Getting to know Manila through breakfast and brunch
Waking up to a great meal in the city
Published Apr 23, 2023 12:50 pm
Cooking in Manila feels more of a chore than anywhere else I’ve ever lived in. With the number of restaurants and food delivery options in the city, it seems pointless for me to do it myself for my household of two. Being someone who dines out also helps one to get to know a city better.
That’s how I did it in Kuala Lumpur and Berlin. In no time, I was the one recommending to friends where we should go next. Here in Manila—a foodie destination sadly overlooked by most foreign media–there’s much to discover and it won’t be done by spending more time in the kitchen. While food here in the city is rarely Filipino or not always a pure iteration of what our own cuisine is, I think it’s a great representation of a society that’s very accepting of other cultures. It’s mostly a fusion of other cuisines we have come to love. Manila has become a haven for expats and diplomats seeking a diverse and exciting culinary experience and those who say otherwise just don’t know where to look. From exquisite fine dining restaurants to trendy cafés and local street food stalls, Manila offers a plethora of dining options that cater to a wide range of palates. Let me share what and where I’ve been eating the past weeks.
Mireio Brunch Society
The Raffles’ Sunday morning ritual is a club anyone would be happy to be a part of. Brunch at Mireio starts at noon—not 10 a.m.—to allow for the hotel guests to finish their breakfast and the late risers to make their way to this Makati icon. The highly curated brunch menu features French and continental morning favorites and some.
Interactive live stations offer raclette, freshly made mushroom risotto, seafood tartare, and even crepes made upon request and are ready faster than you can say flambé. Brunch staples like eggs, a selection of cold cuts and cheese, fresh seafood stations, bread, and salads for the health conscious are also on hand.
A challenge among many hotel chefs is trying to come up with something new for their usual buffet offerings. Raffles executive chef Bela Rieck adds an extra layer of excitement to your dining experience by offering additional premium creations between your own selections. Every 30 minutes, a selection of the chef’s premium creations is brought to each table with an option to pair them with wine. There’s lobster with caviar paired with a glass of Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne, foie gras on toasted brioche and topped with apple, and truffle angel hair pasta. A baked Alaska serves as the finalé, ending brunch on a high note along with the sweets that are already available in their own buffet station.
Mornings at Samba
I usually need a form of incentive to get up for an early morning meeting and Samba just came up with one. They now serve breakfast from seven until 9:30 on weekdays. It’s a great way to start the day and if you’re someone organizing a meeting even before office hours, might as well make it worth everyone’s time. I had “The Eggs and Muffins,” which had toasted English muffins, sautéed spinach, smoked salmon, and two poached eggs bathed in hollandaise. On the side, it came with enoki mushrooms that added a delightful crunch and balanced the richness of the dish without overwhelming it.
Friends chose the egg white omelette made interesting with mushrooms, baked tomatoes, and spinach as well as The Full Option—pork sausages, bacon, roasted potatoes, scrambled eggs, sautéed tomatoes, and baked beans. Sourdough bread is also on offer, which you can choose to exclude along with the potatoes if you’re watching your carb intake. Samba is on the eighth floor of Shangri-la Fort, perfect location before heading to your respective BGC or Makati offices and embassies.
Ohayo, Ginza Gyu!
It’s no secret that Japanese food is a Filipino favorite so unsurprisingly, there’s no shortage of food joints offering Japanese fare here in the metro. Really new to the restaurant game is Ginza Gyu in Legaspi Village. It’s well-loved for its platters and trays, which make parties at home stress-free, but having its own restaurant means eating everything fresh out of the kitchen.
For Easter brunch, our group of nine sat in the private dining room and had memorable conversations over the food. While known for its bowls (I wiped my kurobotadon clean), don’t sleep on the small plates. The avocado mash with miso butter on nori crisps were such a hit along with the spicy tuna. The karaage and truffle udon were highly enjoyed, even by the kids!
Ginza Gyu is currently on soft opening and getting a seat might be a challenge as with everything that’s shiny, new, and good here in the city. Make sure to come early—it opens at 11:30 a.m.
Best fruity tres leches
I recently planned a baby shower for one of my closest diplomatic spouse friends. It’s her first baby and they leave this summer for their next diplomatic adventure so it called for a special centerpiece that would make her morning extra special. Enter premium strawberry tres leches from @HiMamaPappot on Instagram.Perfectly soaked without being mushy, the cake was a joy to eat with everyone asking where I sourced it. Of course, every single one of my friends knew I couldn’t be bothered to bake something and make it look that pretty to boot. The strawberries were fresh and sweet, it left me wondering where she sources hers. She also came out with a mango version and now I’m looking for a good occasion (read: excuse) to order one.