Forget Me Not Café

After a humongous lunch or a heavy snack, we all want to have a splash of tea or coffee. At gano’n din kami nila bestie Emil and vff Heidi, though, ako gusto ko cake and fruit shake. So, dumeretso kami sa Forget Me Not Café na nasa tawiran lang ng Barneys Burger kung saan kami nag-dinner. Isang fab café ang Forget Me Not na nasa Lilac, Marikina din at tunay nga namang nakakabighani ang itsura nito sa loob. Madami kang makikitang paintings na nakasabit sa mga pader, pati ang menu books nila nakasabit sa pader creating the words “Forget Me Not”. How creative, ‘di ba? Three years na daw ang café na ito sabi ng isa nilang server na aking nakapanayam. Meron daw silang three floors, the first two floors are for guests at ang third floor naman daw ay ang production area nila kung saan nila ginagawa ang mga napakasarap na cakes nila.

Sa counter naman nila naka-display ang mga cake offerings nila. Grabe, na-miss ko agad ang pagiging pastry cook ko no’ng makita ko ang mga selection nila. Ang bestsellers nila ay ang Mallow, Rainbow at Devil’s Cake. At siyempre iba iba kami ng in-order para matikman namin ang varieties. I ordered Lava cake, si bestie Emil ay Dome, at si vff Heidi naman ay Mallow. At siyempre strawberry milkshake sa ‘kin at steamed milk ang sa kanila for our bevs.

Time to eat! ‘Yung Mallow ay isang moist chocolate cake na may chocolate ganache and small chocolate Kisses sa filling and on top of it ay roasted marshmallows—smores. It was so moist and chewy. And it will compliment kung hot tea ang partner niya. ‘Yung Dome naman ay para ding Mallow ang crust ng cake, moist chocolate cake din, ang difference lang ay meron itong dalawang frostings, white icing sa taas at chocolate icing sa baba. At ‘yung sa ‘kin na Lava cake ay may sorpresang dala. It was wonderful at sight, moist chocolate cake served with vanilla ice cream on top. At kapag sinimulan mo itong kainin, sa gitna ay may oozing chocolate filling, para ngang lava. I love its surprise! Tapos ‘yung strawberry milkshake ko was super creamy yet the presence of the strawberries still lingered. For me, perfect combo ang Lava cake at strawberry milkshake.

Sugar rush! I know, it was all too chocolate-y for the three of us kaya naman ang hyper naming tatlo na kung ano ano na lang ang pinagusapan katulad ng under-the-table, “What’s keeping you?”, at ang mahiwagang fingers. Haha! I don’t want to get into further details basta that night was filled with chocolates, fun stories and laughter. It was a night to remember at Forget Me Not.

Maliban sa masarap na cakes at bevs nila sa Forget Me Not ay meron din silang offerings na tiyak ay aming lalantakan sa muli naming pagbabalik sa café na ito.

***Check Forget Me Not online, click here.

Barneys Burger: "I Love You, You Love Me!"

The moment bestie Emil parked his car and I saw where we would be eating, napakanta agad ako ng “I love you, you love me. We’re a happy family!” Haha! Naalala ko kasi ang isang cute and purple dinosaur dahil sa pangalan ng burger house na kinainan namin—Barneys.

Nasa hilera ng mga restaurants at cafés sa Lilac, Marikina ang Barneys. Isang maliit na burger shack but the taste it offered us, shocked us! Small yet terribly good. Pagkapasok mo pa lang ay mahahalina ka na sa meaty, smoky flavor na maaamoy mo. Sa amoy pa lang mapapa-order ka na. And that’s what we did. Diretso agad kami sa counter and order some grubs. One thing I noticed, burgers lang talaga ang ino-offer ng Barneys. Yes, they have fries, spaghetti, and a burger steak meal. But as what I told bestie Emil and vff Heidi, sana in-expand pa nila ‘yung menu nila para mas madaming mapagpiliin. Kasi hindi naman sila Angel’s Burger na isang burger kiosk/stand, isa silang establishment with chairs and tables na mas puwedeng pakinabangan ng ibang food offerings like other pasta dishes maliban sa spaghetti o maglagay sila ng choices of beverage sa menu nila like milkshakes at fruit juices. I know, medyo pakialamero ako. Haha! But I just want to suggest ideas to Barneys Burger that may help them with customers that has other food finds in their mind para sila na mag-offer kaysa iba pa. Like si bestie Emil mahilig ‘yun mag-coffee after every meal, eh walang coffee o tea ang store nila sa Lilac eh di maghahanap pa kami ng ibang store eh kung puwede naman i-offer rin sana ‘yun ng Barneys. Get what I‘m saying? So, I‘m not really pakialamero, concern citizen lang. Haha. 

Okay, balik tayo sa orders namin. Iisa lang ang inorder namin, siyempre do’n agad kami sa alam naming pinakamasarap, ang Fullyloaded Supreme. ‘Yun kasi ang may pinakamalaking space ng picture sa menu board nila eh, so, that means it’s the best. (Disclaimer: Medyo may kalandian na po itong susunod na eksena. Haha!) Habang nasa counter ay na pansin ko ‘yung lalaking nagte-take ng orders namin. Kinilig ako. Haha! Kasi siya ‘yung guy na super duper crush ko nung college at may isa akong palatandaan sa kanya: barcode tattoo on his neck. He looked a little different in a good way but I still got the same love for him. Haha! Kaya nag-usisa pa ako to confirm kung siya nga talaga ‘yun. Then, paglingon niya. Boom, I saw his barcode tattoo on his neck. Nawala na tuloy ang focus ko sa gutom kong tiyan na punta na sa kalandian. Haha! Tipong kahit nakaupo na kami ay siya lang ‘yung tinititigan ko. Aww, namiss ko siya. Charot! Landi much. Haha!

Enough with my side story of kalandian, let’s go back to Barneys burgers. Nung naka-serve na ang burgers sa lamesa, I was like, ano ‘to normal looking burgers na nabibili mo sa kanto. Maybe because of its buns na kamukha nung mga burgers sa kanto. But wait, the moment I sank my teeth in it, I was sent to paradise! Grabe, sobrang sobrang sarap! Ang meaty ng lasa niya, na ka-level ang Champ ng Jollibee, well, much better pa nga. Ang laki ng patty na mabubusog ka talaga sa isang kainan lang. The ingredients on their Fullyloaded Supreme—the bacon, cheese, and patty—harmonized each other into a symphony of great taste. We enjoyed it, ANG SARAP! Truly, you never judge a book by its cover.

I recommend this burger house to anyone who would like to taste one of the best burger experiences you could ever have! And I promise to go back to this place, dahil tunay ngang napa-“I love you, you love me” ako ng Barneys hindi lang dahil nando’n ang love of my like kong si Mr. Barcode but definitely because of their amazing burgers. ^^

***Check Barneys Burger online, click here.