Center does not just serve coffee, snacks, and pastries, but it also is a showcase of interior design. Customers get to sit on designer chairs and watch Korean shows and series being projected onto a white wall whilst sipping coffee. 

 

Coffee shops have been gaining popularity in Asian countries like Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, where tea is definitely more popular than coffee. A lot of these coffee shops have also become venues for interior design ingenuity and for exhibiting artworks by local artists. Subspace brings the same Bohemian feeling to Manila, and the result is a cosy nook with an ambiance where one can just revel and get transported to different spaces, as it were. The Korean soap-series, The Coffee Prince, comes to mind.

Now, the fennel bulbs have a favourite drink. 

 

It's a purple potato latte (Php125, small), which is coffee topped with purple potato flavouring (which we conjecture to be either in powder form or an essence). It's delightfully sweet, but the overall flavour of the coffee is preserved.

 

And a slice of carrot loaf (Php45) to go with the lovely coffee. 

Indeed Subspace is a place or rather a "space" where one can just have an intimate conversation with one's friends or just be alone and soak the good vibes.