I discovered CO/OP by chance one evening while Waze led me through the innards of Mandaluyong and San Juan in order to sidestep a gridlock in EDSA. It was the impossibly cool aesthetic that drew me in, something I had come to expect in well-scrubbed BGC or Makati but not in a secluded residential area in San Juan. Inside, it’s all warehouse-style industrial chic with exposed beams, studio track lights and brick walls. The space is shared by a cafe and a gift shop selling gnome sculptures, mushroom lamps, animal head wall decors and other curios that my hipster friends will surely love. And the food? In the next post. #cntraveler #itsmorefuninthephilippines #manila #igers #foodandwine #food52

Kafe Batwan's Madrid Fusion Super Batchoy

There has been a buzz around @kafebatwan’s Madrid Fusion super batchoy so I had to go and try it. I must say it is deserving of all the hype. It has the flavors that sate and soothe, starting with the stock that has been burbling for 12 hours. Its beautifully rendered umami-ness came with a thick slice of grilled kurobuta charsiu, a bed of nicely chewy egg noodles, a lovely soft-boiled egg sliced in half showing a slightly runny yolk, and generous helpings of toasted garlic, scallions and tuna skin. I love @chefjayps’s take on Negrense cooking. It is an enticing invitation to really experience Philippine cuisine one island at a time. #food52 #foodandwine #itsmorefuninthephilippines #cntraveler #igers

Address Joya Lofts, Rockwell, Makati
Phone 632-6255166