Kape Chino at Casa Roces

Old world elegance. It's what impressed me at Casa Roces -- an ancestral home belonging to a prominent clan of journalists and artists, that was converted into a restaurant offering Spanish and Filipino cuisine, and an art gallery. 
The full-service, fine dining restaurant, called Kape Chino, is named after the late Manila Times publisher Joaquin "Chino" Roces. The cafe had been my object of interest  for such a long time and finally, after years of yearning to go there, I did last week, 
together with my friends in the office. 
And first-hand experience made me conclude that dining at Casa Roces is a pleasure not just for the stomach but also for the eyes, especially for those who love nostalgia and anything old, like me. The antique furniture, lamps, windows and doors flooded me with memories of my family's own ancestral home in Sampaloc, Manila, which, sadly, had to be torn down to give way to a sturdier, more modern bungalow. 
But anyway, as our group of seven ladies was hungry, we had to first fill up what already was empty -- our tummies! We were careful not to order a lot though, because we were headed for our company Christmas party right across the street: in Malacanang. We were anticipating for a feast but since eating time would still be 
some three hours away, we had to have something first. 
We agreed to order and share:

Paella Valenciana, P565.

I loved this one -- the rice has the perfect paella texture -- not mushy nor dry. There's chicken in it, sliced hard-boiled eggs and vegetables like bell peppers that could make this classic Spanish dish stand on its own as a meal since it's already complete and almost balanced nutrient-wise. The flavors are balanced as well, and pleasant, too. 
I could eat a lot of it, except that I had to control my portion 
lest my blood sugar spiked.

Paella Negra, P545.

Although this would have been more favorable for my diet as there's seafood in it instead of meat, I didn't like it as much as I did the Valenciana because it's quite salty. But apart from that, this was also good. I love squid, which ink gives this paella its beautiful black color. And there's also mussels, shrimp and clams to enjoy with the teeth and lips-staining rice that made our group look like we were going to 
a Halloween party instead of Christmas.

Pollo Iberico, whole, P800.

I loved, too, this slow roasted chicken that was very tender and juicy. It can be ordered whole or half for P520. It comes with a side dish of buttered beans, carrots 
and halved baby potatoes. Delicious!

Malacañan Frozen Souffle, P415.

For dessert, we chose this towering lemon custard that we all shared and loved. The sournesss dominates over the sweetness, making this dessert very interesting and one-of-a-kind. The texture can be likened to ice cream's -- soft and velvety, except when you scoop up some of the crushed pistachios. This sour-and-a little-sweet dessert is perfect for cleaning the palate after a meal.

Chocolate Eh, P70.
This is a delightful drink that's a Casa Roces original: hot chocolate with peanut butter! One of us in the group ordered this and I tasted it. I joked that it was like drinking kare-kare with chocolate instead of bagoong! But kidding aside, it was a very tasty and unique drink. The sweetness and slightly bitter taste of chocolate blended seamlessly with the flavor of peanuts and the result is one delicious drink that could double as dessert. I just knew that it would be the perfect pair 
to Casa Roces' ensaymada. Hhmmm? 

Salabat Soda, P110.
This one's another drink that's unique to Kape Chino: lime soda with frozen ginger tea or salabat as ice cubes! Very ingenious, right? 
Delicious, too! 

Brewed coffee, P95.
Great coffee they have here at Kape Chino as well. It's bold enough to give the jolt but not too much to give me an upset stomach. After dessert, this cup of joe gave me the perfect end to a very nice, satisfying lunch. 

Menu

In and around Casa Roces

I christened this 'The Proposal Room' because of
its very romantic ambiance and exclusivity.

Casa Roces at 1153 JP Laurel St. corner Aguado Sts., San Miguel, Manila

Kape Chino at Casa Roces, I could say, is one good idea of a venue for celebrating special occasions. The food is extraordinary and very delectable. Although prices are quite steep, the quality of food and elegance of the place are enough reasons for visiting. My friends and I are so wanting to be back and I hope it would be soon!

Get your durian fix at Blugre Coffee

Some people don't like the smell of durian. Some also don't like its taste. But in South East Asia, durian is  known as the "King of Fruits", never mind if the stench causes it to be banned from airplanes and hotels. While I don't find durian smell offending, I don't like to eat the fruit raw. Durian candies, cake and yes, coffee(!) are an entirely different story, though, because I absolutely love them! 
That's why when I learned about Blugre Coffee from a friend who is based in Davao, who also told me that this cafe was soon coming to Manila, I got so excited! Blugre, according to my friend, is a popular cafe in Davao that serves coffee, tea and desserts containing durian. The info about a Manila branch was relayed to me sometime in December 2016 and Blugre Coffee indeed opened a branch near Malacanang earlier this year, 2017. Since then, I've visited three times -- twice alone, once with my daughter.  What do I like there? Well, the food and drinks as well as the friendly service and ambiance: wooden tables, cozy couches, no loud music. 
These were what I've (and we've) had so far:

Bangus meal, P150
On my first visit last February, there wasn't any rice meal available yet and I was happy to know on my second visit that it's already on the menu. This bangus meal was what I had as I didn't want meat this particular day. Everything on my plate was good - the garlic rice, fluffy egg, fresh veggies and the perfectly fried but non-greasy milkfish. With all washed down by a perfect cup of latte, it was one 
very satisfying meal that I had.

Carbonara, P185.

My daughter had this, her dinner, as we came one evening after church service. While she loved it for being creamy and delicious, she wasn't very happy over the serving size.  
She wished there was a lot more. Hehe...

Chicken Pesto Panini, P175.

This, in turn, was my dinner then. I loved that the bread was fresh and the chicken pesto filling was really good -- packed with the right amount of flavors from basil, poultry and spices. And then, there were potato chips on the side, most of them going to the daughter. Tee-hee.

Durian Bar, P85.

This small piece of dulcet heaven bawled me over! It was really good! The sweet flavor from durian was present in every bite and morsel - not subtle nor overpowering, just perfectly right. Even the after taste was very pleasant, leaving only good memories after the last bite. Its texture was a toss between pudding and cheesecake - not too soft but a bit firm and a little rough on the tongue. For me this was such an unforgettable piece of dessert - sinful but not causing any regret!

Durian Coffeecinno, P160.
This was my ultimate reason for coming to Blugre because I so love durian coffee. As this is what Blugre is known for, I had high expectations -- which were sadly, not met. There was a lack in durian taste and that was a let down. I could taste chocolate, which I don't really need in my durian coffee. There also was a bitter after taste that lingered 
for some time.

Dutertea, Tall, P160.
This durian tea floored me, though, and redeemed Blugre for me. Strong durian taste 
and just a little sweetness. Loved it!

                                          Cafe Latte, Tall, P110.

I so loved this cup of joe that might as well be the best latte of my life! The coffee packed a lot of punch! It was full-bodied with a clean finish. Unforgettable!

Strawberry and Cream, Tall, P140.
My daughter's drink, which she said was sweet and good and refreshing.

Inside Blugre Coffee

    

                There's a function room for group gatherings and meetings.

   Blugre Coffee at Malacanang Compound, Jose Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila.

Head over to Blugre Coffee, guys and try their unique offers especially the durian-infused drinks and desserts. Don't take my word for the Durian Coffeecinno - people have different tastes and opinions, anyway. Here in Metro Manila, there are two other stores aside from the one in Malacanang Compound -- at BGC and Club Manila East. Oops, the latter isn't Metro Manila anymore but at least it's closer than Mindanao where there's more Blugre Coffee branches. 
Happy eating!

*NOTE: This place is now permanently closed