Barangay Poblacion in Makati City has acquired a reputation as great for exploring a variety of food and drinks. I wasn’t about to be left behind when members of one of my Viber groups decided to try out Corner Tree Café at 5782 Felipe Street in Poblacion for its vegetarian fare.

My Grab sedan dropped me at the exact location, unlike my companions who, helpless without Waze, were lost in the one-way streets and with old memories of the original location of the café on Jupiter Street in Bel-Air.

One of them dialed the café’s number to ask for precise instructions, and the cashier guided them until they reached the door of Corner Tree after climbing a flight of steep stairs. Yes, its location is also on the second floor, atop El Chupacabra, a Mexican resto.

Because I got there first, I had time to study the menu. I chose the Arroz a la Cubana, which is not only vegan-friendly (no eggs and dairy) but also gluten-free. It is made up of minced tofu (in lieu of ground beef or pork), tomatoes, raisins, green olives, fried bananas and a fried egg. It is the most ordered dish. Red rice is an option.

The meat version of Arroz a la Cubana was part of my growing-up fare. Mom cooked it regularly. It wasn’t just the giniling that could sate eight hungry mouths (her children). Imagine the number of fried saba and eggs that had to accompany the dish. And yes, there were also cubed green and red peppers added to it. Today I still cook it for my siblings and my husband. If there are any leftovers, they make for a filling and colorful omelet or tortang giniling. Nothing wasted.

When my friends arrived, we added Vegan Nut Roast to the list of orders along with Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna. The roast is usually a Christmas special, but it became one of the café’s classic dishes. It is made up of two slices of “meat loaf” that are paired with mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, grilled green beans. A vegan gravy adds to the feel of having a “meaty” loaf. Yes, I was deluded into believing that I was eating a slice of meat roast.

The lasagna is enriched with three cheeses apart from the spinach, roasted red bell pepper and mushrooms. Again, an all-time favorite. The lasagna I’m familiar with—made by my sisters or cousins (I don’t have the patience for this one)—is also layered with ground beef, cheeses, pasta and Italian spices and seasonings. Never fails to satisfy the Gen X, Y and Z kids, like Mac and Cheese does. I am from the Spaghetti with Meatballs school (and my husband complains that I don’t clean up the kitchen when I’m done cooking my favored pasta dish).

While my friends and I caught up with our respective lives, one noticed that another was wearing her blouse inside out, with the tag visible. She was aghast at how she had accomplished errands at the bank and the grocery wearing her blouse that way (she had put it on in dim light). Right away she went to the rest room to set things right.

The rest room had interesting photos of Bob Dylan walking in boots and trench coat. There was a printed message wishing him a “happy 70th birthday, with love from the Corner Tree Café.” The pic was dated May 24, 2011. Another black-and-white framed photograph in the shower area showed Hollywood heartthrobs Paul Newman and Robert Redford in their roles as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I could’ve swiped it and brought it home with me to hang on my wall near the computer table, but I was able to control that impulse.

Earlier, we were reminded to eat heartily. And indeed, there were no leftovers. Vegetarian fare is light, and after an hour or two, we expected to get hungry again. For one of our desserts, we chose an ice drop shaped like the pinipig crunch of old with mint chocolate inside and covered with Auro dark chocolate. Somehow, we managed to divide it among the five of us. The café also allowed our group to bring in a caramel cake from Costa Brava to honor the birthday celebrator among us.

It was one day when this hardcore carnivore ate all her vegetables (and sweets) without complaint.

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