Down to earth

MANILA, Philippines - If you’re anything like us, the thought of healthy eating makes you a little bit suspicious — if only because it means food that tastes a little bit like a garden. In, like, a really bad way. But none of that came to mind when we paid a visit to Earth Kitchen; in fact, they might just make a really good case for the kind of food that’s good for your body and your conscience.

Earth Kitchen just opened its second branch at Bonifacio High Street (the first is at White Plains), and the restaurant’s interiors — lots of natural light, live plants, and woodsy fixtures — will make anyone feel like they’ve found themselves another home. That sense of inclusion and warmth is a lot like Earth Kitchen itself: it was formed to support local farmers and indigenous communities. By serving around 200 individuals in local communities from Luzon to Mindanao, Earth Kitchen has increased the demand for organic and natural products that do away with GMOs and other chemicals. Most of the food is prepared from scratch, and that includes their pasta and ice cream.

Now, while they have made it their mantra to do some good, they also make sure that the food they make is just as great. We got to try a couple of things on the menu, and perhaps what is common among all of them is that they’re filling while being low on the guilt. (And who wouldn’t like that?) The risotto balls with mushroom and mozzarella were deep fried to perfection. Dipping it in tomato sauce makes it taste even better. As big fans of arugula, we loved the watermelon and rocket salad: the pili nuts, watermelon and pineapple together was a party we’d never want to stop.

To anyone looking for something with a little more heft, the pumpkin and kesong puti squash soft taco might just be the thing. Pair that with the mushroom ravioli — with kesong puti, shiitake, button, and milky mushrooms, and pili nuts on a light cream sauce — and you’re pretty much set. And perhaps our favorite thing on the menu is the beef kebabs: good enough to share, but with the tender beef ribs, tzatziki, and Ifugao rice pilaf, why would you?

If there is anything about Earth Kitchen that makes us feel guilty, it’s realizing that our other restaurant faves might soon pale in comparison. Because when you get to eat this kind of food and do the kind of (indirect) good that eating there does, then going anywhere else suddenly seems a little bit silly.

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Earth Kitchen is located at 2nd floor, Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. They’re open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Their other branch is at Lot 10-B-10, White Plains Katipunan Ave., Quezon City. For inquiries, visit http://earthkitchen.ph.