Its white-washed walls and green and white canopy atop the entryway are reminiscent of the cozy cafes and restaurants that line the streets of Capri, Italy, while its interiors, marked by simple, clean lines, are inviting and relaxing. Just like its facade, Corner Tree Cafe’s menu is simple, perfect for the hesitant, meat eater and no-frills vegetarian. The best dish to start with is the Corner Tree Café’s Raw Organic Salad (P190/solo, P320/sharing), which is an all-organic cornucopia of carrots, red beets, and jicama (singkamas), raw walnuts with greens and two dressing choices: Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette (vegan) or Tahini Garlic Gressing (non-vegan). An order of their Spinach Feta Croquettes (P 160 for 3 pcs., P285 for 6 pcs.), consists of tasty croquettes made with fresh spinach, feta cheese, and organic red rice, served with a mint organic yogurt sauce and their very own harissa on the side, which is optional for chili lovers. For the main course, have a go of their rich and flavorful North African Vegetable Stew (P275 with couscous, P255 with red rice), which is infused with saffron and Moroccan spices served over couscous or red rice, topped with toasted almonds and fresh coriander. It’s also served with a spicy harissa on the side, extra pouring sauce, and organic greens.
150 Jupiter Street Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila, tel.nos. 897-0295, (0906)558-6177 cornertreecafe@gmail.com. For delivery, call 212-1212.
Le Bistro Vert
Not often does one find a restaurant that supports healthy living in such a holistic manner by promoting the cause of sustainable food, which supports both the local farmers and the organic food items they produce. After almost two years in the local food scene, Le Bistro Vert has made new additions to its menu in order to provide more delicious, healthy choices to try out. From your first meal of the day all the way down to your last, it’s got you covered. Start your day right with an order of its freshly-made, fluffy Oatmeal Pancakes (P225) topped off with fresh and juicy strawberries and drizzled with a light syrup. For lunch, grab a bite of its Cereal and Cheese Coated Fish Fillet Sandwich (P275), which is crisp on the outside and soft and mosit on the inside. This is served on ciabatta with fresh lettuce and tomatoes and a side order or Eggplant Fritters. For a light dinner, have a taste of its Grilled Beef and Mango Salad (P295), which is made of fresh, organic lettuce, tomatoes, mangoes and topped with a few beef strips for protein. If you wish, the beef strips may be removed for an all-out veggie salad feast.
Streetside, Fraser Place, Streetside Fraser Place Tower, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
tel.no. 403-1841, www.lebistro.ph, lebistro.frsr@gmail.com
ECHOcafe
From the group that brought you ECHOstore comes a unique dining experience with ECHOcafe, which serves healthy meals that contain fresh ingredients organically grown or are free of chemicals, artificial preservatives, pesticides, or growth hormones. Pushing the envelope even further, it also stands for the environmental aspect of food because meat consumption is one of the sources of methane emissions in the planet. With such a firm and clear stand on the issue of health–whether for one’s self or the environment–it’s no wonder its menu is filled with alternatives to meat dishes and other vegetarian delights. Choose to start your meal with an order of Warm Mushroom and Arugula Salad, which is loaded with fresh aromatic greens that are low in calories, but high in vitamins A and C, tossed together with shiitake mushrooms, and drizzled with guava balsamic vinaigrette topped with a Parmesan crisp. For your entree, you may opt to taste its Malunggay Sampler, which is one of its best-sellers. It’s made up of whole wheat pasta tossed in malunggay and Basil pesto served with a malunggay pan de sal sandwich and a side salad. Since malunggay is said to contain vitamin C, betacarotene, and potassium, this dish doesn’t just taste good, it’s good for you as well. Also try the Mushroom Burger served on a malunggay-infused pan de sal, fresh lettuce and tomatoes, and a side salad. All the above-mentioned meals come with a glass of iced tea for P195 each.
G/F Serendra Piazza Driveway, McKinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City Taguig, +63(2)901-3485, www.echostore.ph, echostore@echostore.ph