Recipes: A Food Review and A Flashback

Everything that happened is it still very clear in my mind. As much as I would like to forget those memoirs that really brought me to tears, I can't... I cannot do so for these things somehow had made an impact of who I am now; of what I believe in and how I see life in a much better light. Yes, I can say that I have been through a lot - heartaches, frustrations, disappointments, sorrows - it may seem that I am overreacting for these are nothing compared to what others have been through, but as for me, they're not. Each is a heavy load that I have learned to carry and eventually gave me wisdom to live life everyday. Surpassing all those things, I learned how to love and be loved, to move on, to forgive and at the same time ask for forgiveness, to see the people around me who lifted my spirits up and most importantly to pray and ask for some guidance. All throughout this process, special aspects which I call "F3" has always been there to keep me smiling - Family, Friends and Food.

Thank heavens I am blessed with loving friends, a supportive family and a big appetite. Everytime that the rain will fall down on me, I eat with the people I love. It effectively allows me to reflect on the things happening in my life and it is also a way for me to lighten my heart out. With that, let me share with you different dining moments happened at one of my favorite restaurants - RECIPES By Cafe Metro.

Recipes By Cafe Metro, founded by Mickee and Ria de Guzman, traces its roots from Mickee's grandmother, Lola Impression and her traditional family and Filipino home cooking. As what I have also learned, most of the entrees and bestsellers on the restaurant's menu was Lola Impression's original recipe - a fact that made every dish in this restaurant a part of their family's heritage. Over the years, they have made interesting twists to these traditional Filipino fares which made them known as a fusion restaurant as well. This is the reason why most families and group of friends keep on coming back in this restaurant; for it doesn't only offer food in to-share servings but at the same time serve the best-tasting and family-oriented meals you could ever find.

I have first encountered Recipes after attending my French classes in Alliance Francais de Manille in Makati. As what I can remember, I was walking around Greenbelt looking for a place to eat and at the same time lounge before heading home. That time, I badly wanted to reward myself with something good for dinner, something filling but still within my budget. Then, with its concrete walls, minimalist interiors, bright lighting and modern appeal, I found myself comfortably waiting for my dinner - the very same dish that me and my friends agreed to order - their version of Korean Beef Stew.

Recipes really got the right taste to its Korean Beef Stew - the push and pull of sweet, savory and spicy flavors greatly complements the tender beef making it such an amazing tandem with steaming hot white rice. I also got so hooked with how the soft meat absorbed those flavors from the sauce, a feat that makes this dish par excellence. The sauce and the amazingly soft beef makes the whole dish really stand out; it was something that you would crave and would prefer to have everytime you give their resto a visit.

Korean Beef Stew

this is how I usually eat my Korean Beef Stew -

I drizzle most of the sauce over rice, mix it and then

eat it with the delicious beef and sweet carrots.

Another equally scrumptious dish that you can only find at Recipes is the General's Chicken. The name might sound quite intimidating but you'll fall for its savory goodness and appetizing flavors. Imagine crispy chunks of breaded chicken and sliced eggplants covered with their rich, sweet and savory general's sauce - a dish that will truly capture and confine your taste buds. The chicken tasted extra special with its combination with the sauce, so as to the eggplants. I love how the sauce didn't overpower the mild flavors of the chicken but instead brought it to a higher notch of impeccable taste. Also, I am not a big aubergine fan but I was able to enjoy every bit of it in this one of a kind palatable dish. For those who prefer a lighter version, the Fried Tofu in General's Sauce is a must try. Perfectly fried tofu made more tasty and exquisite with the general's sauce, same delicious taste without the guilt!

General's Chicken

Fried Tofu in General's Sauce

I was first introduced to Lechon Kawali with Adobong KangKong when my best friend invited me to join his family for lunch in Trinoma. From that moment on, I have learned that deep fried pork meat and kangkong soaked in a soy sauce, vinegar and some spices base goes well together. It is very unique compared to how other restaurants serve it. As for my opinion, it's actually better compared to the usual liver-based lechon that we are all familiar with. The base adobo sauce interestingly rounds up the meaty taste of the pork and the freshness of the leafy greens. Also, the meat retained its crispiness and has absorbed some of the sauce making it such a feast to the mouth when you eat it. You can also enjoy this dish like a salad or make it a complete meal with a cup of rice. This is one true Filipino dish that will definitely become one of your personal favorites.

