Dinner at Wildflour Cafe + Bakery

Even before the cronut craze, Wildflour has established itself as a welcome addition to Manila restaurant scene. There's a reason, however, why Wildflour positioned itself as a Cafe and Bakery...

Busy Night at Wild

Wildflour's starchy dishes fared well:

Complimentary Bread

Some argue that this free item is the best thing Wildflour serves.

Bahn Mi Sliders (295php)

A bit dry but I give it props for its full flavors.

Tarte Flambee of Onions, Blue Cheese, Mushrooms, Wild Arugula (425php)

My favorite order of the night.

Tarte Flambee of Onions, Bacon, and Gruyere (425php)

The tarte flambees are successful because of the thin flaky crust and good cheese.

Croque Madame (420php)

A bit overpriced but this is a perfect treat for brunch.

The non-bread options, on the other hand, were all so forgettable:

To be fair, Wildflour has updated its menu from the last time I dined there. Word of advice though: Choose only from the breakfast menu!

Wildflour Cafe + Bakery is located at G/F Net Lima Bldg, 4th Ave cor 26th St Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. For more information, call 856-7600 or click here. It also has a branch in Podium.

Authentic Thai at Basil

I have said it before and I'll say it again:

 I LOVE THAI FOOD!!! 

Which is why I was thrilled that we had dinner at Basil, a lush and uniquely designed Thai restaurant located near White Plains.

Stepping inside Basil transported me to a tropical resort.. its relaxing vibe made it a perfect place to unwind and catch up with old friends.

We ordered a mix of traditional and not so traditional Thai dishes:

Fresh Spring Rolls (220php)

Fresh and light. 

Pomelo Salad (295php)

I love coconut milk so this was a winner for me.

Crispy Fish with Green Mango (325php)

Familiar flavors that hit the spot.

Pad Thai (325php)

Not a fan of Pad Thai in general but friends appreciated Basil's version.

Tom Yum Soup (298php)

Authentic stock with generous serving of seafood.

Thai Bagoong Rice (295php)

I've never had a bad plate of bagoong rice because I just love it so much.

Fish with Three Flavor Sauce (750php)

One of Basil's bestsellers. It's crunchy outside and soft inside with sweet, spicy, and sour flavors. 

Lemongrass Steak (495php)

The only dish I didn't care for. Average steak. 

Pork Ribs with Honey (235php)

Oh-so-tender! Wished the portion was bigger.

Creamy Pork Curry (325php)

Would have preferred if the curry was spicier.

Coconut Ice Cream (95php)

Did I mention that I love everything with coconut milk?

Thai Halo-halo (165php)

I still prefer the Pinoy version.

Mango Sticky Rice (130php)

A Thai meal isn't complete without Mango Sticky Rice. 

Happy that I can add Basil to the short list of authentic Thai restaurants here in the Philippines. 

Basil is located at White Plains Ave cor Katipunan Avenue Ugong Norte, Quezon City. For more information, call 911-4158.

Latin American food from Brasas

I'm glad that there now are more interesting restaurant options in Podium.

An example is Brasas which  introduces Latin America street food to Manila. Dining at Brasas is a casual affair. You order and pay for your food, fast food style. 

Carne Asada Fries (120php)

Large-cut fries topped with their special chili made with smoked chorizo chopped carne asada, grated Monterey Jack cheese, tomato salsa and sour cream

We requested for the beef toppings be served separately for our vegetarian friend:

Brasas Burger (220php)

Grilled Kaiser Bread, ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, sauteed onions, Monterey Jack Cheese and large-cut fries.

Beef Salad (190php)

Charcoal grilled meat, mixed fresh greens, seasonal vegetables, crunchy tortilla strips.

Puerco Asado-Cuba (240php)

Slow-roasted pork belly with crunchy skin, roasted seasonal vegetables, rice and beans

Given the unfamiliar flavors, Brasas is the perfect fit for those looking for something different.

Brasas is located at 5/F The Podium, 18 ADB Avenue Wack Wack, Mandaluyong. It has branches at SM North Edsa and SM Aura. For more information, call 570-5559 or click here.