A followup to its first branch on Sheridan Street, The Giving Café’s second restaurant opens along A. Mabini Street, also in Mandaluyong. This time, it’s housed in a repurposed mid-century modern bungalow that evokes warmth and a feeling of nostalgia.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Mandaluyong City lies pockets of quiet elegance and gentility consisting of old neighborhoods where imposing ancestral homes still exist.
One such section is the hilly residential area ensconced right between Wack Wack and Greenhills East. Its main artery, the leafy A. Mabini Street, has a new attraction: The Giving Café, or TGC A. Mabini, which is housed in a sprawling bungalow that was built in the 1950s.
TGC A. Mabini is the latest branch of the popular café. Owned by award-winning barista Michael Harris Conlin, this café and restaurant is more than just a watering hole or a dining place. It’s a social enterprise that continues the legacy of Michael’s beloved grandfather, the late Juan Bautista Lee. To further pay tribute to him, Michael chose to locate his newest and biggest branch in the house his grandfather built.
A showcase of mid-century architecture, the ancestral house is also the place where later generations of his family were raised. Juan Bautista Lee often welcomed friends and loved ones to this house where happy memories were made. It was recently restored and repurposed to house this full-service restaurant and events venue.
TGC itself was established to preserve and continue the principles their patriarch believed in. He was a famous water polo player who won the bronze medal in the 2nd Asian Games. He had come a long way from being a street vendor and he’s proof that hard work and perseverance can give a person access to a good, secure life.
Michael says that his grandfather’s motto, “Always be kind, kindness is free,” remains a guiding principle of TGC. “His dream was to inspire future generations to chase their dreams with integrity and kindness. TGC stands as a tribute to his life and values,” he said.
As a result, Michael made TGC a social enterprise. Its unusual name refers to his social advocacy which he calls #IndulgeInGiving. Every cup TGC serves contributes to the livelihoods of Filipino coffee farmers to ensure a sustainable coffee supply chain. TGC works with the Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence. It funds programs that help uplift farming communities. These include educational assistance, holding seminars to train farmers on sustainable farming practices, and providing access to basic health care.
“By working closely with local farmers, we help improve both the quality and quantity of their coffee production, ensuring they receive fair compensation,” he said.
With TGC A. Mabini, diners will in a way get a better experience and understand what Juan Bautista Lee’s legacy is about. As described by Michael, the house is “filled with decades of memories.” It played an important role in the family’s history. “It was here that he poured his heart into creating a place filled with warmth and joy, where family and friends gathered, shared meals and built lasting memories,” he said.
He notes that in restoring the house, they preserved its soul and its purpose will remain the same. It will be a haven for people to connect and create new memories with friends and loved ones. As it had been for the Lee clan for decades, TGC A. Mabini is also available as a party venue. With its airy open gardens and large dining rooms, the house can now be booked for small wedding receptions, family reunions, baby showers, and corporate events and parties. In fact, each room has been designed for a specific occasion.
Because it’s a much larger venue than the first TGC branch along Sheridan Street, diners and guests can explore the house and take a peek at family heirlooms and portraits. The original architecture is left untouched and much of the period furniture pieces have been restored. The garden and the various rooms are ideal settings for prenups, group portraits, or just simple selfies and groupies. There are many spots where guests can take photographs and preserve the fun moments they had at TGC A. Mabini.
TGC A. Mabini also offers a special menu especially prepared for specific occasions and a specific room in the house. Each room is designed to tell a story and provide the ideal ambiance and setting for intimate family gatherings. Warm and cheerful vibes are further enhanced by carefully selected dishes that have that unmistakable traditional flavor. This gives deeper meaning to the occasion being celebrated.
In the restaurant and cafe industry, the menu is, of course, as important as the location. Aside from the specialty coffee TGC is famous for, it offers a selection of Filipino-Chinese comfort food. Traditional dishes like the lengua, Michael’s grandfather’s favorite, are also on the menu. Also on the menu are TGC’s classic pancit, shanghai lumpia, lomi, and champorado, all of which can be paired with TGC’s signature coffee.
Guests can opt to have a working lunch in what used to be the bedroom of Michael’s grandfather. His “Angkong,” as his grandchildren fondly called him, relished his time with friends and loved ones as they shared ideas, stories, and laughter over lunch or dinner. The food set would include Crispy Wontons, Spinach Soup, Yang Chow rice, TGC Pancit, Lengua con Champignon, Salt and Pepper Pork, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Crispy Tofu, and TGC Ice Cream for dessert. These can be served in a buffet set up or family-style service alongside a coffee bar.
In another room, meanwhile, is “Mom’s Room Pinoy Afternoon Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate Set.” This section recalls the childhood of Michael’s mother and her sisters. “They spent countless afternoons playing with their imaginary tea sets,” said Michael. Their world of make-believe eventually became reality when they grew up and started traveling. Their tea parties were now for real and they held them in the various countries they toured.
The first course includes Mini Adobo Sliders, Mini Honey Sriracha Pandesal, and Lumpiang Sariwa. The second course includes Mini Cups of Champorado and a Side of Crispy Danggit, Ginataang Mais Shots, and Ginataang Bilo Bilo Cups. The third course includes Bibingka, Mini Turon Balls, and Mango Tapioca. Beverages include Tsokolate de Batirol, Barako Coffee, Salabat, Tea, Pandan Lemongrass, Barako Latte with Muscovado Syrup.
Whether it is for breakfast, lunch or dinner, each dish is prepared to reflect the distinctive warmth of a home-cooked meal. Michael says his family has long believed that food has “the power of bringing people together to create new and lasting memories.” Each meal TGC prepares and serves is an opportunity to experience the heart and soul of his grandfather’s legacy. “They’re prepared with love and care that honors our family’s culinary heritage,” he said.
Michael thus hopes that each visit to The Giving Café A.Mabini will create precious memories for guests.
“Just as my grandparents did before me, we measure success by the connections we create and the kindness we give. We hope that every visit to The Giving Café A. Mabini feels like coming home—a place where you are welcomed, where stories are shared, relationships grow, and the heart of our culture thrives,” he said.
The Giving Café A. Mabini is at 858a A. Mabini St., Brgy. Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City. It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Its first outlet on the corner of Sheridan corner Pines Streets, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City is open from Monday to Sunday from 7am to 10pm.
Follow @tgcsocialentrep on Facebook and Instagram. Reservations at 09272471490, 09851284751 or 028518 9291.
