A nice breakfast destination

CEBU, Philippines — It all started in 2015 when the Abaca Baking Company (ABC) began operation. Today they are known for their handcrafted artisanal pastries which are freshly made in-house every morning using only unbleached flour. They have evolved to be the best shop for freshly baked pastries, wide selection of all-day breakfast delights and tasteful blends of coffee and teas.

A select group of journalists were invited to the ninth ABC branch at the ground floor Veranda of Robinson Galleria Cebu. I like its location because of the ease of entry without being tempted by bargains inside in the mall. It was a media breakfast where we were introduced to the working philosophy of the company whose aim was to create a local brand that Cebu can be proud of. I saw three basic offerings in their menu: Homestyle Breakfast, Soups & Salads, and the Sandwiches, Burgers and Mains.

Most of us guests tried the Homemade Spam & Eggs and the Veggie Fried Rice and immediately my taste buds began comparing their spam to a popular Chinese brand.  I tasted the meatiness of the spam compared to the after-taste of starchiness of the Chinese brand. Two types of salad were served, the Chicken Chopped Salad and the Vegetable Chopped Salad. Salads are really not on my breakfast table but this really tasty Chicken Salad could make its debut at home.

We had four sandwiches to taste: Tuna Melt, Salmon Benedict, Herb Roasted Chicken Sandwich and Luncheonette Burger. The vegetable garnishing on the sandwiches were very fresh and I wondered who supplied the vegetables that seemed to be newly plucked. Director for Operations of ABC Group, Chef Patrick Corpuz pointed out that they buy it from a local farmer in Busay hills. The farmer plants only what veggies his farm grows best and ABC buys them in order to have the very best local produce.

Supermarkets and other grocery stores tend to source veggies that are “nice looking” hence rejecting the “uglier- undersized” veggies which are often packed with flavor. It was just like the asparagus I bought in a Las Vegas supermarket. It was really plump and robust but when cooked (adjusting cooking time), turned mushy and tasted flat compared to the small asparagus served with the Tuna Melt & Salmon Benedict. In New Zealand, there are farmers who grow plants that well adopt to their gardens and sell it directly to consumers who buy these seasonal plants harvested at their peak.

The same is true with bleached flour with chemical additives which give the foods a brighter color, softer texture and more volume. I wonder where all those chemicals, excuse me, accumulate and what harmful effects it may have to the human body after decades of eating bread made with bleached flour. Never mind if the bread at ABC had a duller color (using 100 percent unbleached flour), but the Herb Roasted Chicken Sandwich and Luncheonette Burger tasted truly wonderful.

Three more dishes were served: Fresh Fruit Buttermilk Waffle shared by everyone and a slice of New York Style Cheesecake, and Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake with a candle, gifts to August birthday celebrants Jaime Picornell and myself.