Sugar High at Cafe Shibuya

Despite (or because) of our strong family history of diabetes, I was born with a sweet tooth.  I grew up snacking on anything sweet - candies, chocolates, anything with icing and whipped cream.  I often cannot put a closing punctuation on a meal without munching on something sugary.

And so, after a hearty meal at home, we found ourselves hunting for a sweet escape.  Good thing that U.P. Town Center was just a stone's throw away from the missus' place, and she was raving about this quaint cafe she tried out previously.  Tales of a tall loaf of bread smothered in saccharine goodness echoed in my ears.

This.

The place was packed by the late lunchtime crowd on a cloudy afternoon.  We found a cozy corner table and wasted no time ordering the famous shibuya toast.  The cafe had a homey vibe with wooden tables and fixtures and pastel themed walls, but the crowd was a bit rowdy, negating the idyllic atmosphere. 

Apparently popularized in Japan's famed busy district, the shibuya toast consists of a tall slice of loaf bread topped with anything possible.  For this visit, I succumbed to the tempting visions of Ferrero Rocher as the crowning glory for my toast.

Ferrero Hazelnut, Baby P225 

Feeling a bit guilty, I ordered the baby version instead of the regular behemoth size.  Still, there was nothing diminutive about the 'baby' size.  It was still hefty and imposing.  Don't let the thick loaf fool you, as the bread is indeed pillow-soft within.  This isn't your regular panaderia bread either.  They bake their own in-house to keep matters fresh.  The exterior is crunchy and crusty, although it was a tad inconsistent.  Only the top portion was crisp throughout, as the sides were unevenly crisp.

The toppings were generous.  A large scoop of vanilla ice cream rested on a bed of nutella spread and showered with chopped nuts.  The ice cream was remarkable - it was good in itself (as evidenced by our nephew who ate more than half of it.)  It wasn't overpowering yet it lent the right amount of sweetness to the loaf.  The hazelnut spread was smothered on top evenly, though I would have preferred a bit more generosity.  Still, the four halves of rocher sticking to the scoop of ice cream added another level of saccharine goodness.  You can never go wrong by adding a dollop of whipped cream on the side.  It was an interesting experience of contrasting textures - soft and mushy, crisp and crunchy.  All wrapped up in a sugar high.

Original Dark Chocolate Molten Cake, P175

For those wary of the impending carb overload of the humongous toast, fret not.  There are other dessert options.  She picked the cafe's version of the ubiquitous lava cake.  This version came with two huge scoops of vanilla ice cream, thankfully.  Our nephew just couldn't get enough of this.

The lava cake was small, compared to the ones we usually got from S&R.  Still, it had a crunchy, toasted exterior that lent a contrast in texture.  Its innards were soft but a bit dry.  Consistently, it was bitter more than sweet, including the molten chocolate filling.  Nevertheless, the vanilla ice cream provided the necessary sugary taste, along with a dash of powdered sugar.  Again, I could have the ice cream on its own.  It was that good.  Pity that it melted too fast.  Overall, the lava cake seemed subdued and not as explosive as I wanted it.  Although, some people would prefer this more subtle taste.

Chocolate Green Tea Latte, P155

I paired my sweets with the Chocolate Green Tea Latte, in a bid to suppress the overwhelming sugar.  It cam in a large red cup, warm and hearty.  The concoction had an unusual taste.

The leafy taste of green tea clashed with the distinct chocolate flavor.  I couldn't make out what was going on in this single cup.  It was sweet but the herbal taste was dominating.  Good thing I skipped on the whipped cream topping or this would have been war of the worlds.  Still, I finished the cup since towards the bottom, it's almost all chocolate.

Thus, there seems to be a pervasive theme in Cafe Shibuya's offerings, the desserts, in particular.  It is a contrast in flavor and texture all in a single dish.  The pillow soft interiors complementing the crusted tops of their shibuya toasts. The deep dark bitterness of the molten lava with the light sweetness of the vanilla ice cream.  Save for my green tea latte, they seemed to have perfected the eclectic mix.  

Cafe Shibuya offers more than just desserts, with some savory dishes, crepes, and pasta.  I would certainly come back and sample their other offerings.  With a bevy of variations for their toasts, Cafe Shibuya is poised to be the legendary pioneer for this dessert, this side of Asia.

