Above, under & beyond the rainbow: Blogger's Night at the Mystic Brew Cafe . . .What Is Brewing in BFRV?

Mystic Brew . . .Mystic Brew . . .Mystic Brew . . . what do you have for me today?

With the name of the shop you would immediately think of cauldrons, tadpoles, bat wings, dragon scales and such. Sorry to disappoint you but they don't have that there. They do have customize handcrafted wands . . .and it is for sale! Is this a gift shop? Yes . . .maybe . . .perhaps . . . They also have a quite good and near interpretation of the Butter Brew (for HP fans, you know this drink). Is it a cafe? Yes . . .perhaps . . .maybe . . .

Hmmmmmm . . . . .

Confused already? Then let me give you a tour on this delightful place named Mystic Brew.

The Place:
Located inside BF Resorts Village in Las Pinas. This establishment is before the church of BFRV, after the gate of Castillan Classic and near to the road going straight to Moonwalk. It is one of those business' that is near and surrounded by houses and fellow business-minded people. So BF, I would say. Let us face it, BF is one housing group that is a city of its own.

With red, round signage upfront and at the side, you would only be blind as a bat in a bright summer day if you miss this place.

For a small place, it has a high ceiling which makes it seem big. Designed with hanging lamps, the height is broken giving it a more cozy atmosphere. It has an al fresco space at the front and a small garden area at the back styled to give a pleasing view to those dining inside. Furnitures are simply a mix match in terms of texture and design. It may seem wrong but it works for them. It has the atmosphere that they are after for; cozy, homey and relax. (see photos of the interior below)

What is Mystic Brew?
Mystic Brew is actually a cafe that was formed in 2012. Going on its 2nd year, they were able to capture the heart of the people in the area and those far flung. During the blogger's night, we were curious to know as to why the place is named as such. Here is the answer: it is a reflection of what the owner and manager Tristan is into; good food and the supernatural. Since creating food and drinks are what you would say concoctions which is similar to the creation of potions and such, thus the name Mystic Brew is formed.

I mentioned the food and drink part, where does the wand comes in? Part of the restaurant is a gift shop called the Box Shop, managed by Alger, friend and business partner to Tristan. You can get normal gift items such as watches, shirts, mugs, etc and also the not so normal line which would be the handcrafted wands, oils and dream catchers. They do have a limited but good items on sale. It is one place for a quick shop on those tight moments and trust me when I say it is. Their items saved me during my 9th month anniversary. While waiting for our food to be served, I was already shopping for a small token for my partner. (hehehehe!)

During our blogger's night, we were unfortunate not to experience the diverse form of entertainment that they give on some specific days of the week. Every Monday is like poetry night and Friday is acoustic night. Guest could participate in those sessions if they want to. Here is their hours of operation. Oh! Before I forget, since they are different in a certain way, do expect their close-day as different also.

So, is it a restaurant? Yes! Is it a gift shop? Yes! Is it a haven for artist at heart? Yes!

How about the food?
The food is great! Quite interesting in presentation, taste and name. Some of you would say that it is just a name to suit the place. True, but there is a twist in terms of flavor and looks. The house serves Mexican/LatAm, European, Asian and even local flavors. It is a reflection of what the place is. A FUSION! A delightful fusion of flavors that makes this place a delight to visit. In a small place, you get to have a tour of the world through their food. It may be similar to some offerings in the market but like what I mentioned earlier, the flavor is simply DIVINE!

Food Blogger's Night Experience
We were treated to a night of good quality food and story. Stories about the food, the place and its resident host. The place happens to house 3 resident friendly unseen occupants and do make their present felt to those who are psychically active and if they find the place a tad off to their liking. Trust me when I say they are friendly. Coming from someone who has a wide experience on the supernatural, when I say they are friendly, they are indeed friendly.

While hearing the story of the place, we were treated to an intriguing but refreshing drink. Kamias Shake! This one is not your regular shake for it is served in a tall glass, green in color and with salt crystal at the rim- similar to a margarita. It is non-alcoholic, good for all ages and the bold.

Let me show you what we had that night. (see food pics below the article)

When a food lover goes down the path of classic cooking expect that there would be variation to the usual dish; making it his own. I have tried numerous versions of this soup and this one tops it. Yes it is light but the flavor is bold and rich. A whole slice of bread covered in cheese left to soak the flavors of the broth where it is placed on is how they serve this classic dish. This is how they serve french-onion soup in Mystic Brew. With its flavor, it is amply named Gayuma.

When a clasic Hungarian stew is left in the hands of the Mystic Brew peps, expect a twist to it. Hungarian Stew = Monk's Brew. It's lighter in texture but still rich in flavor. Beefie flavor plus light but still rich tomato soup. Perfect for those cold nights or for those moments that you simply want something to warm you up.

From soup to appetizers, they have what they call Basilisk Bites and Meteor Balls. The Basilisk Bites are your cheese sticks. Not your standard cheese sticks nor your pimiento cheese stick but this one is your cheese stick and pesto combined. Yes, you read it right, it is cheese and pesto.
I fell in love with the Meteor Balls! It is potato balls with beef stuffings and given a nice crunchy crust when cooked. There is a light heat in the potato which made it perfect for me. Appetizers are made to stimulate your palate for the food to come and this is made right for me. A must in my book!

