Stella

My favorite M Cafe group has a new addition to its restaurant line up: Stella, a wood-fired bistro.

From the name itself, Stella is the Latin word for star and maybe geared up to become the next big star in the bistro scene. That's just my interpretation. A bistro, of French origin, is defined as an unpretentious restaurant, tavern, or pub.

The Place

The entrance leads to both Stella and Rocket Room, the adjoining bar - it looks very interesting and I am making a mental note to try it when I am in the mood for apertif.

Upon entering the restaurant, it has that chic, casual yet sophisticated vibe. Lighting is warm and the leather and plush seats add an elegant feel. A lone starfish and modernist lamps give an eclectic aura. The interior design theme is well-executed.

Cold towels are provided for once you've been seated. 

A nice touch which is rare in this restaurant category.

The Food

Complementary bread choices of rye,

tomato

and wheat with olive oil and tomato dip. 

The bread is soft, tastes healthy and freshly-baked. The dip tastes subtly of tomato. I commend their tactic of allowing the customer to choose from a common bread basket rather than leaving an entire basket on the table. 

Less wastage.

The Stella Salad (PhP 295)

Butter lettuce, crispy bacon, sundried tomato bits, candied rosemary pistachios, buttermilk chive-ranch dressing, Malagos pecorino.

Sounds intimidating but tastes like a healthier, gourmet Ceasar salad. Tomato dominates the flavor, while the dressing, though cream-based, has that healthy taste to it. And don't forget the generous bacon serving. The meat tastes home-cured and home fried! This is worth the title of "House Specialty"

Wood-fired Garlic Mushroom Cream Fettucine (PhP 425)

Porcini dust, truffle oil, Malagos pecorino, fresh lemon, herbs.

Typical excellent cream-based pasta with generous mushroom flavor with the added nakakagutom flavor of truffle oil. What separates this dish from other cream pasta is the hints of lemon which surprisingly complements the cream and the sheep cheese which I suspect is local - the Malagos farm I know from Davao. This is a good order if you are craving for cream-based pasta.

Salt-baked Gindara Fillet, 400g (PhP 395)

Light dill-citrus cream, citrus bits.

Gindara baked in a dome of salt. Don't mistake the salt as bread crumbs... It's very salty. Hehe The fish is baked to perfection. Very soft. Citrus provides a good contrast to the taste and smell of the sea.

This is again a winner.

In Summary

1. Stella is a casual yet chic bistro perfect for catching up with friends, casual date and intimate family gatherings.

2. Food tastes good, well-executed and excellently-presented with modernist cutleries. Portion is good for 2 persons and price/dish is mid-range. Relatively cheap considering the area it is located.

3. You will choose this place if you want to have good food, nice ambiance and somewhere new. It has all the elements of what makes the M Cafe group successful.

Stella

Bonifacio High Street Central

7th Ave cor 29th St.

Bonifacio Global City

63.2.621.3222

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Agahan

I know some people who like to have breakfast all day. The kind who wish to have tuyo for breakfast, spam for lunch and tapa for dinner. I don't belong to that category but from time to time, I want to have pancakes and bacon. I also crave for tapa from Rodic's and yes, I can have spam all day. If not for the salt and calorie factor, i will have it every day. You get it right, marami akong favorite food.

In those many instances that I browse whatever magazine that I can lay my hand on while waiting for my food, services or whatever, Southern Living featured an all-day breakfast place in Makati: Agahan.

The Place

The restaurant is located in small restaurant complex along Metropolitan Ave, San Antonio Village, Makati. It is a 50-seater place decorated in a perky mood: the way we should all wake up in the morning. The walls are painted blue, green, red and yellow and chairs in red. There's a yellow breakfast nook for solo diners. The whole theme is a well-executed modern take on the 50s diner vibe.

The Food

As can be expected, menu is breakfast fares: silogs, pancake sets and hot chocolate/coffee/orange juice.

Ligaya's Tapa (PhP 150)

Beef tapa, egg and rice with coffee or tea. You can have the egg sunny-side up or scrambled. The beef tastes like your regular carinderia beef. It tastes okay and a bit hard. Rice is also not of good quality. You can easily make this dish at home.

Tinapa (PhP 110)

Tinapa with garlic rice and salted egg. Same as the tapa above, it's your typical tinapa cooked at home. Nothing fancy. The tinapa is standard grocery/palengke kind, you can't get too creative with the salted egg and the rice is also not great.

Hot Chocolate (PhP 60)

Hot chocolate made from tablea - minimally processed cacao. It's thick but can get thicker considering that tablea is used. The good point is they've been generous with milk - or that's how it tastes like. Again, nothing special.

