Food Thoughts: Southbound Café

Welcome to the first city in the south after the metro, San Pedro City!  Yes, we are no longer a town but a city!  And because we are now a city, the shifting of façade shall continue to go on for years to come.

What was once a spot of another business is now manned by a couple whose initial idea of a business extension turned into something more and thus profitable.  Such is the story of this café in the south.  Welcome to SOUTHBOUND CAFÉ!

As you pass by the small bridge connecting Laguna and that of Muntinlupa, you would notice a car care shop (GOODYEAR Signage) at the left (coming from Muntinlupa, right if coming from United San Pedro).  If one will look closely, you would see a well lit, shop on top of it.  That my dear is the exact location of Southbound Café.   This is one café originally conceptualize as a simpleng kapehan of customers of the car care shop.  Presently, the wife is managing the café while the hubby takes care of the car care shop; a nice little set-up for a couple doing business.  Helping out in the management of the café is Chef Jan Zamora – a food and business minded chef in one.

Now what do they have? 

I have tried a number of their food creations and honestly, they were all good!  Flavorful and filling are the two main words to describe the food in this café.  Flavorful because there is food preparation technicality that is applied on each dish being served thus presenting to all the flavors needed and expected in a dish.  Filling because you know you are belly full even before you leave the store.  Add to that the comfortable ambiance of the place and what you have is a café worth your time and money.  A café that you will and may visit again and again.  Now back to the question . . .

If you are looking for a light snack but still able to sate your hunger, then I recommend their sandwiches for you sink your teeth on.  No connection to me being a witch ok.  The chicken sandwich is chunky, creamy and light.  The chicken is not shredded but chopped after being seasoned and grilled.  The mayo used is sweet according to my taste buds; which is true when I tasted their grilled cheese sandwich.  That touch of sweet creaminess added flavor to a nicely toasted bread and gives it that light palate and tummy feel.  Pairing of their sandwiches was not hard, for you can either have a hot drink or a cold one and still have the same sandwich taste that is not commercial in flavor.  The grilled cheese sandwich is acceptable for me in the sense that it has that gooey feel when served and eaten still warm.  It would have spelled a big difference in the palate if (a) a slice of tomato was placed, (b) a stronger flavored cheddar was used instead or (c) both.  The tomato will help cut through the creaminess of the mayo and the cheese giving it dimension in flavor.  A stronger flavor cheese (6 months above aging) will give it flavor contrast to the mayo and toasted bread.  Just my opinion on how a grilled sandwich should be café style.

  

They also have a cheeseburger that you can munch on.  Classically presented in terms of stacking but definitely not classical in plate presentation for it is served in a wood-crate/box.  Not in a tray, not on a hot plate, not on a plate but in a wooden box crate style sized for your burger!  With some corn chips on the side, drizzled with cheese sauce, then you have one burger that kicks ass in presentation.  How about the taste?  The recipe is a personal creation of Chef Zamora, thus you are assured that it is not commercial.  There is something intriguing about it though.  The flavor of his patty reminds me of something that I have tasted before.  Not coming from another restaurant but something that my mom has made decades ago.  And yes, it was a pleasant memory.

From their sandwiches, I now turn my attention to their pasta.  I have tasted two out of four of their pasta offerings (not bad eh!) and this is what I have to say.  Gourmet style in serving it may be but it definitely packs a punch in the taste department.  The techniques applied to the pasta I’ve tried definitely show the craftsmanship of the people preparing it.  The carbonara that they serve will definitely be a favorite not because of the overflowing of sauce but the creaminess of the sauce.  It has the expected creaminess from the sauce but it is made creamier due to a generous helping of parmesan cheese.  As you toss it, the more you distribute the flavor of the ham (not bacon), mushroom and cheese.  That helping of cheese truly made a difference!  The sardine pasta is another matter.  No cheese to make it yummier so to speak, simply oil where it was kept prior to use. This is pure love in a plate!  Not spicy but has a light nutty undertone which enhances the dish.  This is one oil-base fish pasta that doesn’t leave you with a greasy feel on your palate and no fishy smell too.  Pasta pa lang busog ka na!

