• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

At Home With MrsC

Raising a family, making a home.

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Guest Post

BF Homes

Discovering Bowen 24 Cafe

October 6, 2016 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 10 Comments

Fact: MrC and I are very particular when it comes to our coffee.

We prefer to drink Arabica, and absolutely love how it tastes chocolatey, nutty, and fruity all at the same time. We also enjoy brewing our own coffee at home. We only use an ordinary coffee maker because it’s the simplest option, but whenever MrC has time, he likes to play around with his Aeropress.

 

AeroPress time-lapse. Beans from my favorite dealers @thatcoffeecult ?☕️ @mrspcuyugan #coffeebreak #coffeetime #coffeegram #coffeesesh #coffee #howmanyhashtagsistoomanyhashtags #howmanyhashtagscanithinkof

A video posted by Paul Vincent Cuyugan (@polcuyugs) on Mar 23, 2016 at 11:35pm PDT

 

Our everyday coffee of choice is That Coffee Cult’s Sagada Dark Roast, because #SupportLocal! Lately, though, we’ve been indulging in organic Arabica from Costa Rica, since we have a fairly large (but quickly diminishing huhuhu) stash, all thanks to my sister’s boyfriend.

 

This week’s bag of beans. Thank you, @ricardoortuoste, our Costa Rican #coffee pusher.

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Jul 23, 2016 at 9:47pm PDT

 

We like coffee a lot, so it’s easy to see why I would get excited about spending time at a coffee shop. With free coffee. Free coffee is the key to getting me to say yes, my friends. Lol, just kidding. But it does help. Ask my friend, Millie. I said yes to her right away when she asked me to come check out a new coffee shop in our neighborhood, Bowen 24 Cafe.

 

My barista here at #bowen24cafe looks kinda familiar. ?

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Sep 23, 2016 at 11:28pm PDT

 

Bowen 24 Cafe is super easy to find. It’s just along President’s Avenue in BF Homes, right across Puregold, where (the very forgettable) Paume’s Pastryhouse used to be.

I love the glass windows and doors that line the front of this cafe, letting a lot of natural light in. It adds so much charm to the beautiful interiors of the place. And oh, how beautiful it really is inside.

The cafe is mostly clean and white, with wood-finished floors, and wooden tabletops paired with pasted blue chairs. There’s a gorgeous accent wall with a really nice honeycomb design, painted in lovely shades of grey. 

Small potted plants add a hint of nature to the space. Little details like framed photos and hand-lettered quotes, pretty throw pillows, and super chic light fixtures tie everything together perfectly. Bowen 24 Cafe is both chic and homey, and 100% Instagrammable.

 

If you need a venue for your small gatherings, office meetings, birthdays, christening, and other special occasions, CALL or Send us a PRIVATE MESSAGE for more details!! #29 President’s Avenue, BF Homes, Paranaque. (In front of Puregold and McDonald’s) #bowen24 #venue #occasions #events #friday #southsnippets #bfhomes #southalerts #southernliving #interiors #style #architect #blackandwhite #b&w #minimalist #hexagon #kidfriendly #yournewneighborhoodcafe

A photo posted by Bowen 24 Cafe (@bowen24cafe) on Sep 29, 2016 at 7:36pm PDT


 

I learned a few things about the cafe when I was there for their pre-opening Coffee Appreciation Day.

Roxie, one of the owners, shared that the name Bowen 24 comes from her apartment address as a student in Australia, #24 Bowen Street. Millie told me that the idea to have a kiddie corner springs from the fact that all the business partners are parents, and that they want Bowen 24 to be a place where moms can come to work, hang out with friends, or just quietly relax, and not have to worry about how to keep the kids occupied for a few hours.

Bowen 24 Cafe
Millie’s little ones enjoying this fun space for happy kids. Photo from Bowen 24 Cafe.

 

I’m excited over the fact that they also plan to build a small library in the cafe because for me, settling in with a good book and a hot cappuccino is one of the best things to do in a coffee shop. More than anything, though, I’m happy that there’s another place nearby that takes pride in serving really, really good coffee.

