Breakfast Made in Marikina - Rustic Mornings by Isabelo

What better way to start a holiday morning than have a hefty breakfast?  Thus, I gathered my husband and daughter and trooped down from our mountain to the valley that is Marikina to try out Rustic Mornings by Isabelo, the same place that is also otherwise known as Isabelo Garden Restaurant that operates in the evenings for dinner by reservations only.  The things that intrigued me about this place are, first, the fact that its just near where we live.  Second, upon visiting its website, I thought the pictures of the dishes on their menu looked sumptuous, and third, the place itself had the right ambience for a leisurely meal. 

 

 

Finding Rustic Mornings was a bit easy since it is near the Church of Our Lady of the Abandoned, and actually a close neighbor of the Marikina Shoe Museum, both of which are famous landmarks of the city.  (For a detailed map on how to get there, you can visit the link here.)  It is named after the road where it is found, Isabelo Mendoza Street in barangay San Roque.

 

 

While dinners at Isabelo Garden require reservation, breakfast and lunch are open to walk-in customers.  Nevertheless, I took the precaution to reserve us a table a day before, which was a good thing because when we arrived at the appointed time (9:30am), the attendants could not give us our table in the garden.  This was due to the previous diners who were actually walk-in clients, but refused to leave despite the fact that they already asked for the bill and paid for it.  Well, I can't really blame them for not leaving right away and being insensitive to the people who actually took time to reserve a table, dining in the garden is such a treat - surrounded by lush greenery additionally made charming by embellishments such as country-style bric-a-brac and capiz shell curtains strategically located so that even if there were several diners out in the garden, you still get substantial privacy with which to enjoy your meal and the company you keep.

 

 

So for the people who came in without reservations, the wait for a table was a bit longer at this time.  For us with reservations, it took us 30 minutes to be finally seated in a location we didn't like, however equally engaging the indoor dining area was.  My idea of a relaxing breakfast has in fact gone haywire because the place was really busy and getting the food served was a challenge to one's good disposition (the three of us were quite hungry already at this time).  The attendants were very patient, however, so that was one thing going for them, and the other was that when our food finally arrived, I found out why this is becoming a favorite place for visitors and Marikenos alike.

 

 

The Corned Beefsilog was very savory served with 2 eggs (my husband had the 2 eggs cooked different ways), although, I detect that the corned beef used was the garlic and chili variety of Delimondo, a favorite.  The fried rice was mixed with herbs and garlic and was cooked to make you want more.

 

 

My daughter's waffles were huge.  Toasted well on the outside and creamy on the inside.  Pairing it with bacon is a classic choice.  I, on the other hand, had the waffles served with buffalo chicken with chipotle sauce and salad greens - a good choice for brunch.  Their coffee (or Americano) comes with unlimited refill and satisfies a Filipino palate (a.k.a. mild brew).  In addition to our plates, we had extra side orders of the tawilis, a variety of small fish usually found in Taal Lake (savory and crunchy, it went well with my salad), and a frankfurter. 

 

 

Our entire meal costs us PhP1,271 (and change, or around US$30).  Not bad.  However, I don't think I'll be able to get my husband and daughter to come back with me here.  They didn't like the crowd that were there with us - loud selfies with nervous energies who constantly have an eye out at the entrance to find out if anybody who came in was anybody worth knowing.  One of the older diners was even homicidal, he almost ran over my husband in the parking lot (a small area),  as if the world was going to be on the brink if he didn't get to his table.  He was never even sorry.

 

For my twenty-five-centavos-worth, I suggest that you try out this place on its off-days like when you are on vacation while everyone else is at work.  Maybe you'll get better treatment and you can better enjoy its charms.  Added to this, make sure you make reservations just the same.

Rustic Mornings by Isabelo
11 Isabelo Mendoza Street
San Roque, Marikina City
+63 2 5106914
+63 2 6812461
+63 917 70055810

Bread and Kitchy Art - Pan de Amerikana Marikina

The heavy rains had us scurrying towards the thatched roof of Pan de Amerikana Bakery one day for an afternoon snack and a respite from all that driving we did that day.  Thus, I was unable to take a picture of its famous landmark - the windmill.  Despite the gloomy weather, we were greeted with artsy delights - from a bridge and a pond to assorted and mismatched bric a bracs, from antique musical instruments and radios to movie stars of LVN or Sampaguita pictures fame. 

