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.

Where Chocolate and Bagoong Meet

A very nice restaurant along Connecticut Street in Greenhills that has built quite a reputation is Angel's Kitchen. This restaurant serves home-style cuisine. However, its take on home-cooked dishes can be quite quirky, but definitely delicious, as we will soon find out.

 

For starters the fennel bulbs had a salad of mixed greens in mango poppy seed dressing with soft shell crab (~Php350). The dressing is a delicate balance of sweet and a bit of sour and goes very well with the crabs, which were fried well and are crunchy. 

 

Next is the pinakbet rice with bagnet (~Php380). This is the speciality of the house, and is definitely a must-try. In fact this dish is so popular it's actually award-winning. Pinakbet is a Filipino dish of Ilocano origins which primarily consists of vegetables, bitter squash (locally known as ampalaya) and okra sauteed in shrimp paste (bagoong). The rice is fried in the pinakbet and topped with bagnet (crunchy slabs of pork belly marinated in spices). But the quirkiness in this dish is really the condiment, which is chocolate bagoong! Bitter cocoa is mixed with sauteed shrimp paste, and the overall taste of their unlikely combination is something not to be missed.

 

Next is the beef pot roast (~Php420) in rich mushroom sauce. Perhaps a pitfall of ordering this dish is that they were quite overpowered by the pinakbet rice. Therefore it's highly suggested to eat the pinakbet rice last. The beef pot roast on the other hand was richly beefy. It seems quite likely that cream of mushroom was incorporated into the sauce. 

 

And the more delightful thing about Angel's Kitchen is that not only does it serve good meals, but it also serves great dessert. No one would have to go elsewhere to conclude a meal. 

And the very gracious daughter of the owner recommended the fennel bulbs to try a slice of Malakoff cake (~Php180). This is just sinfully delicious, with several layers of airy and crunchy cake, nuts, and dark chocolate. 

Angel's Kitchen truly lives up to its name.

Full Moon

Another restaurant near Little Tokyo that's very much worth mentioning about is Mangetsu (萬月), which playfully translates to full moon (満月). This restaurant is near the old Sango's burger restaurant in Mile Long Building along Amorsolo Street in Makati. 

And the fennel bulbs would commend Mangetsu as one of the best Japanese restaurants in town. The offerings in the menu are formidable, and the variety of sushi is quite good. Also on the menu is gratinated rice, and more traditional Japanese staples like rice bowls and sukiyaki. 

 

On the picture above are baby squids with chili miso sauce (Php350). The squids are tender and not at all tough, which is usually the problem with eating squid. The real thrill is in the sauce which is just a harmonious blend of sweet and spicy. There is also a strong hint of sesame. 

 

Next is beef packed with egg (Php300), cooked and served on a huge Japanese bamboo ladle. The dish is served piping hot, and the sauce resembles that of sukiyaki, only more copious. It's on the sweet side, probably with liberal dashes of rice vinegar and sake. The beef is also tender, and overall, a delightful dish. 

Next is assorted sushi (Php420). Included are sashimi balls, which are very visually appealing. Not to mention, the quality of the salmon and the tuna are very good. The flesh literally glimmers when lit. 

 

Next is tofu gratin (Php380). It's an inventive dish. Mozzarella cheese is used. Soft tofu is used and it all melts in the mouth. The dish is mild and quite delicate, and one can sense the milk in every spoonful of it. 

 

Lastly is the sweet potato ice cream (Php165). Homemade vanilla ice cream is topped with pureed sweet potatoes. The taste of the sweet potatoes totally complements the vanilla ice cream, and the result is a heavenly dessert that is truly comforting.

A delightful experience at Mangetsu, from appetizer all the way to dessert. :-)

 

Filipino Gastronomy in the Soulful South

The fennel bulbs' search for good food brought them to the quaint town of San Pablo, Laguna. A mere 80-kilometre drive (an hour and a half away from Manila in normal traffic), the city of Seven Lakes has a lot of Filipino soul in it - quaint churches, polite locals, handicrafts, and of course, food. One restaurant that has been making the difference in this town is the Patis Tito Garden Cafe (formerly known as Kusina Salud). 

Owned by renowned fashion designer Patis Tesoro, Patis Tito Garden Cafe is not just about the food. The architecture of the estate is very much noteworthy. An eclectic mix of traditional Filipino style characterises the house with its sliding wooden windows and intricate carvings on the wood panels with little quirky details. 

The place also has a garden and an aviary where one can roam around while waiting for the food. There are various species of birds, including rarer oddities like a pheasant that can be found only in the Philippines, peacocks, and the very common parakeets. 

First dish to arrive, and which happens to be the favourite, is the ensaladang pako (Fern Salad, Php130). Yes, fern is edible and is very light and refreshing to the palate. The dressing is very innovative with the use of local vinegar, shallots, mashed salted duck egg (itlog na pula), and the most pleasant surprise, cheese! One can never have enough of this. 

Next is the fried vegetable spring rolls with vinegar (Php90), or lumpiang gulay. As the dish is deep-fried, expect it to be on the oily side. Vegetables stuffed inside it include string beans and bamboo shoots. 

Next is the pork binagoongan (pork belly cooked in shrimp paste (Php300). The flavours are strong with the use of the shrimp paste, the saltiness of which is nicely subdued through cooking with most notably, garlic. A little disdainful is the choice of the meat which happens to have more chunks of fat than it should. An interesting take on this dish is pairing the meat with smoked eggplant. 

