Nord's Bread Hub at SM North Edsa

I visit SM North Edsa every once in a while to buy my toiletries from 
Human ❤️ Nature. This store for all-natural, eco-friendly hygiene products is at the 3rd level of The Block, where there is also this conspicuous restaurant/bakery called Nord's Bread Hub right at the top of the escalator. I almost always dine here when I go to Human ❤️ Nature and love everything about this place: the food (Asian and American) and the way it's served, ambiance and service. Prices could be a bit steep but the quality of the food and its presentation give justice to it. I love it when the chef takes time to serve my meal in a beautiful setting. Also, the menu has a lot to 
offer: all-day breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack fares.
What I've had so far:

Frutti de Mare
I love seafood pasta and liked Nord's version. It was a little bland, but 
a dash of salt and pepper did wonders. 

Young Pork Tocino

What I love most about Nord's is that their dishes are served complete with sides. There's a lot included in this order of "tocilog"! So filling!

(Note: They have changed the menu since I ordered this and I think 

this is now called Sweet Cured Pork)

 Sandwich Symphony
Three different fillings in a single order of mini sandwiches -- chicken, ham 
and tuna. What's not to love? Fries and fresh salad complete 
this lovely and yummy set.

 Iced Americano
Refreshing caffeine jolt!

Americano
Nord's serves strong, good coffee - just the way I like it!

Cappuccino
The aroma of coffee and cinnamon was just so heavenly!

Sweets, sweets, sweets!

                    A wide array of breads and pastries to choose from

Menu

Nord's Bread Hub at the 3rd level of The Block, SM North Edsa

There's a plethora of restaurants at SM North Edsa and choosing where to eat 

could be a difficult decision to make. But for me, Nord's Bread Hub is on top 

of the list because there's quite a lot of food choices whether I want 

a full meal or just a light snack. And the place is never crowded so I 

always get to eat in peace and "get lost" in my own thoughts. 

Yes, I love where there's peace and quiet. 

Maybe it's the age? Haha!

Visit Nord's Bread Hub, folks! There's one at the Mall of Asia Complex, 

SM Megamall, and at Capitol Commons in Pasig, 

aside from the SM North Edsa store. 

Happy eating!

Starbucks opens new branch in QC

Going to work hadn't exactly been something to look forward to in the mornings..Well, until Starbucks opened a new branch in our office neighborhood! My co-workers and I were filled with excitement the moment we learned a new store would be opening very near our building and more so when it actually flung its doors open last week. We wasted no time and went there at once to buy afternoon perk-me-ups. 

We were very impressed about how huge, spacious and elegant was this new Starbucks branch! Floor-to-ceiling glass walls, wood panels, high ceiling, ambiant lighting -- everything worked well to give the interiors a modern, 
chic and homey look and feel. 

But for me, what sets this branch apart is how friendly the crew are. They are welcoming, helpful, warm and cheerful. I must admit that I wasn't really a Starbucks fan but I recently became one. I still don't know much about their food and drinks, but the crew member at the counter was patient in helping me make a choice, as I explained that I wanted a drink that's fancy without being sweet. That could be a bit of a challenge, I know. Haha! Anyway, my choices during the last two occasions 
I was at this new branch were:

Thanksgiving Sandwich and Cappuccino

Cream Cheese Donut

Iced hibiscus tea with pomegranate pearls

In and around Starbucks-Visayas Ave. 

Starbucks on Visayas Ave. corner Road 10 in Barangay Vasra, Quezon City 

Starbucks is a much-welcome addition to the list of foodie places on Visayas Ave. For us who go to work here, it has made our every day a bit more exciting! Imagine going to Starbucks instead of the boring cafeteria for the lunch or afternoon break. A great stress-buster, that's what it is! I'll have more of you, 
Starbucks-Visayas Ave., and you, more of me!

