Malongo Atelier Barista’s dishes more than satisfy this adventurous bon vivant’s cravings for French cuisine, as they bring him back to a beautiful time in his life when he ate his way from casual cafés to fairly famous bistros in the French capital as well as the country’s southern countryside.
Around this time three years ago, I was traveling through France. That particularly memorable trip reunited me with what I consider as one of the dreamiest places in the world: the City of Lights— Paris! Soon enough, I found myself taking train rides to other French cities, eventually ending up at the south of France, eating my way from casual cafés to fairly famous bistros.
I believe in two things when traveling: eat as the locals do; and never scrimp on food! I often reminisce about my Parisian dining habits, when I started my day with a flaky croissant, which I ordered at a boulangerie near my hotel. For lunch, I would request for a window seat before helping myself to a set menu of salad and steak frites at one of the small yet famous restaurants around Champs-Élysées.
In the afternoon to early evening, I take my time to just sit, order a cup of coffee and maybe a sandwich, and people-watch at a quaint coffee shop in Saint Germain. It seems like ages ago, but the wonderful memories of these little gustatory experiences linger and remain quite vivid in my head.
My craving for simple French dishes was recently satisfied when I discovered the new savory menu of Malongo Atelier Barista. Situated along One Bonifacio Highstreet in BGC, the coffee shop had already been my go-to place for its coffee beans, which I brewed whenever I entertained family and friends, pre-pandemic. You see, what started as a small family-run roaster out of Nice, France in 1934 has become a global French living heritage company specializing in fair trade and organic coffees and teas.
During one afternoon, I decided to sit down in one corner of the BGC café like I used to in Paris, and ordered French comfort food. For starters, I had a Niçoise Salad. Light and crisp, the fresh mix of vegetables with chunks of tuna and pleasantly flavored with a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette remains my idea of heaven.
To satisfy my cravings for hot sandwiches, which I would order at the slightest excuse in Paris, I tried Malongo’s Croque Madame. And I’m glad I did! Rich in every bite, the brioche was topped with back bacon, Gruyère cheese and a hint of Dijon mustard. The piece de resistance was an over easy egg placed on top that added an extra creamy and savory flavor to the sandwich.
It didn’t take long for me to indulge myself in the much-awaited main course—the heavy and meaty Steak Tartine. As a certified meat lover, I wasn’t disappointed at the tender slab of rib-eye steak. Sourdough bread slathered with whipped goat cheese, balsamic-drenched shiitake mushrooms and onions added to the explosion of flavors.
Lastly, if you’re looking to share or bring home some goodies, I suggest you order a serving of the Pastry Platter. Buttery croissants are a staple indulgence along with other confections such as the pain au chocolat, pain au raisin, torsade, kouign amann and an assortment of chocolate, salted caramel and Nutella éclairs. They all pair well with coffee.
We may be restricted form traveling abroad for now, but this shouldn’t stop us from discovering places in the metro that allow us to relive certain experiences that bring back good memories of our trips abroad. Every new meal we try these days can transport us back to our favorite destinations, bringing back priceless memories of those once-in-lifetime journeys. —Tedrick Yau
