Cafe France

One of Cafe France's branch is located inside the Philippine Heart Center's compound.  My sister-in-law's dad was confined here and since children are not allowed inside, my mom and I volunteered to be the ones to watch over my almost 2-year-old niece instead.  We decided to spend our waiting time in Cafe France.  Being first timers, the very jolly attendant by the counter helped us to decide what to order.  She didn't had an irritated face even if it took us a while to view their menu and order.  She had a very genuine and infectious smile that left me feel lighthearted all through out our stay.

Anyhow, here's what we ordered:

Seafood Marinara (P279.00)
comes with your choice of juice drink

The seafood marinara tastes great! The pasta is cooked al dente.  They didn't scrimped on the seafoods and the cheese as well, which I sooo love!  The pasta came with 2 slices of garlic bread that are not too crispy on the outside and very soft on the inside.  Just the right consistency that I want in garlic breads.  I chose to have an orange juice with it.  I didn't liked how it tasted, though. Can't exactly pin point what it tastes like but it just doesn't taste like an orange juice at all.

Grape Frappe (P125.00)

Since my mom is fond of anything ice-y, she tried Cafe France's grape frappe.  This is what I liked.  It very well tasted like real grapes. The whipped cream on top tasted very good in itself already, what more if it is paired with the blended grapes and ice? So refreshing, I tell you.

racks of freshly baked breads

After realizing that she wasn't able to order anything to eat together with the frappe.  My mom looked by the racks of freshly baked breads displayed near the counter.  She's a pizza lover so it's not surprising for me to see her looking at one. The hawaiian pizza is packed by two slices inside a take out container (lower left corner of the photo above).  While I was about to pay for it, the jolly cashier diligently offered for the pizza to be heated.  I don't know if it's a must for them to do those kind of things for dine in customers but it was really something that I didn't expected.  I mean we're ready and 'cowboy' enough to eat it as is from its plastic packaging.  But we're glad she offered because they made a so-so looking meal be this:

Hawaiian Pizza (P109.00)

I'm sorry the photo above doesn't do any justice to the presentation that was made.  Let me just describe it then, aside from them heating it, they made it a point to add cheese and pineapple on top to make it more visually appetizing and of course yummy (because of the cheese, lol).  How I wish I took a before photo so that you'll be able to appreciate it too.

Overall, the dining experience was enjoyable.  The food was great and the service was superb! 'Will definitely visit if we happen to be within the area again.

Cafe France
Philippine Heart Center
East Avenue, Central,
Quezon City
Tel. No.: 927.9477

Mom & Tina's Bakery Cafe

Whenever I go home from work, this establishment's inviting interior never fails in calling my attention.  They are always packed with customers enjoying their conversation in what seems to be a large living room.  In the past 8 years that I'm working, I was only able to dine here twice.  The first experience was okay but I didn't feel the need to write about it since I'm on blogging hiatus not that adventurous with food yet.  This blog is from my second visit wherein I was able to try some of my brother's their must-tries.

THE AMBIANCE:

"The floral wallpaper and the couches scattered
around the area added  to the homey feel
of the establishment"

Aside from the type of service and the food, it is the ambiance that I'm after as well.  If it is cozy enough for me to feel comfortable eating and having an enjoyable conversation with the persons I'm with then I'm good to go.  And Mom and Tina's is one of them.  The floral wallpaper and the couches scattered around the area added to the homey feel of the establishment.  The attentive and the always smiling attendants is a plus 1,000 points too.

they make sure that at least one (if not most) of their attendants is by the cashier area
wherein he can easily see everyone who asks for assistance

THE FOOD:

Most of the foods that we ordered.
From top left (plated): Mom's US Roast Beef with rice,
Bro's Baked Chicken Macaroni, Shepherd's Pie
 (both are served with freshly baked breads)
and Bro's US Roast Beef with rice.

My mom and younger brother ordered their U.S Roast Beef (P385.00).  I remember asking them for a bite sized piece of it so that I can at least describe how it tasted but then my order came right after and before I knew it, it was all gone. Well maybe it just goes to show that both my mom and brother enjoyed what was served.  For the serving size, I can say that it is enough to satisfy a hungry tummy.

My elder brother ordered their most talked about Shepherd's Pie (P210.00) with Baked Chicken Macaroni (P140.00) which I was not able to taste as well, haha!

