Abner brought me over to
Crescent Moon Cafe in Antipolo for a post-birthday celebration. It's like a mini Sonya's Garden experience. That's how I'd be able to describe the ambiance and the way food is served. The place is easy to find if you are coming from Sumulong Highway. I've read in several blogs
na medyo frustrating
daw hanapin but then it's fairly easy
pala.
In front of the cafe is a koi pond, and what a sight to see. I never saw kois as big as those before! (If you decide to stay a bit longer after lunch, you'll get that chance to feed them.)
The cafe is cool and quaint, country-like feel-at-home almost similar to Sonya's. Their food is unique as well. For starters, an ala prepare-it-yourself-fresh-lumpia, sans the lumpia wrapper and ubod, or veggies. They use
alagao leaves as wrappers. You'll mix and whiff up your own conconction with the following: minced ginger, minced red onions, jalapenos, kamias, sweet arnibal-like peanut paste, dessicated coconut and crunchy alamang. You'll find an interesting blend and medley of flavors there.
You'll see how I did. I placed all the ingredients on the alagao leaf and it'll look something like this:
Soup followed and this was my winner (Sorry, no picture.
Natakam kasi!) Hands down. Thick cream of pumpkin soup with coconut meat. Yummy. You can taste
kalabasa in there and a hint of coconut too! The main course included crunchy noodles with chicken curry, grilled fish (tanigue
ata yun) and chopsuey. Dessert is riped mango and their delicious suman! Wonderful place for just talking and eating especially if you prefer garden-like settings. Like I do. At Php350/person,
swack na swack!
You'll also notice a mini showroom of handmade ceramics by Antipolo's premiere potter,
Lanelle Abueva-Fernando! I also heard that there classes for those who want to try their hand in pottery.
Around the garden, with my trusted Ericsson W810, I also took pictures of the plants and flowers there:
Directions: From Marcos Highway, you turn right at Sumulong Highway when you get to the Masinag Market intersection. Just go straight up Antipolo, passing Dencio's; etc. etc. You'll be passing Assumption Antipolo signboard to the left, and Banker's Village to the right. Watch out for those fruit stands at the left side of the road -- you'll get to an intersection with a signboard-- (arrow going straight: To church; Arrow right: To Hinulugang TakTak; and Arrow left: To Teresa). Turn left to Teresa. Here you'll take probably 15-20 minutes drive. You'll be passing the Antipolo National Police at the right. At the end of the road you'll get a rotonda with a Flying V gasoline station at the left. You'll be doing a left here, halos parang u-turn at the Flying V. The road is now smaller. This is Brg. Dalig. Watch out for the corner Barugan hardware to your right. You will see the Crescent Moon signage there. (You'll know you've missed it if you reached Robinson's Homes na) Turn right here. Crescent Moon is about 1-2 minutes to your left. Hehe sorry, not familiar with meters
eh.
Oh, and it's better also if you call for reservations 630-5854 so that food can be prepared. If not daw, you'll be waiting 30-45 minutes.
