Food Tripping In Pasig

food at Cafe de Ese

I've been away yet again from my online diary. Too many distractions. Nowadays, I'm so caught up on my goal to complete reading at least 30 books this year (I've already read 20 books so far, if you're interested to know) that my commitment to update this blog has took a backseat. Most of my idle time was spent either on reading or watching channels on YouTube that talk about books. But enough of that for now because I wanted to share to you some great finds here in Pasig that you might want to check out.

Panda Love

at Cafe de Ese

giant panda doll

I've learned about Cafe de Ese, a panda themed cafe located in Amang Rodriguez in Manggahan, Pasig while browsing through my Instagram feed. I think it's one of those sponsored posts that pops out every now and then. And I must admit, the numerous panda stuff toys that littered the cafe really got me curious. So one Saturday, I did brave the heavy downpour to visit this unassuming coffee shop. To know the exact location of the cafe, it's on the same commercial complex where Isaw Haus is located.

pasta, coffee and cupcake at Cafe de Ese

I quickly spied the cutesy panda cupcakes staring up at me from the display counter so I immediately appropriate one myself. I also had a whimsically named drink called Caramel Popcorn Latte, served with a biscoff and a plate of Gourmet Tuyo Pasta to complete my early afternoon meal. A hot pasta dish, a hot latte and a too pretty to eat cupcake. I eat them in hush silence, a book in hand, while staring at the incessant rain outside. A type of tranquility that I savor each time.

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One Of The Better Tapsilog I Had  

at Meat Yard

tenderloin tapa

I first heard about Meat Yard when a friend of mine posted about it on social media. I was a bit dubious on finding the exact location of it though. But while traveling to Ayala Feliz, I spied its glaring sign and realized how near it is from my place of work. My first attempt to visit proved nil since they apparently open very late during the weekends. An opportunity for me to finally visit them when I went to work on a weekday and was told that my vacation leave credit was approved that day. I thought about Meat Yard right then and didn't waste a minute to check them out since I was already starving.

One thing I notice is that they're quite popular with their short order meals like lugaw. Either as take out or dine-in. I was even asked if I want one but I more interested on their main rice meals. I did have the Beef Tenderloin Tapa w/ Egg. Gorgeously presented, if I do say so myself. Stringy and not the sweet variety that I usually associate with tapa. Wonderfully seasoned. I eat the tapa with copious amount of rice. I was also surprised when they served me a pitcher of Cucumber Lemonade. Apparently, a large lemonade to them is a super sized version. I'm not complaining, though.

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A Wonderful Indonesian Meal

table setting

snacks for sale

I was so ecstatic to finally try the much hyped Warung in Kapitolyo. I hauled my friends over to dive into their food one Saturday evening. In retrospect, this is my first time to have a full-restaurant Indonesian cuisine experience, same goes with my peers who's with me.

nasi goreng

soto ayam

While waiting for our mains to arrive, our server swooped down a bowl of Soto Ayam, a  searing hot chicken soup with a vibrant yellow broth. We sip and slurp appreciatively. I quickly felt beads of sweat on my forehead and the back of my neck but I just couldn't stop ladling some more of the soup.

Of course, an Indonesian meal wouldn't be complete without the requisite order of Nasi Goreng. We had a spicy and a non-spicy version. Just in case the spicy variant prove to be too intense for us to take but we didn't need to worry. The spiciness level of the food here is a little muted and is more like a pleasing caress than an offensive assault on the palate.

sate ayam

beef rendang

martabak manis

Of course, we have to order Sate Ayam. Skewered chicken satay that's wonderfully toothsome and drenched in a peanutty sauce that's so good I'm almost tempted to swipe the sauce clean with my finger or lick it straight from the plate. Table manners thrown away for just a moment.

 I was a little hesitant to order Beef Rendang. I have an unpleasant experience with it when I first tried it at Crying Tiger in Poblacion. The dish was so spicy I thought I got my tongue  got bruised permanently. I know, I know. That statement was a little exaggerated. But you do get my point, right? But the rendang here in Warung is more to my liking. Saucy and rich in flavor and spices. The heat wasn't as fearsome as the one I had before but more like the spiciness compliments the dish as a whole.

As a last course, we ordered the Martabak Manis. An Indonesian griddle pancake slathered with chocolate and cheese and butter. It reminds me of the bibingcrepe I had at Halfmoon in Tomas Morato years ago. It's immensely satisfying and the griddle pancake was also immense in size that our party of three couldn't finish the whole thing and have to ask to have it to go.

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Winding Down With Some Caffeine

at Epic Cafe

almond roca latte

I've been to Epic Cafe quite a few times already and it became my go to coffee shop whenever I'm in the area of Kapitolyo for some quiet chill. I brought my friends here after our hefty meal in Warung. The cafe was still busy even at past 10 in the evening. I spied longingly at the display case of desserts but ordering even just a slice of cake would be borderline excessiveness. So I just had a cup of Almond Roca Latte. A soothing milky drink that goes down the shoot quite smoothly with the slow slap of sweet on my tongue. I savored every sip.

~~~ JULES