Jones

Cafe Shibuya

U.P. Town Center

Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/CafeShibuya

Read more

Hopping Back to IHOP!

One of the main instigators of the all-day breakfast revolution, IHOP has spread its influence far and wide across the metro. A couple of years after the hype and publicity,HOP manages to maintain prominence as the go-to spot for one's breakfast fix.  We recently returned to IHOP after missing their delicious pancakes for a year.

Malagos Hot Chocolate, P145 (+10% service charge)

First off, I have to credit IHOP for tweaking their international menu to offer more local delights.  They currently offer the Filipino favorite silog meals, but I chickened out in trying their versions, for fear they might not get it right.  Nevertheless, one other perfect example is their Malagos Hot Chocolate, made from cacao beans sourced locally from Davao.  Priced similarly with their regular Hot Chocolate, this version is a steal.  Deep and dark yet with light sweet overtones, the Malagos Hot Chocolate was the perfect upper for our meal.  Sip away the holidays, as I believe this is available only for a limited time.

Quick Two-Egg Breakfast, P295 (+10% service charge)

I quickly settled down for a Quick Two-Egg Breakfast, served with 4 pieces of toast.  I picked bacon (finally, real pork bacon after enduring a year of nearly no pork bacon in Singapore) instead of sausages.

The hash brown seemed more generous than the first time I tried it here in the country.  Also, it had a more even crispy exterior than before.  Better than the first time, definitely.  The bacon was heavenly, or seemed so.  Maybe it was because I missed it so much.  Still, after a few minutes it had gone cold and a bit chewy.  Nevertheless, the fat and meat ratio was acceptable.  The eggs were just the usual sunny-sides, done the way I like it - a bit burnt on the underside.

The toast that went with my order were nothing spectacular, and I would have preferred more generous slathering with butter.  Maybe I miss kaya toasts already.  The jam was the grocery staple Smucker's, so nothing fancy here.

Double Blueberry Pancakes, P275 (+10% service charge)

The last fruity pancake we had at IHOP was a disaster - the strawberries were soggy and sad.  Wary of this, she picked the blueberry variant instead.  As always, the pancakes are huge, but appears thicker than previously.

A pleasant surprise was that the pancakes were filled with actual blueberries!  Hooray!  The berries were fresh and lightly sweet.  Topping the stack of flapjacks was blueberry compote, again with real blueberries.  The compote was light and not overpowering, but the whipped cream may have added too much sweetness.  The pancakes itself seemed airier than before, but because of its relatively thicker size, it appeared less fluffy than Pancake House or even the budget favorite Ally's. 

Reunited and it tastes so good...

After the hyped had died down and receiving mixed reviews, IHOP still has steadily spread its sphere of influence.  However, the consequence of jump-starting the all-day "brekky" revolution was that some places now offer better and more varied pancakes at a more reasonable price (think: Ally's).  Still, IHOP's pancakes remain one of the fluffiest (and largest) and pound for pound, better than most for this price range.  With the flexibility to tweak its menu and keep serving sizes Americanized, IHOP is clearly here to stay.

Jones

IHOP (International House of Pancakes)

Ground Floor, U.P. Town Center

Katipunan Avenue, 

Quezon City

(multiple branches across Metro Manila)

https://www.facebook.com/IHOPPhilippines

Read more

Life of Pi: Pi Breakfast and Pies

All-day breakfast places are rapidly becoming the most popular trend in the country today.  What used to be the monopoly of Pancake House is now a wide open market, bolstered by an infusion of foreign brands (IHOP) and local concepts.  It has become so prevalent that even restaurants that don't usually serve breakfast suddenly modifies their menu.  As such, it is now a challenge to search and sift out the really good all-day breakfast joints.

Riding on this current craze, one of my favorite modern Filipino restaurants, Pino, decided to put up their own breakfast spot just adjacent to them.  Thus, Pi was born.  Occupying a small corner of their building, Pi humbly dishes out honest-to-goodness breakfast fare even with a rather limited menu.  Not to worry though, as they also sell baked goodies (breads, cookies) for those who prefer a lighter wake-upper.

But I didn't come here for their baked goodies.  I wanted a good homey breakfast satisfaction.  We perused their simple menu book, and the choices seemed few, particularly the pancake section.  Nevertheless, my eyes zeroed in on one of their best-sellers and it was an easy choice.

