With all the quaint restaurants mushrooming within Marikina, the picturesque city is gaining a reputation as a go-to foodie hub, growing steadily very similar to the grub destinations of Maginhawa and Kapitolyo. The conceptual variety in these places is endless, from younger risk-taking entrepreneurs to family heirlooms. Mosaic By the Creek in Marikina is a bit of both but provides an experience like no other.
The first of its kind in the country (or we’d like to think so), this unassuming little restaurant houses the most colorful of crafts and mosaic, offering workshops from basic to advanced lessons for kids of all ages (including us, of course).
Owner and all-around tita, Cherrie Araw conceptualized everything, from the interiors to the menu. She’s the mom of that one friend whose house we frequent for the home-cooked meals and the loving atmosphere. But just like the unassuming façade of her brainchild, she’s wildly driven – a passion translated even into the painstakingly handmade furniture of the restaurant she did by herself.
The workshops offered at Mosaic By the Creek are taught personally by Mrs. Araw, where she patiently goes through each step, from choosing the colors and pattern to the grouting process. Through sips of wine (recommended: house wine Valdivieso Cabernet Sauvignon) and coffee, she recalls her numerous visits to Barcelona, taking mosaic classes there herself, and of course, falling in love with the works of Gaudi.
The craft of mosaic is surprisingly soothing and is known to increase levels of attention. For kids, it helps focus all that energy into producing art, while for us adults, it’s an effective stress reliever, especially with a bottle of wine and good company. You’d be surprised with what your hands can create once your mind is clear.
Apart from the mosaic workshops, the compound is home to a very instagrammable restaurant and café featuring the handmade furniture of Tita Cherrie. Her daughter Ava, helps with the daily operations, and being one of the first Filipino sommeliers, has produced a short but very well-curated wine list at reasonable prices. Hint: bottles between Php 1,000 to Php 2,000 are the average range.
Check out the next page for food and their free giveaway!
