Jupiter Street is thriving. It is the place to go in Manila to find quirky, one-off restaurants, and take a breather from those ubiquitous chains. Corner Tree Café is one such idiosyncratic eating place: a cheerful little nook between N. Garcia Street and Bel-Air, tucked beneath a large, leafy Narra tree. The dining room is quaint and cosy, the walls decorated with interesting artwork, bookshelves and ornaments. And it has an international menu of vegetarian dishes that hit the spot. It may not be the only vegetarian restaurant in town, but it is one of a very small handful, and it is undoubtedly one of the best. I have visited it regularly over the past three years, recommended it to in-coming vegetarians and shared it with friends. And you don’t have to be a vegetarian to love this food – I’m not!
The menu includes Asia dishes such as the vegetarian bibimbap, a CTC version of the Korean one-pot dish with organic red rice, bean sprouts, carrots, zucchini and shiitake mushrooms; tofu teriyaki with sautéed asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, and homemade kimchi. Europe is represented by a nut roast served with mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, grilled green beans and gravy, as well as spaghettini with nuts and broccoli. There is a moreish starter of white bean hummus, EVOO and dukka, an Egyptian snack made with a dry blend of seeds, spices and nuts. There is even a selection of Pinoy dishes such as Kare-Kareng Gulay, a traditional Filipino stew made with fresh vegetables and peanut sauce, served with organic red rice and vegetarian bagoong. For thoe who like a drink with their meal, there is a mini wine selection, a couple of local beers and some interesting house cocktails.
Owner, Chiqui Mabanta, states on her website:
“I’ve wanted to open a vegetarian café for a long time. While visiting my sister… in London in 1996, I saw how easy it was to eat healthily. I was also exposed to the idea of vegetarian food being mainstream… this was something new for Manila. ‘
Wanting to create a neighbourhood café with a sense of community, Chiqui opened the Corner Tree Café in May 2009, and has since been serving simple, down-to-earth, tasty meals, great desserts and soft music.
“My main purpose in setting this cafe up was really to give options to people looking for healthiER food and not to tell them how to live.”
Popular blogger Anton Diaz thinks it is the best vegetarian restaurant in Manila. I whole-heartedly agree. CTC never fails to delight. From the vegetable dumplings (siomai) stuffed with shiitake mushrooms, spinach, carrots and singkamas (or jicama – a large, bulbous, potato-like root vegetable only sweeter and nuttier) with a rice vinegar dipping sauce to the North African stew of potato and eggplant, zucchini, carrots and chickpeas topped with toasted almonds and fresh coriander and served over couscous or red rice, I have loved every dish I have had there. The thick roasted carrot soup with cumin is one I am keen to recreate at home, while the baked tofu walnut burger slathered with mint yogurt sauce and sweet potato fries is one I am more than happy to have as a treat when I visit CTC. The fruit smoothies are fabulous, although I am not so turned on by the lemongrass iced tea which is too full of muscovada to taste of anything but sugar water. Yet, sweetness is as sweetness does: the rich, dark Toblerone chocolate mousse and the incredibly decadent Banoffee Pie are utterly divine! Tempted yet?
For a long, chatty brunch with girlfriends, a quick sandwich over a business lunch, a family gathering or cuddling up in a corner with the one you love, CTC serves every purpose, and feeds you well into the bargain. I never leave before planning my next meal!
Corner Tree Café is open daily from 11am to 10pm.
150 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City, Metro Manila
Tel: +63 2 897-0295