Le Petit Artisan

For the longest time, the only decent bakeries in Manila were of course, the hotel bakeshops, Le Coeur de France and maybe even Delifrance. So, unless you’re a frequent visitor of that little shop at the rear end of the Mandarin Oriental’s tiny lobby or a member of Tagaytay Highlands, we reckon that, like us, you’ve had to settle for the loaves found at your friendly neighborhood SM supermarket or at the French Baker. We’re not saying that there’s anything wrong with these places, because there really isn’t. It’s just that, sometimes, when your mouth waters for that perfect deli sandwich, sliced bread in a plastic bag just doesn’t cut it. Try picturing three slices each of gruyere cheese and peppered pastrami, smothered with Grey Poupon Dijon mustard, sandwiched between – wait for it – Sooper Dooper white bread. Now that would be a total waste of really good Swiss dairy.

Mr. Jones

One would expect that, at least as a diluted form of backlash from 90’s Hard Rock-esque experiential dining, there would have been some sort of 50’s-style diner in Manila for some time now. After all, there is nothing Filipinos love more than all-day breakfast and fried chicken, and Pancake House doesn’t serve chocolate malt milkshakes with Paul Anka playing in the background. So it came as no surprise that we were eager to try Mr. Jones at Greenbelt 5 when we heard that it served diner favorites, in full mid-twentieth century regalia. You can just imagine the images of Denny’s grand slams we immediately conjured up, and the level of excitement we had to contain and when we heard that Mr. Jones had all-day American breakfast favorites on its menu.

Max Brenner

Just when you thought it was impossible for something more sinful than Max Brenner’s rich chocolate creations to occupy that coveted spot by the entrance of Greeneblt 3, Hermes opened its doors to Manila’s insanely wealthy set, where of course, no one else but Jinkee Pacquiao could actually exit with her entire posse of ten toting an Hermes shopping bag each. With the opening of Hermes, we thought that the rest of us who live paycheck to paycheck were left with one less place to visit for cravings of the sweet kind. Thankfully though, Max Brenner only relocated to the new Greenbelt 5, where its sweet desserts have actually become more accessible to those who have found sanctuary in the mall’s newest culinary offerings.