I am a certified non-lover of coffee. I try to drink once in a while, but I can't really stand the bitter after-taste of it. They say coffee has some health benefits, but I don't get it when people get so crazy about coffee shops that lets you pay a hundred bucks just for a tea-cup sized coffee, when you could get it for under twenty pesos. So pardon me for being a critic, and pardon me if I could not distinguish the better taste of Guatemalan or Kenyan beans from the native ones. ^_^ (Yes, I know that the most expensive coffee beans are from civet poop).
But I favor more those coffee shops who serve quality coffee at a reasonable price (sans global brands), which utilizes native coffee, and especially those that define one's city or place. These shops deserve more time and money for that much-needed conversations and gossips with friends.
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| Got coffee? |
A coffee-loving friend (again ^_^) mentioned that Madge Cafe along Diversion Road serves cheap native coffee and where many people are having their cup of coffee. She also mentioned that the place originated many years ago from La Paz public market, and that it's already an institution. And so I made sure this was part of our pit stop one very hot Sunday. (Read here for a bit of the cafe's history and more.)
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| Madge Cafe along Benigno Aquino Ave. |
For as low as Php 40, we already enjoyed a hot (yes HOT, even though Mr. Sun was at its zenith. Crazy us. But one friend tried their iced coffee though ^_^) cup of coffee made from native coffee beans from the North of Iloilo. The Media coffee are those with milk, and Puro coffee are black. Tabang, Regular, and Puro are Mild, Regular, and Strong respectively. They also offer cold drinks like Vanilla Latte and Choco Frio (bestsellers).
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| drinks menu |
And what's coffee without its food partners? Madge Cafe serves native eats like suman and royal bibingka (must tries!), and if you don't like to go native they also have cookies and sandwiches. Because it was a Sunday they don't stock much of their pastries, and because the native treats were displayed late, we settled for their choc chip cookie (which tasted like Lengua de Gato. Yum!). Other cookie flavors are Nips and Peanut Butter.
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| food menu |
But what most piqued my interest in visiting this place (after I've checked out some blogs) is the native way they prepare coffee. They use a culador or flannel sieve (I think of it as a native coffee maker). And so I didn't passed the chance to catch Manong in action.
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| culador |
And yes we enjoyed great conversations, laughter, and moments over cups (and glass) of native coffee while dipping the cookies in it on this hot Sunday afternoon.
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| Choc Chip Cookies |
I hope that soon I will be able to visit Madge Cafe's original branch inside La Paz Public Market and enjoy once more being an Ilonggo with great friends. (Read here for more about Madge Cafe LaPaz).
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| Royal bibingka |
Inside La Paz Public Market
La Paz, Iloilo City
MADGE CAFE
Benigno Aquino Ave. (Diversion Road), Mandurriao
Iloilo City
How to get there
Right side of the road if you are from SM City Iloilo. This will be after the road going to Nes and Tat's. Landmark is Comglasco AG Corporation. I think it is where Calzada Grill is previously located.
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| maps.google.com |
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