I know I was not able to deliver what was expected of this blog entry, which is to describe my personal take on how their food tastes, aside from their good service.  I know I can't do anything about it but to say sorry and blame it on the culprit:

The culprit: Lamb Shoulder Chops (P435.00)

The serving is pretty big that I was still able to give a big chunk for my mom to taste.  I didn't liked their mixed veggies, though.  It seemed as if it wasn't properly thawed before cooking. Anyhow, the taste of the lamb itself paired with the mint sauce that they serve already made up for it. Their mint sauce doesn't have the same consistency as those that I previously tried but is still at par with the taste.  I'm more familiar with the thick ones--theirs isn't thick at all.  At first I thought that it is just vinegar with basil leaves.  I was actually surprised when I had the first slice of the lamb with it.  Well, Isn't it already obvious? I'm a mint sauce fan :) Based from my own taste buds, compared to other mint sauces, theirs is more on the sweet side unlike those thick ones that I was able to try that are more on the minty side.  Anyhow, it was able to still complement the taste of the lamb. The food was gone in minutes :)

THE VERDICT:

Overall, the experience was great. It was as if we were transported to a different place once we entered their establishment.  The food was great as well, based from each of my family member's opinion and mine.  With the ambiance, service and food, I can say that we truly got what we paid for.  Even more.  We won't mind spending our hard earned money dining here again.

Mom & Tina's Bakery Cafe
FRDC Building,
106 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave.,
Pasig City, Metro Manila
Philippines
T: 914-0833

Yabu: House of Katsu

Just last week we were able to try out Yabu, the most talked about katsu restaurant in Manila for the past months.  We're actually settled on having lunch at a different restaurant beforehand but for some reason we ended up trying Yabu instead.  From the parking area, I remember walking inside the newly opened Robinson's Magnolia, passing by the food court, finding our way to the restaurant that we want to have lunch at, seeing Yabu from outside, looking from afar, was fascinated by the interior and lighting of the area, walked nearer, then before I knew it we're already seated inside and looking at their menu. Haha!

They have a wide selection of katsu dishes to choose from: pork, chicken, seafood, veggies, name it.  Being first timers, we didn't had a hard time choosing what we want.  Every detail about a particular dish is described in the menu that they give to guests. We ordered their chicken katsu set.  Every katsu set comes with a DIY katsu sauce:

"black and white sesame seeds that you have to crush  'til your hearts content"

The photo above is a cooler (and lighter) version of the mortar and pestle.  It comes with black and white sesame seeds that you have to crush 'til your hearts content.  After the seeds are crushed, it is now time to pour your desired amount of tonkatsu sauce.

I find it nice that they ask guests if it is their first time dining in their restaurant because they really give extra attention to you if you are.  Since it is our  first time, our food attendant familiarized us with the sauces and dressings on our table.  He informed us what each is used  for--which I already have forgotten.  Sorry :)

sauces,dressings and other condiments

Our food attendant, Jerry, is very accommodating to all our requests even if he had other guests to attend to.  Their manager took his time to go around and visit each table to ask if everything is okay as well.

After about 10-15 minutes our food arrived:

The visually appetizing Chicken Katsu Set

Each dish in their menu comes with miso soup, japanese pickles, shredded cabbage, and a  couple of fruit slices.  Their presentation is pretty nice that it made me not want to touch any of it.  But, hunger took over and before I knew it everything was gone! well, except for the plates :)

THE FOOD

I'm not really a fan of tonkatsu but I find their chicken katsu very good.  Its softness didn't gave me a  hard time biting into it.  The chewiness that I don't like in tonkatsus isn't present either.  Its melt in your mouth goodness is something that I want to go back for.

And did I mention that their rice and cabbage is unlimited? Yes, it is.  The moment I knew about it I actually thought of Mang Inasal and Chickboy in an instant.  They are the very sosy version, though :)

THE VERDICT

I'm actually planning to bring hubby here when he gets home. Robinson's Magnolia is too far from where we live but I hope that they have the same kind of service, and food for that matter, in their Megamall branch when we visit.

YABU: HOUSE OF KATSU

Lower Ground Floor, Robinson's Magnolia,

Aurora Blvd. cor. Dona M Hemady St.,

New Manila, Quezon City

Philippines