Change can be exciting, and if it is for the better (and it should be), it is highly anticipated. I always welcome new things a restaurant may add in their menu and at least give it a try, but this also means the possibility of losing old favorites, some things I've grown to love. Like a security blanket, tried and tasted dishes are the ones we can rely on, if we run out of ideas of what to order when we're dining out.



For the past couple of months, the wait for the 'new' M Café made me both anxious and excited. What would stay and what would go? How different will the restaurant be? And most importantly --- are my beloved fave dishes (Guava Sinigang Teapot and Pandan Sans Rival, please don't go!) still alive? Armed with my hefty appetite and wanting all my questions answered, I head on to M Café one afternoon to see if they indeed have changed things for the better.



A Cool Change

Marketing Manager Belle Cagadas met me for lunch that day, eager to share to me what new and exciting things the restaurant has to offer. I surveyed my surroundings when I entered the cafe, and it seems like the old cafe to me. "We're moving things little by little", she explains, pointing out that the changes in their interiors are being made one step at a time -- from decor, seats, and other little details. The place still gave off that relaxed cosmopolitan vibe, with circular and round objects still being its motif. We sat down, and I sought for a copy of their revamped menu.



M Café boasts of a new dining experience with its new menu, and a new chef, to boot. Malaysian Chef Nurul Huda Bin Mohammed Radzi brings in his global culinary experience to the restaurant, with inventive takes on Asian cuisine. Chef Nurul has been based around the world, in places like Malaysia, Egypt, Greece, Brunei, and Ireland, among others. His travels have shaped his culinary style and knowing this, I am all the more anticipating new, bold flavors at M Café.

Clipcast

M Café
With a new chef and a new menu, M Café turns over a new leaf and promises loyal patrons and new customers a new dining experience. Marketing Manager Belle Cagadas and Chef Nurul tell us more about the new M Café.

While waiting for lunch to be served, we were given a mix of complimentary starters to nibble on -- some kropek, sweet and spicy dilis with peanuts, pickled papaya, and shoestring potatoes.



I happily sipped on my Silken Tofu Lychee (P130), a wonderful soya milk slush with its soft and smooth blend. The light flavor of lychee and the cool feel of the drink in the throat makes it a delightful choice for a warm and sunny afternoon. There are over a dozen Blended Smoothies to choose from, so you can match your drink to your mood for the day. How I wish I could bring along my smoothie to the beach!



First up for lunch, a serving of Sweet Basil Pork Wonton Pouches (P195), which is basically minced pork in spring roll wrap, that comes with a fresh cilantro scented sweet chili sauce. The light, thin, and crisp wonton layer gave a delightful crunch, and a bigger bite reveals the warm, juicy inside of the pouch.



Their salad, Smoked Bangus + Salted Egg (P250), is very light, colorful, and easy on the eyes. Baby romaine lettuce served as a bed for a generous tossing of juicy cherry tomatoes and quesong kalabaw, while fried noodles served as the topping. The serving is generous, something I'll consider ordering and splitting into two.



Our next item up for sampling was the visually arresting Grilled Sweet Sesame Asian-Style Baby Back Ribs (P720). Let not the price intimidate you, for this order is a very hefty one --- you get a full slab of the ribs, all in its mouthwatering, carnivorous glory.



If you're like me who's used to downing baby back ribs Texas-style with the staple barbecue flavored sauce, the M Café's take on the ribs will surely pique your interest. Instead of the dark, smoky sauce, Chef Nurul gives the ribs an Asian flair with a sweet sesame soy marinade. He shares that he uses five spices for the sauce, and these make the meat's flavor very unique. It was definitely a different baby back ribs for me, giving the fall-off-the-bone experience a more Chinese style. And of course we all know how potatoes and ribs are the best of buddies, so it's great that this dish comes along with fluffy, rich cilantro potato cakes. Add in a little bok choy (Chinese cabbage) with each forkful of the meat and potatoes, and I've got myself a wonderful combination of flavors.



So far, I quite enjoyed the new items at M Café. But I haven't met my new M favorite yet at that time. Chef Nurul, the culinary artist M Café coins him to be, has won me over with his Oven Roasted 'Naan' Pizza. The culprit of my new naan pizza fascination, in particular, is the Grilled Roasted Tandoori Spiced Chicken (P350).



