I've been to quite a few cafes and coffee shops recently that rekindled the urge for me to log back in to my online diary and tell you some interesting (hopefully) insights about it.
Cocow Barn
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| Cocow Barn interior |
I was in Ortigas one weekend intending to visit either Toby's Estate or Subspace for a cup of coffee when I saw the rustic-looking sign of Cocow Barn at the ground floor of a sprawling condominium while I was walking. I immediately decided that I would check out this new cafe instead.
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| latte and cheesecake |
I didn't feel like ordering anything heavy like their pastas or the sandwiches so I just settled for a simple cup of latte and a cheesecake. The cheesecake is surprisingly good. The creaminess and tartness of it soothes and caresses my eager palate. The coffee though is a different story. Tepid and too watered down. I might order the Macadamia Nut Latte next time.
G/F Grand Emerald Tower
Ortigar Jr corner Garnet Road
Ortigas Center, Pasig City
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Tyler's Cafe
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| Tyler's Cafe |
I only learned about Tyler's Cafe when the person I'm following on social media congratu-lates the owner of Gino's Brick Oven Pizza for his new coffee shop venture. And when I learned that the cafe is situated just in Katipunan, I quickly set out plans to visit it on my rest day that week.
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| ricotta pancakes |
I didn't have a hard time finding Tyler's Cafe since it stands side-by-side with the newly constructed Gino's (near the strip of restaurants where you could also find The Old Spaghetti House). I liked the 'university-vibe' of the cafe which is very conducive for students to meet, hauling their books on Accounting or English Lit and find their quiet nook to study. I also find improvised flower made from straw that adorned each table a very splendid idea.
The Ricotta Pancakes I ordered was truly magnificent. Fluffy and velvety beyond compare with the acrid flavor of the strawberry preserves cut through the sweetness. Perfect to pair it with a cup of hot coffee.
319 Katipunan Avenue
Quezon City
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Artesania MNL
Whenever I visit Maginhawa, I make it a point to walk the stretch of Sikatuna Village to Teacher's Village. I did that recently in spite of the intense heat of the sun that it almost wore me out. Call it crazy but I just don't want to missed out on anything, especially if I'm on the look-out for some new food places to try that not a lot of people have heard or talked about yet. Which happened prior to this visit to Artesania MNL where I find this one of a kind sandwich snack bar called Sendvici (you should try their Bacon Wrapped Grilled Cheese Sandwich!) which I'm going to tell more about possibly on a future post.
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| wall mural at Artesania MNL |
But enough of the digression. What struck me upon entering Artesania MNL is the wall graffiti that dominates the room strewn with a lot of hugot quotes. I busied myself reading them and taking pictures so I could post it on social media while waiting for my orders to arrive.
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| nutcracker latte |
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| brownie a la mode |
Of course, I wouldn't pass up on not trying their signature drinks with their much talked about galaxy latte art on it. I was asked if I like to try a sweeter type of latte and was offered the Nutcracker Latte. The magnificent swirls of the wondrous latte art holds me agape. I think this was the first in a long, long time that I couldn't sip my coffee because I might end up ruining the latte art. Inadvertently creating a black hole that will suck up the planet and the shimmering gold stars that surround it.
I'm also quite pleased with the Brownie A La Mode. A rightfully moist block of brownie with a scoop of vanilla swirled with chocolate syrup on the side. A simple fare but what sweet serenity it gives me with every bite.
140 Maginhawa Street
Sikatuna Village
Quezon City
*******
Tim Hortons
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| display counter at Tim Hortons |
I was a bit hesitant visiting Tim Hortons. The long lines coupled with frazzled baristas and waitstaff and the difficulty of nabbing a decent seat. It's really discouraging. I'm actually waiting for the Eastwood branch to open because it's much nearer to my place but my friend who's with me seems impatient and was more than willing to brace the long queues to see why almost everyone is going gaga over this coffee shop from Canada.
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| iced capped drinks and vanilla dip donut |
I wasn't exactly too impressed, to be honest. The Iced Capped drinks we ordered were okay. Chilly dessert coffee drinks that we gladly sipped to soothe our overtaxed body from nonstop walking. But the donuts we tried were just disappointing, to say the least. The Double Chocolate Fudge Donut we tried was dry and crumbly. Not anywhere near fudgy at all. I had a hard time eating the Vanilla Dip Donut. The tiny candy sprinkles tend to stuck between teeth which makes eating (and chewing) the said donut unpleasurable.
G/F, Uptown Place Mall
36th Street cor 9th Avenue
Bonifacio Global City
Taguig
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Oto
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| inside Oto |
A hipster place where it's a coffee shop by day that turns into a bar at night. That's how I could best describe Oto, a cafe/bar I would never get a whiff of its existence if not from a famous person who's very well versed in the food industry posted about it on social media which whom I happen to be following.
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| Latte |
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| super moist brownie |
Don't expect to eat that many during the day time since their hot kitchen is only available at night. Not sure if that is still the case as I type this post. But I was offered a super moist brownie, one of the best I had in a very long time. I eat the brownie in between sips of an excellent latte and I just surrender myself to total bliss.
5880 Enriquez Street
Brgy Poblacion
Makati City
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Starbucks Preserve
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| Starbucks Reserve in Jupiter St. |
Nowadays, I always make it a point to visit the nearest Starbucks Reserve outlet instead of just the usual Starbucks Coffee store. The vibe is exceedingly different, for one. It has a more 'upscale' feel to it. Plus, there's a number of coffees and food selection here that you cannot find in any other regular Starbucks store.
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| coffee and multi-grain bagel |
The latest Starbucks Reserve that I visited is the one in Jupiter Street which is quite spacious and there's a lot minute details such as coffee paraphernalia, interior designs, wall murals and signs to keep your eyes busy.
At Starbucks Reserve, I'm always encouraged to try their black coffee selection. I tried the Ethiopia Kayon Mountain Farm prepared using the manual pour-over. It also comes with a free chocolate chip cookie. For good measure, I also had a Multi-Grain Bagel which I smeared with some butter and jam.
14 Jupiter St
Makati City
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Blugre Coffee
I was so glad that I have finally visited Blurge Coffee in Manila East. The cafe is so pretty and inviting I couldn't help but take pictures of the lovely interiors so I could brag about it on social media.
My love affair with Blugre almost ended from there. I liked the Durian Arctic Blast. The flavor of durian rings with every sip of this dessert coffee drink. However, the Rainbow Cake is a bit dry and the Penne Tuna Pesto Cream still needs a lot of tweaking and lacks the pesto flavor I was looking for.
Unit 101
Manila East Arcade 2
Don Hilario Cruz Avenue
Brgy San Juan
Taytay, Rizal
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