I am very lucky that my workplace won’t let me pass by Edsa from my home. Traffic isn’t a big worry for me. However, traffic doesn’t escape my territory when you speak of my work. Facing various clients 5x a week keep me busy all day. Several times, I don’t get to eat lunch on time. I don’t feel the hunger in my mind, but my stomach does. I know I know, it isn’t healthy :(.

I’ve been trying ways to eat lunch on time but people in the bank don’t stop walking in or calling me. The responsibility is not something I can leave alone just like that. One Wednesday evening, I skipped lunch unintentionally. It’s not that I wanted to, but the work demands couldn’t let me take my lunch on time. Thank God, I had a scheduled dinner with my foodie friends at Mesclun Bistro, Eastwood Mall.

Dinner was something to look forward on that very demanding day. After I finish all my deliverables, I rushed out of work and brought my camera out for Mesclun Bistro.

Mesclun is a French word which means, “to mix” or a mixture. At Mesclun Bistro, there is no specific cuisine since it’s a mix of various toothsome dishes and culinary favorites.

As I arrived, I thought I was late since everyone was there. Gladly, food wasn’t served yet. I noticed the bag holder under the table, which is very friendly to women who wouldn’t dare placing their bags on the floor. Instead of asking for an additional chair, you save space by hanging your bag under the table.

Freshly baked bread with butter and herbs. You can’t be mistaken, it’s fresh and good quality to begin your meal. While waiting, their bread keep me company. My hunger from lunch was slowly being resolved as I start it off with Mesclun’s fine freshly baked bread.

New on the menu is this Mushroom Duxelle Empanadas. Snacking on this empanadas won’t make me feel guilty. It’s loaded with mushrooms but isn’t heavy. I’m ready to have more snacks!

Without the dips, I can finish more than 1 empanada. But I get Chef Katrina Kuhn-Alcantara’s point, without the dips, the empanada looks dull and colorless.

Do you get lazy removing the bones when you snack on Buffalo Chicken Wings. This is for you, lazy bone! Buffalo balls still got those spicy tang of buffalo wings only it’s made better for your lazy bone. Take a short cut on calling it “Buffy” instead. Eat them like meat balls and dip on bleu cheese.

Tuna cerviche or more like tuna sashimi, soy sesame dressing sriracha mayonnaise and crostini. The way to eat is to put them altogether in your mouth.

I recommend this for those who thinks Omakase has the best tuna salad. Additional point for Mesclun that it includes crostinis for a crunchy texture after the slimy effect of tuna cerviche.

Flammekeuche made with  shrimps, anchovies, onions, arugula, creme fraiche and shredded basil. Altogether, it is your classy flatbread beside your tall glass of wine.  Minimalist with its toppings without losing the edge of its flavors absorbed by its flatbread.

Filipino pork sisig, light cream sauce and chicharon bits in one pasta plate can make you drool all day if you don’t get to try it. Foodies in the metro agree this is a signature dish at Mesclun Bistro.

A pulling string from Mesclun is this Clam Vodka Pasta. Adding vodka alcohol doesn’t intend any drunkenness to your pasta. It only adds a little sting and emphasis on its tasty tomato cream sauce. Generosity of clams is what I love about this dish!

Roasted boneless chicken, chimichurri sauce, grana padano and mashed potatoes. Select from either mashed potatoes or rice pilaf. Chimichurri is usually used as a marinade grilled meat – chicken or beef. This alien sauce came from Argentina, not very popular in Manila. The sauce is very “mesclun”, so much mixture in it like parsley, olive oil, garlic, wine vinegar, paprika, lemon, basil cilantro, bay leaf, cumin, thyme and I guess more seasonings to extend flavors. It had too much flavors going on but it generally came out fit for the boneless chicken and mashed potatoes.

What makes it attractive is the fact that this is “Ulang“. Stunning photo of how its cheese slowly melts off and ready to be scooped out.  Under is a surprise of black ink seafood risotto, partner of cheesy ulang. It’s a stifling situation to be in front of this dish, too tempting to get more.

Crispy Pata itself is what you call a “killer”. Add duck fat makes it a double killer. Plus, it doesn’t end that way as you get a cup of duck fat rice. Ohmygerrd, it’s just too much to handle! Yes, absolutely a lovely dish but a risky one as well.

Finishing savory dishes with gelato cooled up my own weather. Green Tea gelato was enough to satisfy my sweet tooth and call it a night.

Fresh Strawberries & Chocolate flavors didn’t fall into the negative spectrum. I just had to stay out of the usuals for dessert.

Shared with Chuck Deli’s space, you can choose your dining place either at Chuck’s Deli or Mesclun. Mesclun’s set-up is very minimalist, with few tables and chairs and a wine rack to get your attention. They’ve got wine selections for your dining experience.

While walking around Eastwood Mall, I found this sign for pet owners. A friendly reminder for those who choose to bring their pets around Eastwood.

Eastwood is one of the friendliest malls I know. They don’t mind you tagging along your favorite pets as long as you know how to clean up their mess.

 That Wednesday, it might be a punishment to skip lunch but it was a reward to experience the ‘mixture’ of food made by Mesclun Bistro.

Cheers,

Location: G/F Eastwood Mall, Eastwood, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Operating Hours: 11am-11pm

Contact: (+632) 900-0503

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MesclunPH

Budget: PHP400++

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