Everything’s Better with A Cup of Coffee
I’m not a caffeine junkie, but I do appreciate the warmth that only a hot cup of coffee could bring. To me, relaxation is to lounge in an air-conditioned cozy café with a cup of coffee in one hand, and a good read on the other. However, there are days when your neighborhood Starbucks is not enough. You need hot grub, quality hot grub, to go with your hot coffee. So I've compiled a list of restaurants I've visited in the last few months which allow you to get the best of both worlds.
D&B DUCK AND BUVETTE
Duck and Buvette is renowned for its delicious duck dishes, such as its Half Leg Duck Confit. It’s a delightful place to grab lunch and dinner; but its partnership with Intellegentsia Coffee makes it also perfect for coffee and dessert.
THE EARL’S CHEESECAKE (P190) and PERSEPHONE (P160)
Cleanse your palate with the perfect bittersweet marriage of The Earl’s Cheesecake and Persephone. The Earl’s Cheesecake boasts of a cream cheese topping layered with hints of earl grey tea and Madagascar vanilla beans atop a tasty crumbly crust. The Persephone is a citrusy blend reminiscent of spring; hints of pomegranate lend a smooth clean finish to every sip. Pair them up together, and you have a delightful experience ahead of you. Hint: The slice of cheesecake can be a bit too much for one to consume; so perhaps order a lighter dessert to go with it; and split both desserts equally!
D&B Duck and Buvette
2F Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City
Date of Visit: May 31, 2015
YARDSTICK COFFEE
THREE CHEESE (P150) AND MOCHA
The bright interiors of Yardstick Coffee lend the perfect setting to start and perk up anyone’s day! Its menu is a contrast to that of its next door neighbor, Your Local, as it serves up a typical selection of sandwiches and dessert. Nonetheless, it doesn’t skimp on delight. The Three Cheese sandwich pairs well with a sweet cup of coffee; but if you came with company, switch a half of it for a half of the Beef Tapa sandwich, its thick slices of well-marinated beef, in between layers of melted cheese. will win you over! If you’re in need of a stronger caffeine kick, you could never go wrong with their Cold Brew (P160)! Just go on easy with it though! The first time I drank it, I was up until 2AM!
Yardstick Coffee
GF Universal LMS Bldg., 106 Esteban St., Legazpi Village, Makati City
Date of Visit: June 11, 2015 with Lily Chua
BREAKFAST AT ANTONIO’S
Going to Tagaytay is always an event with me. I really don’t mind the hours’ worth of travelling, if a good meal awaits me at the end. Of course nothing beats a fine dining meal at Antonio’s; however, that would require a well-planned reservation. Housed in a picturesque and spacious white house with a convenient viewing area to see the famed Taal Volcano, this all-day breakfast dining wonder is definitely the next best thing!
HOUSEMADE CHORIZO (P425)
Although their roesti’s, waffles, and pastas are good choices; nothing beats a breakfast plate from Antonio’s. Since my favorite, the Daing na Gindara was cut from the menu, I opted for the Housemade Chorizo. I opted for the spicy version, and paired it with scrambled eggs, and a piece of hash brown (Instead of the hash brown, you can opt for garlic rice or baked scallop potatoes). The chorizo was really fatty, and a bit greasy; but mixing it up with the spiced vinegar did wonders. I instantly regretted my hash brown because I imagined how epic this combination would taste with a hot cup of garlic rice. The atsara came in a gelatinous form. It was a bit odd; but it still served its purpose as a palate cleanser.
Its coffee selection may not be as noteworthy as its food options, but the brew is still best enjoyed black. Pair this up with their Banana Pecan Waffles, and it’s a match made in heaven!
Breakfast at Antonio’s
Date of Visit: May 2, 2015 with Lily Chua, Jem Chua, and Jared Chua
Aguinaldo Highway, Barangay Bagong Tubig 4120, Tagaytay
DOME CAFÉ
Dome Café has built a reputation as the perfect venue to have business lunches and/or meetings. It even has private rooms which makes it more conducive for group discussions. However, I treat it as my Starbucks, my home away from home; where I can sit for hours, and just read. Its hot drinks selection has the usual espressos, and cappuccinos; however, opt for the Café Vienna or the Chococcino for something different!
GRILLED PORK CHOPS (P495) and GRILLED FISH FILLET with CREAMY CRAB SHRIMP SAUCE (P450)
I always opt for their Grilled Pork Chops, due to the refreshing citrus kick each slice gives you (Read more about it in the Pig Out Special); but the Grilled Fish Fillet is good alternative if you’re looking for something lighter. True, the aligue sauce is a health hazard; but the delectable shrimp sauce (which comes with actual shrimp pieces) tastes so good with the fish that it makes the heart attack scare so worth it!
Dome Café
GF Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City
Date of Visit: June 20, 2015 with Lily Chua
TUAN TUAN CHINESE BRASSERIE
CRISPY BARBECUED PORK SNOW BUNS (P128/3pcs) and HK STYLE COFFEE
Move over, Tim Ho Wan! Tuan Tuan may not have a Michelin star to its name; however, its famed Crispy Barbecued Pork Snow Buns definitely hit the ball out of the park! The crunchy crust is simply perfect to the bite; and leads one to taste the saucy marinated barbecued pork pieces. Its crust and its meat definitely trumps that of Tim Ho Wan’s; however, my favorite pork bun would still be that of Choi Garden’s. The HK Style Coffee was served with condensed milk; despite being my favorite coffee mix, I felt that the brew was too sour for my liking.
LAKSA SET (P518)
Apart from the snow buns, the main stars of the restaurant seem to be its soup bases; and their respective meal sets. A set can come with a side, and either a cup of their HK Style Coffee, or their Cantonese Lemon Tea. Since I’m a bit partial to the Malay/Singaporean taste, my mom and I opted to split their Laksa. I’m a bit divided on this. The broth was simply too light in flavor. It was in need of a stronger coconut taste, and more heat. However, one cannot deny the quality of the cuttlefish and fish balls used in the soup. Each piece tasted like an exquisite premium choice! I loved the ingredients; but the broth was definitely subpar.
Tuan Tuan Chinese Brasserie
3F SM Mega Fashion Hall, Mandaluyong City
Date of Visit: May 14, 2015 with Lily Chua