The piece de resistance of the whole meal was the Inasal Diablo (Devil's Roast Chicken, Php345). A very innovative take on this dish of Panay origins, the dish is not chili as it's name may suggest, but rather soulfully flavouful as the chicken was marinated in bagoong (shrimp paste) and lemongrass (locally known as tanglad). It is paired with sweet pickled papaya (atchara). 

And of course, all the meat dishes were had with some garlic rice (Php35). 

Truly, Patis Tito Garden Cafe is a gem to remember. More aptly, it's a place where one can be closer to the Filipino heart through its homely and very authentic interiors and unpretentious good food. 

*Directions: Take SLEX and take the Sto. Tomas, Batangas exit. Turn left towards Sto. Tomas town and take the Daang Maharlika. SM City San Pablo is the landmark that one has entered the town and keep on going forward until signboards of Patis Tito Garden Cafe appear. Turn left on a narrow road (with signboards of Patis Tito Garden Cafe) towards San Ignacio Putol. The restaurant should be on the left side. 

For inquiries, one can call (02-7252686/02-7244231, Metro Manila office). 

Late Night Dinner

The fennel bulbs were quite a hungry bunch one late Saturday evening. It's quite a pity that most restaurants in Manila close their kitchens by 10 o'clock (2200h). Knowing that hotels should be able to serve more extensive hours, the hungry fennel bulbs just chose to go to the Manila Peninsula Hotel, more popularly known to locals simply as "Manila Pen". 

Most of its restaurants, such as Spices, which serves Southeast Asian and Indian cuisine, and the newly-renovated Escolta, which offers a sumptuous buffet, were already all closed. What's open was The Lobby, which more or less serves as the hotel's primary coffee shop in its grand lobby. The Manila Pen's lobby is arguably one of the best hotel lobbies here in Manila, and the dim evening lighting and the jazz band that played on the balcony just made it cozier. 

As always is the case hotel coffee shops, the cuisine was eclectic. There were Western, Asian, and Filipino dishes to choose from. A sumptuous bread basket was provided while waiting for the food to arrive. 

First to arrive was the Salade Nicoise (Php500). This dish is a French salad consisting of greens, beans, and chunks of fish (which for this case was some lightly seared tuna) in a light anchovy dressing. The greens were very fresh and crisp. There were also some cherry tomatoes. The anchovies can be a bit offputting for the uninitiated as they can be quite itchy to the mouth or the palate. But nevertheless a very good salad. 

Next is the crabmeat balls (php390). This time, the flavors were very Asian. The meat balls were really made of crab (not much extenders) and fried evenly. But the real kick comes from the sauce which is soy-based and had a delightfully sweet accent. 

Last and definitely not the least was the Pen Burger (Php590). 200 grams of good quality sirloin beef was used for the patty. It tasted very well and was juicy. It was topped with an egg sunny side-up and cheese which has softened due to the heat (which even made it taste better). On the other bun, there were lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. The chips are fried well. It is essentially, a comfort food. 

Overall, the Manila Pen's The Lobby is a good place to sit down and unwind after a long day. The price is a bit exorbitant by local standards as it is in a hotel, but the ambience and the fairly good service make up for it. 

A Wonderful Buffet Experience

Buffets are usually an enjoyable experience. But the bane of most restaurants serving buffet here in Manila is the lack of quality of the dishes served. There may be a myriad of choices in a buffet spread, but usually the dishes are just mundane. Hotels have upped the ante with free champagne and unlimited wine, at astronomic prices. 

Recently, the fennel bulbs have heard about a relatively new restaurant that is reputed for its really sumptuous buffet spread. The restaurant is named Vikings, and is located along San Miguel by the Bay. 

The restaurant is imposing. It is sprawling, as it occupies a vast bungalow building. The interiors

are warmly lit and are truly inviting. The receptionists donned headsets as they communicated with other 

staff on which tables are available. And they ushered their guests most efficiently. And the name, Vikings,

seems to conjure the Scandinavian meal served buffet-style, smorgasbord (or did buffets originate 

from smorgasbord). 

There was so much to try. First, the continental appetizer section had some fairly nice choices. Among those that were tried were thai beef salad, which was delicious, albeit a tad salty; some penne with grilled vegetables (like ratatouille or pisto); and some condiments like grapes and cheese. 

There was of course some sashimi. The tuna and the salmon fillets are of good quality. And the sushi was likewise very good and innovative (one would find a Barcelona roll, which seems to be inspired by paella with tomato/saffron-flavored rice used). 

And from the Western section, there were sumptuous beef carpaccio, hummus (Middle Eastern garbanzos paste), baba ganoush (also of Middle eastern origins, smoked/grilled eggplant paste), some quaint cheese balls, and asparagus wrapped in bacon. 

Next is the Chinese counter. A good selection of dimsum can be had - chicken feet, shark's fin dumpling, har gao, vegetable dumplings, just to name a few. 

There was even some chawan mushi, the Japanese egg white custard, which tastes very homely and comforting, especially when it's hot. 

There were sausages, roast beef, and even lechon in the main course section, plus some tempura (shrimp, fish, and vegetables). One can also create their own pasta and pizza and have them cooked, but it was simply too much to try it all in one meal. 

And perhaps, a weak point - dessert - a rather mediocre and anticlimactic ending to what has started out to be a most wonderful and lavish meal. 

At Php888 per person (on a weekend; the rates are cheaper on other days), Vikings is not just a feast for the taste buds and a dining experience to be reveled, but also a bargain! But the fennel bulbs hope that the restaurant will offer a more competitive dessert spread the next time around. Other than that, and putting everything into consideration, this is probably the best buffet in town!