Lechon Kawali with Adobong KangKong

Another dish that was initially introduced to me during my bestfriend's family lunch at Recipes is the Gising-Gising. I am not a big fan of the veggie in this dish but it's team up with some rich coconut milk and its amazingly good spiciness left me in awe with eyes wide open, hence, truly standing to its very Filipino nature and name. The veggies remained crunchy with a certain bite into it and its flavors blended really well with the creamy texture and taste of the coconut milk. I am very particular with meals cooked with gata but this dish really captured my heart and is truly worth raving about.

Gising-Gising

I love anything from the sea. Although I am much of a carnivore, from time to time I prefer to devour bounties from the great ocean. That is why my heart jumped out of pure happiness when my friends decided to order some of their best selling fish dishes. First on our list is their Crispy Tilapia and its other two variants namely: Crispy Tilapia Escabeche and Crispy Tilapia in Tamarind Sauce. What I love about these dishes is that you need not to worry about the fish bones anymore, all that you have to do is pick it up, put it in your mouth and enjoy. The escabeche greatly appeals to the Filipino palate with its combination of sweet and salty flavors that deliciously highlights the freshness of the fish.

Crispy Tilapia Escabeche

The Crispy Tilapia in Tamarind Sauce is a more subtle version that behind its simplicity hides layers of flavors that will surely tease and tickle your tastebuds. Its mild and the tangy tamarind sauce impressively brings out the goodness of the fried freshwater fish. Also, the hint of lemony taste from the lemon grass adds a certain freshness to the dish making it even more interesting. It is another new twist to the regular crispy fried tilapia that everyone will surely fall for.

Crispy Tilapia in Tamarind Sauce

One more reason to visit Recipes is for their hefty serving of Kare-Kare. Since we are a group of hungry foodies, this dish is undeniably a perfect catch - with its deliciously nutty sauce, crunchy veggies and succulent meat - everyone will surely be happy. The consistency and taste of the sauce is just perfect, even without their equally tasty shrimp paste (bagoong alamang). Add some of the bagoong and it will surely leave you speechless and asking for some extra rice!

Kare-Kare

An unusual yet a yummy partner to their Kare-Kare is the Crispy Bangus. The crunchiness of the fried milkfish not only adds some texture but also a depth of flavor that harmoniously blends with the distinct taste of the sauce. On its own, it is a gastronomic finger food that you might not stop eating, especially when dipped into their signature vinegar and soy sauce.

Crispy Bangus

Speaking of finger foods, another dish that you shouldn't miss is their Chicharong Bulaklak. Recipes' version tasted really clean and has put this regular Filipino street food to the next level. I actually enjoy eating it alone as well as dipping it into their special chicharon vinegar - a true perfect pair that no foodie could ever resist.

Chicharong Bulaklak

Just like how I believe that at the end of the day, life still is as beautiful as ever and is the best gift given unto us, I always make sure to end special gatherings like this with something sweet and creamy, something more likely to be Recipes' Special Buko Pandan. This very Pinoy dessert reminds me of my mom a lot, for it was through her that I have learned how to make it (miss her big time!). What I love about this dessert is that instead of its usual ingredients, Recipes used more sophisticated elements to make this simple dessert very, very tempting. Imagine emerald-green pandan flavored gelatin adorned with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (in replacement of all purpose cream) and topped with shreds of macapuno to add just the right sweetness into it. Every sweet tooth will be amazed by the velvety texture of the vanilla ice cream and the macapuno, most especially how it mixes with the subtle flavors of the gelatin which gives its signature taste as a whole. Also, it's remarkable how my teeth sinks in to the gelatin that has an interesting bite into its core. Indeed, having this dessert is such a sweet and lovely ending to a hefty and savory meal.

