Qaldi, The Newest Cafe to Hit Muntinlupa (Part II: The FOOD)

This is the second part of the whole Qaldi experience. Here I will cover the food experience.  For gatronomics, this is for you.

When Qaldi was first conceptualized, it was simply a cafe with simple easy to prepare food.  Food that doesn't call for a big working area to prep up dishes that customers would order to accompany their drinks. When they opened in December, the demand grew and resulted to a gastronomic adventure.

The present food line consist of sandwiches, pasta, cakes and rice meals.  These are foods that are easy to prepare but bold in flavors.  Planned and created to be signature dishes, and some of them really hit the mark of being signature.  During the bloggers night, we were presented with nearly all that there is in the menu; not to impress but to experience what it means to be in Qaldi.

Menu 1

Menu 3

Menu 2

From something light to heavy. The whole food selection is divided into the following:  breads or sandwiches, pasta, rice meal and cakes. The whole group (bloggers), were treated to 5 different types of sandwiches.  Their standard bread is wheat, a plus point to all healthy eaters, and served to you either in its original flavor or grilled; depending on the type of sandwich that you ordered.

The Sandwiches
Out of 9 options , we were treated to 5 selections not because they are best sellers but for us to have an idea of the different textures and flavors that their sandwich list has.  We were treated to Grilled Ham & Cheese, Grilled Egg & Cheese, Classic Tuna Sandwich, Chicken Clubhouse and Reuben Clubhouse. All sandwiches are served with chips.  This light, crunchy sandwich companion is a must and this is coming from someone who is not a potato chip lover.  It is crunchy, thin, lightly salted and non-greasy is the perfect palate cleanser to all sandwiches.

Grilled Ham & Cheese / Egg & Cheese
No sandwich will go wrong if it has egg or cheese in it, I would always say. With wheat bread toasted to the right degree, making it crunchy and locking in all the flavors there is; this is a sandwich selection for people who wants it light and/or on the go.  Priced at 95Php, this is one good food on the go for busy people.

Ham & Cheese

Egg & Cheese

Classic Tuna Sandwich
I love their tuna sandwich!  Not because its simply delicious but due to the fact that they didn't crimped on the mayo.  Its tuna + mayo + onions + (trade secret ingredient) = a satisfying, enjoyable and delightful sandwich. Being a kitchen person myself or in the local tongue taong kusina, I would say their tuna sandwich is worth your time. You will not be disappointed but rather happy after consuming one. Present offered for the price of 115Php, this is one piece that you have to eat seated.  Enjoy it. Savor it. One to add to my feel good food list (next to my egg spread creation, which still tops my list. hehehe)

Classic Tuna Sandwich

Classic Chicken Clubhouse / Reuben Clubhouse
One thing that we are used to when being served with a clubhouse is the normal stacking of it to show the different flavors.  With Qaldi, they made use of long serving plates and instead of showing it in a normal stacked-up manner, your sandwich is laid down, still showing the flavors in a more distinct way.  All pieces are connected with a pick to prevent it from breaking down and creating a mess.
The Classic Chicken is a combination of egg, cheese,chicken and ham (again egg & cheese; things won't go wrong with egg and cheese).  The egg is light, the ham is of the right flavor or curing and the chicken spread is not dry. Served using wheat bread and the standard garnish of light, thin potato chips; this is a meal by itself.

Classic Chicken Clubhouse

The Reuben Clubhouse Sandwich can be considered a classic.  Why do I say so?  Reuben is a hot beef sandwich in the Arab nation.  You may not have the hot bread which is standard to this Arabic named creation, but you have the lightly flavored corn beef that you can and will enjoy.  

Reuben Clubhouse Sandwich

Both creations are tagged at 175Php.  Good for sharing but also for solo consumption.

The Pasta
When you get to see a salad selection in the menu, definitely a pasta selection is somewhere around the corner.  And Qaldi never diverted from that.  From classic creation to something fitted to the Filipino market, the pasta selection of Qaldi is something worth digging your fork into.

Pasta Selection of Qaldi

The pasta dishes of Qaldi can be ordered either as a platter or a la carte.  A la carte would simply be your pasta and two perfectly toasted garlic bread.  As a platter, you still get the same pasta serving (no short change here), the tasted garlic bread and a sausage to accompany your dish.  Prices are pegged from 125Php till 195Php, depending on your pasta of course.

Lasagna
Rich tomato flavor!  Real meat! Right serving size.  The only drawback, the cream.  It's there but it's not there at the same time.  You taste it but not see it.  Strong points: the rich tomato flavor and the meat.  The tomato sauce has small chunks in it and the meat is meat indeed and not extenders.

Lasagna

Sweet Tomato

Sweet Tomato Pasta

This the tomato sauce set for the Filipino's and kids in mind.  Its sweet and tangy, topped with cheese; you may call it your spaghetti but for Qaldi it's Sweet Tomato because of its noodles and flavor.

Classic Creamy

Don't let this dish fool you.  You may think its carbonara but it is not. It's your classic flat noodles cooked to  al dente, covered in creamy sauce and topped with herbs.  Its meatless with mild clean flavors.

Carbonara

Think of the Classic Creamy.  Add to it some meat, mushroom, herbs and other trade secret ingredients and a good sprinkle of grated parmessan cheese; you now have a real and authentic Carbonara.  