Bowen 24 Cafe serves a signature blend called The Brunswick Blend, which is specially made for them by the excellent roasters of Toby’s Estate. The blend highlights the coffee’s chocolatey and nutty notes, which is exactly the kind of coffee that we love.

 

Need one of these right now. Pwede ba magpa deliver? Lol! #bowen24cafe #morecoffeeplease

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Sep 29, 2016 at 1:10am PDT

 

During the exclusive Coffee Appreciation Day, we were given a crash course on proper coffee extraction by one of Toby’s Estate’s award-winning baristas, Andy. He made us sample several cups of espresso, allowing us to experience what over-extraction and under-extraction does to the taste of coffee. At the end of the experience, I feel like we all went up a notch on the coffee snob scale. In a good way, of course.

As if the tasting experience didn’t give us enough of a caffeine boost already, afterwards we were treated to a few specialty drinks and coffee pairings, also prepared by Andy. First, a long black paired with dark chocolate. Then we had cappuccinos paired with roasted cashew nuts. Finally, Andy made us some naturally-sweet iced coffee – So good, and something I’d totally go back for. No sugar added, which means it has only about 2 calories and no fat. Ang galing guys. 

 

Iced coffee that’s naturally sweet – No sugar added. OMG I’m in ❤️❤️❤️. @bowen24cafe is opening soon in my neighborhood, guys. Coffee date tayo? #bowen24cafe

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Sep 23, 2016 at 11:55pm PDT

 

They serve yummy cakes, too, made lovingly by Roxie. Not gluten-free, but certainly cheat day worthy. So even if I do save calories and fat grams by choosing the naturally-sweet iced coffee, nabawi naman lahat and more sa cake. Oh well. At least I know for sure that I’ll be one happy customer.

So, will I be coming back to Bowen 24 Cafe? Yes, absolutely. I love it there already.

Thank you, Roxie and Millie for having us. See you guys again soon!

Bowen 24 Cafe
At Bowen 24 Cafe with Helene, Roxie and MIllie. Photo from Bowen 24 Cafe.

 

Bowen 24 Café
#29 Presidents Avenue, BF Homes Paranaque
FB: #/bowen24cafe
IG: @bowen24cafe

Filed Under: Events & Parties Tagged With: BF Homes, Bowen 24 Cafe

Life in a Foodie Neighborhood

February 24, 2016 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan Leave a Comment

Fact: We live a short walk away from some of the best restaurants that BF has to offer.

Moving thisclose to Aguirre has given us a whole lot of reasons to eat out, much to the dismay of our wallets and waist lines. It’s so hard to resist, especially when interesting new places pop up. Plus, there are days when really we crave for old favorites. 

Within our first eight months here, we’ve been able to try quite a few places already. Some were awesome, others we’ve already gone back to, and then there was one that we’ve officially declared a never-again. Yes, may ganon! Lol.

First, our favorites.

Ramen Kuroda tops this list. I love that MrC and I can split a ramen set here and go home super full. Soup is definitely not one of my favorite things, but the ramen at Kuroda really is so good. To me, this is the best place to go to for rainy day comfort food. Their sushi and sashimi are okay, too. 

 

Ate at Kuroda, forgot to take a photo of the ramen. #HungerGames #RamenKuroda #itswhatsfordinner #tarasasouth

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Aug 3, 2015 at 5:29am PDT

 

Then there’s  Magnum Opus . We’ve actually already tried Magnum Opus before, but being so close to it now means that we get to visit more often. If you’re after great coffee, come to this place. I love, love, LOVE their Flat White. They have a small selection of food, there, too. Their Monte Cristo is fantabulous! The bread pudding is a must-try, too. My kiddo loves it.