Cranberry Juice (PhP 50)

Powdered or some form of artificially cranberry juice. It's refreshing enough, not too sweet. It's okay, nothing spectacular.

In Summary

1. The vibe of the place is awesome. You can have meetings, quiet morning reading the paper or a casual breakfast date any time of the day. WiFi is also free. There's not much place in Makati which is marketed as an all-day breakfast place. 

2. In my personal opinion, the restaurant should improve on their food to stay long in the market. The food tastes something you can quickly whip up at home. I think that's okay if you want your place to be carinderia-type. However, if you want diners to shell out, you should have something special in each dish.

3. Price is ~PhP 150/ dish. Relatively cheap for Makati. If they will improve the taste of the food, then this price point can seal the deal.

Agahan

102 Metropolitan Ave

San Antonio Village, Makati

63.2.822.5057

63.928.504.7058

Bana's Cafe: Best in Sagada

Congratulations, you conquered Sagada!

You explored Sumaguing Cave, rock-climbed at Echo Valley, bathed in Bomod-ok and walked 5 kilometers in the rain. Suddenly... hunger pangs hit you, the kind that only good food can satiate. You remember several good shops that bloggers recommend but you have to choose the best as if your survival rests on it. An apparition of Anthony Bourdain occurred and he ushers you to Bana's Cafe. Why? Because the food tastes home-made, ingredients are not scrimped and they serve the best coffee this blogger has ever had. I am not exaggerating. 

That paragraph is lame. What I am really trying to say is Bana's Cafe is the best restaurant in Sagada. 

I like it better than the Yogurt House which served us ketchup-tasting spaghetti and yogurt with "mayonnaise consistency" - that's what we overheard from the next table. To be fair, I liked the banana-top yoghurt I ordered. 

Bana's is also better than the commercial-tasting food from Masferre Inn. I haven't tried the buffet prepared by the French guy at the Log Cabin. I heard it's also good.

The Place

Like everything in Sagada, Bana's Cafe is simple and rustic. Its indoor space has a seating capacity of around 20 people - packed. The terrace which overlooks the gorge, roofs and the neighbors pigs has 4 tables for around 15 people. Bags of coffee beans are stored in the terrace - Bana's is an 18-Day Roaster facility.

The Food

Menu consists of salads, pastas, omelette, breakfast meals, yogurt and coffee. 

Mushroom and Onion Omelette (~PhP 120)

The omelette is nicely done - with the eggs not overcooked. This is the best omelette I've tasted in Sagada. 

It comes with toast which pairs well with locally-made orange marmalade. 

Bana's Favorite (~PhP 120)

This is also my favorite. Toast, sunny side up, and bacon.. yes, thick slices of bacon.

The toasts are white and wheat bread - with cushion-like consistency. The soft yolk is a good topping for the toast. The bacon tastes home-made. Very Yummy.

Fresh Tomato Pasta (~PhP 120)

Pasta is done al dente and the sauce is divine. One can taste the freshness of the tomato. The dish is very light perfect for snacks or light meal.

They also serve pinikpikan (local delicacy similar to tinolang/bulalong manok) if you reserve it a day in advance.

Banana Honey Yogurt (PhP 70)

The consistency of the yogurt is the same as the commercially-available ones. It's not too sour. What Person A and I love about this bowl is the honey. Its sweetness pairs well with the yogurt taste while the banana adds flavor and texture. This is a winner on our list.

What we also love about Bana's is their coffee. It is an 18-Day Roaster Restaurant.

It's got one of the best blend I've tasted so far.  

Alamid-Amunin Coffee (PhP 200)

Civet cats are abundant in Sagada and they love to eat the Arabica beans. To the joy of the coffee lovers, this blend tastes very delicate. Its aroma is strong but it has subtle taste, sweet flavor and has silky smoothness with every sip. Please splurge on it once.

House Blend (PhP 30)

Since we can't afford to order Alamid coffee every time, we are happy to settle with the house blend. It has stronger flavor than the premium coffee but it's also sweet and doesn't have an acidic undertone. Personally, I like it better than Starbucks, UCC or Diamond Cake Club blend. At PhP 30, I can say this is the best.

Honey Latte (PhP 90)

Latte sweetened with wild honey.

Too sweet and the honey is not good sweetener for the coffee. I rarely put sugar in my coffee - probably explains why I don't like it. Also, the milk/honey is curdling in the cup. One of the ingredients  is reacting with the heat or the coffee. I don't recommend this.

