A Banapple a day
MANILA, Philippines - The so-called “third place” is a trend these days. It is that place — usually a café or quaint tea shop — where students park their books and laptops to review or get papers done or where CEOs and executives meet for lunch and brainstorming sessions. These third places are where people try to commune with their muses and hope for inspiration to fall from heaven. It is also a place where friends gather and talk over delicious food and a soothing ambiance. One of my favorite places to go to enjoy good food and a relaxing vibe is Banapple.
Entering the Banapple branch at Katipunan, one cannot help but marvel at the unique design of the place. The colors are vibrant and the design aesthetic is whimsical, bordering on the feminine. It’s as if you are inside a very big playhouse except that everything is real and working. The staff also greets you upon entering. Mostly made up of women, they greet you with great smiles and accommodate you as soon as you enter the door. The bar displays the different cakes and pastries that made Banapple famous. Your mouth immediately starts watering, and you want to point at each one and say, “I want that one, and that one, and that one…” — a tendency that can only be stopped by really strong fortitude. But if you are weak and love pastries and sweets, then to resist is futile.
Three in one: Trio Sausages Fettucine is pasta with a white cream sauce drizzled with crumbled Hungarian sausage, garlic longganisa, chorizo and seasoned with garlic and parmesan cheese. Banapple offers an array of delectable dishes that are not only delicious but affordable as well.
The Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs are grilled to perfection and glazed with a mouthwatering hickory barbecue sauce, which is perfect with the garlic fried rice it comes with and a side of corn relish. The ribs are very juicy and tender and the serving is already good for two people.
For pasta lovers, the Baked Creamy Cheesy Penne — my personal favorite — is a heavenly bowl of delicious white cheese and tomato sauce with al dente penne pasta and sautéed Hungarian sausage sided with a crunchy and flavorful pesto bread. The dish is perfect for those who want a heavy but satisfying meal that is wallet-friendly and won’t make you feel shortchanged.
Heakthy treat: Banapple’s House Salad is an affordable and healthy alternative to the many delicious options on the menu Another great dish from Banapple’s menu is the Trio Sausages Fettucine, which is pasta with a white cream sauce drizzled with crumbled Hungarian sausage, garlic longganisa, chorizo and seasoned with garlic and parmesan cheese. The sauce is light and smooth and the different flavors of the sausages combine to make a uniquely satisfying dish.
For the health- and diet-conscious or veggie lovers, Banapple’s House Salad is an affordable and healthy alternative to the many delicious options on the menu. It is a bowl of mixed greens with corn, bits of bell pepper, banana chips, honey peanuts, cucumber topped with shredded mozzarella and drizzled with a balsamic-Caesar dressing.
Top seller: Banoffee Pie is the dessert that made Banapple famous After a satisfying meal, it would be a travesty not to try one of the many delicious pies or cakes that Banapple has to offer. The Apple Caramel Crumble Pie is one of them. The combination of apple, Graham crust and sugar is enough to satisfy one’s craving for sweets. The sweetness of the apple is further complemented by the crunchy Graham crust and sugar.
But the dessert that steals the show is definitely the Banoffee Pie, the dessert that made Banapple famous. It is one of those dishes that cannot be described in words and one that needs to be experienced (and tasted, of course). The familiar banana is given a different twist by putting it between a delicious crust of Graham and sugar. A soft and airy cream is then added to give it a sweeter kick and on top of the pie are shreds of chocolate that perfectly complement the whole dessert. You’ll shut your eyes in pleasure and instantly put it on your favorites list.
Sweet ending: The Apple Caramel Crumble Pie with graham crust is enough to satisfy one’s craving for sweets. More than the delicious and affordable food, Banapple’s main draw is its ambiance. The place is ideal for hanging out with a bunch of friends or holding business meetings. The Banapple on Katipunan is spacious and has special private rooms for functions. There is also a veranda on the second floor for those who prefer al fresco dining.
People these days prefer to go and hang out in a place where they can enjoy good food and pass the time, and Banapple is a hip, fun, and sophisticated place to do it in.
