I'm taking it quite slow with my Katsu adventure.   A few nights ago, my cousin and I had out girls bonding night where she mentioned Saboten as being one of her and her husband's favorite.  That made me curious and teased me to want to try Saboten.

       Saboten's latest branch is in Glorietta 5.  I think it's strategically located, very bright and welcoming so it's difficult to miss.  Saboten is actually brought to the Philippines by Raintree group whose other concepts I've encountered before.

 

       As soon as I walk in, I noticed that they have a take out counter with comfortable seating for those who are waiting.  


     While waiting, I also took my time to read about Saboten and their thick cutlets.



     The area is very spacious and they made sure that their diners are afforded a lot of space and privacy.

     Each booth had a divider see?  

Condiments

      Saboten's secret sauce is made in Hokkaido using onions, carrots, apple, tomatoes and over 10 spices so make sure to try it out.  They also have the pink Himalayan salt. 

Pour the Special Sauce in the Grinded Sesame

Food
    Katsu is best shared with a group so we ordered based on our servers suggestion for us three girls to share.  And, somehow we managed to swipe this clean. =)) 

All set meals include refillable shredded cabbage, pickles, rice and miso soup

      I noticed that they don't have any ala carte.  Everything is ordered by sets.

 Grated Radish Katsu

Grated Radish Tenderloin Set (440 php)

         We opted to go for the Grated Radish Tenderloin Set which was an upgraded version of The Original because it had grated radish on top of it and is supposed to be served with a slice of grapefruit (but we got lemons instead) and ponzu sauce.  We noticed that they pork cutlets are thicker than others we've tried.  The tenderloin is really lean and meaty.  I was expecting this to deliver a whole new experience but I noticed that the other variants were served with ponzu sauces with grated radish on it so its almost the same.

Katsu Curry   

♥ Curry Chicken Set (575 php)

       I'm glad they offered the Curry Chicken Set for people like me who want to feel healthy once in awhile and opt for chicken over pork.  I find their curry sauce to have just the right blend.  I declare it safe even for those who can't eat spicy food.
 

♥ Curry Chicken Set (575 php)

       I know I mentioned last time that I won't go for chicken anymore but I'm now retracting that because Saboten has executed this dish so well that I could hardly distinguish any difference in moisture and texture with that of a pork.   I think I finished most of this dish.

Claypot

Clay Pot Tenderloin Set (440 php)

      The Clay Pot is their version of the Katsudon.  While my friend Berylle enjoyed this, I found the sauce to be too sweet for my liking.  And, I also prefer wet and runny yolks than dry than fluffy ones.

Clay Pot Tenderloin Set (440 php)

       But, what I like about the Clay Pot Tenderloin is that it's more moist and soft than the other variants. 


Mille-Feuille Katsu

♥ Mille-Feuille Combo Set (595 php)

      The Mille-Feuille Combo Set had 130g Mille-Feuille Katsu, 1 Deep-Fried Shrimp and 1 Crab Cream Croquette.  The deep-fried shrimp is one of the best I've tried.  I also loved the Crab Cream Croquette because the flavor of the crab was brought out by the cream instead of being dominated by it.  
 

♥ Mille-Feuille Katsu

      Their Mille-Feuille Katsu was very tender and more juicy than the rest because we noticed it had a lot of fats especially at the center part.  It's a really good alternative to The Original one.  I really like their spiky bread crumbs.  It's doesn't absorb too much oil so it was not oily and the crunchiness is so light and easy to breakthrough. 

Dessert        
        After eating a heavy load of meat, we felt a huge craving for something sweet.  And, since we can't decide on what to order, we decided to try all four of their cakes.

♥ Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Cake (195 php)

      I actually voted for the Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Cake despite it being the least visually appealing (Yes! When it comes to desserts, we tend to use our eyes) because I saw a lot of blogs raving about it.

♥ Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Cake (195 php)

         Sure enough, it did not disappoint.  It was a chocolate lovers dream with its rich chocolate ganache coating and velvety hazel cream filling.

Matcha Lychee Almond Cake (210 php)

      My two girl friends seemed to be drawn to the exciting combination of the Matcha Lychee Almond Cake and insisted on ordering it.  I didn't like it because the chiffon sponge cake felt too moist as if chilled too long and the matcha, lychee and almond were all too light that I could hardly recognize it from the sweet white ganache.

