Making Each Day Count

With the recent inaugural Michelin Guide Manila, my social media feed has been buzzing with posts about newly recognized restaurants. Naturally, my curiosity was piqued and I wanted to see what the hype was all about. So this weekend, I set out to try a few of the Bib Gourmand awardees around Metro Manila.

Friday Night: COCHI by Marvin Agustin, BGC, Taguig City

After my rowing class last Friday, I walked a block away from the gym to meet a friend for dinner at COCHI. I read that back in 2014, Marvin Agustin dined at Casa Lucio and fell in love with their dishes. During the lockdown, he began recreating those flavors from his own garage, and threee years after, COCHI was established in Bonifacio Global City.

The restaurant was packed when we arrived, but thankfully, our last-minute reservation secured us outdoor seats. I had checked their menu beforehand and knew their specialty was suckling pig which I and my friend don’t eat. Good thing they offered several other dishes, so we got the black seafood paella, classic chicken BBQ, laing ni mommy, and chocolate cake for dessert.

The food was rich with flavor and umami. Since the paella was already flavorful, we added garlic rice to balance things out. My personal favorite was the laing ni mommy, a Filipino vegetable dish made with taro leaves simmered in creamy coconut milk and spices. It came topped with crunchy garlic bits which made the dish more delicious.

Saturday Night: Taqueria Franco, Salcedo Village, Makati City

On Saturday night, D and I headed to Taqueria Franco, a taco restaurant and bar tucked along San Agustin Street in Salcedo Village, Makati. We had passed by it before and I remember noticing Elvis, the French Bulldog, whose face adorns the restaurant’s exterior signage. I thought all along the frenchie’s name was Franco, and only clarified that night that his name was Elvis.

Like COCHI, the place was bustling (I suspect the Michelin buzz brought in even more diners), and we were seated at the bar. We started with Le Bon Junk, their playful take on nachos made with Granny Goose Tortillos. I immediately felt nostalgic as Granny Goose was my snack of choice when I was a child.
For tacos, D ordered Lengua (ox tongue) while I went for the XL Soft-Shell Crab. The portion sizes were just right, and both were packed with bold, balanced flavors. D couldn’t stop raving about his tacos. It’s one of those spots that we know we’ll be returning to soon, especially since it’s close to home.

Sunday Brunch: Your Local, Legazpi Village, Makati City

To cap off the weekend, we walked over to Your Local for brunch. We’ve been there several times for dinner, but this was our first time trying their weekend brunch menu. I had the Fried Chicken Nasi Lemak, while D went for the Roast Beef Tapa. Both were hearty and satisfying. It was perfect for a lazy rainy Sunday morning.

We left with happy tummies and an even happier spirit, feeling like our weekend turned into a mini culinary adventure inspired by Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list.

This is just a start. We’re already looking forward to exploring more of Manila’s recognized spots in the weekends to come.