Those little food places in the Tomas Morato area

It could be due to age, I grudgingly agree, when I realized recently that I have been gravitating more toward cafés and restaurants located outside shopping malls. It used to be that I would prefer to meet up family and friends in the ubiquitous malls for meals in between errands and shopping; now I crave for some peace and quiet to go with a satisfying meal in good company.

I like it too, that going to off-mall restaurants gives a purpose to the whole trip—you deliberately go out of your way to eat, drink, and be merry. Or just enjoy a meal in solitude.

And for this, the Tomas Morato area in Quezon City has always been an interesting place. Aside from the restaurants you can find on the main road, Tomas Morato Avenue, which used to be lorded by steakhouse Alfredo’s (still there, by the way) since my grade school days, there are little food stops you can find on the side streets and nearby roads. The fun actually starts when you stumble on something few people have discovered, and, like having a naughty little secret, you keep it to yourself until you can’t hold it in anymore and you invite friends to go with you there so you can come back and eat there again.

La Taqueria Amiga Mia

For instance, on Scout Castor Street straddling Tomas Morato Avenue and Scout Tuazon Street, there’s this hole-in-the-wall little place awash in yellow which you may just miss if you’re not slowing down. It’s La Taqueria Amiga Mia and it serves good Mexican food: burritos, tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and so much more.

My son and I went in at noontime on a weekday this month and we liked it that we were the only customers in the cute place (maybe they start coming over later for happy hour). The menu is overhead by the counter manned by one person who was also the cook, server, and cashier that time.

We ordered the Tres Amigas sampler which had quesadilla, taco, and flavored nacho chips which had ample ground meat, salsa and beans. Served on our table hot and freshly made, the food was attacked immediately—galit galit muna; no talking. Only after we licked our fingers and scratched our tummies did we look up and said, “Aaah… Let’s plan another trip here soon.” Yup, will try the dynamitas (fried jalapeños) and banachos (nachos made of bananas) next time.

La Vie Parisienne

Speaking of trips, I have made three trips so far this year to La Vie Parisienne, a French bakery, deli, and wine library at the ground floor of Hotel Rembrandt on Tomas Morato Avenue Extension. They had me at this sign the first time I drove by: “Imported bread from France. Baked fresh all day!” Now how can they bring in freshly baked bread daily from France? Does their baguette taste as great as the ones in Paris?

It turns out they import the dough then they bake the bread here, according to one of the girls manning the counter. The sandwiches using freshly baked baguette are best had right there on the spot, such as the Normandy (Brie and camembert with tomato and lettuce in baguette) and the Italian (mozarella, pesto, tomato in baguette). I liked that the baguette had the right crunch, but I figured you’ll know if a baguette is that good when you eat it as is without any palaman. After a few bites of their baguette, well, let’s just say the artisanal one in Paris is so much better.

Always when I went there, I would sit at the back of the cafe, at the table right beside the window. During one lunchtime, I read a book while eating my Italian sandwich and listening in on the conversation between a woman and her beki friend at the next table (talk about multitasking). In between sips of wine, they talked about love and life, and why o why does it all have to be complicated? I bit sharply into my raspberry macaron as soon as the beki told her friend his lover left him. Oh to have loved and lost…

Succeeding trips had me trying out almost all the other stuff I haven’t tasted, from the spinach quiche and cute petit fours, to the croissants, custard cake, and eclairs. My friend was craving for something heavier, and so she ordered truffle pasta from the hotel too (yup, they could bring you the menu from the hotel and serve you the food at La Vie Parisienne). Now that was some good pasta, best capped with another macaron and a cup of hot tea.

H Cuisine

And then there’s H Cuisine—named after the young chef owner, Hannah—on Scout Rallos Street just off Tomas Morato, which has been there for a few years now but still serves the same good food. It’s known for its Angus beef belly served on a food warmer right on your table—tender and smothered in gravy, it’s comfort food alright.

We’ve had Osso Bucco with Grape Relish, one of the house specialties, and Callos ala Don Juan—which I don’t fail to order whenever I see it on any restaurant menu, since we don’t cook it at home, and the Eggplant Moussaka which deserves a thumbs-up. The Penne Arrabiata I could skip next time since I found it too spicy, but definitely I’ll order the Asian Chicken Salad again—crisp wonton, rice noodles, lettuce, fruit, chicken, capsicum, soy, orange, and a sweetish vinaigrette. The Creamy Pesto Fish Spaghettini can assuage your guilt for eating all that Angus beef belly.

Not to be skipped is the Strawberry Cheesecake which goes so perfectly with a freshly brewed cup of Nespresso Lungo. You can take your time having dessert and coffee in this cute restaurant with blue and yellow walls that already put you in a good mood.

Tiago

I had to go through almost the whole length of Scout Fuentebella Street before I found Tiago one night, as it was a small place tucked behind the bigger Kimono Ken at the corner of Tomas Morato. Upon entering though, I calmed down because going inside seemed like visiting someone’s home—a hip home.

There were huge windows, brick walls, shelves of bric-a-brac, and little cozy corners. Our group felt fortunate to have had a corner table to ourselves. The waiters were friendly, and one of them said the restaurant was named after the owner’s son, aged two if I remember right.

The place serves progressive Filipino cuisine—Pinoy food with a twist. We saw this twist at play in dishes such as Stuffed Pechay in Coconut Cream (not quite laing but delicious), the Pinakbet Warm Salad with fried dilis, and Bistek Pancit (beefsteak na, pancit pa!).

All these went well with the Sinigang na Salmon Belly sa Miso, which is one of my all-time favorite dishes.

Stuffed so full, I had no more room for dessert, but I should make a trip again soon to try—hear this—their Tinapa Ice Cream. I wonder how that tastes. Someone must have been playing in the kitchen. — BM, GMA News