The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® (CBTL) has sprouted a new leaf with its open kitchen concept - Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®.  The Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® was pioneered in High Street South amidst the pandemic - October 2020, serving all-day breakfast, gourmet dishes, specialty coffee and teas and pastries for dine-in, take-out and food delivery.

Followings its success, the Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® will be rolled out on more CBTL stores soon!  In fact, the Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® just opened in SM Megamall B.  Can you see its minimalist signage?

We really liked the bright, clean and spacious dining atmosphere of Kitchen.

With this concept, the mainstay of CBTL - a place for coffees, tea and pastries is still there.  Yes, its passion for coffee and tea since 1963 lives on.    You can order drinks and displayed pastries from its typical counter. 

In addition, after your drink or on a separate occasion, you may opt to explore its expansive food menu that offers a wide range of dishes served hot and fresh from its open kitchen.

Food

If you've tried 26th St. Bistro by CBTL before like we did, you'd notice that your old favorites with the same generous sharing portions are offered here at a lower price point.  

 

Salads

California Cobb (395 php)

We had the California Cobb is a large salad plate with fresh romaine lettuce, grilled chicken breast cubes, sliced hard-boiled eggs, corn kernels, diced tomatoes, mozzarela strips, avocado cubes, almond slices and ranch dressing.

♥ Shrimp & Pomelo (395 php)

The Shrimp & Pomelo is a Vietnamese inspired salad with romaine lettuce, cilantro, mint leaves, poached shrimp, pomelo, roasted peanuts, dessicated coconut and coconut lime dressing.

 

Mains

♥ Steak Chimichurri (675 php)

We especially enjoyed the Steak Chimichurri with extremely tender slices of top blade steak with chimichurri served w/ chiptotle rice and fried potato basket. 

Pastas

Carbonara (365 php)

The Carbonara is the classic and homey kind of pasta you miss once in awhile.  The rich and creamy carbonara sauce is complemented by the savory bacon slices and creamy umami-rich poached egg yolk.

Sandwiches

♥ CBTL Burger (455 php)

The  CBTL Burger is worthy holder of its namesake. Biting into the tender and juicy double USDA beef patties, romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cheese & caramelized onions is simply heavenly!  This burger meal is a wholesome and filling one with the soft and thick oatmeal buns, double patty and french fries on the side.

Pizzas

♥ Proscuitto (595 php)

The Proscuitto is a thin crispy crusted pizza topped with the finest ingredients - proscuitto, argula, tomatoes and mozarella.  

Desserts

♥ Tostones with Vanilla Ice Cream (195 php)

 

The Tostones with Vanilla Ice Cream which is a double-fried thinly sliced flower-shaped bananas served with vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce was such a pleasant meal ender.  The precision in the cutting and frying process which gave each tostones a crispy coating and chewy banana filling is commendable!

Coffee & Espresso

 

♥ Matcha Macchiato and Caramel Macchiato (215php)

 As previously mentioned, the best part is you can enjoy your favorite CBTL along with your food.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Dining at Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® reminded us of what we missed during the pandemic: 1.) premium quality and well-presented dishes (for sharing) served hot and fresh from the kitchen, 2.) bright, spacious, safe and clean ambiance, 3.) friendly and accommodating service staffs and 4.) a wide selection of drinks and dishes to mix and match.  With its reasonable price point considering the generous portion of fresh and premium quality ingredients in its dishes, good service and the cozy CBTL ambiance, we highly recommend this place!   

Food

Potato Takoyaki (50 php)

Japanese Style Chicken

8 pc Rack (554 php)

Doria Japanese Baked Rice

Chicken Katsu Curry Chizu Bowl (139 php)

Pasta

Baked Pasta with Egg (135 php)

Baked Pasta with Egg (135 php)

Beef Chizu Bowl (149 php)

As I am a huge Gyudon fan, I was iniatilly most excited to try the Beef Chizu Bowl.  But well, it felt unfamiliarly new to me that I was inkling for the usual Gyudon.  I think this need a bit of recurrence to be appreciated.

Chicken Karaage Chizu Bowl (129 php)

Having tried the rest, this Chicken Karaage Chizu Bowl was the least extravaggant but well-justified by the price.  Can you believe that this is only 129 pesos?

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I can understand the craze for Tori Chizu.  First, the price point is unbelievably affordable.  It is within the same price range as most fast-food joints.  I've also shared reasoably priced katsu joints before and this is even cheaper.  Second, how can you resist its delicious cheesy doria meals?

If you've been to Hongkong, I'm certain you've encountered Hui Lau Shan 许留山!  It's so famous that you'll find in almost everywhere especially the busy districts. 


I was lucky to be invited for a sneak peek prior to its opening.  I'm sharing here what I had then.  I'm aiming to go back soon to try more!!!