 

Caught eating cookies at Magnum Opus! ?: @polcuyugs #nightcap #magnumopusfinecoffees #aguirrefoodtrip

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Jan 20, 2016 at 4:59am PST

 

We also love  Gerbu’s Burger n’ Tacos . To be honest, the food here isn’t super duper spectacular, but it reminds MrC and I so much of all the favorite things we loved to eat in Zobel when we were younger, so we just keep coming back. Meals here are super inexpensive, too, so it’s a very sulit option. Their Blue Cheese Burgers are good, as are the Mongolian Rice Bowls. I also like to come here for cheap sizzling steak, which, believe it or not, is something that I crave for once in a while.

 

Friday night date night at Gerbu’s Burger n’ Tacos. MrC and I both feel that the food here tastes like the Zobel food of our childhood, from the sizzling dishes to the cheese sauce of the nachos (chips with dip!) #thisiswhyimfat. And my face looks like this because there is a nacho chip in my mouth. Obviously there’s no balik alindog program going on in our family. LOL! #foodstagram #instagood #goodeats #instaeats #instafood #gerbus #bfhomes #aguirrefoodtrip

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Jan 10, 2016 at 3:40pm PST

 

 

When we feel like splurging, we come to Bamba Bistro . This place is owned and run by one of our friends from high school, and OMG she makes super amazing food! I love love love their Bistro St. Salad, Baby Back Ribs, and Pizzookie. Okay, my tummy just grumbled.

mrspcuyugan
La familia at Bamba Bistro

 

Now here’s a rundown of the other places we liked.

I love ice cream. I do. If I could have ice cream every day I would. We recently had the chance to try two relatively new ice cream places in our neighborhood. The first was Outre , which serves liquid nitrogen ice cream. The boys actually tried this dessert place out before I did, and of course I got annoyed and demanded that they take me there, too.

 

Cookie Monster: Milk ice cream, chocolate chip cookies and sprinkles. #liquidnitrogenicecream #outre #outremanila #southeats #dessert #foodstagram #InstaFood #Instakaw #instagood #tarasasouth

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Sep 10, 2015 at 6:37am PDT

 

On my first visit, the kiddo and I shared a cup of their Cookie Monster, which has milk ice cream, chocolate chip cookies and sprinkles. We went back a few weeks later, and that time I ordered the Pink Velvet. This was super good paired with  Bucky’s , which is conveniently located just a floor a above Outre. Win-win.

 

Tried the Pink Velvet tonight. Yummy when paired with original Bucky’s! #liquidnitrogenicecream #outremanila #dessert #tarasasouth

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Sep 26, 2015 at 10:06am PDT

 

The other ice cream place we went to was Southern Dairy . This is where MrC and I hang out on Little MrC’s card game Sundays. I think we’ve come back maybe 3 or 4 times already. So far we’ve been able to try their burgers, which were okay, their banana split, and several flavors of their homemade gelato. I liked the cookies and cream. The green tea was also good.

 

Can’t wait for the weekend. Thinking of maybe splitting another banana split with this one. Yum yum. #iscreamforicecream #southerndairyph #thekidandi

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Nov 12, 2015 at 9:07pm PST

 

Tropical Hut Hamburger has always been a family favorite, and I love that we live so close to it now. I would honestly never eat at the restaurant, though, because it looks really grimy to me. Now, I know what you’re thinking. If the place looks grimy then the food might not actually be clean. Sure, I’ve thought about that, too, but it’s never stopped us from buying a few classic burgers to bring to Manila Memorial Park on All Soul’s Day.

 

Our Manila Memorial Park family tradition. #tropicalhuthamburger #allsoulsday ? by my daddy

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Nov 1, 2015 at 7:35pm PST

 

I know that I’m a few months late to the Larcy’s game, but I’m happy to say that I finally got to try this popular cupcake place a few weeks ago. I’m picky when it comes to baked goodies, which is why I learned to make them myself. Larcy’s offerings are really nice flavor-wise, but I find the cakes to be too light an spongy for my taste. I like cupcakes that are cakey and a bit more dense. My best friend predicted that I would feel this way, which is why I waited so long before finally trying this place.