Wagyu Beef Sirloin Tapa, PHP 245

My beloved humble beef tapa deserved a little pimpin' with Pi's rendition of this cult favorite.  Tender slices of wagyu beef sat gloriously on top of garlic kimchi rice, served with a whole, soft boiled egg.

The beef was tender as advertised, with no trace of grittiness or toughness. I loved the level of sweetness it exuded, the way I prefer my tapsilog.  It's the Paranaque way, I believe, with the beef served with a hint of sugary glaze instead of saltiness a la bistek.  There were slivers of fat on some portions, cloying with its meaty taste.

The atchara soaked in mildly sour vinegar was perfect as both a dip and mix-in to the rice.  The rice itself was a revelation, with hints of spiciness from the kimchi.  Although I would have preferred a sunny-side up egg (in retrospect, I could have ordered it that way), the soft-boiled egg was perfect - runny yolk and smooth exterior.  The common man's hearty breakfast was now all dolled-up in meaty glory.

Banana Nutella Cream Cheese Pancake, PHP 145

The missus was in the mood for pancakes, but the options paled in comparison to other breakfast joints, such as Ally's just across the street.  Believe me, she would have easily crossed over had it not been the surprising sight of numerous parked cars outside Ally's.  Strangely, (perhaps sensing the rivalry), our waitstaff offered us the freedom of modifying this waffle choice into a pancake.  

And so, this creation came out.  Three average-sized flapjacks lathered with nutella and then smothered with chocolate syrup, all topped with fresh slices of banana and a dollop of whipped cream.  A pretty sight indeed.  The pancakes, however, seemed just simple and nothing spectacular.  It was soft but overcooked in some places.  The nutella, though, was generous, coating the layers in between.  But, the chocolate syrup was overkill.  After just a few minutes, it was a challenge just to cut through the pancake.  It almost became like eating a steak, probably because the syrup was too thick and quickly turned it into a coagulated mess.  There was an interesting taste at some bites, as the cream cheese suddenly bursts into your mouth with its distinct bitterness.  However, whatever flavor it had was overpowered by the chocolate syrup.

Mombana Hot Chocolate, PHP 75

As if we hadn't had our fill of chocolate, I picked a hot drink to go with my meal.  The Mombana Hot Chocolate was comforting and good.  It had just the right thick consistency and the perfect mix of sweet and bitter taste.

Breakfast of champions.

In keeping with the methods of Pino, Pi has admirably re-invented our classic favorites into their own quirky creations.  Although their pancakes are a tad behind other breakfast joints, the Wagyu Beef Tapa is enough to keep patrons coming back (and not settle for the rival across the street).  I would come back and try their other rice meals and their pies, which I heard are also best sellers.  But for now, look for Pi to keep the breakfast scene interesting and more vibrant than before.

Jones

Pi, Breakfast and Pies

39 Malingap Street, Teacher's Village

Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/breakfastnpies

Read more

Mediterranean Pit Stop: Mister Kabab!

If you were an 80s or even 90s baby, I'm quite sure you are familiar with one of the food crazes back then.  In almost every corner, a common sight was the rotating roasting contraption, with a vertical skewer impaling layers of succulent beef.  You guessed it right, it's shawarma!

But like any other craze, it soon died down as years passed.  Nowadays, shawarma nooks have been relegated to food court malls inside your neighborhood SM or Puregold.  Nevertheless, the true pioneers remain standing strong amid the test of time.  Among these, Mister Kabab lingers as the iconic shawarma center.

Almost shamefully I admit that my first dibs on Mister Kabab was just a few years ago.  I was fond of the food court shawarma-to-go types, and all along I thought it was the authentic taste.  Little did I know what a gargantuan experience I was missing out.  Ever since my first visit, it was almost impossible to pass up a quick stop in Mister Kabab whenever I found myself driving along West Avenue, a once flourishing street of buffet and Chinese food joints.

Moroccan inspired interiors and sweaty atmosphere

So, in between running errands and a bit of shopping, we managed to find ourselves coasting along West Avenue.  Despite already having a quick lunch, we couldn't pass up a chance for a pit stop for their Arabian delicacies.  The place appears rather crude on the outside.  In fact, it is an open-air establishment yet exhibits an authentic look, with Moroccan / North African inspired interiors.  On a lighter note, a few Indian and Arabian expats dining inside further enhances it authenticity and of course, is a testament to the quality of their food.