Food

Handmade Mango Desserts

Mango Romance (170 php)

The Mango Romance is Hui Lau Shan's world-famous set because as you can see, it seems like an ideal sampler to order.   You get three desserts in one plate: (1) Mango Chewy Ball (2) Mango Crystal Jelly (3) Mango Mochi.  All of them are equally good!  I noticed the pricing here is cheaper than in Hongkong perhaps because their mangoes are sourced here in the Philippines.  Lucky us!!!

Handmade Snacks

Mango Mochi (90 php/3 pcs)

Mango Pancake (140 php)

The first time I've tried a Mango Pancake was in HK 88 Dessert in 999 Shopping Mall Food Court back in 2012.  Unfortunately, it closed down and I haven't had one since.  While I loved the Mango Pancake upon first try, I never thought that it could be as good as how Hui Lau Shan made it out to be.   The pancake had such a light and velvety texture that was well-complimented by the light and fluffy cream-filling and refreshingly sweet and tangy mango.

Drinks

Mango & Coconut 

Mango & Coconut Juice with Red Bean (110 php/18 oz)

When it comes to coconut juice desserts, I can only think of Buko Bar and Haokang Hongkong Desserts who offer the same.  While I am also still a fan of Hao Kang, I would say that this Mango & Coconut Juice with Red Bean is just as good.  Both of them offer them at subtle sweetness.  I think some would prefer this to be sweeter though.


My companions had these... I will try these out soon!


Hui Lau Shan 许留山 also offers desserts as take away!  I will buy some of these on my next visit for the family!

Welcome to the Philippines Hui Lau Shan 许留山!  I hope you can be consistent with the sweetness and pricing cause I will surely keep coming back for more!

It has already been six years since I first tried Zark's Burgers at their pioneer branch.  Zark's has gone a long way since then.

Would you believe that from a hole in a wall it has around 20 branches now?  I can now enjoy it even at malls like the last time I was in SM Megamall. 

Food
We love Zark's and we love its American burger concept.  But, at the back of our minds, we secretly wish that it would be a bit closer to our Filipino preference like having some rice dishes.

Asian Curry (149 php)

So I'm very happy to try Zark's new signature burger steaks.  I wasn't expecting much but when the the Asian Curry was served, I was impressed.  Look!  So bongga!  Based on visual presentation, this matches Japanese curry shop items that are worth twice as much.  How about the taste?  Hmm... For the price, not bad!  A bit on the salty than peppery though. 

♥ Garlic Mushroom (149 php)

If you ask me what's my favorite?  Its the Garlic Mushroom!  This is comfort food at its finest!  Yum yum!!!

♥ Chipotle BBQ (149 php)

Second runner up is the Chipotle BBQ.  I love the sweet and flavorful blend that makes me want to indulge into this with more rice!  

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Zark's has done a great job with their Signature Burger Steaks!  I find this a bang for the buck choice with a generous serving of rice and sauce to complement the burger steak.  I especially appreciate it being cooked fresh upon order.  I will definitely order these again when I'm in the area.  The service at Zark's is superb as well considering it doesn't even have a service charge.

Tip: Tomorrow May 28, 2018 is Zark's Jawbreaker Day! 

I've long been a fan of Chef Miko Aspiras.   I just couldn't believe it when he messaged me on instagram inviting me to launch of his new cakes with Yardstick's coffee at The Workshop Bespoke Bakery located inside Le Petite Souffle in SM Mega Fashion Hall.


This is my first time to visit both Le Petite Souffle and The Workshop so I was amazed by the interiors.

The display was awesome.
Who wouldn't be enticed to buy upon seeing these right?

Everyone was gathered for the highlight of the event...

When a young genius like Chef Miko Aspiras demonstrates about his pastry, he doesn't need a spotlight to draw the crowds attention.

Everyone was eager to see his creation.  Isn't his 17 Layer Chocolate Cake drool worthy?  The perfect match for this is Yardstick's Non-Dairy Mocha.  Believe me, the mocha is so smooth that you can't tell that it doesn't have dairy on it.

I really loved the light and subtle flavors of pistachio of the Pistachio Creme Roulade.  I knew the family would appreciate it so I  brought them home some one time.  Indeed, they had so much praise for it.  Chef Miko suggests this cake to be paired with Yardstick's Madagascar Vanilla Iced Latte.

The crowd favorite is the Basque Burnt Cheesecake.  This is indeed so good.  This is best when freshly baked or shall I say burnt?  It doesn't taste bitter and burnt at all.  The caramel isn't too sweet either.  The best coffee drink for this is Yardstick's Burnt Butterscotch Iced Latte with Salted Cream. It sounds intriguing right?  I want to try that on my next visit too.

So here they are: 17 Layer Chocolate Cake, Pistachio Creme Roulade and
Basque Burnt Cheesecake.  Try them all out.  I bet you'll find one (if not all) to be a total indulgence.

Thank you so much Chef Miko for inviting me to try this amazing desserts!
  
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