Capreal: A cup of coffee and more

MANILA, Philippines – The love for cooking is something that one acquires in so many different ways. It could be that you want to build your own restaurant someday or maybe you want to be a well-known chef one day. Or maybe you really like cooking and the passion to cook and serve people your delicious meals is something that you find appealing. Capreal’s owner Joanna Gocheco is someone who mixes both the entrepreneurial side and the passionate side of cooking.

“I have always loved cooking. Ever since I was little, I was trained by my mother to cook,” Gocheco says.

Capreal comes from the portmanteau “cup of real coffee,” which Gocheco named the first incarnation of her cozy restaurant.

“It was supposed to be just a coffee shop. I never intended it to be a restaurant. But when I took up culinary, I couldn’t resist trying to expand the menu,” Gocheco says.

The coffee shop slowly evolved into a restaurant, with Gocheco adding rice meals and pasta to the already colorful menu. From Italian, American, to Japanese and Korean, the menu of Capreal has it all and encompasses a wide array of choices for customers to choose from.

“I wanted it to be a catch-all place. That is why almost every food type is covered on our menu. So that everyone has a choice and is not limited to a specific food genre. We cater to everyone and no one gets left behind. If you want Chinese we have Chinese, if you want pasta we have that, too,” Gocheco adds.

Capreal coffee shop evolved into a restaurant when owner Joanna Gocheco added rice meals and pasta to the menu.

The training that she got from her mother is one thing that Gocheco will always attribute to whenever she talks about her beginnings as a chef.

“It was really because of my mother that I discovered the joys of cooking. And after taking up a culinary course, it intensified even more,” Gocheco shares.

Capreal is homey and exudes a light and fresh vibe; perfect for family dinners or gatherings or catching up with close friends. But the one thing that will make your stay more enjoyable and memorable is the food. With so many choices to choose from, it’s no wonder that you would want to try each and every item on the menu.

The mango kani salad is a good starter before diving into the other items on the menu. The combination of the fresh vegetable strips, the sour and creamy Japanese mayonnaise and, of course, the zesty mango creates a yummy explosion in the mouth. Add to that the pieces of shrimp and crabmeat that give the salad a light seafood taste.

For pasta lovers, the Capreal spaghetti is a must-try. The homemade sauce is smooth and inviting; it is not too sour and not too sweet. The meal is heavy and could be a good substitute to rice for those who are trying to cut down on their rice intake. The meal comes with two pieces of toasted bread. Another great choice for pasta lovers is the curry seafood pasta. It is a unique dish, which uses the traditional curry flavor as substitute for the customary red or white pasta sauce. Perfect for curry lovers, the dish contains shrimp and mussels, which add flavor to the already delicious meal.

The salmon in spinach sauce is made with fresh and soft salmon and it goes well with spinach sauce. Perfect for seafood lovers who want to try something with a twist.

For an Asian touch, the Korean beef stew is added to the menu. The beef is soft and tender and the sauce is amazingly tasty. The dish comes with sidings of veggies and rice.

The paella is a mixture of different flavorful ingredients such as mussels, shrimps, and egg, to name a few. This dish is perfect for those who are a little adventurous when it comes to food.

The house special — the chicken quesadillas, rightly deserves its distinction. The chicken quesadillas is more than just food it is an experience. The combination of the chicken, the sauce, and the tomatoes — everything is just perfect. The moment you put a piece in your mouth, you’ll immediately get hooked.

The menu is not limited to the ones written on it, though; one can request the food to be altered or “edited” when one needs less salt or sugar due to dietary or health reasons.

“We try to give them what we want as much as possible. Eating shouldn’t be a burden for anyone; food should be enjoyed no matter what. So we try to come up with alternatives that are close to the real thing so that no matter what your diet is, you still get to taste what you ordered,” says Gocheco.

The flexibility and the freedom to choose what you want to eat is the unique thing that Capreal offers to its valued customers. The wide array of food choices on the menu reflects the owner’s love for cooking as well as her desire to cater to every taste palate there is to satisfy. From a small café to a big and ever-expanding restaurant, Capreal has evolved into the kind of restaurant that is very much a trend these days: a catch-all place where almost everything is served and no one is alienated or left behind just because he is craving for something else. At Capreal, a compromise is reached with the eclectic combination of dishes on the menu, offering a unique dining experience not only for you but for the whole family.