If you grew up in a mestizo household, the cuisine will be very reminiscent of childhood–the Filipino version of colonial favorites that your grandmother or mother has perfected all your years of growing up. Mosaic By the Creek offers comfort food that features Tita Cherrie’s home cooking, which frankly, makes me want to be adopted by her. The whole menu is a tie-up between titas, Tita Cherrie, and her best friend who once was chef in Malacañang for the late former President Cory Aquino.
It’s best to munch on some snacks while finishing your mosaic creations. Try the Fil-Mex Fries topped with sour cream and crispy beef bits.
Or the Lumpiang Shanghai which is far from the average merienda staple with an assortment of cheese, vegetables, chicken and bangus.
After two or more hours in the workshop, you’d have worked up an appetite after time flew by so quickly. Warm your belly with the Cream of Malunggay Soup which will definitely get your kids to slurp their greens. Also classified as a no-sharing dish.
Starters call for the classic Albert’s Caesar Salad with crisp greens and homemade Caesar sauce topped with bacon bits.
For something closer to home, their Binagoongang Talong is perfect with their garlic rice. The bagoong is also homemade and leans towards the sweeter side thus complementing the saltiness of the fried rice.
Now with their wine list in the hands of a sommelier, expect some very effective pairings. The Fish Curry which is good for two to three and served with buttery homemade roti bread pairs very well with the 2013 Balbach Reisling, a German white wine.
For something lighter, the Beef Kebabs is also a good option and is served with the same chewy roti bread and a side of cucumber dill salad.
Of course, pasta is on the menu. A Filipina mother’s version of the Italian classic Spaghetti with Meatballs has a slight tinge of sweetness in the pomodoro sauce.
Another bestseller, the Angel Hair Negra is a sosyal twist on adobong pusit. The dish is light and fortunately isn’t drenched in squid ink.
The son of the owner assured us of his mother’s unique roasted chicken recipe, aptly named after him. The Carlo’s Roasted Chicken really isn’t like any roasted chicken I’ve ever tried. The crisp skin alone is a surprise while the maple calamansi sauce is a combination of piquant flavors and deeper notes of sweetness distinct in maple syrup.
There was also much to rave about the Mechado, a family recipe of over two generations. The tomato and beef stew is slow cooked for 48 hours straight, producing the most tender and flavorful meat with an equally complementary sauce that hints of sweet onions. Don’t tell my mom, but this is the best mechado I’ve ever tried.
If you still have space and wine, do go for dessert. Their cute Cheesecakes come in either Calamansi or Tablea so you can choose to end with a hint of tanginess or decadence. Each is served with a scoop of ice cream.
Apart from the food and wine, their coffee is also pretty good with a Barako blend sourced directly from Batangas. Their bar selection, like their wine list, is condensed but also well thought of and covers the basics to satiate every Tito of Manila. Give credit to Carlo Araw and his love for single malt whiskey that enlivened the bar area.
In conclusion, Mosaic By the Creek is in essence, made by an amazing family for families. It offers a respite for the city-weary right at the heart of Marikina, and recreation for those wishing to stretch the limits of their creativity (or like most of us, reconnect with it). It’s a workshop and café-cum-restaurant but evokes a truly homey vibe that makes you want to stay for hours (you will though, trust me). It’s a home away from home where your mind is clear, your belly is full, and your kids (and inner kid) full of smiles. I haven’t been this wholesome happy in Manila since my adolescence.
Mosaic By the Creek Cafe + Art Workshop
22 Major Dizon Street, Marikina City
www.mosaicbythecreek.com
Mosaic By the Creek’s Facebook page: facebook.com/mosaicbythecreek
IG: @mosaicbythecreek
(02) 508-4099
Mosaic By the Creek is giving away 3 MOSAIC 101 LESSONS!
All you have to do is like Mosaic by the Creek and WhenInManila.com on Facebook or Instagram, Share, and Tag 5 Friends! Enter the contest below:
UPDATE:
Here are the winners of Mosaic By The Creek’s Mosaic 101 Lessons!
1. Inez Crisostomo
2. Jim Marlon Macaraeg
3. Dorothy Gulapa
The winners have already been contacted. Congratulations!