Special Buko Pandan

While on the road, after indulging into those great-tasting dishes, reminiscing what I have been through and spending some fantastic time with my foodie friends, one thing suddenly came into my mind, an idea that made me nearly teary-eyed - "I am blessed and I will always be, so as to the people around me". Life conspires lessons that we need to learn and I believe that I have already understood some of mine. It will be a tough journey for sure but I know that in every storm that I am in, a person or could be a group of people will also be there to join me and help me get through it. Being blessed is not only getting what you want nor having a smooth-sailing life, it is still about sharing a smile and love to others, having wonderful friends and being able to see life in a better light. All in all, it was another memorable gastronomical experience that will be forever a part of me, an amazing food trip only at Recipes.

Recipes By Cafe Metro

Branches:

Alabang Town Center

2nd Level, Corte delas Palmas, Alabang Town Center

Alabang-Zapote Road, Alabang Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, Philippines

Phone Number: (63 2) 772-2216

Shangri-la Plaza Mall

5th Level, Shangri-la Plaza Mall

Shaw Blvd. cor. EDSA Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines

Phone Number: (63 2) 637-4050

Trinoma

Trinoma Mall

EDSA cor. North Ave. Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Phone Number: (63 2) 901-3686

Greenbelt 3

Greenbelt 3

Greenbelt Paseo de Roxas cor. Legaspi St., Ayala Center Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines

Phone Number: (63 2) 728-0917, (63 2) 728-0920

Robinsons Midtown

Midtown Wing, Robinsons Place Manila

Pedro Gil cor. Adriatico Sts., Ermita Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines

Phone Number: (63 2) 567-1912

***Will be opening soon in Newport Mall in Resorts World, Manila***

Credits: Special thanks to my friend, Chris Carreon for some of the food shots

Banapple: An Architecture of Love and Friendship

The places we visit from time to time play different important roles in our everyday lives. Some may remind us of where we have stumbled down, got bruised and wounded but then learned to stand up again and continue to fight. Other places could be part of a sad yesterday, of aches from a broken heart, stressed body or even a dampened spirit. Such memories and experiences from places are the aspects in life that makes us real and inspite of all the other structures that we want to forget or even not intend going back to, I still believe that most of these places are also filled with good, heartfelt and unforgettable memories that balances our whole being, of who we really are and what we have gone through.

Places, structures and the environment that has been a part of our journey, most especially those involved in creating romantic relationships and companionship is actually called the "architecture of love and friendship". I have encountered this idea during my Social Psychology class back in college and it is an interesting topic to that opens us to a new perception of how the environment becomes a part of the relationships that we build. It could be a skyscraper, a recreation area, a theme park, moviehouse, mall or even the four corners of your humble abode. Speaking of home, there is a menage, a restaurant very close to my heart, that has been a silent witness to a life-long friendship that I am very much blessed with - a haven for my foodie friends and a sweet tooth like me known as Banapple.

Banapple has been one my favorite bakery-cafes for years now. I may have enjoyed treats from other food places but nothing compares to the homey feeling of it's ambiance, the delicious meals, mouth-watering pies and cheesecakes that is truly worth coming back. I can still recall the first time that I have visited Banapple, at their branch in Katipunan for a breakfast with my closest friends after work. Though tired and sleepy, their comfortable and cozy place (love those crafty tables decorated with marbles) never failed to make us feel revived and we even felt better upon tasting their delectable treats. This time we have visited their new branch nearer to my place in Kamuning, Banapple in Il Terrazo, Tomas Morato.

The first ever meal that I have fallen in love with is their Garlic Beef Tapa with Creamed Parsley Eggs paired up with their House Blend Iced Tea. The cured beef tasted really tender and flavorful, with hints of garlic and an interesting push and pull of sweet and salty flavors - a trademark that defines the goodness of this dish. It becomes more appetizing when eaten with their fragrant garlic rice together with the smooth and creamy scrambled eggs drizzled with some vinegar. The scrambled eggs is also another feat to consider in this dish. Its creaminess complements the goodness of the beef making it extra special. I also adore how the flavors of the meat stands out and then eventually blends well with all of the other components of this dish - an exciting breakfast meal that will give a good start of the day.

