Enjoying Mogwai’s laid-back indie vibe

While many people prefer to spend their nights out dancing in clubs, I'd rather go to a hangout where I can just sit back and enjoy good conversation. Besides, I have two left feet and a tendency to bump into things. I also have an aversion to door fees and dress codes. Thus, my nightlife is pretty limited ... to my house, if my mother had her way. But that’s another story. Reel deal This is about Mogwai, a place which was named after the furry creature in Steven Spielberg’s 1984 movie, Gremlins. In the movie, the mogwais who eat past midnight transform into the dreaded gremlins, nasty-looking creatures who wreak havoc just because they want to. Mogwai at Cubao Expo (more popularly known as Cubao X) comes alive at around midnight. As such, it has become the default hangout for laid-back night owls like me.

I began hanging out at Mogwai a couple of years ago. My friends and I were at one of those Cubao X gigs – the ones where you almost always run into someone you haven’t seen since, well, the last gig. These gigs are pretty "guerrilla" as far as the setup goes. It's organized chaos all the way. There’s a stage and the sound system. There are coolers filled with beer and large plastic containers filled with relatively cheap food. Of course, you gotta have a musical lineup that guarantees you won’t be going home at a decent hour. Then—whether on purpose or by accident—people come. Presto! You have a gig. The thing about these gigs is no matter where you set up the stage, no one really stays put. There’s just too much to see and do at Cubao X. Plus, let’s face it, most people have the attention span of a goldfish. Watching a gig can get tiring, no matter how good the bands are. That’s how my friends and I eventually found ourselves at Mogwai. I remember being given peanuts in a shot glass on my first visit. I thought the presentation was wonderfully quirky so I made a mental note to return to Mogwai. Besides, the place’s interiors—which consisted of mismatched furniture, distressed floors, and a “Jesus wall"—also appealed to me. I went back a few nights later to see what it would be like to just hang around without having to squeeze in with the spillover crowd from the gig. Art film haven Peanuts in shot glasses aside, there are many more good reasons for going to Mogwai. The place is practically a playground for movie buffs who love great food. Directors Erik Matti and Lyle Sacris are behind Mogwai. So it comes as no surprise that Mogwai’s main attraction was on its second floor: a cozy, fully carpeted screening room with lots of nice fluffy pillows. Viewers naturally leave their shoes at the door. Though there’s a row of cinema-style seats in the room, everyone is welcome to just sprawl on the floor while watching a movie that normal theaters wouldn’t show. Mogwai champions indie films and arthouse delights such as Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood for Love. You just have to check their Facebook or Multiply site to find out what they’re showing before you head to Cubao X. Kitchen wonders Of course, you can also go to Mogwai for a snack or a hearty meal. If you just want something to nibble on, you can order some Potato Chips or Popcorn (both at P70 per serving). The potato chips are made fresh, sliced into thin to medium thick chips, and fried with just a dash of salt. If you want to challenge your palate, you could try the Bacon Liver Roll (P180). Then, there’s a big serving of Dynamite Sticks (P120), a jazzed up version of cheese sticks. Meanwhile, vegetarians can opt for the Okra Salad (P100), which features spiced up fried okra piled on top of a tart mix of green apples, onions, and tomatoes. If you’re ravenous, you can’t miss with the Sole Fillet (P160), which is Mogwai's signature dish. Unlike most restaurants that use lighter sauces for sole, they cook theirs with anchovies and capers. The Fillet of Fish in Peppercorn Sauce (P180)—which is served on a fluffy cloud of melt-in-your-mouth mashed potatoes and a sunny serving of buttered corn and carrots—is pretty fantastic as well. Phil Dy, who organizes Mogwai’s film screenings swears by the Swamp Burger (180), a huge burger that boasts of two thick juicy patties. It's a monster burger that would intimidate even the most rabid carnivore. For dessert, you can go for the Dark Molten Lava (P95), which is made up of sinful chocolate. The sweet treat reportedly drives chocoholics into a trance. That's not a bad way to finish off a meal, if you ask me. Mogwai’s orders can take a while—but they’re worth the wait. Pop culture perks Sometimes, Mogwai offers one-night-only specials. Last year, when they had a screening of director Mike de Leon’s Batch ’81, they also invited the film’s lead actor and cooking enthusiast Mark Gil to cook. The audience could order dishes cooked by Gil while they watched his movie. (Yes, food and drinks are allowed in the screening room!) The only downside to the Mogwai experience is the fact that you have to pay to use the communal Cubao X toilet located outside the place. It’s within the complex—but it’s still quite a hassle to go there. Truth be told, it's never as clean as you want it to be. Fortunately, Mogwai’s film screenings, hip ambiance, and inspired cuisine more than make up for this inconvenience. Mogwai recently expanded their space to accommodate more people. More and more of them have been coming to hang out. I can’t blame them. I keep going back there myself. - FVI, GMANews.TV Photo credits: Carmela G. Lapeña (main article), Mogwai Multiply site (Mogwai icon thumbnail)