Mom Knows Best!

In the year that has passed, several food crazes have been sweeping the nation.  There is the ongoing love affair with ramen, and the recent rage about modern / twisted Filipino cuisine.  And then there's the prevailing trend of food bazaars and markets, including creative food trucks.  And finally, there's the contagious spread of restaurants offering "all-day breakfast", ranging from the high end and cosmopolitan (like The Breakfast Club) to the frankly down-to-earth (think Kanto Freestyle Breakfast).  And in between of course, is a bevy of homey joints seeking for a larger share of the market.  Not to mention the usurpation by a foreign brand (IHOP, of course!).

Long before this craze was born, however, one shop was already making waves, albeit with its famous cakes and pastries.  It's fame for breakfast menu soon spread, such that it has expanded around the metro.  Mom and Tina's Bakery Cafe is your typical corner shop, with bright pastel finishing, a homey garden theme, and a comfort-food heavy menu.  I had heard of this joint by word-of-mouth, but it was their pastry collection that was much talked-about.  Sifting through the web, I found out they actually had a full breakfast menu.  And I love heavy breakfasts, especially on a lazy Sunday.

So, off we went to its relatively newer branch, just a stone's throw away from the ABS-CBN compound.  On a cloudy and lazy Sunday, this part of Quezon City was peaceful and serene, a perfect hideaway from the busy metro.  Its exteriors resembled a model house, the kind you see in subdivisions being marketed along Tagaytay or some such place.  This branch had a second floor, and could comfortably seat almost a hundred or so.

Mom and Tina were twins.

Small bouquets are always the centerpiece for shops such as these.

It was barely 10 AM, yet a few of the seats were already occupied.  I figured the food here must be good, for people to wake up this early on a laid-back Sunday.  I had browsed the menu in advance, so I knew what I was craving for right away.  We ordered something to perk us up first.

Waffle Pancakes, P125 (+service charge)

In places that serve all-day breakfast, we always manage to pick at least an order of pancakes.  This time, these were both waffles and pancakes!  It was mouth-watering to see this little flaps of joys, but our happiness was short-lived.  To our dismay, the waffle-pancakes were tough and chewy, and served almost cold!  The butter we spread barely melted, while the maple syrup scarcely softened the thing up.  What a way to start our meal.

A few minutes later however, redemption began as our main dishes were served.  I was in the mood for a heavy silog meal.  And she followed suit.

U.S. Beef Tapa, P205 (+service charge)

No, those aren't burnt bacon strips.  Those are delectable strips of U.S. Beef marinated in our local Filipino tapa recipe.  Finely cut with just a teasing amount of fat, these beef strips were perfectly fried to a crisp texture.  These must have been marinating for a fortnight, as the flavor seeped into the meat, exuding a sweet soy taste.  The rice had a mild hint of garlic, and a serving of atsara was an excellent break in flavor.  One of the best tapsilogs my palate has ever encountered in my entire life.  Period.

Tocino with Egg, P195 (+service charge)

Its porcine counterpart, the ubiquitous tosilog was equally gratifying.  Each piece was plump and freshly pink, and cooked impeccably, with just the right amount of burnt edges to give that smoky flavor and texture.  Inseparable with a cup of garlic rice and an egg cooked your way, this version is an easy choice for those craving for their cured meat.

Ghirardelli Premium Hot Chocolate

Blue Lemonade

To douse the fiery main courses, I ordered a cup of Ghirardelli Premium Hot Chocolate.  I had a whole can of this at home, so I practically new how it tasted.  It was superb, as always.  The Blue Lemonade, on the other hand, was ordinary.

To top off our caloric intake for the day, we curiously peered into their see-through refrigerators for a peek at their lovely desserts.  Still, I had my eye on that small mysterious cup glistening in the cold mist.

Toblerone Walnut Torte, P110 (+service charge)

Anything with Toblerone in its name always catches my attention.  So I tried this cup of heaven out.  It was like a frozen chocolate mousse, with crushed walnuts and frozen Toblerone forming the top.  Embedded within was whipped cream to contrast the solid texture.  It was definitely sweet, but not overwhelming.  We finished it in no time at all.  The best thing about this, however, was that it comes in bigger 1.5 Liter tubs!  I would definitely come back someday and take out one of those sinful containers.  Calories galore.

For a cafe that's well-known for its pastries, it comes as a delightful surprise that their breakfast courses deliver.  Not to mention that they do have a full menu, including steaks and pasta, which I presume would also taste pleasant.  Although the waffle was a disappointment, I'm hoping it was more of an aberrancy than a consistency.  Nevertheless, the silog meals were to-die-for, even better than commercialized restaurants that claim they have the best tapa.

Mom and Tina's is a quick getaway to your comfort, homey food, the way everybody's Mom knows how to cook.  With a number of branches cropping up around the metro, it is set to break mainstream.  I suggest, almost selfishly hesitantly, to try out their branch along Sgt. Esguerra.  It has the best parking spaces, and maybe the largest eating capacity.  On second thought, don't bother.  I want that spot secretly for myself.

Mom and Tina's Bakery Cafe

58 Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, South Triangle (just across ABS-CBN compound)

Quezon City

www.momandtinas.com

www.facebook.com/momandtinas