Upland Kafé

Upland Kafé, Silang, Cavite

Just along Aguinaldo Highway, located at the back of a Shell station is this new hidden gem! I mean just look at how cute their place is! Nestled under decade old trees, everything is made inside a whitewashed container van. 

We were so happy when we arrived. We looked for it because the place was starting to trend on facebook and when we stepped out of the car, it was even more beautiful than the gorgeous photos that are posted on social media. Silang has a milder climate compared to the rest of the province so coffee will never be out of fashion (even for warmer days, a cup of ice cold will do the trick!)

Machuca-style Tiles and Neon Signs

Team Puti or literally white team in English is a design movement that is very popular in social media nowadays here in the islands. It's clean and minimalist finish is applied to this cafe's interior which made the tiles and neon signage (two of my favorite things) really pop! Machuca Tile is the largest and oldest manufacturer of handmade cement tiles in the Philippines dating back 1903. 

      

(L) Their signature Blue Pea Latte and (R) Caramel Macchiato 

We were not shy to ask for their best-sellers especially it's our first time so we wanted their hits, a thing my friend RJay taught me. So both him and I tried their Blue Pea Latte, as per their facebook page is the very first concoction here in the Philippines! It's made by using the Blue Ternate flower as a tint, and I have to say, it was really good and yes, very colorful! It was sweeter compared to my cousin Judy's Caramel Macchiato which has a stronger coffee:sweetness ratio

Me pretending to be the cafe's Model

We stayed to enjoy our drinks because we felt comfortable to due to its al-fresco seating, and though it just rained, the owners and crew were so kind to clean us some seats and tables which we didn't really use because we can't stop taking pictures of the place! It's just really beautiful. We tried two more drinks, this time we tried a Frappe and an Iced Tea. 

      

(L) Strawberries and Creme Frappe and (R) Lemon Lychee Iced Tea

Since I am getting older (certified Tito), I'm starting to refrain from sweet drinks so the strawberries and creme frappe will not be a choice on my next visit but this Lychee iced tea is like sunshine on a cup! It is sweet but only the right amount! I can taste a hint of brown sugar, perhaps they use it as a sweetener? But the lychee extract they used gave me bolts of energy from the inside even if it was a grey and gloomy kind of day! 

 

Now the question is, am I gonna go back? A big YES! For so many reasons - their coffee, their fun concoctions, but most especially - the ambiance! being there gives me this relaxed feeling, on the levels that you just can't get from the usual cafes because Upland's edge will always be them being so close to nature. No other mural can beat the views of being under the embrace of strong trees that gives out natural air conditioning! Will definitely be back Upland!

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This visit to Upland Kafé very much inspired me to start an Instagram project wherein I will share and review coffee and experiences from café to café! May I take this chance to share with you all Cafe Hunter PH and join me in my café adventures across the islands!

Never Stop Nature!

Stevenson

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Upland Kafé

Shell Select along Aguinaldo Highway

Silang, Cavite

0927 917 9690

https://www.facebook.com/uplandkafe/

Cafe 506

Cafe 506 (Photo by my best friend Rjay Miranda)

Celebrating my 27th birthday, my High School best friends asked if I have something to do that Sunday afternoon? I just got home from a trip to Tagaytay with my dad, brother Wilson, and cousin Judy when I said I have nothing going on after lunch. So they told me about their plans of visiting our friend at the hospital in Cavite City and we'll have lunch thereafter.

It was quite a talk before we finally decided to have our lunch at Cafe 506. Located at EPZA Diversion Road, Kawit, Cavite, Cafe 506 has a wide array of delicious goodies on their Menu. It was probably my 3rd or 4th visit that time and I can see how they continue to improve and add more dishes to their list.

Happy 27th to Me (Cafe 506 - June 4, 2017)

I would have to say that the place feels homey and nice. I'm sure they can further improve the overall feel of the place especially with the lighting. I know how lighting is a challenge for cafes especially during the daylight, if ever they want to let their guests have that certain feel of a cozy ambiance despite the strong sunlight but there are ways I'm sure.

The greeter led us to our table. The place was not packed on that Sunday afternoon but there were a few groups enjoying their meal as we passed them by going to our table by the east window. Our waiter took our orders and we were so happy when our food arrived after about 15 minutes. Here are the dishes we ordered, of course I took a taste test of each and every one of my friend's foods HAHA

Kim Cheese Rice Bowl (Php 198.00)

My best friend Rjay ordered the Kim Cheese Rice Bowl. This dish is probably their own take on the Korean Bibimbap. Although without the usual vegetables that are present on the traditional Bibimbap, they stir fried the rice on Korean Red Bean paste and rounded it all up with Korean Style Barbequed Beef. To finish it all, Fried egg on top!

The taste of the rice is definitely Korean. The red been paste was very present to the stir fried rice and I have to say, the sweetness and saltiness of the beef complimented the dish's overall taste. To be honest, it was a little too tasty for me because I would really like the taste of the beef (especially the fatty parts) to shine through but it has been overpowered by the seasonings of the beef.

Pancit Palabok (Php 98.00)

Now to me, this one is THE BOMB! Their Pancit Palabok, which was my friend Faith's order, tastes perfect for me. Not too bland, but not too salty, which is usually the problem to anyone's Pancit Palabok. This particular dish needs extra care when it comes to the seasonings especially the amount of Fish Sauce that has to go to its sauce. A little more than the right amount of Patis [fish sauce] can turn your Palabok into a bed of salt.

But this particular one, I have to say, is seasoned perfectly! The noodles on the other hand is boiled to its correct firmness. If I have to go back, I'll definitely order this one.

Pritchon (Php 160.00)

Our class Valedictorian Ferdie Ray decided on the Pritchon. It is the traditional Lechong Kawali or Deep Fried Pork Belly, served with garlic rice and fried egg. Nothing very special about this dish but I have to commend the correct amount of time it took them to fry this up because it is both cooked well and the skin is perfectly crispy.

Beef Lasanga (Php 188.00)

Our dear driver Myrcel (she's also one of my best friends of course) opted for the cafe's Beef Lasagna. It looks so good and oozing with so much cheese, I mean, who doesn't love cheese? The pasta was cooked perfectly, just like the other noodle dishes we ordered, but here's my take on the taste though. They tend to go on the sweeter side on this one, and I may say, it was too sweet for my liking.

For me, if you are to make beef dishes, it is of prime decadence to bring out that natural savory taste of beef. It is a taste that I can only find in beef, which is very crucial as to working on dishes that showcases it. In our family of self-taught cooks, we have a saying that if you don't know how to bring out the flavor in beef, then better to use pork instead (pork is relatively cheaper than beef in my side of the world). Maybe they added too much sugar or the sauce based they used is more on the sweeter side. Over all, it wasn't that bad, but I've tasted a lot of better lasagnas than this one.

Longganisa Pomodoro Pasta (Php 150.00)

From a not so good pasta dish, let's move on to another pasta dish. This one is my choice and I have to say, I am proud of what I decided on. Their Longganisa Pomodoro is amazing. The dish was perfect, well, at least for my own set of taste buds. They used Penne pasta on their Pomodoro but they made the dish their own by using Longganisa for its meat component.

Longganisa, for those who aren't familiar with it, is a native Filipino sausage. Usually made of pork, it is popularly served fried for breakfast with rice and egg. What makes it different for it's cousin, the chorizzo, is the fact that it's cased slightly loose. Though both cased on sub-mucosa or animal intestine layer, most longganisas are not pressed as tight as the chorizo which is a lot more firmer.

Back to the dish, they made their Pomodoro sauce a fusion of all the tastes that we want. Sour from the tomato sauce, sweet from the longganisa, and yes, spiced by Chili! I would not actually recommend this dish to people who hates (and fears) spicy food but to those who love it, oh you have to try this one! Never to forget is the Parmesan cheese sprinkled over the delectable sauce that seals the deal with it's savory goodness.

From L-R: Marvin, Faith, Ate Judy, Ferdie Ray, Myrcel, Me, and R-Jay

Ate Judy and Marvin ordered their burger entrees served with their homemade shoestring fries and dip. We had a great time at lunch together and we all enjoyed our food. One thing that we love to do when dining out (which others think is weird) is we love to taste all of each other's dishes. It's a way to enjoy the restaurant and to know which dish we will actually order the next time we visit the place with our family or friends.

My Birthdays are never complete without spending it with these amazing people! Every time I add up a year to my existence, I also add up another 365 days of laughter, tears, experiences, and memories with these amazing set of weirdos friends. I am now 27 years old, which means I've been friends with these people for almost 23 years now, we've all been classmates since Kindergarten up until we graduated high-school, and we have no plans of breaking any ties for as long as we live.

Never Stop Friendship!

Steven

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Cafe 506
EPZA Diversion Rd, Kawit
Cavite, PHILIPPINES
Phone: (046) 443 7581

Secret Haven Cafe

They Are Open

Nestled in the middle of Jordan Subdivision in Noveleta is the hippest place you'd ever see in town. Located inside a residential area, truly this 'Secret Haven' is greatly kept away from the highway hustle and bustle. But what makes this place a must visit is not just its tasty food and yummy drinks, it's the place that is magically stunning!

My niece Abrielle at the beautiful green gates

As you walk through the green wooden gates, a beautiful garden filled with a lot of cacti and succulents will welcome you warmly and make you feel so much at home. Just like you stepped in through the pages of a beautiful fairy tale. And yes, this place is simply picture worthy, my cousins prove this fact so well.

Their garden where you can dine and relax.

Behind the Green Gates

My Cousin Caren adores their Whitewash walls

We walked inside the 'house' where there were available seats for us. It was quite a sunny and warm day so we opted to be seated inside for the air-conditioning. It's a small and cute place so our group of six already occupied half of the place. The interior is hipster chic with whitewashed wooden wall panels, hanging light bulbs and memorabilia from the owner's travels.

Three Generations of the Que Family

The menu features pasta, burgers, milkshakes and smoothies. We had a really hard time choosing what we'll be having because everything sounds so good! We tried their smoothies. I got myself a Lasagna, so as my brother, my niece Abrielle, and my cousin Caren while Ate Carmeline got herself her bacon and mushroom burger named after a famous waterfall from Iceland. My Aunt, Mama Vicky chose her favorite Club Sandwich.

Gullfoss - Secret Haven's Bacon and Mushroom Cheeseburger

It was good! Really good, as for me of course! The Lasagna is so beefy and perfectly seasoned to release the flavor of the beef. And the cheese, yes, real cheddar! Ate Carmeline's Burger on the other hand is a little spicy on the patty but still good.

Secret Haven's Beefy Lasagna

We also ordered their Mojo Potato Slices. Unlike the usual once we have from Shakey's, this one is breaded and not battered. Spiced as well, my niece did not like it that much but I think it was okay mainly because of the dip that it was served with.

Secret Haven's Mojo Potatoes

  

Their drinks were another story, they were really good! We tried three of their Milkshakes, the Love Statue, Croatia, and their Caramel Frappe. Love Statue is made with Lotus Biscoff Crunchy Biscuit Spread and Lotus Caramelized Biscuits. Croatia on the other hand, which I ordered, has Maltesers Chocolate Malted Milk Balls.

Yes, I had to take a photo before I finish this meal

We stayed there for more than an hour and then we visited the plant shop next door where we bought ourselves some cute little cactus plants and some succulents. They also have this cute little airplants. Of course, I got myself some cacti, four of them to be exact.

Four Little Cactus for Me!

This dinner was a treat from my brother Wilson to our one and only Mama Vicky, the best Aunt in the Whole Wide World! She's leaving this Thursday for California and we will surely miss her! Love You So Much Mama Vicky!

I would definitely go back to Secret Haven and bring my friends. It's more than just the food or the pretty place, but it's about this over all experience that you'll share with this 'secret haven'. Actually, me and my cousins are planning our next visit here very soon, you should too!

Kuya Wilson, Caren, Mama Vicky, Ate Carmeline, Abrielle, and Me.

Secret Haven is located inside Jordan Subdivision and can be reached through EPZA Diversion Road. 

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Never Stop Looking for Secrets!

Steve