Tag: Rustic Mornings

Travelogue Manila: Rustic Mornings & Marikina (Revisited)

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The last time I was in Manila, N brought me to a cosy little place in Marikina called Rustic Mornings. Tucked in a quiet suburb near the Marikina Shoe Museum, the establishment serves great food in a charming ambience surrounded by leafy greens, quirky knick knacks and an artsy mix of vintage and contemporary decor. I liked it so much that on my recent visit, I had to go again! 😀

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It was a hot day but the gazebos outside were mostly taken, so we sat in the blue/white themed dining area. The decor hasn’t changed much – still cosy, like someone’s living room, filled with various decorative pieces, china, chequered coasters and beautifully tiled floors to go with the wooden furniture.

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I ordered what I did the last time – Bacon, Eggs and Herbed Hash Browns. Qualitywise, it was on par with my previous visit. The eggs were, again, quite bland but I really liked the fried crusted hash browns which were crunchy and savoury. Added on a side of pork tocino, which was sweet and fatty.

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N tried a new item on their menu, the gourmet hotdog with chilli con carne. The serving came open-faced with a pair of messy sunny-side up eggs and a huge pork sausage on a bed of beans, minced pork and chilli. The sausage was juicy with that slight chewiness to the skin, and the chilli con carne was packed with flavour, with bits of lean and fat mixed in. Top that with the egg and you have an excellent, sloppy-Joe-like dish. The portions were also very filling!

Now I have to wait until god-knows-when to have it again,  but I’ll be sure to pay this place a visit the next time. Sort of like an annual pilgrimage. 😛

RUSTIC MORNINGS

11 I. Mendoza St, Marikina, 1800 Metro Manila, Philippines

Phone:  +63 2 425 8610

Opening hours: 8AM-4pm (Mon-Sun)

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The Marikina Church is just a stone’s throw away.

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Walking around the neighbourhood. Marikina is much cleaner, with better roads and infrastructure than downtown Manila.

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The local city hall.

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Dinner that night at N’s house – Menudo and Sotanghon.

More of Manila to come! 🙂

 

Review: Rustic Mornings by Isabelo, Marikina

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Sometimes, you have to dig a little deeper to get to the good parts – as is the case with Rustic Mornings by Isabelo. Tucked within a quiet neighbourhood of Marikina City, the cafe is located down an alleyway lined with walls covered in creeping ivy –  easy to miss if you’re not familiar with the area. Still, the place has a good following among the city’s affluent and young urban professionals, thanks to its hearty food and Instagram-worthy settings.

Look out for the banner/entrance behind the Marikina Shoe Museum. 

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Quaint and charming, the restaurant feels more like an artist’s cluttered home/studio than an actual cafe. The spacious outdoor dining area, divided into several sections and gazebos, overflow with potted plants, flowers and trellises, as well as tastefully hung lamps and decorations.

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Seashell ‘curtains’ tinkle in the breeze.

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A beautiful light piece, decorated with pine cones and vintage-looking lamps.

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A dining section filled with vintage paraphernalia and paintings. The tables and chairs look straight up out of an English tea garden party.

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Colourful, well-scrubbed tiles glimmer in the morning light.

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For those who prefer dining in air-conditioned comfort, the restaurant has an indoor area which is equally charming. Exuding comfortable, homely vibes, the space sports lots of wood accents, with snowy white curtains fitted to tall windows, cupboards housing various knick knacks, blue and white floor tiles and delicate plates of china adorning the walls. Reminds me of being in the home of a sweet English granny or a favourite aunt. 🙂

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Blue and white porcelain pieces, cups, mugs and other memento.

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The food is a mix of Western and traditional Filipino flavours. The Bacon, Eggs and Herbed Hash Browns (PHP180) came in a hearty serving – a mountain of fluffy scrambled eggs with diced tomatoes, two strips of crispy bacon, and two large deep fried crusted hash browns patties. Tastewise, I liked the hash browns best as they were crunchy and salty, but the eggs were bland,  so I had to load them with salt and pepper.

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Also got a side of Pork Tocino (add on PHP60). A little on the oily side, but I loved the fat and juicy bits of pork served in a sweet sauce. Would be great with rice!

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The Three Mushroom Omelette (PHP250) consists of generous chunks of fresh button mushrooms, portobello and shiitake, served with two warm and toasty slices of ciabatta bread, herbed butter and fruit jam. The herbed butter is absolute garlicky goodness!

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It’s easy to see why Rustic Mornings has gained a fan base, despite its somewhat hidden location. The food is good, generous and feels home-cooked, and one can easily spend hours chilling in the cosy environment, surrounded by lush greenery. Perfect place for families or those looking to impress a brunch date – you won’t be disappointed.

RUSTIC MORNINGS

11 I. Mendoza St, Marikina, 1800 Metro Manila, Philippines

Phone:  +63 2 425 8610

Opening hours: 8AM-4pm (Mon-Sun)