To add to the list of possible appetizer is what they call Chalupa-cabra. From Europe, here is a taste of the Mexico/LatAm flavor. This one is good for sharing or in my case, I prefer to be greedy with this offerring. You could have it served 2-ways; either in its original form which is in a taco-shell styled chalupa or in its salad form. In its salad form, with a tomato salsa at the side, it is definitely for sharing. It is a tower of chalupa covering the meat, cheese and tomato and to serve as base is a bed of green and purple lettuces. Best eaten with your knife and fork In its taco form, it is one big taco with side tomato salsa at the side. Best eaten with your hand! You will enjoy the crunch of their homemade chalupa, along with the spicy beef, vegatables and cheese. It is a meal of its own!

They also have a good range of panini's and pastas that you could enjoy. For something between being light and heavy, I would suggest the Sausage & Mash with Mystic Glaze. Its a good serving of smooth mash potatoes with sausages and a good dressing of their secret glaze. Since they won't say the components of the glaze, you simply have to go at Mystic Brew to enjoy it. You better not forget to eat the topped leaves. It is not your typical topping like basil or mint. It came from a herb with a mild peppery taste. It is gotu kola.

(FYI: Gotu Kola is a rejuvenative nervine recommended for nervous disorders, epilepsy, senility and premature aging. As a brain tonic, it is said to aid intelligence and memory. It strengthens the adrenal glands and cleanses the blood to treat skin impurities. It is said to combat stress and depression, increase libido and improve reflexes. It has also been indicated for chronic venous insufficiency, minor burns, scars, scleroderma, skin ulcers, varicose veins, wound healing, rheumatism, blood diseases, congestive heart failure, urinary tract infections, venereal diseases, hepatitis and high blood pressure. - www.herbwisdom.com)

Here is a first taste of Asia in the repertoire. Chorizo Rice with Adobo Flakes. A must in the food list to try! Crunchy adobo flakes, rightly cooked rice with bits of chorizo, sunny side-up egg that you could have a runny center as long as you request it, oven cooked to perfection cloves of garlic and a whole tomato, also oven cooked, bathed in balsamic. It is a different take in the classic adobo serving in the Philippines but the flavor and components holds true of its origin. Served using a glazed earthen-like dish with cover, so it is a surprise when you get to lift the cover and see the content. Don't let the size fool you. It may be good for one only but this meal is a stomach filler!

For dessert, we were treated to 2 dishes opposite in origin. One from the West and the other from the East. From the west, we have what is called the Dragon Claw. It is a deconstructed version of an apple pie or an apple puff. Rich in cinnamon (yummy spice!) and brown sugar, green (not red!) apple slices and drizzled with strawberry sauce, this one is a light sweet tooth concoction! For me, it has all the right ingredients of a dessert; green apple, cinnamon and brown sugar and strawberry. Deliciously light, crunchy pastry and just right on the sugar-cinnamon level. YUMMY!

From the east, we were treated to an Indonesian classic which is called Martabak. It is a thick pan cake folded in half with chocolate and peanut spread in between, drizzled with sweetened milk on top and served with a sprinkle of choco bits and peanuts at the side; same chocolate used to create the spread in between the pan cakes. This is definitely for sharing! Unless you are depressed and wish for a perk me up then probably you can consume the whole thing. But then again . . .trust me when I say this is for sharing.

What is a cafe/restaurant without its signature drinks? Here is where the brew comes in. First on the list is the Chili-Mint Coffee. You can take this both in hot and in cold form. I like the hot version better! You get the initial kick from the chili then the soothing touch of mint, along with it the coffee. If you take the cold version, you get the mint first then the heat from the chili when it reaches your stomach. For the adventurous food eater, I strongly recommend the hot version! You will enjoy the initial heat and the lasting warmth of this drink.

For tea drinkers who wants a nice soothing tea experience, then the Rose Vanilla Tea is for you to enjoy. Fragrant and light, green in color and rich in flavor. Served using a beautifully gilted china cup, it is one calming experience. They also offer macarons and cupcakes in the store. Be like the French, I would say, as you take your tea.

To really cap the night with a bang, we all enjoyed a taste of Mystic Brew's Butter Brew. Here is a salute to all Harry Potter fans. This is one cold, cool brew! Its foamy, buttery in flavor and high in sugar (warning to those who has sugar level problems - drink with caution!). Some would say that SB has the same creation in their secret menu list but take my word when I say THIS IS DIFFERENT. For those born in the 80's, do you remember that yellow sweet buttery candy called butterball? If yes, then you know the taste of this sweet brew that I am talking about. The difference between the two? This one has a foam on top. Served in a beer mug, it has that more wholesome beer-like color, a delightful foam topping and a light fizz. Be ready with your camera when you take your first swag. You don't want to miss that moment!

With good company, stories and food, the blogger's night was a success. No wonder this is a place to go to here in BFRV. Even if I live in Laguna, I would definitely go here again. Not just once nor twice but a good number of times more! The place is cozy. Food is definitely a hit; nearing to be what I can consider comfort food, and the people behind it are really nice. This is like an extension of that dream place that you like to be just to relax and unwind. It is located at a busy street but still you get that relax moment that you crave for to charge you up again. If you really became a regular then you may call it a haven or at the most, a coven. a coven because you became a part of it and the people who enjoys it too. An experience that is indeed above, under and beyond the rainbow!