If you want to bring home a taste of their coffee, they're selling their beans under this label. Apart from the basic Arabica, they also have Amunin and Civet Cat coffee. 

In Summary

1. Among the major restaurants in Sagada, Bana's Cafe is the best (personal opinion, btw). The food tastes great, fresh and home-made. We like the omelette, the thick slices of bacon and pasta. The honey-topped yogurt is also a winner.

2. Bana's serve the best coffee I've ever had. For the houseblend, latte, and alamid, the aroma is strong but the taste is subtle and not acidic. It also comes cheaper than a cup in Manila. Please take advantage of the coffee while your there.

3. The price is comparable to most restaurants in Sagada. Prepare to shell out PhP 200/person each meal.

Gayuma ni Maria

I had a girl-bonding afternoon with a very lovely friend last Saturday. We gave our nails their much needed pampering. I chose to paint my toe nails with this soft shade of purple

Bonbon, from Orly.

This is fast becoming a favorite. It’s so purrrty and compliments my asian skin tone (read: kayumanggi).  The type of sweet shade that doesn’t come out tacky. Daphne loves it, too. * Fan girl mode *

Then we headed to the fabled Gayuma (ni Maria) restaurant in Maginhawa, UP Village. When I was in college, Gayuma was already a famous restaurant. It is famous for its quirky menu and their “Better than Sex” dessert. I never had the chance to try it.

Gayuma, according to Filipino folklore, are love potions or spells that are used to attract a mate.  I think it is a wise choice for a restaurant name. It conveys a message that their secret ingredients will keep you coming back for more.

The Place

The restaurant is a neighborhood place. It is tucked in a residential subdivision, with the patio and living room of the house converted into a dining area. Stepping into the restaurant feels like going inside a fortune-teller’s lair. 

The drapings are not that great, too colorful for my taste.

This is the inside of the resturant

And this is the Japanese room upstairs. I think this is perfect for huge groups.

The walls are adorned with potion concoctions.

Let’s head straight on to the food. They have a quirky, “sex-fueled” menu, I kinda think it’s creative.

No Boyfriend Since Birth (PhP 215)

The dish’s tagline is “with the perfect blend of pesto and cheese who needs boys?”

Hmmm… I think I do. Je t'aime mon boyfriend! Yihee, cheesy!

This is good pasta. The noodle is al dente, the sauce has a just-right tang of basil and the walnuts add a surprising texture to the whole thing.

Once You Go Black, You Never Go Back (PhP 225)

Cocoa-crusted cream dory with chocolate sauce – served with rice.

Sweet-salty, crunchy outer crust with soft fillet inside. Yum! Anna and I loved it!

We weren’t able to consume our order so I had it wrapped for take-out. Unfortunately, the staff gave the order to another group. So… they offered me a fresh order of another best seller for take out… for free! 

Yay!

I Love You, Cross My Heart (PhP 215)

Fried chicken breast with cheese, shiitake mushroom and asparagus.

I say this is glorified fried chicken, the crust and add-ons are divine while the meat itself is juicy.

In one corner of the restaurant, this wall post is painted.

It made me giddy to try their city-wide famous dessert.

Beats Sex Any Day (PhP 75)

Rich chocolate cake, mercilessly topped with butterscotch, cream and chocolate bits. 

For its price, I think this is a good deal. I am not  big on the texture of the cake but I like how it tastes and the topping makes this dessert unique. I say, worth the try.

In Summary:

1. You go to Gayuma ni Maria for the food. All the dish we tried were superb. I was amazed and I will make this one of my go-to restaurants in QC. The serving size is just right for its price.

2. It is best to enjoy the place with friends and family, if they’re not the conservative type who gets offended with the sexually-suggestive dishes. If you opt to bring a date, maybe someone you’re really comfortable with. I just find this too aggressive for a first date, unless you’re both liberal or your date is a foodie.

3. The ambiance is okay but the materials used (drapings, table cloths) and the walls can all be improved. 

Gayuma Ni Maria

123 Maginhawa St., Sikatuna Village

Quezon City

63.2.441.4872

Mom and Tina's: Vintage Chic Restaurant

I like vintage, floral chic. Case in point, my blog background: pink vintage roses wallpaper. It’s the i-survived-years-yet-I-am-still-pretty feel it exudes that gets my attention. And it always has that warm, inviting feel to it, much like you’re in your Mum’s kitchen waiting for her to serve what she’s stirring in the pot.

So when a restaurant uses vintage floral chic as its theme, it sends a subtle message that I embrace you in and I serve all the home cooking goodness you’ve been craving for.

So this is where we headed to after a couple of hours of table tennis on a Saturday morning. 

