Wagner German Bakery: a niche for specialty German food in the heart of Makati.

Geman food is caters to a niche market here in the Philippines. Most Filipinos have never tasted the stuff ever. I am one of these people. Having been given the opportunity to try German food, I instantly jumped at the chance to do so. Enter Wagner German Bakery, a German restaurant located in the heart of Makati. It was established just last year by the brilliant restaurateur Angelo, who was of German and Filipino descent.

According to Angelo, he wanted to retain as much of the authenticity of German food back home; hence most of his ingredients were imported from the bread up to the viand. He also said that the food was inclusive for expat Germans and other people who want to experience a new kind of cuisine. The ingredients were also of the highest quality. 

The interiors:

Well-lit and ambient.

The large sign of Wagner German Bakery

The food was not limited to bread. They had a wide selection of viand ranging from authentic German dishes to a few international favorites. For the sake of this food review, we tried their German food.

The Germans are some of the biggest alcohol consumers in the world. Some would even start or end a meal by consuming a tall glass or mug of beer. Angelo gave us the experience by offering us a tall glass of Paulanner wheat beer. Wheat beer was originally made as a drink that could be allowed during Lent due to its filling nature and its low alcohol content. I loved its sweetness and full-bodied taste, though.

This beer was pretty light and easy to drink compared to the stereotypical German beers that will knock you down in one glass. I wanted to have more of it.

"One more glass, but then I'm done." is a popular German phrase used when ending a night of drinking.

The Nurnburger Bratwurste was a mix of traditional German Pork Sausage with Sauerkraut. The latter was the German version of Atsara or pickled vegetables. Sauerkraut was composed of pickled cabbage in a mildly sweet vinegar. This was way better than Atsara due to the less acrid taste and the mildly sweet flavor. The Pork Sausage exemplified the German fixation with the best sausages in the world. Every bite was packed with juicy and tasty pork bits of the highest quality. It was also fried well and not too oily. 

The Schnitzel is the German version of fried chicken strips with thick breading. The chicken was mashed to a thin sheet for easy cooking. The breading was truly crisp and tasty even. Add to that the tangy potato salad side dish, and you truly have a winner. I liked the Schnitzel 

The Leberkas Burger was made out of special meatloaf, lettuce, cinnamon bread, and sauerkraut. It came with a huge surplus of fries. The cinnamon bread was pretty sweet and blended well with the meatloaf. The meatloaf was pretty soft; and it was pretty easy to savor. It was unlike the other German meat that was intense on the taste. 

The Flaker Goulash was combo of Beef Goulash, fried egg, bread dumplings,chicken sausage, and bell peppers. According to Angelo, the goulash was originally popular among coach drivers who had to stay out in the cold. Served hot, this dish was composed of beef fried in a mildly spicy sauce. It was pretty homey and savory at the same time. The bread dumplings that came with the meat mixed and tasted well when dipped with the sauce. The chicken sausage was also excellent.

The Kasespatzle was composed of fried egg nodles with a cheese layer. It was topped with onion rings. It was quite oily, but tasty at the same time. the noodles were pretty thick and brimmed with cheese in every bite. 

The dishes in one huge array

The pretzels were pretty thick. According to Angelo, each region in Germany has its own way of making pretzels. His variant came from Munich, the home of BMW. The lower part was smaller while the upper part was huge. These were chewy and salty at the same time partly because of the lye.

The Kaiserschmarnn or the Emperor's mess was a pancake chopped into pieces. The dish came about when a chef served the Holy Roman Emperor a botched-up pancake. The Emperor enjoyed every bite of the pancake despite its ugly appearance. This variant came with raisin fillings and frosted sugar. I enjoyed it even if it was a tad sweet. 

This was the sourdough bread. The filling was chewy while the crust was a bit hard on the teeth. It was pretty tasty nonetheless, with the nuts and the distinct sour flavor.

This was the Lumberjack bread. A whole loaf had the appearance of a log with an axe chip, reminiscent of lumber. This was a bit bitter. However, it tasted better with a helping of Wagner's special pistachio ice cream.