Here are my top 3 recommendations when it comes to pasta:

Classic Tomato

The tomato sauce is real and not commercialize.  Real tangy flavor.  Chunnks and strips of tomatoes are visible, simply showing the authenticity of its name. Basil flavor is present and it is meatless. Its plain tomatoes and herbs showcasing what they can do to your noodles when handled right.

Tomato Pesto

This is a combination of my 2 favorites, tomatoes and pesto. Right oil, herbs and tomatoes, resulting to a new pasta flavor.  Topped with parmessan cheese and the whole dish sings a few more notes distinct of its flavor.  As part of the dish, not just a garnish, is a slice of tomato, bask in pesto oil and covered with parmessan cheese.  A yummy treat indeed.

Classic Pesto

When I first tasted pesto years ago, I fell in love with it. Thus the search for the perfect pesto came to be.  Qaldi's version may have put a stop on it.  Right amount of oil makes it non-soggy.  Rich in herbs, making it a delightful plate as a whole. Yes, it is green in color but definitely you are not eating grass.  It is pasta perfection. 

You would think that the food list is nearly done.  True if you are simply talking about your regullar coffee shop but this is not so for Qaldi.  When they opened last December of 2013, a new demand came to front; Rice Meals. Presently offerring 6 selections (no plans of adding anything soon to the number), it ranges from your standard fish, pork, chicken and beef.  All flavored right and cooked to perfection.  All pan-grilled, except for the fish, so you get to have the ever loved grill marks that you get to pay in an expensive restaurant. but in Qaldi its the flavor that you will go for. 

Greek Pork

Tender pork slice, rubbed with oregano and grilled to the right degree keeping the meat soft and juicy and rich in flavor.  Oregano may be a strong herb but in the hands of Qaldi's kithen staff, it becomes a mild flavor blending well to the meat.

Pork on Qaldi Sauce

Again it's a tender pork slice, seasoned and grilled and covered with a rich white sauce with some standard side dish vegatable making it a signature sauce that you will only find in Qaldi.

Chicken Breast

For those who are into white meat, then this entrie is for you.  Chicken breast fillet, seasoned and grilled to perfection. Served with standard vegetable to act as your side dish.  It is soft and juicy.  Something that you expect when chicken is cooked right.

My top 3 recommendations when it comes to the rice meal:

Fish Fillet

Soft, flaky, juicy fish!  Coated in their standard Qaldi breading. Fried and served to you while it is hot from the pan. The fish is dory (no Nemo jokes please. hehehe) and those who has a good kitchen experience would say that it is both an easy and hard fish to prepare.  I love the way Qaldi prepared this dish, making them a good fish dory handler.

5Spice Beef Steak

Thinking about tapa?  Well this is not the case of this meat.  The 5 spice rub speaks of wonder for this meat.  It is a bold flavor made right making the meat sing also with its tenderness and juice.  Thank you Ms Kathy for modeling this dish foor me. :)

Spicy Chicken with Qaldi Sauce

It's chicken fillet strips with turmeric, cooked pan-grilled style and covered with their signature Qaldi white sauce.  The heat is not overbearing.  You get the feel of it after it inside you and not during your tasting process.  The sauce made orange because of the rub, becomes a new distinct sauce in this dish. For some, they may have second thoughts, even three for that matter, because of the word spicy.  For me, that word became the bait. I enjoyed every single piece of this meal.

Last of the food list is the cake that they offer. Being a cake maker myself, I can be critical of what they offer but I opted to simply be objective since this are food creations not of their making.  Delivered to them on a near daily basis,  Qaldi offers various cupcakes and solo cakes, depending on what is available at that day.  

During the blogger's night event created by Ms Kathy Kenny Ngo, we the bloggers or better known as social media practitioners, were treated to three of their best selling solo cakes.  Blueberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Mousse.

Chocolate Cake (175Php)

Its your standard chocolate cake really.  It's chocolate cake covered still in chocolate.  It is a good perk me up treat.  Good for sharing or solo, it is up to you.

Blueberry Cheesecake (195Php)

What makes it different form the one available in the market?  The cheesecake part.  It's firm but soft and definitely smooth.  The only drawback, the crust.  Unless you like your crust with a crunch then you would enjoy this treat.  For me, a cheesecake crust shouldn't bear a crunch due to sugar crystals.  It has to be firm but not crunchy. Just my thoughts on it.

Chocolate Mousse (185Php)

It is smooth, creamy and rich.  What else can I say?  The mousse part is tempered right.  Sugar level is right and the as a whole it blended well.  Will you enjoy this piece?  I sure can finish the whole thing.  For those who would like to have a taste of it, get your own fork. :)

There you have it, the food that Qaldi has and can offer to the public.  All reasonably priced and bears flavors that you can only find in this cafe. Will it be worth your time?  I would say yes.  will you come back for more?  Definitely!  You won't be able to to try everything in one visit.  You will go back to try the rest, if you are adventurous, until you get to create your usual pick and recommendations for friends, family,  first timers and food lovers.  It is worth to be part of my above, under and beyond the rainbow food adventure.

[Next:  Qaldi The Newest Cafe to Hit Muntinlupa (Part III:  The DRINKS)]