Let me try to break down first what their winning combination is in the pizza: A delectable naan crust (a soft flatbread quite similar to pita), bold red slices of tandoori chicken, chunks of onions and cucumber, a sprinkling of fresh cilantro, and a happy drizzling of tangy white yogurt.



This Indian take on the pizza is unique, fresh, and colorful. At first bite, the spiciness of the chicken dominates my tastebuds. The initial spicy flavor is then followed by an oh-so-zesty twist, which I thank the fresh lime for. Then the third layer of flavor, for the win, is that irresistible sour kick from the yogurt drizzling. It is, to put simply, a mouthwatering number created by Chef Nurul. If you have to try one dish in M Café's new menu, this one is a must. A must.



We then end our meal with something lighter in a serving of Asian Tropical Fruit Platter + Chocolate Dip (P220). While I was happy enough to munch on the fresh naked fruits, coating them with either the roasted coconut cream or the chocolate makes it all the more delicious.



My M Café lunch proved to my stomach that things are surely looking bright and good for the restaurant. A good change, indeed.

Museum Mimosas, Sunday Jazz

Imagine listening to soothing live jazz music and partaking a pretty garden view, all while dining al fresco one warm weekend. That's M Café's Jazz Sunday Brunch for you in a nutshell. Other than their newest offerings with a new chef at its helm, M Café has grown popular with its tasty menu for their Sunday brunch buffet.





For P888++ a person (P488++ for the kids), one gets to eat a buffet that spans many cuisines, and even sample dishes that are not 'regulars' on the menu. Their Sunday Jazz starts 11am and lasts until 3pm. Sushi, dimsum, Spanish deli meats and imported cheeses, pasta and risotto, smoked salmon and angus beef --- that's not yet all, of course. They also have your morning comfort food, in the form of steamed rice, Pinoy and continental breakfast fares, eggs and omelettes, fruits, cereals, and salads.



A Jazz Sunday brunch date with my mom tested our stomach's capacity. We prepared ourselves by not eating beforehand, and so we arrived at M Café with a growling appetite. I was definitely happy to chunk in a good amount of breakfast food on my plate -- tapa, daing na bangus, sausages, some eggs benedict -- but in little amounts, since I wanted to try out the rest of the food. Luscious slivers of raw salmon topped with cream and slices of cold cuts came in next, followed by a sampling of the pasta bar (create your own!), where I picked out the blue cheese sauce with a tricolor pasta (it was very, very rich). I rest for a while, and walk off some of my calories by wandering around M Café -- I had a lot of time to kill, it was only 12 noon.





Getting my groove back into eating, I filled my plate with baked salmon with cream oyster sauce, and roast beef with mirin sauce. The cook advised us that they had the salmon a bit overcooked, and I appreciate him for telling me beforehand. Both dishes were still okay, nonetheless.



And of course, a buffet would be meaningless (well, to me anyway) if they don't have dessert. For the sweet tooths out there, take comfort in the fact that M Café's pretty popular for their sweet endings. Have you tried their Pandan Sansrival? Love that stuff, and I'm happy they still have it available in the resto.





Also available in the brunch buffet when I dined that Sunday were a chocolate fountain, pastries and other sweets that you can dip on the chocolate, other signature cakes, and lastly -- the simplest item but definitely my favorite -- taho!



A childhood weekend merienda of mine, the taho is simply humble comfort food. And unlike the ones I can have by the streets, this time around I can get cups and cups of the super-sweet arnibal (dark brown sugar syrup) and the gummy, gooey sago. Yum, yum!

From global fusion cuisine to more traditional buffet fare, from some old menu favorites to new and exciting ones, M Café still holds its appeal of satisfying customers who appreciate imaginative and creative culinary offerings. They have turned over a new leaf, indeed, and hopefully will surprise us with even more concepts as Christmas is just around the corner. A new dessert for the holidays, perhaps? Or probably something new to add during brunch, as cold December mornings call for wonderful heartwarming food. With a new menu and a new chef, M has become the red hot letter to watch out for.



The Museum Café is open daily from 8am until 12 midnight. Their Jazz Sunday brunch is from 11am to 3pm. If you're wondering about some of your older, favorite dishes, feel free to ask the waiters as they can still prepare some of the items that are not on the menu. But oh, do try their pizza.