Garlic Beef Tapa with Creamed Parsley Eggs

photo credit: toneebot.blogspot.com

Their House Blend Iced Tea is indeed very thirst-quenching and has a honey-citrusy like sweetness into it that will be very much favored by your tastebuds. I love that they have used natural flavors with this drink which as for me, makes it a homey concoction and a creation of love.

House Blend Iced Tea

Another meaty favorites that me and my friends make sure to get every time we dine at Banapple are: Crisp Pork Scallopini with Cream Barbecue Sauce, Salpicao Rafael and Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs. These dishes are truly palatable and will surely hit the list of your top favorites. The Crisp Pork Scallopini is really to die for - imagine crusted and juicy for pork cutlets fried to golden perfection and then generously covered with a savory sour cream and barbecue sauce - nothing but divine! Add some of the pork and the sauce to the garlic rice and the corn relish and it will be a scrumptious meal that you will surely order again at your next store visit.

Crisp Pork Scallopini with Cream Barbecue Sauce

Said to be named after the owners' son, Rafael, Banapple's Salpicao Rafael is made with tender rib-eye steak cubes and sliced button mushrooms, perfectly seasoned and sauteed with garlic pieces and smothered with their special brown sauce. The savory brown sauce and garlic amazingly complements the juicy meat making this dish undeniably one of a kind and a honed tandem to a steaming hot white rice.

Salpicao Rafael

photo credit: clickthecity.com

The Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs, on the other hand, is something that me and my friend craved and raved about for days after eating it. I still can't get over that succulent country ribs that is flawlessly grilled and glazed with their homemade hickory barbecue sauce, very exquisite and delicious as it gives your mouth combinations of amazing flavors from the meat and most especially the sauce. Another thing to be noted about this dish is that the meat is so soft, it falls right off the bone. Who wouldn't love and dare refuse country ribs like that? No one.

Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs

Banapple, with its wide range of food selection also offers something for the white meat and fish lovers - the Chicken Breast Parmigiana and Breaded Fillet of Cream Dory with Honey Thyme Mustard Sauce. Nobody could ever resist the charm of this white meat dish with its lavish chicken breast fillets encrusted in a parmesan-crumb mixture, abundantly topped with a rich tomato meat sauce and mozzarella cheese cubes - its chicken smothered with a cheesy tomato-based sauce like you never had it before! The complementing flavors of the cheese and the tomatoes truly highlighted the goodness of the chicken making it very Italian and extraordinary.

Chicken Breast Parmigiana

photo credit: clickthecity.com

Breaded Fillet of Cream Dory with Honey Thyme Mustard Sauce is actually one their many delicious dishes that always never fail to impress me. Though most of time, I tend to eat more of the dark meat, I am also a self-confessed lover of seafood. I really got hooked with this meal the first time I have tried it. I cannot forget their velvety cream dory fillets blanketed with herb crust and then drizzled with warm honey thyme mustard sauce that greatly accompaniments the cream dory fish. The strong flavors of the Dijon mustard and the sweetness of the honey along with lemony and aromatic qualities of the thyme mingles with the subtle flavors of the fish creating a spectacular feast for the senses. Served with buttered sweet carrots, its adds a certain color, crunch and texture to the whole dish.

Breaded Fillet of Cream Dory with Honey Thyme Mustard Sauce

For the pasta lovers, get ready to be teased for Banapple's yummy heritage of treats and eats will surprise you of their fantastic pasta dishes that will make your heart jump out of pure joy and happiness. First on their pasta bestsellers is the Lasagna Roll-Ups. Unlike the traditional way of preparing this all-time favorite, Banapple cleverly came up with a more exciting way - wide and al dente lasagna strips are the rolled-up and filled with herb cream and parmesan cheese and then covered with classic tomato meat sauce and mozzarella cheese - an effective way to genuinely highlight the true goodness that this dish has to offer. With every bite, you cannot help but adore the herb-tasting and creamy filling that lingers in your mouth and further balances the taste of the tomato meat sauce, making it even richer and creamier. The bite of the al dente lasagna along with the delicious meat completes this very innovative ensemble.

