Spreading like Wild Fire: Wildflour Cafe and Bakery

EVERYONE was talking about it. Fellow foodies couldn't stop themselves from eating here more than once in one week. It seemed to be the new astounding discovery of the century, aside from stem cells.

So of course I had to go. 

Stephanie had eaten dinner there with her family on Friday night, but she said it was more of a brunch place. I wanted to catch the place while it was in its first few weeks of soft opening. So on the following Saturday morning, I decided that Antonio and I were going to Wildflour to see what all the fuss was all about. The day was a super rainy day where you could see the rain sideways - perfect day for a good ol' pig out. 

I liked the vibe of the place. White brick walls, high exposed ceilings and big picture windows gave it an airy atmosphere. It almost felt as if you were in New York or LA or something. At 2pm it was still filled with people.

I thoroughly enjoyed the freshly baked good on display. The kind that makes kids not want to eat their lunch. Freshly baked ciabatta, cupcakes, bombolinis and oh so much more beckoned to regular diners and tried to seduce dieters on the Cohen. O! Foul carb! 

Ciabatta saying, "Eat me!"

This handwritten blackboard made me crave breakfast food but unfortunately I was too late. Really? No brunch food at a brunch place? Feeling a little like a jilted Juliet, we had to order off the regular menu.

Based on the reviews of JJ and my cousin Tricia, I decided that I absolutely had to have the Tarte Flambe. And it was a monster.

Mercifully this bad boy with Gruyere, bacon and caramelized onions was light and crispy. It may look like a pizza but it was on a delicate flaky crusty flatbread. A perfect appetizer for a main course. The next dish that came was the prawns with tomato.

The prawns were huge but its texture was soft and mushy. We had to send it back for more cooking. 

Definitely a miss. I wanted to order the Bahn Mi Sliders but unfortunately they had run out it. Instead, Antonio opted for the Chicken Meatball Sandwich.

 

Oh my. This sandwich, as you can see, was simply a mess to eat. I am a big believer in eating a sandwich with your hands and not having to use a knife and fork (come on! it's a SANDWICH!). But to save my outfit from any potential stain disorder, I think I had to use utensils to eat this. The bread was great but the chicken meatball was meh. 

This experience was a great experiment in the higher expectations are, the lower you fall. Thank God for their dessert which saved this sinking ship. We ordered the Chocolate Pot de Creme with nuts on the side (I am allergic to peanuts and walnuts and since they didn't know what nuts it came with they gave it to us on the side. It turned out to be almonds, which I can eat, and love!)

The pot de creme was sooooo good, after one bite I told Antonio I wanted my own! But it was also rich and I was just being a glutton. So in the end, we didn't order another one but decided to have some tea to settle our tummies.  

We didn't see what all the fuss was about. So I decided that I had to come back IN TIME FOR REAL BRUNCH. And with minimal expectations.

Wildflour Cafe and Bakery

G/F Net Lima Building 4th Avenue cor 26th Street

Bonifacio Global City

Tel +632.856.7600

Open 8am to 10pm

Hospital Food: Bizu at St Luke's Medical Center Global City

I was on my way to another doctor appointment when I got a message from his secretary that he would be at the office at 6:45pm instead of 5:30pm. Instead of getting frustrated, upon arrival at St Luke's Medical Center Global City, I decided to crutch myself to one of the restaurants and have my first hot, restaurant meal since my accident.

Was I excited!

I ran into Marielle who was there for a pediatric check-up for her son, Bash. When she saw me, utter shock registered on her face. "Oh my God, you are so thin!" she exclaimed. "I didn't recognize you. You look like you did in high school!" Yes, because of resting at home for the last 2 weeks I lost 4 more pounds despite all the good efforts of my friends who sent me food. Well, I guess it is a happy side effect, much like taking glutathione makes you white, I suppose.

Even better reason for me to pig out on my quest to a cafe.

There were quite a few choices here: Via Mare, Market on 5th, Starbucks, Bizu and Cafe Mary Grace.

I chose Bizu because 1) I was in the mood for breakfast food and 2) I knew its menu already very well and 3) it had a good cross section of different food.

As soon as I arrived, a kind man helped me choose a table and even put my crutches against the wall. Being on crutches does make one seem sort of helpless.

I opened the menu and scanned all the breakfast food but nothing quite appealed to me. If I wanted Eggs Benedict, it would be the one from Apt 1B. If I wanted a Croque Madame, I wanted the one from Wild Flour. So I decided to order a USDA sirloin beef burger with Gruyere and caramelized onions, cooked medium on a whole wheat bun minus the weird stuff like honey mustard dressing. Then I told myself I would get a crepe Suzette for dessert.

I also ordered a dalandan juice which was a bit on the sweet side so I watered it down. I kept the menu like it was a magazine or something. Talk about being deprived.

I noticed the menu offered flavored kefir yogurt drinks. After my experience making my own kefir, a yogurt drink full of probiotics, which I drank each morning, looking at the photos made me gag a little.

My burger arrived and at first it looked as if a French onion soup threw up on it. I decided that the caramelized onions were too much so I scraped it all off and just ate the burger with the cheese and tomato and lettuce. On the outside it looked well done but once I made it to the inside it was perfectly pink - a thoroughly satisfying meal.

I didn't have time to order a crepe as it was already 6:30pm and I had to hobble to my doctor's office.
I'm happy to say that my visit was very uplifting: he said my wound was healing nicely and that I could walk now and get out of the house. Praise God!

Perhaps on my next visit to the doctor I will visit Mary Grace cafe for some hot chocolate with chili and cake. I am sure I will make a visit to each of those cafes before I am completely healed. Truly good food is food for the soul.

Old world feel of Bizu

Yummy pastries and macarons on display by the counter