An adventure for the palate

Food

We’ve all heard of wine and food pairing or even beer and food pairing, but how about coffee and food pairing? Or infusions and food pairing?

Why not? This would surely be an adventure of the palate.

Let’s take this: A good earthy, juicy half pounder burger with ohhh so gooey cheese caressing a heavy patty between two wheat buns. Wouldn’t the flavors come out even more with a good cup of warm comfortably creamy Vanilla Latte? That slightly burnt taste would just be so heavenly with the vanilla flavor, and the chunky juicy patty with the silky sweet latte.

You would never really know unless you try it, right?

26th St. Bistro by Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf could just be the best place to go on a taste adventure.

It’s not your usual CBTL. More than a coffee shop, it’s a restaurant that aims to serve the ever increasing number of millennials who flood the ever growing financial-slash-entertainment district of Bonifacio Global City.

And yes, the restaurant is by Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, that Southern California born brew known for brewing some of the world’s rarest and best beans and leaves. Apparently, they’re not just into brews, their latest venture (well they actually opened in 2012 and they have another one in Edsa Shangri-La), is a gastronomic treat for all who loves food and they serve one of the best burgers, and they’re huge!

The concept of the restaurant is casual dining. Very spacious, each table distanced quite comfortably to give each customer, individual or as a group, a much needed privacy to enjoy their food, the company of friends, or some subtle people watching while pretending to be busy with one’s gadget and honestly enjoying good food with their favorite CBTL drinks.The concept of the restaurant is casual dining. Very spacious, each table distanced quite comfortably to give each customer, individual or as a group, a much needed privacy to enjoy their food, the company of friends, or some subtle people watching while pretending to be busy with one’s gadget and honestly enjoying good food with their favorite CBTL drinks.

Aside from the Cheeseburger, 26th St. Bistro also serves some healthy fares like Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad (the tangy vinaigrette and the generously spread salty scrapings of parmesan cheese would best go with the clean astringent taste of the macha green tea to clean the palate for the next adventure), and the Lenten-friendly Herb Crusted Salmon with Lemon Risotto in Hollandaise Sauce (best paired with the Tropical Passion tea to contrast the tangy buttery taste of the sauce while complementing the subtle taste of the salmon), or the Seafood Marinara (linguine pasta in chunky marinara sauce with a satisfying amount of the choicest sea produce that would include prawns, squid, scallops, and some fish would be best with the sweet and the slightly bitter taste of the espresso in the Caramel Macchiato).

But let us not limit it with just these dishes. 26th St. Bistro’s diverse offering of food and drinks, would surely give your palate quite a number of adventure, if you would just let go of those inhibitions and allow your senses to guide you.

*Last March 25, 2017, I joined a food writing workshop hosted by Brew Your Best Year and facilitated by Writers Block Philippines. The workshop was held at 26th St. Bistro in Net Lima, BGC.