Sardine Pasta

Carbonara

For those who wants full starch aka rice every supper, they also serve rice meals, baby back ribs and wings.  Their rice meals are your typical breakfast favorites – tapa, longanisa, corned beef, tinapa and such.  It is like an all day breakfast access without waiting for the sun to rise.  The baby back ribs were tender with a familiar barbecue flavor and a sweet adobo-like glaze on the side.  You can either have it with rice or fries, it is up to you.  If you are in the mood to share, then have it with fries or what they call platter serving - best eaten with your hands.  Don’t worry for the place has a wash area that you can use afterwards. If not in the mood to share, then have the ribs with rice (single/solo) and simply enjoy every bite of that yummy meat.  As for the chicken, you can either have it solo serving or platter style also.  If you wish to know all the chicken flavors in one blow, then I would advise you to have it in group/platter style. You will have all 3 flavors in one serving – barbecue, buffalo wings and parmesan.   The barbecue glaze is perfectly suited for white meat without distorting the image of a traditional pork barbecued.  The buffalo wings has the signature spice kick it is known for while the parmesan needs a little more boost (unfortunately).

Now that is my opinion on the food that the café has.  How about the drinks?  I did mention that they have a cold and hot selection that you can choose from.  From classic coffee creations to frappes, brewed tea to cold fruit tea creations and smoothies, they have something for you.  From a simpleng kapehan, it is now a respectable café on its offerings.  Warning to those with weak heart:  DO NOT try their coffee if you don’t want to be rushed to the E.R. due to palpitations.  It definitely has a kick ass attitude and I LOVE IT!  Coffee lovers, aficionados and fan, come and enjoy a cup of SOUTHBOUND CAFÉ’s signature bean brew and you will definitely come back . . .for more!  They people preparing your cup definitely knows their business.  The right temperature, the right amount of coffee to milk, the right froth  . . .they mean business . . .coffee pleasure business that is.

The fruit flavored ice cold tea drinks that they serve is simply perfect in this summer heat.  Regardless of the heat, I personally thinks it is still a winner even after summer.  Same is true to their smoothies.  It is creamy and fruity at the same time.  Simply flavored syrup or real fruit mash it may be, it is still one enjoyable drink.  A little thicker and what you have is the level-up of a smoothie (adjust it more and what you have is ice cream!)  Now their frappes are another matter.  I have only tried two (2) flavors and both have my vote of being a favorite – The Popcorn and The Toffee Crunch.  What makes them stand out for me is neither the elaborate presentation nor the size of the serving but the flavor itself.  The popcorn frappe tasted like caramel popcorn and the toffee crunch did have that toffee caramel flavor.  Add to that the toppings used and you would say : “Is this for real?”  Popcorn drizzled with caramel sauce is used for the popcorn frappe while chopped walnuts are topping the toffee crunch frappe.  REAL WALNUTS!  Not cashew, not pili nut, not peanuts but real chopped walnuts!  Mahal kaya ng walnuts noh!  How about the sweetness?  It is still at the right sweetness level that those bordering in diabetes can still enjoy.  They do have water available to drink afterwards to help wash down the sugar. J J

Chicken Sandwich paired with Pomegranate Iced Tea

What else is there at SOUTHBOUND CAFÉ?  Beside’s that it is accessible to the commuting public, open’s late in the afternoon, good food, lovely coffee creations, cool drinks, relaxing ambiance and a good internet connectivity . . .it doesn’t hurt to say that the one preparing your food is a tad appealing, what else is there not to like about the place?  It is homegrown!  Pag-aari ng pinoy, luto ng pinoy at negosyong nagmula sa pagmamahal ng pinoy.  Halika na sa San Pedro City Laguna at ng matikman ang comfort na bigay ng SOUTHBOUND CAFÉ!

END of STORY :-)