The place is well-lighted, spacious and is accented by wooden chairs and floral wallpapers.

It has a mouth-watering display of pastries. Mom and Tina’s is famous for their desserts and pies.

Let me walk you through what we ordered that morning.

Bacon Hashbrown(PhP 215)

Crispy bacon with crunchy hashbrown served with tomato ketchup. It’s well done but not distinct. I think you can have bread instead of rice.

Waffles and Vienna Sausages (PhP ~ 200)

Serving of small waffles, eggs and vienna sausages. Again, it’s good but not spectacular. Something you can whip up in your kitchen. 

Fettucine with Capers and Smoked Salmon (PhP 195)

This one is good. The white sauce and pasta mix well with the salmon. It comes with bread too. The serving is small and good for one person.

Chicken and Mushroom Pie (PhP 45)

This is a solo-sized pie and it’s worth the order . The chicken and mushroom blend well together and don’t overpower each other. This is a teeny-weeny pie.

Choco Mint Shake (PhP 130)

This is a well-blended drink in terms of taste and consistency. Mint renders a fresh taste to the chocolate concoction. It’s refreshing.

Toblerone Walnut Torte (PhP 100)

Most of their desserts are made of frozen cream and this one is no exception. The toblerone is blended into the cream whereas the nut breaks the chilly dessert. This one is also worth coming back for.

Caramel Profiterole (PhP 40)

At the same size as the toblerone torte, this is quite a steal. The thing is the caramel is too sweet. It isn’t your classic profiterole (cream puff) since most of the cream in the caramel is on top of the pastry. A spoonful of this thing is the most I can take: nauumay ako.

In Summary:

1. Mom and Tina’s strength lies in its desserts and pies. The tortes and their English pies are really good and worth coming back for.

2. The place is really pretty. I can imagine hosting a family gathering here, brunch with the special someone, swapping stories with your friends or curling up with a book in one of their couches, of course with a cup of coffee.

3. Price is mid-range relative to Metro Manila restaurants and the serving size is good for one person.

Mom and Tina's
FRDC Building
106 E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue
Pasig City
63.2.9140833 


Mom and Tina's Makati
G/F Unit 104
Tropical Palms Condominum
Dela Rosa St., Legaspi Village
Makati City
63.2.8404299

Benny's

However they say that one shouldn't go to the grocery when one is hungry, in Pinoy culture, grocery shopping and eating out almost always go together.


Who can resist the squidballs, shawarma, hotdogs, take-away pizzas offered by the stalls right across the cashier?


In true Rustan's fashion, they have a French bakeshop (x10 ang presyo kumpara sa bakery sa kanto!),  a delicatessen, a fresh salad shop that has a price point cheaper than SM's (Mr. Sy and I don't have much love between us. He doesn't know.) and Benny's - a filipino restaurant.





I believe it's named after Amb. Bienvenido Tantoco.


Going back to my opening statement, I was hungry after doing my grocery rounds and since Person A was with me, hindi-tayo-magddiyeta-ngayon is definitely on the menu.


Ensaladang Mangga.





A fusion of white onions, crispy red tomatoes, and green mangoes with sweet-salty bagoong. Yum!


Sisig.





The classic Pampanga fare is crispy, fresh tasting, and different from the one served by Gerry's/Dencio's but not distinct enough so that you can write home about it. 


Rice.

This deserves a few words because of 2 things: (1) the banana leaf wrapping rendered appetizing flavor to the rice (2) Food presentation: puso is definitely  how cooked rice is sold in Visayas and Mindanao.


Iced tea.





It's brewed, refreshing and tastes like sweetened by honey. It pairs well with the sisig and doesn't taste like powdered drink.


Black out chocolate cake.

Moist, oreo-covered at hindi nakakaumay. They sell cakes at single serving (mini layer) and by the layer.


In summary:


1. We love the place because of its ambiance and the food is value-for-money. Despite the heavy foot traffic in the area, it looks distant from where we were seated, one cannot hear the conversation in the next table and the white and warm lighting are welcoming.


2. Price point is around PhP 100 for appetizer, PhP 200-300 for the viand, PhP 70 for the drinks, and around PhP 80 for the dessert. You get to spend around PhP 200 - PhP 300 per person.


3. Cakes sell at around PhP 500 a layer. I enjoy giving cakes and I've been looking for shops which sell them at PhP 500 and below. If I am a billionaire, I'd prefer Mandarin Oriental Cafe and Deli's cakes and desserts day in and day out. However, I am not. I am excited to try Benny's desserts.














Benny's
Rustan's Makati