Strawberry Shortcake (195 php)

      I'm a huge fan of strawberry shortcakes especially Japanese ones so I was really persistent in having this.  But, when our Strawberry Shortcake came, I was surprised that it didn't have a single strawberry slice between the layers as shown on the menu.  The taste of the shortcake was good but it failed in terms of texture as it has the denseness similar to that of being chilled too long.

Sesame Sansrival Cake (210 php)

        The Sesame Sansrival Cake is my second choice next to the Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Cake.   It was not overwhelmingly sweet like most sansrival.  And, the black sesame in butter cream was quite evident.

Drinks

♥ Ripe Mango and Passion Fruit (195 php)

       I highly recommend the Ripe Mango and Passion Fruit which was the drink I got to try.  It was very sweet and refreshing that it mellows down the palette in every sip.


Promo

        Collect all of these by purchasing for 295 php or dining in every Rain Tree Restaurant with a minimum of 1,000 php.


Other Katsu Reviews
Ginza Bairin
Katsu Cafe
Kimukatsu
Tonkatsu by Terazawa
Yabu 1 | Yabu 2

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Saboten offers its own distinguishing katsu experience that is sure to satisfy any katsu craving.  The thickn but tender pork cutlets, exquisite crisp of the breading and flavorful sauce is worth coming back for. 

I recently discovered Staple and Perk Bakery at the back of Ecoplaza Building along Chino Roces Makati.  It doesn't really have a front signage so its not really visible for passersby.  So, should you stop by for it?  Read on...

Staple and Perk Bakery is surprisingly majestic in comparison to other top-notch bakeries I've been to like WildFlour Cafe + Bakery and Lucca Bakery.
 
It is well-ventilated with its high ceiling.  It's also very bright as I noticed that it has more than adequate lighting and surrounding glass windows that allow outer light to seep in.

Just next to the counter is their chiller filled with their pastries, dips and drinks.

The place also has its artsy cutesy quirky colorfulness to it so it gives of this really refreshing, warm, hearty and cozy vibe.  Did I mention that they are open 24/7?

And, I like that they promote chilling with actual interaction because admittedly its rare for our generation.

They also serve a lot of take home goodies like cookies and biscotti.


and very affordable pastries.  To bad my family only eat whole wheat variants so I wasn't able to buy some for them.  But, I bought my mom some Ginger and Pili Biscotti and she liked it.

Being health-conscious, I really loved their preservative-free advocacy.  I hope a lot of bakeries would also follow suit.

While looking around, I left this cute giraffe doll with my table number on a table. 

Food


Hearty Meals

Flat Breads

♥ Bacon (180 php)

Well, to be honest, I've not explored much into flat breads.  But this, Bacon with pepper and cream topped over its soft and chewy dough is exactly what I've been yearning for.

Cheese (150 php)

Compared to the Bacon, the Cheese is pale in comparison although quite reasonably more affordable.


Baked Pastas

Sweet Corn & Country Ham (180 php)

The Sweet Corn & Country Ham is a light cream penne pasta topped with corn and bits of country ham.  For someone who has sensitive taste buds like me, I'm fine with the simplicity and limited sauce.  But, surely the average diner will want more flavor.  I also found the penne to be tougher than al dente.

Fried Shallots & Bacon (180 php)

The Fried Shallots & Bacon is more flavorful than the Sweet Corn & Country Ham because of the presence of the bacon bits.  But, the cream composition is quite similar.


Sandwiches

Tomato, Pesto and Kesong Puti Solo (88 php)

The Tomato, Pesto and Kesong Puti panini is simple but comforting to munch on.  It's the first time I've encountered such a combination so I'm quite amazing that they mashed really well.  Plus, as you can see the panini is grilled quite perfectly.

Fried Ham & Cheese Solo (99 php)

If you're into fried dishes, you can try the Fried Ham & Cheese which oozed with melted cheese and was served with their homemade strawberry jam.  Alone, I felt this was not worth the guilt but the strawberry jam was just so good with it.

♥ Sesame Chicken Salad Whole Solo (180 php)

My favorite among the sandwiches is the Sesame Chicken Salad.  Not only is the spread very tasty, the Ciabatta bread is so beautifully prepared as well.  If you're baking, you'd know that Ciabatta is defined more for its big and shiny holes than the flavor because it's harder to accomplish.