There you have it folks. Wagner German Bakery is a restaurant enveloped in a lot of European history and culture. The recipes that they use are quite excellent even if it was my first time tasting them. 

Wagner German Bakery is located at Ground Floor, Two Central Building, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.

Agape Pastries and Tartines: a taste of lovely food at Chimes Square, Quezon City

        As one of the lucky recipients of Aldous' generosity, I was treated to a warm and pleasant meal at Agape, a restaurant in Chimes Square, Q.C, along Congressional Avenue Extension. The place has a warm and vibrant atmosphere that is perfect for holding conversations, studying, or  for sipping the plain old cup of tea. Add to that the fact that it  serves some of the more exquisite dishes in the area. 

      According to the owner, she used the Greek word for highest form of love in light of the experiences she had with her family in times of trouble. There, she learned a lot about this kind of love. She was so inspired by her experience that she made it a point to turn it into a venture that expresses her gratefulness. I truly was impressed with what she had to convey. The place truly sums up this entire story and turns it into an inviting atmosphere for people who want a very cozy environment. The owner told us that the place was made with handcrafted materials by her workers. She ingeniously thought about the design and the materials that were to be put in the restaurant. She also conceptualized the menu to express an array of dishes with sumptuous tastes.

          My experience went like this:

We first took a tour of the place and its well-lit and vibrant ambiance.

Another shot of the counter.

They have a wide selection of pastries perfect for almost every occasion.

Their bread display.

The counter.

Here is a shot of the rustic dining area.

The decor.

These are all handcrafted by the owner's workmen.

The all-wood staircase

Our cozy dining area

The handcrafted chandelier

We then tried a handful of the dishes: 

We first tasted the pita bread with spinach dip. The bread was a bit thin but the dip was really tasty. I loved the fact that the dip had a creamy and consistent texture.

The Spicy Prawn With Papaya Salad comes with prawns, chopped papaya, peanuts, tossed greens, and a tangy vinaigrette. I especially loved its mildly spicy taste coupled with the robust flavor of the greens. At 150 pesos, it's good for sharing.

If the salad, on its own, is pretty appetizing, how much more will the next dishes fare?

The main course menu.

The beverage menu.

As for the pizza, we had the Dan McCune Panizza at Php 375. It's cut in a way that makes it rollable with the veggies. You can really eat it while rolled up. I do love the fact that the pizza wasn't too oily. Also, the mixture of ingredients was just right for my taste buds.

Gamberi Panizza (Php 340). This dish is their basic pizza flavor. Note the abundance of greens and olives for that healthy feel.

Another shot.

The Smoked Salmon BLT Tartines. Fish lovers will definitely have a field day in savoring this dish. The bread is made out of rye topped with greens, smoked salmon, and a vinaigrette. This truly is a filling sandwich with a lot of healthy ingredients as well. (Php 395)

A close up of that magnificent dish!

For those who want their fish dishes much more YOLO, they can get the Beer Battered Fish Tartines. At Php 250 pesos, these are the perfect embodiment of a man's favorites: fried food, beer and lots of fat. I enjoyed this more than the BLT. 

For drinks, I had this mildly sweet mango remedy (a moniker for fruit shakes) The taste was enough to remedy my thirst, though.  It costs 120 Php.

The Seared Salmon with Pineapple salsa. This Valentine's Special dish comes in pan seared fish and a sweet Pineapple sauce. I like the fact that this meal can truly be expressive of the warm, homey ambiance Agape claims to present. 

My personal favorite is the Sardines in Oil Pasta. The oily and tangy flavor of anchovies coupled with Olive oil, pasta, and garlic bread truly made my day special. The dish was also expressive of an oily concoction that I usually love.

As for dessert, we had Creme Brulee Tarts, Chocolava Tarts, and Bonbons which come at 40, 50, and 25 pesos per piece. I personally prefer the creme brulee for its creamy and milky consistency and texture.

