Xocolat- Chocolate Like You’ve Never Tasted Before!

BQP — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 06:31:07 +0000

Tucked in a corner along the bustling Katipunan Road in Quezon City, we found a quaint house with a sign in front that read “Xocolat”. It reminded me of my grandmother’s old house. Rustic, familiar and it smelled of homemade cooking!
There were chairs and tables in the front lawn where people were drinking and dining al fresco. Inside, the place had a very relaxed and bohemian atmosphere. The main hall was packed with students- some were chatting, some discussing homework and others busy typing on their laptops. Pretty impressive turnout for a hot Saturday.

Chocolate Heaven- Pay as you order please! Different flavors of chocolate milk in tin cans line the counter. A wide variety of baked goods are also being offered at the cafe. My daughter R immediately pointed to the chocolate cake marked with an “X” and said “Yum yum!”.

We were escorted to a smaller room on the second floor. The kids were already very hungry since we braved a one and a half hour commute from the South. It was all worth it though. Owner Val Lopez recommended meals from the menu. The sound of “chocolate” in every dish and drink she mentioned made our mouths water .

The whole brood at Xocolat with our amiable host Val Lopez.

“I’ve always liked drinking hot chocolate. Before I opened Xocolat, there was no place in Manila that offered a good cup of hot coco. Everything was store-bought ,” Val said, as we waited for the food to be served. A trip to Barcelona where she tasted different kinds of coco beverages convinced her to open a café devoted totally to chocolate drinks. Together with friends Pinky Yap-Ortiz, Rina Avecilla and Trish Malvar, Val opened the first Xocolat café in Greenhills in 2005. ( The word “chocolate” comes from the Aztecs of Mexico, and is derived from the Nahuati word xocolat. ) “We served all kinds of chocolate drinks initially. Then we added the baked items and meals to the menu, ” she further explained.

CHOCOHOLIC LUNCH
Chocolate in Every Bite
Soon it was time to eat. We started our lunch with these appetizers.

Top : Croquettas (deep fried mashed potatoes with tomato-basil and chori-quezo dips) – This only lasted two minutes minutes on the table because my son M gobbled it all up! Below: Xocolat Fries (Hand-cut Belgian fries seasoned with spice rub and drizzled with chocolate) The aioli dip gives the fries a whole new dimension. MUST TRY!

Main Coco Course
We liked everything that was served! That’s saying a lot since my boys are picky eaters. Hubby A and son M both loved the Chicken Salpicacao. Chocolate in lechon kawali? I never would have thought of it until I tasted the Pork Belly. REALLY GOOD! The Xocolat Chicken Pasta is also a winner!

Top (L-R): 1. Chicken a la Xocolat -This is the classic chicken a la kiev made with white chocolate combined with ham, cheese and garlic butter. 2.BQP’s favorite Pork belly – The belly is marinated and boiled in Xocolat spices then deep fried. Can you say no to the Cacao- bagoong sauce? Bottom: (L-R) 3. Chicken Salpicacao is diced chicken fillet marinated in cacao spice and sauteed in garlic olive oil and 4. Xocolat Chicken Pasta- My boy M ordered this for himself and enjoyed it very much! The dish is made of spiced chicken fillet on a bed of alfredo cream sauce topped with chocolate shavings. YUMMY! *All rice dishes are served with homemade gratin. Price range (Php200- 350)

Drink Up!

All four of us tried different chocolate drinks. Top (L-R) 1. Xoco Lava – This drink is made with rich dark chocolate blended with vanilla ice cream. Definitely for the ultimate chocoholic! 2. Hot Xocolat – Belgian chocolate chips served with steamed fresh milk Bottom (L-R): 3. The bebe girl had Babycino . This drink is made with premium milk chocolate and toppped with vanilla ice cream. 4. I tried a “skinny” sugar-free dark chocolate drink called Brazilian Xoco Hazelnut. *Hot drinks are served with a tea cookie.

Delectable Delights
Of course, we had to try the cakes! The look on my three year old’s face says it all — super delicious!

R didn’t need any help from any of us as she devoured a slice of “That Xocolat Cake. ” There was chocolate on her face. on her hands and on her shirt! haha . The Banana Toffee Caramel Cake was just as scrumptious!

THE BQP RECOMMENDS XOCOLAT
This unpretentious place is a great family restaurant and a cool hang-out joint. The prices are very reasonable,too, for the hefty servings. If you have been a frequent customer in the Katipunan branch of Xocolat, you just might be invited to join the “Wednesday Club. ” Val says she plans to serve dishes that have been tested but are not yet on the menu to loyal Xocolat fans. Aside from the Xocolat in Promenade, Greenhills and Katipunan, there’s a third branch at the back of Eastwood City.
I highly recommend that you come over and try the sinful-yet-heavenly drinks, dishes and desserts at Xocolat. We’ll surely come back and visit again!

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Xocolat- Chocolate Like You’ve Never Tasted Before!