CRISTY IN THE CITY

Saturday, January 13, 2024

I love cat cafes! My first cat cafe experience was at Company of Cats located at Mosque Street in Singapore. There I met my cat soulmate named Mags. For some reason, I felt a very strong connection to her. She was at the door welcoming me and she was just her pure, sweet, friendly self. The cafe eventually closed and one time I read in their FB page that sweet Mags had passed away. I felt so sad as I have never met a cat so sweet as Mags even if I only got to spend an hour at the cafe. They had a little gift shop and I got myself some cute figurines as souvenir. Ahh, Mags. You will will always be remembered.

In Myeongdong, South Korea while exploring the shopping alleys, I bumped into a man wearing a cat suit holding some flyers. The winter wind suddenly blew and the flyers came flying down (that's probably the reason why it's called a flyer). To my delight, he was promoting a cat cafe just a few steps away. Without hesitation, I visited the Cat Cafe and had an absolutely lovely time. It was a very pretty cafe decorated in pink pastel colors and cute, cozy furnishings. The cats were absolutely dreamy. I got to play with them as I enjoyed my fruit juice drink. I also got some very nice photos with the cats that I treasure up to this day.

I really enjoyed my cat cafe experiences abroad that I wished Iloilo City could also have a cat cafe even if it’s just a simple one. Fast forward to 2023. Before the year ended, Iloilo City's first cat cafe opened hence the name Uno Cat Cafe. I had an early evening coffee date with my bestie so we could check out the cats and the menu selections.

Compared to the cat cafes I have visited, Uno Cat Cafe is in the fine dining scale and the interiors are lush and very Pinteresting. As we arrived quite late, much of the crowd favorite snack items have sold out so we settled for a proper dinner instead. The food was fabulous and we really enjoyed the customer service. The staff were very attentive to the needs of the diners. Quite a departure from the so-so customer service which Ilonggo diners are quite accustomed to.

After our dinner, I tried to get into the cat play area but there was a waiting list. I just opted to take photos of the cats through the clear glass windows as we were in a hurry. We will surely be back as we want to see the cats up close and try their snack menu. Good one Uno Cat Cafe! Thank you for making my cat cafe wishes come true!

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Fresh Finds at Festive Walk Parade

There's something to love about an outdoor market teeming with aesthetically laid out goods like home baked bread and pastry, bottled fresh fruit juices as well as an assortment of fabulous impulse buys like handmade crafts, artisan treasures and limited edition apparel that appeal to both Generation Z and Titas of Iloilo.

I was lucky to catch the last night of Fresh Finds, a holiday outdoor market organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Iloilo last December 23, 2024. After some last minute grocery shopping, I dropped by the market to check out some of the coffee stalls for drinks and snacks. A lot of familiar vendors were present-Theo's, Coffee Brewtherhood, Courtyard by Marriott, and Richmonde among others. There were also new and upcoming vendors with exciting products and offerings.

Being a crafter and a lover of all things handmade, I gravitated towards the booth of Scibs Art Shop. They have the adorable Ichigo Strawberries, a product line inspired by cats and strawberries, Mako Makolit and Kumomaka Village illustrated postcards. I got myself some sticker packs, keychain, mini notepad, wearable buttons, postcards and the must-have 2024 Dragon Cat wall calendar.

Of course, there's my favorite homegrown coffee shop Coffee Brewtherhood where I got some whole coffee beans, a live coffee plant and a cup of hot matcha latte. I also tried the homemade donuts of Courtyard by Marriott. Their mango and chocolate donuts infused with batuan were the bomb!

I look forward to another installment of Fresh Finds! Maybe at the Dinagyang Festival, soon?

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Manifesto Cafe: A taste of Makati and BGC in Iloilo

Another requisite cafe to add to your list of secret but stylish hangout places. Manifesto Cafe at Citadines Amigo has a eclectic, casual feel and great food to boot. Away from the maddening crowd yet located in the heart of the city, one feels wonderfully insulated as one enjoys hearty all day breakfast plates and specials.

The Citadines Amigo branch in Iloilo City is Manifesto's first store outside of Metro Manila with branches in Makati and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Manifesto is definitely a taste of Manila in laidback Iloilo City. They also serve the best French Toast in Iloilo City and Flat White coffee! Said like a true Ilonggo, once I like the food and atmosphere I will surely be back again! I look forward to trying their breakfast buffet soon.

MANIFESTO CAFE

Citadines Amigo, Iloilo City

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Small town coffee talk at Sunrise Cafe

I visit our ancestral house in San Miguel, Iloilo every weekend and every chance I get, I try to explore the new enterprises and shops around the quiet, sleepy town. I'm glad small towns like San Miguel now have cozy cafes and milk tea shops to cater to the younger set.

If you happen to swing by San Miguel town before heading to Alimodian or Bucari, drop by Sunrise Cafe, the sweet and cozy cafe in front of the now defunct town market. They have pasta, sandwiches and sides on the menu. They have coffee and non-coffee items as well. Since it was already too late in the evening to have coffee, I opted for the hot white chocolate drink which was absolutely heartwarming.

See you again soon Sunrise Cafe!

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SUNRISE CAFE

Roxas St., 5025 San Miguel, Iloilo

Email: sunrisecafe1121@gmail.com

London Fog and tea brews at Drip Cafe

Cafes have been sprouting in the City of Love especially along the Diversion Road area. There's Cafe Augusto at Esplanade 2, Daily Buns Cafe & Bakery and cafes at the Atria Park District. If you're coming from the Espalanade area for your morning or evening walk, consider dropping by in one of these cafes for iced refreshments or a warming cup of coffee.

Nestled beside Greenfield Complex, Diversion Road (just outside Stella's) is Drip Cafe, a cute little hiding spot to enjoy coffee and other Earl Grey tea brews. I love the Japanese aesthetic of this cafe. It’s like I'm back in Tokyo!

Aside from the standard coffee menu, they have tea brews like London Fog and Autumn that go well with their pastries especially their Earl Grey Honey Cake. If you love hot tea brews, Drip Cafe is the place to be.

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DRIP CAFE Coffee and Community

GF, Greenfield Complex, Diversion Road

Mandurriao, Iloilo City

IG: @drip.ilo

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Spanish-Ilonggo heritage cuisine at Balay Remedios

Here's another beautiful heritage house transformed into a cafe/restaurant/gathering place for the denizens of Iloilo City. We visited Balay Remedios along Bonifacio Drive one lazy, sunny afternoon for merienda as we were aching for cold refreshments and snacks. I have heard of the opening of this Filipino-Spanish cafe and museum restaurant from the Facebook page of the good mayor of Iloilo City. I have always been intrigued by this house as the facade is beautiful despite its faded antiquity. You can see the full architectural view of this house framed by native trees when you visit the rooftop of National Museum- Western Visayas Regional Museum.

With Chef Miguel Cordova at the helm, Balay Remedios serves elevated lunch hour Spanish-Ilonggo heritage specials like Native Chicken Binakol, Paella Negra, Remedios Pollo y Chorizo, and Costillos de Muscovado among others. Merienda selections are quite limited so we decided on ordering the prosaic Bam-i, a mixed noodle dish served in Ilonggo homes, carinderias and in your local school canteen. With the Balay Remedios touch, this ordinary dish turned out to be the most flavorsome Bam-i we have ever tasted.

We would love to come back again to try the lunch hour or breakfast specials! If you have a sweet tooth, their coffee accompaniments like table mousse cake, bibingka cheesecake, calamansi leche flan, banana cake and chocolate custard cake will literally take the cake.

The old rich charm of this dining set-up attracts Iloilo's young, old (and sometimes very old) foodies who yearn their hometown's nostalgic culinary treasures, ambiance and how Iloilo's elite probably wined and dined.

See you again soon, Balay Remedios!