 

 

And of course, who would miss the giant chess set against the backdrop of Roman pillars?  My husband and daughter made a beeline towards it.  The game is afoot - literally.

 

 

Our large group settled near the giant aquarium and there were orders for pasta carbonara, pancit palabok (rice vermicelli in seafood aioli), halo-halo (assorted sweetened beans and fruit in crushed ice, milk and sugar), and of course their 1950s style large wheat pan de sal (bread of salt), which can be served either with corned beef, butter or Cheez Whiz and accompanied by coffee (instant 3-in-1!). 

 

 

The bread is the reason why one goes there - baked fresh daily, chewy on the inside, crusty and crumbly on the outside, and totally healthy since they only make it with whole wheat flour.

 

 

I didn't take pictures of the plates we ordered since, frankly, it wasn't that worth it.  It was bland all around.  But do go there for the bread, and maybe rest a little on the hammock, or tinker with their assorted and interesting decorative pieces as props.  I hear that they serve flavorful Pinaputok na Tilapia (Tilapia fried in banana leaves) and even steaks.  But will have to go back there and try it out when the weather is better.  

 

 

 

Besides good bread and art, they also sponsor tai chi and art lessons, and from time to time, conduct chess clinics.  Thus, there are a million reasons to go and spend some time in this charming pocket of Marikina.  It makes one curiouser and curiouser.

Pan de Amerikana
92 Gen. Ordonez cor. Maroon Streets
Marikina Heights, 1800 Marikina City
Metro Manila
+63 2 4752398

Heritage in Cuisine

August in the Philippines usually means paying homage to Filipino as the official language.  While this is just one aspect of Philippine culture, the recognition of the language brings with it activities that also touch on other things truly Filipino.  Thus, during this time, schools all over the country are now geared toward learning activities that relate to all things involving the language - be it literature, songs, dances and even food.

 

On this note, I remember our visit to Marikina which is a city quite active in promoting its food culture.  An example of this is the conversion of the old Guevara ancestral home, a genuine bahay-na-bato (stone house), into the city's cultural center.  The house is a good example of turn of the 20th century architecture.  It was previously owned by Don Jose Guevara and Don Laureno "Kapitan Moy" Guevara, who belonged to Marikina's elite at that time.  It was said that Kapitan Moy's claim to fame was as the one who manufactured the first pair of shoes in the country in 1887.  It is probably from this beginning that Marikina rose to everyone's consciousness as the shoe capital of the Philippines as the industry itself flourished until the early 1970s, if I recall correctly.

 

 

 

Nevertheless, it was through the efforts of then Marikina mayor Bayani Fernando that this ancestral home was purchased and repaired.  The second floor is now used for cultural events of the city, but is also open to be rented out for private functions and events.  The ground floor houses the Café Kapitan Restaurant on one side and the Piano Bar in the other. 

 

 

 

If you're looking for a place that is rich in local Marikina culture and/or treating friends to a hearty Marikeno meal, head to Café Kapitan.  On the day we went, there was Cream of Mushroom Soup, Waknatoy (Marikina's version of Menudo), Bistek Tagalog, Breaded Fish and Chicken Fingers. 

 

 

 

However, the Cafe's version of Vegetable Paella is quite popular, and upon tasting it, I found out why.  The rice was cooked slowly in the saffron broth, and generously peppered with a variety of vegetables, it is a meal on its own. 

 

 

 

The buffet price also includes a dessert of the day (Buco Pandan Salad or coconut shreds in screwpine infused cream and Palitaw or raised rice flour cakes) and bottomless Iced Tea.  All this for Php150/person amid stone walls and a genteel ambiance, it was certainly worth recalling a bit of history this side of Metro Manila.

 

Café Kapitan Restaurant

Kapitan Moy Building

C. Cruz Street, Barangay San Roque, Marikina City

(across the Church of Our Lady of the Abandoned)

Tel. No. +63 2 646 4303