If you’re someone like me who hates travelling but has an exquisite palate then I would strongly give Si Christina a visit. Not only do they offer a large variety of cakes and coffee, but they also have a 4 page menu based from Italian to Mexican meals. Likewise, they offer an all day breakfast menu for those whom have a burning passion for their brekkie.

Feeling greedy, I ordered their buttermilk chicken with buttered corn and fragrant jasmine rice. I went head first into the chicken skin. Being the most sinful part of the entire dish, I had high hopes. Its crispiness pleased me and  the peppery flavour was strong but not pungent. To my delight, it wasn’t greasy and I was thrilled with my choice. The chicken was tender on the inside and incredibly crispy on the outside. However, it was rather salty. Compared to the chicken skin, the pepper wasn’t as flavourful here. Nonetheless, it paired well with the crispy skin and crumbs that were absolutely lip-smacking.

The pizza crust was thin, with a crispy base. It was sturdy enough to hold the generous toppings well; it didn’t turn soggy even after an hour. I like my food redolent in spice. And the few drops of jalapeño made it spicy, without being too choking. The pepperoni also helped cut through the cheesiness of the dish, whetting your appetite for an additional slice – and another.

To round up a good meal, have a cup of mocha. The mocha here had a bittersweet aftertaste, with a tinge of nuttiness coming through.  

Italian food is one of my favourite cuisines. Unfortunately, even though there are many Italian restaurants in San Pablo, not many can dish out a decent portion of spaghetti and pizza. So I was quite surprised that neighbourhood restaurant, Si Christina, managed to impress with their dishes. Checking all the boxes in quality, taste, presentation and service, this restaurant definitely deserves more than just a standing ovation. 

Situated by the busy street of M Paulino lies a blessing in disguise, Taza Mia, Home of the authentic Kape Barako beans. My belief is that coffee has more to its conventional use of inducing that morning boost and is an under-appreciated form of art in San Pablo, where people often associate it as a mainstream culture. When word got to me that Taza Mia opened nearer to my house amongst the block of offices in M Paulino, I instantly cleared up my schedule to pay a visit. Not only did I need to see this smaller more accessible branch, I also wanted to taste what set them above from the others.

As much as I wanted to order their in-house kape barako, I wanted something lighter like their latte as I didn’t want to pull an all nighter.

Additionally, it weighed in heavier on the milk which is great news for those who don’t do so well with caffeine. Not too bitter yet not too weak, the cup could be easily downed in seconds if you were an avid drinker like myself.

The fact that Taza Mia was full house on a Wednesday afternoon speaks volume about their food and service. The drink I tried boasted refined flavours, leaving me walking out the door feeling contented.

Bright and airy, Cafe Avelino provides the perfect setting for lazy weekend brunches with friends. Its space is thoughtfully designed, as there are seats catering to all types of diner, including a settee with side tables for those dining alone.

At the risk of sounding like a basic, I’m gonna say that I love cafes. The combination of good coffee, chill vibes and delicious food just can’t go wrong. But the cafe scene in San Pablo has honestly been pretty stale for a while, until I came across Cafe Avelino.

Brownies are my kryptonite, but I tend to be very selective of my brownies as I don’t want them too dry nor too chewy. Often when they’re dry they get a little bland and when they’re chewy, the flavours are all packed resulting in it becoming too sweet. However, cafe Avelino delivered the perfect chewy to not-so-sweet ratio and I found myself devouring every last bite of it.

Their Frappe was comparable to the ones from famous cafes. The ratio of milk to coffee was just right, resulting in smooth sips that still had that caffeinated kick. 

It wasn’t too sweet either, unlike some Frappes that taste more like coffee milk than coffee with milk. But be sure to give it a good stir before you sip it each time, because I found some ice clumps in my cup towards the end.

Theres just something about Cafe Avelino that intrigues me. It could be the minimal menu that not many cafes offer, or the refreshingly unembellished interior. Whatever it is, this is a cafe I would come back to whenever I want to unwind, or if I need a space to work at. With the delicious brownie, frappe, and my laptop, I can easily picture myself spending an entire afternoon here.

MugKafe has been on my radar ever since they opened. Housed along Azucena Street, the inconspicuous cafe is tucked behind a wall and reminds many of a laid back cozy cafes. Although I’ve not been to many cafes like this one, the food served at MugKafe does resemble the cafe nosh for millennials who love to go on “food trips”. MugKafe is a cafe & bistro, so be it 10 in the morning to get your caffeine fix or 9 in the evening to chill and down a few bottles of beer, MugKafe caters to whatever needs you may have anytime of the day.