Lasagna Roll-Ups

Next, is actually my personal favorite, something that I will honestly fell in love with over and over again - the Baked Creamy Cheesy Penne. Its simplicity hides a great deal of amazingly flavorful taste. Plainly served in a bowl with some soft bread, savor its inviting taste and aroma with its luscious white cheese sauce and meaty tomato sauce. Dig deeper into the bowl and you'll be bewildered of what you can find in it - al dente penne pasta with delightful Hungarian sausages that gives the whole dish a hint of spice and cutting-edge taste. The mixture of the red and white sauce together with the penne and the sausages really makes this pasta creation stand out and appetizingly remarkable.

Baked Creamy Cheesy Penne

After tasting all of these great-tasting food that, I think, is almost fit for the Gods, let me state more of the reasons why Banapple has become my own architecture of love and friendship; and let me do it over a pile of their luscious cakes and desserts - certified sweet tooth style! I have learned to keep Banapple into my memory and has been a part of my heart (and tummy) because of their beautifully decorated and uniquely flavored cakes that me and my friends used to share every time. Banapple is a known haven for incredibly delicious pies and cheesecakes. First on my list of favorites is the classic Blueberry Cheesecake. It is a dense, soft and smooth cheesecake over a graham cracker crust and then topped with blueberry jam. The tangy taste of the blueberries merge with the creaminess of the filling making it such a heavenly delight that no one could ever defy.

Blueberry Cheesecake

Another cake that I am always excited about is the Cherry Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake. It's the same smooth basic cheesecake only made more interesting by incorporating it with the goodness of dark chocolate truffles, chocolate biscuit crust and cherry icing, cherry jam and a cherry on top. I love how the fruity flavors of the cherries gave the rich fusion of the cream cheese and chocolate more depth and layer of flavors. The unified taste of the cherries and dark chocolates give it a sort of a taste same to the classic black forest cake but Banapple made it even more interesting my making it into a cheesecake.

Cherry Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Coffee Toffee Roca Cake, being a kid again is what this cake reminds me. The coffee-toffee flavors of it makes me recall of a candy that I used to ask my mom to buy me whenever she goes to the supermarket. The chunks of toffee candies and almonds topping the coffee flavored cake and icing doesn't just give this cake a sophisticated look but at the same time a very gastronomic feat. You can never go wrong with the partnership of coffee and toffee, turn it into a cake combined with chocolates and viola, it's a match made in heaven.

Coffee Toffee Roca Cake

photo credit: supernormalgirl.com

One of Banapple's well-loved cakes and my dear friend's favorite as well, is the Snicker Fudge Cheesecake. Imagine the pleasing texture and sweetness of the snickers chocolate bar in a cheesecake - lots of nuts, chewy caramel and creamy milk chocolate - something that is more irresistible and sinful. I love how they have derived the idea of using this chocolate bar and turned it into a cake. Just look at how they have carefully layered this cake from its chocolate crust, smooth and creamy cheesecake filling (it even has a chunk of the chocolate bar in it), a thin layer of caramel and on top, a layer of chocolate ganache with chopped walnuts and almonds, mind blowing isn't it? This cake is so rich and so delish you will prefer it to eat it slowly, indulging in its every amusing components, texture and spectacular taste.

Snicker Fudge Cheesecake

Last but definitely not the least, is the two warm cakes that will melt your heart at first bite: Apple Caramel Crumble Pie and Chocolate Chip Walnut Pie. The first is a variation of the classic apple pie. Banapple's version could actually be either warm or chilled and is made with lots of apples and an amazing streusel that has a hint of the cinnamon flavor. I was actually looking for the dulce de leche like caramel that makes this cake really special, binding the flavors of the streusel, apples and cinnamon but it seems that it has less this time. Hope they could've put more of it for it adds a certain sweetness into the cake that rounds it all up. Still, this cake is such a treat that every apple pie lover will surely come back for.