Beware of the red bottle: fiery hot in nuclear proportions.

For our impromptu merienda, we picked a light snack of Mister Kabab's very own sandwiches.  Of course, the taste would be very different without their signature dips, the fiery red hot sauce and the tangy garlic yogurt sauce.

Beef Shawarma Sandwich, P80

The wrap that started it all, Mister Kabab's beef shawarma is affordably priced at just 80 bucks.  For that, you get a filling serving of tender beef strips and a garnish of chopped cucumber, onions, and tomatoes.  The beef, of course, is the meat of the topic.  Full flavors burst forth with each bite, each morsel perfectly roasted with a hint of charred goodness.  The pita wrap is sometimes hit and miss.  This time, it was a bit off.  It was tough and doughy, although some portions were soft and just right.  Nevertheless, the garlic dip will solve all problems by applying liberal amounts on each bite.

Beef Kabab Sandwich, P95

I normally order beef kebab rice meal here, but since this was supposed to be merienda time, I tried the sandwich version for the first time.  It equaled the rice meal on all accounts.  It consists of one long strip of tender ground beef kabab married with slices of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, embraced lovingly by the pita wrap.  The beef was peppery on its own, but the garlic sauce does all sorts of wonders, maybe even world peace.  Tender and succulent, each bite should be ruminated slowly and purposefully.  

The perfect meal to go.

Despite the fact that the Golden Age of shawarma has long been gone, Mister Kabab still serves up authentic and great tasting Mediterranean items.  No wonder this place gets packed with long queues during the height of dinner time.  Mister Kabab even has a more upscale branch, fully air-conditioned and with a similarly designed interior, over at the Technohub.

Still, longtime loyal fans prefer to flock to this original spot like believers on pilgrimage to Mecca.  There's something nostalgic and genuine about a sweaty shop and tangy fumes emanating from the kitchen.  The food is honest, affordable, and fulfilling.  Even if restaurants neighboring around it have come and gone, Mister Kabab is certain to retain its place as the prime icon of shawarma.

Jones

Mister Kabab

31 West Avenue

Quezon City

Read more

Secret of the Alley: Ally's All Day Breakfast Place!

Ask anyone about their favorite meal of the day, and probably 9 times out of 10, breakfast is the easy choice.  That one who chose otherwise might even pick brunch, so technically, it's still breakfast.  Personally, I could eat breakfast fare any time of the day, even midnight!  But, for some strange reason, breakfast food tastes so darn good when you have it just around noon, when your stomach is growling angrily, your mouth salivating copiously, and your vision getting dim.  It's the perfect time to pig out and break the "fast", pun intended.

The strongest evidence that breakfast is widely popular is the burgeoning food fad of the all-day breakfast.  Long before IHOP stepped on our shores, local joints like Pancake House were already dishing out your favorite silogs and waffles and pancakes at your whim.  Soon however, local entrepreneurs got wind of this craze and established their own novel shops.

Located in the heart of the vibrant food center that is Teacher's Village, Ally's All Day Breakfast just recently opened its doors to the hungry public.  As a common practice nowadays, these newbies in the food scene offer discount vouchers on group buying websites.  So I grabbed one when I saw it, having read about Ally's on some food blogs.

Can't miss the sign.

Barely occupying half a block, this quaint little spot appears to have sprung out of somebody's house along Malingap Street.  Yet despite its diminutive location, its bright orange and yellow pastel signage attracts attention even at high noon.  I would have missed the spot if not for that sign.  Inside, the cheerful vibe bursts forth with the yellow plastered walls and orange plastic seats.  The shop is indeed small, seating only around 16 to 18 people inside and perhaps 10 more outside.  It was a humid day, so we picked the seats inside.  Plus, it's more colorful there.

Breakfast will break your diet.

Someone's got an eye for the jar of M&Ms.

In keeping with its simplistic theme, the menu is quite straightforward.  On one side, the familiar silog rice meals and pancakes dominate the page.  On the reverse, waffles and all sorts of sweets tempt the weak of heart.  At this time of day, rice meals are the easy choice.  

Only Oreo.  Makes me weak on the knees.