Better than your mundane tasting ordinary chips and dip is their nacho platter. Circled in the crispy nacho and centered with their diced and vibrant veggies atop with a rich and creamy homemade thousand island dressing whilst accompanied by a dash of cheese.

On its own, the dressing was too unctuous for my liking. But when paired with everything else on the plate, it was a dish that impressed. Its recommended you eat everything in one mouthful for a smorgasbord of flavours; crunchy, rich, salty and tangy.  

To wash down my palette, I went for something bittersweet like their cup of latte,it’s specially blended and brewed in-house. Their brew is rather acidic, so skip it if you prefer richer, darker undertones in your cup of Joe.

Good food, gorgeous interior and friendly staff – MugKafe ticks all the right boxes and gets my stamp of approval. If the weather permits, I recommend you snag a seat outdoors to get the best of the experience.

Iced Americano no sugar. My go-to caffeine booster irregardless of time, a better substitute than any energy drinks on the market. A more fulfilling way to devour your espresso longer. Espresso de kaldi offers the best dark roast of coffee in San Pablo with their beans imported all the way from Java, its hard to come by a cafe that offers quality  goods at an affordable price. 

–Quick facts-

• Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world second to only oil.
• “Java” Comes from the Island of Java. During the 1600s, the Dutch introduced coffee to Southeast Asia. They brought coffee trees to places like Bali and Sumatra, where it’s still grown today. Another island they began planting coffee onwas Java, and it’s from this island that the name “java” arose.

Although home to one of the better coffees in San Pablo, they do lack in their other beverages such as their chocolate waffle. There’s absence of taste and its also under-cooked, in short, its bland and soft. The chocolate drizzled on the surface is unappetizing as its watery and the ice cream melted too fast onto the waffle due to the circumstance that they served it right after the waffle came off the stove causing the waffle to be soggy .

The location is convenient for customers as the store is easy to navigate for it is along the highway and the staffs are friendly and approachable. They accommodate the crowd well and makes sure that everyone feels welcome. The store looks very spacious from the inside and has a hint of minimalism. Its a favored hangout spot for many students as its equipped with many chairs and tables along with a strong connection of wifi.

In conclusion, they serve great quality coffee and they have a great location and friendly staffs. However, their food often isn’t on par.

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Looking to enjoy a good cuppa during a cold December morning? With little left of good coffee there is in San Pablo, CafeLandia sure isn’t one to disappoint. Often you’d be greeted with a beeline of customers all wanting their fill of daily caffeine, however waiting doesn’t seem to be much of a trouble for the staffs are friendly and efficient in taking charge of the crowd. Their menu can be a bit of a headache for its two pages long, but to get the best of what they have to offer for a coffee, I’d recommend their hot latte. w

–Whole latte facts- 

• The term as used in English is a shortened form of the Italian caffè latte, caffelatte or caffellatte, which means “milk coffee”.

Nothing beats the sensation of the first sip and with the ratio of the espresso, steamed milk and, foam all well-balanced, it almost feels like you’re floating on cloud nine. The aroma is woody and the flavor isn’t too thick, the latte is served with a separate pack of brown sugar to vary your taste. However, it still leaves a behind a bitter aftertaste. 

It’s also visually appealing as the coffee art is detailed and intricate served in a black mug enabling the perfect contrast of the soft delicate art with the dark mug and plate. It only reassures me that they are equipped with experienced baristas.

In a nut shell, CafeLandia is one to gratify consumer experience with the cozy ambiance with delectable coffee. It’s a place where you’d want to visit again and again.

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As the holidays draw closer, most of us like to indulge on sweet treats every now and then, Ferrero Rocher would inevitably be one of the common favorite among other chocolates. With the trend lately, we like to find more ways to savor this treat in more possible ways. 

What’s not to relish in a Ferrero? The rich nutty chocolate in the outside, the thin layer of crispy wafer, the smooth chocolate that comes right after, and of course its the hazelnut that is hard to leave out. All this recreated into the beautiful form of a frappuccino. 

Here’s the scoop:

• Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino or Java Chip Frappuccino if preferred
• Add Mocha Syrup (2 pumps for a tall, 3 for a grande, 3.5 for a venti)
• Add Hazelnut Syrup ( 1 pump for a tall, 1.5 for a grande, 2 for a venti)
• Add Hazelnut drizzle
• Top with whipped cream

Nuts over nuts?

• Add nutmeg powder

Can’t get enough chocolate?

• Add mocha drizzle