Apple Caramel Crumble Pie

The Chocolate Chip Walnut Pie is something that I've had for the first time. I am not a big fan of warm cakes and the only cake of that type that I am so amused about is the molten chocolate cake. This pie actually changed my notion about warm cakes, for this one tasted pleasingly different and ambrosial. A very rich tasting pie (for me, it was like a crossover of the baklava and date cake, really amazing!), it is composed of chocolate chips that added a certain depth of interesting chocolaty taste and spiced cookie dough filling that has all the great tasting flavors that I could find - sweet brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, butter and walnuts. Others may think that this cake leans on the sweeter side so it is best to top it with whipped to balance the sweetness out. Overall, this cake was stellar; out of the box but strikingly awesome.

Chocolate Chip Walnut Pie

Good meals and sweets become more special if shared with friends, maybe over simple catching ups or the most hilarious chit chats. Banapple is a home where the happy and magical moments of great friendship have become a vivid part of my existence, where love and comfort from family and friends is overflowing. I believe that many people, good friends and lovers have also experienced this very same things under the roof of every Banapple branch. Its walls and crafty interiors are the silent witnesses of what me and my friends have gone through - the struggles that we faced together, heartaches that we mended and cured and most of all blessings that we have acknowledged. Indeed, Banapple, is the perfect architecture, not just for a romantic love to flourish but also for a great friendship to last a lifetime.

me and my dear friends at Banapple Il Terrazo

Banapple

Pies and Cheesecakes

Katipunan Branch:

225 Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City

Tel. # 4392675

Katipunan Too:

206 Katipunan Avenue, Blue Ridge, Quezon City

Tel. # 4382675

Tomas Morato Branch:

2nd Level Il Terrazo, Tomas Morato

cor. Sct. Madrinan, South Triangle, Quezon City

Tel. # 4132675

Ayala Branch:

Ayala Triangle Gardens

Ayala Avenue, Makati City

Tel. # 7562675

Greenhills Branch:

Northeast Square

47 Connecticut Street, Northeast Greenhills

San Juan, Metro Manila

Tel. # 4772675

Website: http://www.banapplekitchen.com/Banapple.html

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Banapple

***Dedicated to all of my friends and angels... Love you all with all my heart!***

Bread & Bean Cafe

I have considered pastries and coffee as my usual breakfast buddies. This tandem never fails to make my mornings (especially during those cold and rainy months) extra special. They're my favorite things that used to fuel up my brain cells when I was still in college, so as to now. That's why my heart totally jumped out of pure excitement with this breakfast treat that talks more about the wonders of such amazing combination of bread and coffee, at a place called Bread & Bean in San Juan.

Bread & Bean is a haven for great tasting food and outstanding customer service. Most of the time, we enjoy having our dinners at this cafe, loving their delicious meals teamed up with a cozy ambiance, but let me not talk about their hefty meals right now and instead focus more on the important things that the cafe also offers - bread and coffee! I was first politely asked of what would I prefer to drink and I've decided to try one of the classics, my favorite Cafe Latte.

Cafe Latte

The aroma of the freshly brewed coffee beans covered the place, indicating that this treat is ready to be served. Before taking a sip, I added some brown sugar for some caramel-like hint of sweetness into it and then inhaled more of its aroma, admiring it even more this time with its combination with the steamed milk. Each sip seems to warm my whole being, I can't help but love the strong and rich taste of the espresso, carefully smoothened and sweetened by the creamy milk and brown sugar.

Cafe Latte

Known as Cafe Au Lait in French, the simplicity of this hot drink makes it a great accompaniment to any of their freshly-baked breads. It delivers an added twist to every bread type that you will try it with. This Cafe Latte is truly different from the other commercialized and instant coffee variants that I used to have for it didn't only keep the purpose of having me alert but is also gave my heart some sort of happiness; a smile that further brightened the start of my day.

One of my fellow blogger friends preferred to have their Hot Chocolate instead. I have been long in love with chocolates, whether it comes in bars or in mugs, so as for me, it was a great choice and a fantastic coffee alternative. The mere smell of it already treated me with such great chocolaty flavor. Its dark appearance proved that it was made with good dark chocolates carefully heated and blended with water to produce such yummy childhood favorite drink.