Even though it labels itself as a breakfast place, it was surprising to find a few items that seemed a bit out of place, like french fries and spring rolls.  Nevertheless, everything appeared honest-to-goodness and homey.

Classic Beef Tapa, P130

It would be a mortal sin not to order the Filipino all-time favorite tapsilog.  It's obvious that in our country, each shop in each area has their own version on the beloved tapa, with each one of course claiming to outdo the other.  Ally's version isn't flashy and appears to stay true to tradition (hence, the "classic" label).  

All members of the trio are present, with two eggs done your way, an ample serving of beef, a small portion of tomato and bell pepper sides, and of course steamed rice garnished with crunchy garlic bits.  A colorful and complete meal indeed.  The beef was tender and soft, thankfully.  However, after a few bites, especially without any rice, the saltiness goes overboard.  Maybe it's just me, but I prefer my tapa on the sweeter side, having grown up in Paranaque where it is typically sweet and even shredded into a flaky texture.  Adding the garlic on top of it must have enhanced the salty taste, almost transforming it into beef salpicao.  With eggs.  Nevertheless, there's nothing our friendly Datu Puti couldn't resolve, and a few dips on the vinegar eases away some of the briny taste.

Sweet Pork Tocino, P130

Of course, no Filipino breakfast would be complete without the porky partner of the tapsilog.  The Sweet Pork Tocino marries luscious cured pork, two eggs done at your whim, and a heaping scoop of garlic rice.  By some accident, my order of eggs got mixed up and it came out scrambled.  Never did I regret it.  The scrambled eggs were moist and fluffy, nay, even dreamy.  

But the tocino stole the show.  The serving was generous and aptly portioned, with just the right amount of cloying fat, its edges perfectly charred into a crisp texture.  The meat itself was sweet but not overpowering, tender and freshly pink.  Perfectly executed, I must say, the way the Filipino tocino should be.

Iced Tea

Each meal already comes with a cold glass of their house blend iced tea.  It wasn't too sweet, and a bit on the bitter side, exuding the leafy goodness of real tea.  But, this was not the only sweet treat for that day.  

At Ally's, you can opt to create your own pancake!  Once you've decided to order, the servers hand out a small piece of paper to tick your choices, complete from batter to toppings and guilty add-ons (M&Ms and whipped cream, anyone?).  We elected to go for a more conservative approach.  Those who are too lazy to even think of their own concoction can just pick their specialty pancake creations, ready-made for your degustation.  Here's our creation, the Banana Nutella mix!

Our own concoction: Banana Nutella Pancake (2 pcs.)

To start off, the pancake itself was divine.  It was fluffy but not too airy, and sweet on its own.  Remarkably, it resembled the fluffiness of IHOP.  Yes, IHOP.  Believe me when I say it.  If not for its thinner texture, it could masquerade as the cheaper version of IHOP, without sacrificing the taste.  It's that good.  The slices of banana were fresh and plump.  The Nutella spread was, well, Nutella (surprise, surprise!).  Sadly, they scrimped on the spread, lathering the top pancake only while completely forgetting the other one.  Even the top spread was too thin for the price tag (P35), I would say.  We topped off our creation with chopped walnuts and crushed graham for a contrast in texture. Oh yes, crushed graham goes well with Nutella and maple syrup.  That was a sinful combination.

The wall says it all.  Breakfast love!

Ally's All Day Breakfast Place is a homey, down-to-earth addition to an already muddled competition of all-day breakfast joints.  With a smaller up-keep, a strategic location, and a more directed target market, it has found a niche despite its young age.  The create-your-own pancake concept is novel and simple (I would rather have them cook it for me rather than me doing the cooking, take that Slappy Cakes!).  But the praises for the cakes don't end there, as their batter is light and fluffy, reminiscent of the more famous versions.  The rice meals are probably hit and miss, but likely more hits.  But just for the pancakes, I would definitely come back.

Ally's manages to avoid redundancy in the already repetitive world of breakfast places.  Its cozy spot attracts those who wish to avoid the crazy lines and even crazier price tags of the popular breakfast places.  It's comfort food done well.  It's breakfast you can have any time of the day, as if you were simply at home.  Or maybe, this is home.

Jones

Ally's All Day Breakfast Place

50 Malingap Street, Sikatuna Village

Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/AllysAllDay

Read more