I'd truly come back for more next time. Agape is located at 1F, Chimes Square, Congressional Extension, Quezon City. Their FB page is https://www.facebook.com/agapepastriesandtartines

Todd English Food House: a taste of sumptuous international flavors

        To celebrate Aldous' birthday, we hung out at the posh SM Aura in BGC. We had a taste of the delectable offerings of Todd English Food Hall, an upscale dining area situated in the top floor of the mall. The restaurant is actually owned by the same group that operates the esteemed Tim Ho Wan Chinese restaurant and the Mesa Fusion Cuisine chain of restaurants. This place was just opened this year and has been garnering a lot of attention from the media, the dining public, and the local food scene. Being privileged to try out this place, I certainly was excited! The place has truly been known for its unique play on international flavors and favorites.

           In the restaurant, our blogger group had a taste of their wide array of dishes, including:

Frito Miso. This fried squid delight was not too oily, actually. It was very crispy and a bit sweet. The squid was fresh and tasty! The garlic mayo sauce made the dish even more flavorful.

Simple Salad. The standard fresh vegetable dish for those who want things basic. It's a mix of lettuce, tomatoes, corn, vinaigrette, and olive oil.

Spinach Salad. Made from Spanish Spinach or Alugbati, this healthy dish is a veritable concoction of wellness. The slightly bitter taste of the spinach leaves was complemented by the sweet and juicy tomatoes, oranges, cranberries, and friend onion rings.

Tuna Tartare. This sashimi dish was complemented by steamed shrimp. Seafood lovers will surely have a blast with this one.

Brooklyn Meatball Spaghetti. The huge meatballs coupled with angel hair pasta was a force to be reckoned with. The sheer size of the meatballs and its cheesy fillings can make anyone full in an instant. Add to that the crisp tomato sauce and you definitely have something good for the belly.

Seafood Diablo Orzo. This seafood pasta delight was composed of their special tomato sauce garnished in olive oil cooked with shrimps, squid, scallops with the cheesy risotto. Seafood lovers would surely have a blast with this dish.

Miso Glaze Salmon. This seafood delight is composed of a pan seared salmon topped with salad for those who want their dishes health conscious. I especially loved the fish for tasting very fresh and light. 

Wagyu Fried Rice. As a meat lover, my bias for steak has always been very heavy. Imaging my delight when I found out that the meat was made out of pure Wagyu beef cut into small strips and topped on fried rice. It's definitely a high end take on that simple beef tapa I usually eat.

Steak and Marrow. The steak goodness never ends. This U.S. Hanger steak was cooked to perfection. Add to that a thick slice of bone marrow that's surely delightful for fat lovers. I surely had a great time savoring the fat and tasting the soft, delicious, meat.

TE Pork Chop. This huge chunk of pork chops really made my heart melt. Add to that the demi glace sauce and the great cooking. I really ate my heart out as I devoured this dish.

Lamb Chops. As a lamb lover, this dish is a welcome addition to the array. The baked meat was drizzled with mint sauce and cream. This reminded me of the lamb dishes I tasted in Malaysia. However, this dish really took the cake. I love the cooking and its flavorful taste.

The birthday boy! Well, I didn't ask him about his age, though!

Agnolotti Veal. More fatty goodness came with this dish. The creamy sauce and tender fat made me want to ask for more.

Truffle Fungi Pizza. For some carb vegetable goodness. This pizza was a thick and hot slab of premium truffles. This was truly for those with discerning taste.

As for dessert, we had:

The Bomb! The white chocolate dome  was drizzled with sinfully delightful chocolate sauce. Believe it or not, the cake had a graham, ice cream, and espresso cream filling. Talk about a small dome that packs quite a punch!

Betty White. This more conservative tiramisu cake topped with grahams and gelato is for those who want a more traditional approach to their dessert. Plain white and simple.

OMG. Yes it's the name of this dessert. This chocolate overload is composed of lava cake, cereal crumble and chocolate gelato. The bittersweet chocolatey taste is the true embodiment of cacao goodness.

Todd English Food Hall is located at the 5th level SM Aura, Skypark, Taguig. You can visit their FB page at https://www.facebook.com/Todd-English-Food-Hall-Manila-446633605469010.