Hot Chocolate

The morning got even more exciting when we experienced how delicious their varieties of breads are. Bread & Bean offers an amazing selection of delectable breads that will surely fit into your choices of drinks and coffee. To start, topping of their list of bestsellers is the Ham and Cheese Loaf with Pesto and Garlic-Paprika Spread. This loaf is generously embedded with bits and small slices of ham and cheese that greatly complements the creaminess and softness of the bread. It is already good as it is but if you want to make it more interesting, you can add some of the pesto or the garlic-paprika spread and I'm sure, a single loaf will not be enough. I must say that between the two spreads, I eminently fell in love with the garlic-paprika, making it my basic spread for all the breads that I have eaten on that day. In fact, instead of spreading it over bread slices, I instead used it as a dip. It gave out a certain nutty, buttery and appealing garlic taste that will make you crave for it over and over again. Putting it over a simple slice of the ham and cheese loaf made it way better than the traditional garlic bread that we eat at some restos. It was such a perfect mate to make our regular breads extraordinary.

Ham and Cheese Loaf with Pesto and Garlic-Paprika Spread

Few more breads namely the Cheesy Pork Floss, Pork Floss (regular), Cheesy Logs and Grilled Ensaimada were then presented, variants that everyone, most especially the kids will surely fall for. These breads were served hot from the oven and you can immediately tell it by its inviting smell and distinctive warm feeling to the palate.

Their version of the famous Cheesy Pork Floss and the regular Pork Floss is very interesting for they use imported and flavorful pork meat floss to top it plus they have smothered each bread with their own delicious recipe of home-made mayonnaise. The soft, fluffy and warm bread is a feat to consider in savoring these mouth-watering breads. The floss added a certain meaty taste into it that blends really well with the mayonnaise.

Pork Floss (regular)

As for the cheesy variation, the thin slice of cheese made it really stand out, giving the already satisfying regular pork floss an added creaminess with a very mild salty taste. The subtle flavors of the melted cheese also rounded up the taste of this bread, making it even more complementing with the meat and the mayo. It was an ensemble that is genuinely to die for. Add to that its very affordable prices compared to the ones that is already in the market.

Cheesy Pork Floss

For the Cheesy Logs, I adored the butter that covers its top part as well as the soft bread that hides a cheesy and appetizing surprise. I think B&B has mastered the art of making these kind of breads for its taste is truly remarkable. It was made even better with the balanced taste of butter, bread and cheese. I also love the mild sweetness that lingers in your mouth, together with the cheese and butter at every bite.

Cheesy Logs

The moment I've heard that they will be serving us their Grilled Ensaimada, I immediately became curious about it. As we all know, the usual way of consuming this bread is either to have it at a room temperature or have it heated at an oven just enough for the cheese toppings to melt. I was totally surprised when I saw and tasted this another wonderful treat! The burnt part of the bread gave it an added crunch and bite. It stayed soft and tasty, with a more distinct and vivid butter and cheese flavors - an ensaimada like you've never had it before.

Grilled Ensaimada

Another delight that is readily available at the counter for take-outs is the Bacon and Cheese. I love that the bread is still soft, very pleasant to the palate and appealing to the taste buds. The combination of the meaty, smoky flavors of the bacon together with the nutty and creamy taste of the cheese made this bread truly stand for its name. It's a delicious and healthy snack at any time of the day.

Bacon and Cheese

Moving forward with more of Bread & Bean's offerings is the Adobo & Pesto Sandwich. Just by the mere sound of its name boasts how scrumptious this B&B classic is. I have never expected that the combination of the very Filipino, adobo and an Italian sauce, pesto, would be this toothsome and pleasing. Imagine a soft and warm ciabatta bread filled in between with chunks of savory and meaty adobo, fresh-tasting pesto spread, crunchy lettuce greens, some herbs, spices and cheese - a true Filipino-Italian innovation that everyone will surely rave about. It was also served with an adequate amount of crispy potato chips that added more fun and twist into it. As for how I enjoyed this sandwich, I scooped out some of the adobo and pesto filling with the potato chips, making it some sort of a salsa or dip and not just a palatable sandwich.

