Whatever the shape and size of a garden, the arrangement and landscaping of plants in it arouses my curiosity. Landscaped gardens in commercial establishments are especially interesting because the artist picks the most hardy plants that can withstand relative neglect and still stay lush and healthy. As a newbie gardener, I am at a lost sometimes picking which plants would look great and work well together, so the combination of plants is captivating too. I end up taking notes and applying the knowledge to my own garden.
We have been patrons of Tymad Bistro for several years now. About five kilometers from home, it is our go to place for delicious French breads, cakes, and pastries. We've had lunches here to fete birthdays and accomplishments of any family member. I love their buttery croissant, my husband craves for their kouign amann, while my daughter constantly reminds me to buy the pain au chocolat for her afternoon merienda.
Their fruit-laden pavlova is to die for! The large version is normally not on display in the café. Made-to-order a day before, the beauty has a special spot in the dessert station of parties we hold at home. Sinful, yet refreshing to the palate, it doesn't last long on the table as it is everyone's first pick. No leftovers, either, to my husband's lament.
Approaching the shop, one can see four garden beds bursting with the white to blush pink to fuschia bougainvillea flowers. Scattered at the bottom are dwarf santans, the evergreen shrub ever present in most gardens in the country. Here, the typical red, orange or yellow blooms were absent.
Not one to just look straight ahead, I stooped to get a closer look at the lower stratum of the plant boxes and was delighted to find a beautiful mess of leaves from 3 different plants. One can't beat nature at its game, as even in a tangle, it manages to be stunning. The variation in the shade and tone of the greens and the dark purple stems make a perfect study on color theory.
The plants make a great privacy screen, protect the café from exposure to direct sunlight which is harsh in the tropics and, to some extent, filter air and particulate matter pollutants from the street.
Let's go in.
Immediately greeting you is the glass-enclosed display of mouth-watering French delights. They have mini pear pies, a pistachio cream and chocolate mousse cake, the classic trianon, black forest, and opera cakes, and several kinds of cheesecakes. I have a thing for custards and crunch so I am personally recommending the mille feuille.
On top of the glass display are my favorite breads, definitely the best in town. These sell like hotcakes and are usually gone by early afternoon.
Beside them is big plate of French canelés, flavored in rum and vanilla, golden brown caramelized crust on the outside and soft, tender, and custardy on the inside.
And no French café would be complete without French bread.
The café is cozy, the walls painted red, cream and gray have beautiful black and white photographs of popular French landmarks. It sits around 30 at most. On one side, French books are on display ledges. I sometimes pick one and browse only, as I can't read French.
The floor space could only accommodate a lone indoor plant, an arius (Podocarpus costalis), a conifer which is endemic to Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines. The native Ivatans use it as Christmas trees during the year-end festive season, creatively embellishing them with real orange and pandan fruits. The hardy, easy-to-grow plant is cultivated throughout the Philippines mainly for ornamental horticulture purposes. In native Batanes, though, the Ivatans gather arius fruits to ferment into a popular local wine.
Leaving the place after paying for my take-home goodies, I glanced upon a dracaena (Dracaena deremensis). Its evergreen leaves, spread wide like arms, bade me farewell and come again.
I will.
No comments:
Post a Comment