Bean Box for the K-pop junkies

My youngest son told me about this cafe on Claro M. Recto Ave. that's becoming his favorite after-class hang-out venue with his friends. It's Bean Box -- a hip, crib-style cafe where one can eat and drink in a homey environment -- dim lights, low, wooden tables, lots of huge pillows. Last Friday, my not-so-little boy and I went there together after his classes and I quickly found out, the place could well be an enjoyable one for lovers of Korean culture. There's some Korean food on the menu, and they have several of that beautiful traditional Korean dress called "Hanbok" that anyone can wear for free for the must-have selfie and groufie. 
As for me, I immediately took a liking of the very relaxing place, where there are no chairs, only tables! Yup, everyone has to take off shoes, climb stairs and sit on the floor to eat. I bet groups of friends love it here as they get to huddle 
in a crib to chat or even study if they have to. 

Anyway, we were there for afternoon snacks and ordered:

Pasta Carbonara, P195.

This was quite good though a little too saucy for me. Well, better than dry, I guess. I would be happier with some more bacon, tho. The garlic bread? It was the bomb! 
Really good, I wished there were two.

Cheese Ramyeon, P165.
My boy's favorite! Well, it was really flavorful --a little salty, yes -- and very spicy! But I wished they served the whole egg instead of just half. Tee-hee.

Chocolate Chip Freeze, P180.
My son's choice. He loves anything chocolate!

Green Tea Latte, P155.
I absolutely loved my drink! Despite the deep green hue, there was no tinge of bitterness, and very creamy too! To top it all, it wasn't sweet! I requested to have no sugar added and that's what I got -- a delicious, tummy-soothing warm drink without the guilt! Yaay! 

Menu

In and around Bean Box

This was where my son and I were seated

Cribs

If you're at the University Belt and looking for a place for coffee, snacks and dessert, where it's relaxing and homey, Bean Box is it. Food and drinks are good, but prices are a bit steep especially for students. It's near San Sebastian College-Recoletos, foodies! 
Happy eating!

The picture-perfect Coffee Project

Good coffee, check! Delicious food, check! Great ambiance, check! Reasonable prices, check! Friendly service, check! Yay! It looks like I've found the perfect coffee place in Quezon City. But don't fret, people from Makati, Muntinlupa, Las Pinas, Pasay, Taguig and Mandaluyong 'coz there's a store in those areas too! 
I'm referring to Coffee Project, an outdoors-themed haven for caffeine junkies owned by businessman and former politician Manny Villar. The QC branch is housed inside 
Wil Tower in South Triangle. Why do I say it's outdoors-themed? Because 
the whole place looks like a flower garden and bicycles 
can be seen hanging everywhere. If you're an Instagram person, this one would 
be a good venue for your photographs because every 
nook and cranny is just picture-perfect! 
The beautiful, modish and cozy interiors make the cafe conducive to whiling away time while "drowning" one's self in coffee, what else? 
And speaking of coffee, the latte that I had was perfect; 
definitely worth the trip. The food is not to be left behind, though, 
'coz my pasta was heaven in a plate. 
Here's what I had:

Arrabbiata Penne, P180.
I haven't had arrabbiata for years. I've forgotten its taste and didn't really know what to expect. But this dish, simple as it was as there were only tomatoes and no meat, still blew me away for its richness in flavor. And even though there was a lot of cooked fresh tomatoes, the sauce wasn't really sour and a generous sprinkling of parmesan cheese provided balance to the over-all taste.

Belgian Choco Cinnamon, P85.
I love cinnamon bread and this was no exemption, though I wished 
it was softer and less dense. Still, it was perfect to nibble on 
while I sipped coffee. 

Cafe Latte, P105.
Surely, one of the most unforgettable cups of coffee that I've had. 
It's clean, crisp and strong, with a taste that lingers. 

Counter

In and around the cafe

Hallway leading to the restroom

Even the restroom is pretty enough for 'tambay mode'

Feel like a fairy under all these flowers that seem to be raining down on you.

Stairs leading to the mezzanine

There's even more flowers upstairs!

Coffee Project at the Ground Floor, Wil Tower, Eugenio Lopez Drive,
South Triangle, Tomas Morato, Quezon City

Check out Coffee Project, guys. There's not much on the menu but you can find good eats whether you need a heavy meal or just want just something light. 

And the coffee, I promise you, is heavenly! 

As I've mentioned, the inside is warm and cozy and perfect when you simply want to linger and "waste away time" and even if you have work to do or lessons to study. 
Find a branch near you and enjoy Coffee Project!

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