Adobo & Pesto Sandwich

On the other hand, the Harbor Bridge Burger Supreme amusingly exceeded what I have known about some designer burgers that I have tried before. It is made with 100% beef burger patty (see how thick the patty is), smoky and juicy bacons, fresh lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, button mushrooms and cheese - ingredients that jives well in your mouth and gives the palate some sort of an excitement, great flavors and nice texture. Add some of the garlic mayonnaise or the garlic-paprika spread to make it even more appetizing and tasty (of course, I have added the garlic-paprika more often... ^_^). I love the fact the the patty is perfectly grilled, for it remained succulent and juicy. The bacon added some smokiness to this burger dish and the veggies kept the balance of taste and freshness. It's one great deal of a burger, good and healthy alternative to the usual rice meals for lunch or dinner. Friends can also have this burger sliced into smaller portions for sharing.

Harbor Bridge Burger Supreme

Harbor Bridge Burger Supreme sliced into smaller portions

This breakfast would not be complete without tasting some luscious desserts. Bread & Bean, aside from their delightful breads and hot coffee variants is also known for their delish cakes and pastries that you can pair up with their wide selection of cold coffee concoctions. What we had are their bestsellers - Banoffee, Dark Chocolate and Peppermint for the cold coffee drinks and the Chocolate Ganache and Mango Cake for the desserts.

L-R: Banoffee, Dark Mocha and Peppermint

The Banoffee tasted really refreshing. I am not an avid fan of bananas and one way for me to actually eat it is by making it into a smoothie or turn it into an interesting dessert. Bread & Bean succeeded in making me love their Banoffee smoothie for the sweetness of the bananas blended really well with the chocolate, coffee and cream. For the Dark Mocha, what I like about it is the balanced yet strong taste of coffee and chocolate. It was a simple and uncomplicated drink that you will have to grab at every store visit. My favorite, the Peppermint has this sort of cool and minty flavors that greatly rounds out the rich taste of the coffee and cream mixture. Drinking it made me feel like I was a kid again, excited for all the good things that life has to offer.

The Chocolate Ganache is composed of layers of sponge cake dipped into some espresso and coffee cream filling. It was then covered and topped with glossy chocolate ganache which is made from rich, melted bittersweet or dark chocolates whisked with heavy cream. This cake is a great tandem to the black coffee that I've had. I do not usually drink black coffee for I find it very strong and robust but with this cake's right sweetness and chocolaty goodness, I was able to enjoy my black coffee even without adding some cream or brown sugar to lighten it. It's one of those cakes that even at first try easily made its way to my heart.

Chocolate Ganache

Black Coffee

If you're craving for something sweet and fruity after having a savory meal, B&B's Mango Cake is a perfect catch. It is made with vanilla sponge cake layered with mango cream, bits of sweet and ripe mangoes and whipped cream. The top is generously decorated with more mango syrup, small mango chunks and cream, making it look very sophisticated and impressively pleasing. If you think that this cake looks good wait until you have tried it and I am sure you will be in deep affinity with this fruity dessert.

Mango Cake

To wrap it up, it was truly an amazing morning, a start of the day full of sunshine, great tasting breads and comforting coffees. Just like what I have mentioned, Bread & Bean does not only offer varieties of breads and coffees but also meals that could fill you up without sacrificing your value for money. What I also love and the reason why me and my friends prefer to lounge and eat at this cafe is their amiable staff and excellent customer service. For me, those are the aspects that completes the whole dining experience and you can find it all at the Bread & Bean Cafe.

photo credit: Bread & Bean's Facebook Page

Bread & Bean Cafe

Unit 3 Citiplace Building 8001

J. Abad Santos, San Juan, Metro Manila

(near Wilson Street in Greenhills)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bread-Bean-Cafe/121703591197707

***Special thanks to Ms. Kaye and to friendly staff of Bread & Bean for warmly accommodating us.***