 

Finally got to try #larcyscupcakerycafe! I love the cream cheese frosting on this pink velvet #cupcake. It’s just right, not nakakaumay. the cupcake is super moist, too, and very light. I actually prefer cakes that are a little more dense and cakey, but I’m not complaining. Masarap kasi the flavor, and that’s what counts. #nightcap #datenight #yihee #southeats #messyhairdontcare #instafood #foodstagram #instagood #dessert #theresalwaysroomfordessert

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Nov 18, 2015 at 7:42am PST

 

 

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see that I post about Pastry Armoire and Chef Anna Chua quite often. That’s coz I love her, and she makes such amazing goodies. I go to them for pints of Up In The Clouds ice cream, yummy homemade pandesal and pizza crust, and Spicy Tinapa and Inasal Marinade by Chef Arnold.

 

This was #breakfast. Thank you for spoiling us @chefannachua and @thecavemond ??? I cannot wait until @pastryarmoire finally opens in my neighborhood! #InstaFood #Instakaw #yummy #onmytable #foodstagram #pepperph #instagood #picofday #athomewithmrsc #tarasasouth

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Jul 17, 2015 at 12:25am PDT

 

 

When snacking is in order, the kiddo’s place of choice is Wicked Dogs . I love super loaded hotdogs, and this place does not disappoint. It’s actually the boys who have gone to the store, and yes, they tried another new place without me. They did bring me back a Chicago Dog, though, so I forgave them.

 

I want this for brekkie. #wickeddogsph #southeats #tarasasouth

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Sep 7, 2015 at 4:40pm PDT

 

 

Last but not least is  Kantori Yakitori . This was our date place of choice for our wedding anniversary last September. Food here is awesomesauce, and you will think so, too, if you love anything char-grilled. Thing is, you leave the place smelling like barbecue. Next time, I think I will take a bath AFTER we go there and not before hehehe.

mrspcuyugan
Anniversary dinner at Kantori Yakitori.

 

We will, for sure, be checking out more new places in our neighborhood soon. And, of course, we’ll be coming back to some of our favorite ones, too. 

As for the one place that we will never ever go back to even if you paid us? That would be Okiniiri Japanese Restaurant. It was so bad that even the dishes that I thought couldn’t possibly be done wrong were done wrong. I don’t have a single photo from when we ate there. If I did, all you’d see is sad looking food and frowny faces from us. That bad. I’m still not over it. Lol. Wish we had gone to Sensei Sushi instead.

Have you tried or heard of any good restaurants in the BF area lately? Where should we go next? 

Filed Under: Food & Recipes Tagged With: Aguirre Foodtrip, BF Aguirre, BF Homes, Restaurants in BF Homes

Afternoon Delight at Sensei Sushi

March 6, 2013 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan Leave a Comment

Mr C and I have been house hunting all over BF Homes over the past few months. During one of our afternoon visits, we found ourselves tired and hungry, and we ended up taking a break at Sensei Sushi. We had the place all to ourselves that afternoon, which was great because it gave Mr C and I the opportunity to talk about our prospects. Sensei Sushi is owned by Chef Bruce Ricketts, who happens to be an alumnus of my high school alma mater, and apparently is the cousin of a friend of mine.

The menu items are listed on a big blackboard on one wall of the restaurant. Mr C pointed out that there were also more choices written on a mirror on the wall opposite the blackboard. At first I didn’t notice what was written the mirror because I was distracted by the pretty art on the walls.

We ate here last November, and apparently the prices have gone up since then.
We ate here last November, and apparently the prices have gone up since then.

[Read more…] about Afternoon Delight at Sensei Sushi

Filed Under: Food & Recipes Tagged With: BF Homes, Japanese Food, Sensei Sushi


Welcome to my online home

Hi, I'm MrsC, a happy wife and mom, a help-less but not helpless homemaker, who is learning to live simply in this complicated world.

Copyright © 2025 · Twenty Seven Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress