Tuesday, November 28, 2017

First Bite: Bluesmith Coffee & Kitchen

I've been curious about Bluesmith Coffee & Kitchen since it opened its branch in Katipunan. Seeing several mouthwatering photos of its dishes online made my taste buds excited. However, my schedule was so crazy these past months that I didn't get to find time to swing by the area. Thankfully, it opened in Greenbelt 3 which is a bit closer to home. 
Hello, Bluesmith Coffee & Kitchen.
Located at the busy part of Greenbelt 3, it would be hard to miss the blue facade of this restaurant and cafe. 
Its homey interiors made me excited to indulge in its savory dishes. 
But my tummy was uncooperative and could not wait any longer so I decided to buy a cup of hot Mocha (PHP160 + service charge). Since the place just opened, my drink was prepared right away. 
I loved that the barista was so accommodating and did his latte art closer to me so that I could take photos of him doing it. 
Tastewise, it had more acidity to it compared to the ones I've tried. Though it made me alert, I would have liked it more if it had a nicer balance in flavors. 

Soon, the dishes were served one after another. 
I first tried Chili Soup with Homemade Cornbread (PHP260) and it was on the bland side. I would have liked this more if it was chunkier and spicier. Sadly, it seemed watered down. The cornbread was good though.
The Thai Chopped Chicken Crunch (PHP310) was delectable. The crisp greens drizzled with bleu cheese dressing and topped with bacon bits was the perfect way to have the best of both worlds. I didn't get a bite of the chopped chicken or grapes though as it seemed that there were not enough for everyone. 
While taking photos of the other dishes, we were surprised with a plate of Ube Dream Waffle (PHP260). Just like its name, it was a waffle topped with ube ice cream. To make things a bit more interesting, Bluesmith added grated cheese, whipped cream and homemade ube ganache. I had a bite of it and though good, it was nothing spectacular. 
One of Bluesmith's bestsellers is Beef Tapa (PHP310) and I could tell why. The beef strips were tender and flavorful. I love the beautiful blend of sweet, salty and tangy flavors and it was well complemented by the sunny side up egg. It would have been better if paired with garlic rice. But the toasted garlic would also suffice. 
Quite similar to beef tapa is Tenderloin Beef Salpicao (PHP410). This one had more pronounced garlic taste and its Worchestershire sauce made it distinct from the Filipino favorite breakfast. I still prefer tapa over this one though as some beef chunks were quite slightly tough. 
I liked Smoked Milkfish Belly (PHP340) best. Though it doesn't really offer anything different in terms of taste, I just loved how fatty it was. 
Other two dishes served to us were Pesto with Country Fried Steak (PHP360) and Chicken Egg Salad Sandwich (PHP280). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to try it as only one or two servings of these were served for a group of 12. 

We ended our meal with a glass of Bluesmith Sundae (PHP240) and this slice of cake I forgot to take note of. 
The dark chocolate ice cream was topped with walnuts, chocolate and caramel sauce, whipped cream and churros sticks. It was pretty good though a bit steep for its price. 
I actually liked the unnamed cake more. The lovely contrast of textures made it more interesting. I liked that it wasn't very sweet too making it perfect to cap my meal. 
I also managed to take a sip of its Horchata (PHP150) and Cold Brew (PHP160). I'm not really a fan of horchata as I don't like drinks with almond. The cold brew had a nice citrusy taste to it but I'd choose mocha anytime.
Overall, it was a pleasant visit.One thing I'd order again is its Thai Chopped Chicken Crunch and perhaps a plate of its Beef Tapa or Smoked Milkfish if I'm in the mood to splurge on late breakfast.

Bluesmith Coffee & Kitchen is located at 3rd Floor, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City. 

Bluesmith Coffee & Kitchen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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