Braises (set comes with side salad and perk cooler)

♥ Lemon Braised Chicken Solo (150 php)

Upon first glance, I thought the Lemon Braised Chicken was a bit undercooked because of the pinkish color.  But, it was not.  In fact, it was evenly and slowly braised so it was really tender and juicy.  I really loved the Lemon Braised Chicken because the citrus flavor is mellow and well-balanced with the cream sauce.  

♥ Coconut & Peanut Braised Chicken Solo (150 php)

On the other hand, I found the Coconut & Peanut Braised Chicken quite bold and rich in taste you have to eat this with bread or rice (upon request).  It has a dominant sweet and peanuty taste. 
 

♥ Red Wine Braised Beef Set (260 php)

If you're a beef lover, you;d be glad they offer the Red Wine Braised Beef.  It actually reminds me of the Chinese dish Beef Brisket but with more sophistication because of the red wine.  The beef was very tender too.  If you order the set you get it with a Perk Cooler and a side salad: Fresh Panzanella Salad or Apple-pili Salad.

Soy Butter Braised Pork Set (260 php)

The Soy Butter Braised Pork is pork cubes swimming in soy sauce and butter oil.  Forget the guilt, butter fat is good!

Staples

Pastries

Bacon Quiche (95 php)

The Bacon Quiche was too plain for me.  Compared to other quiches I've tried, I really felt that this could be further improved.  Too be honest, I prefer French Baker's quiche over this.

Vegetable Quiche (95 php)

The Vegetable Quiche with zucchini offered lesser flavor than the Bacon Quiche.

♥ Apple Pie Bar (80 php)

I really enjoyed the Apple Pie Bar.  I've always enjoyed apple and cinnamon-based pastries and this one is pretty good because it had the right texture and sweetness.

Cinnamon & Caramel Bread Pudding (130 php)

I usually stray away from caramel containing desserts because of the overwhelming sweetness.  But, I'm quite surprised that the Cinnamon & Caramel Bread Pudding topped with cinnamon dusted whipped cream was just right for my sweet-sensitive preference.  But, I found the texture quite inconsistent perhaps due to its thickness.

Chocolate Chip Cookies (30 php), ♥ Ginger and Pili Biscotti (30 php) and Vanilla Biscotti (30 php)

I'd recommend everything in this plate:  Chocolate Chip Cookies, Ginger and Pili Biscotti and Vanilla Biscotti for those who like crunchy crumby snacks.

Cream Puffs (65 php)

Being a fan of cream puffs, I'm quite disappointed with S&P's Cream Puffs because the texture was off, the cream was too plain, the size was petite but the price was hefty - as it was more than the price standard for international brands.


Cheesecake

Dayap Cheesecake Slice (110 php)

I was expecting the Dayap Cheesecake to be more on the tangy side but since it was more like a jelly or jam form, it was actually sweet.  This won the vote of my companions.

Three Cheese Cheesecake Slice (160 php)

It's actually my first time to try a cheesecake that's more on the salty side than sweet.  The Three Cheese Cheesecake felt like a cheese pie with an exquisite dense cheese texture. 

♥ Sweet Potato Cheesecake Slice (99 php)

My favorite among the cheesecakes is the Sweet Potato Cheesecake.  I like the contrast between the dense and salty cheese and the soft, mushy and natural and mild sweetness of the sweet potato chunks.

♥ Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake Slice (130 php)

Being a chocoholic, the Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake is one of the best chocolate cheesecake I've tried!  It's dark and rich chocolate chunks are so indulgent.
 

♥ Sesame Roll, Baguette, Pandesal

I also tried some of their pastries.  I loved the Sesame Roll the most because they are very generous with the sesame seeds.


Perks

Ice Blended

Mixed Berries (150 php)

For my perks (which is what they refer to their drinks), I chose the Mixed Berries.  I liked that it was very creamy and not too sweet but it wasn't anything extraordinary.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Staple and Perk Bakery is a great addition to the hidden restaurants along Chino Roces.  I'd definitely swing by when in the area.  The price is very affordable (albeit for some items) given their fresh, quality and hearty products and the ambiance is a place where  can chill for hours long.  The staffs are also very friendly and the owner himself is very passionate and hands-on.  I think this place is very promising.  In fact, they are already a concessionaire for many establishments.