There's somethin' cookin' along Maginhawa Street, with each dish taking you back in time when simple yet hearty food was shared with friends and family on a lavish dining table warming both the palate and heart...
Chef Myke "Tatung" Sarthou unfolds yet another flavorful chapter in a culinary journey that began with his curated private dining establishment several years back in the same neighborhood. Drawing inspiration from the dishes he grew up with, Chef Tatung invites you to his table...at Talisay The Garden Cafe.
It's a culinary journey that's come full circle, returning to the neighborhood where he began his foray into the restaurant business. Call it serendipity, but everything's just coming together perfectly. This time, Chef Tatung (R) brings with him a wealth of key learnings and best practices with his latest concept at Talisay The Garden Cafe. 
The restaurant is named after the city in Cebu where Chef Tatung grew up, and by coincidence, a local tree of the same name can be found in front of the sprawling property. Coming full circle, serendipitous even, the pieces are all finally coming together for Chef Tatung at Talisay The Garden Cafe. The verdant and lush gardens are like a private sanctuary in the middle of a bustling urban neighborhood, and it's the perfect setting for a comforting meal with familiar flavors masterfully recreated by Chef Tatung. At Talisay The Garden Cafe, you get to experience that same warmth when dining in a home. The property is a former residential structure, exuding a homey vibe the minute you step inside...
It's hard to believe that the former structure with its dated design have been transformed reflecting a modern and contemporary form draped in pristine white. What's even more amazing is that Chef Tatung, along with his brother, redesigned the entire structure and even the spacious interiors without an architect. Clearly, Chef Tatung already had an image and idea for his new restaurant. I first met Chef Tatung back in 2012 when I started my blog (more on that first encounter on my post, Chef Tatung's Refreshing New Take on Traditional Flavors), and his various ventures have been featured on the blog since. But Talisay The Garden Cafe seems special. In a way, it feels like Chef Tatung finally finds his home back here in the Maginhawa neighborhood.
Inside, the predominant white motif adds both space and depth to the interiors. The large and panoramic glass windows bring the outside in, draping the space with natural light. Nature-themed art pieces adorn the white walls, reinforcing that homey and warm garden theme. 
As the afternoon sun fades, the kitchen at Talisay The Garden Cafe preps for the dinner service. Still on a soft-opening mode, the restaurant has been booked with reservations by the neighborhood's residents. That's always a good sign. Start your dining experience with the Talisay Lemonada (P 110) with lemon, lime, mint and Kalamansi... 
...paired with a refreshing salad to open up your palate before the mains. Using only the finest garden-fresh greens and vegetables, the sumptuous salads at Talisay The Garden Cafe are an experience in itself.
The Talisay Garden Salad (P 410) is a refreshing blend of crisp greens, sweet and tart chunks of pomelo, pickled radishes and carrots drizzled with the vibrant notes of a bright herb vinaigrette...
...while the Goat's Cheese Salad (P 480) offers contrasting flavors and textures with soft goat cheese, dried mangoes, toasted cashew nuts tossed in a mesclun of salad greens with a creamy Caesar's dressing.
The Lumpia Fresca (P 225) offers a different kind freshness with sweet ubod rolled in flavored crepes topped with herbs and crushed peanuts and served with a thick peanut-garlic sauce. Other must-try starters at Talisay The Garden Cafe are the Fresh Aklan Oysters (P 355), Beef Salpicao (P 380), Gambas al Ajillo (P 375), Calamari Frito (P 340) and Oysters Mornay (P 420).
Talisay The Garden Cafe has its own bakery where all the bread and desserts are prepared and baked fresh daily. For Chef Tatung, it's these little details that add to your dining experience.
For the mains, Chef Tatung offers a wide repertoire of local regional flavors like the Porkchop Ilocandia (P 490), a grilled thick-cut slab of juicy pork served with crispy pork relish and Ilocano "dinakdakan" for a double dose of pure pork love...
...along with the festive and colorful Paella Mixta (P 790 good for 3-4), the house specialty with soft and fluffy rice simmered with savory chicken, chorizo, egg, peppers, peas and succulent seafood including clams, mussels, squid and prawns.
Drizzle some lemon to complete the multi-layered flavors. And go for seconds. The rice absorbs all the distinct flavors of the different ingredients, bursting with rich notes with every spoonful. It's a dish that always added a festive vibe to any celebration, and Chef Tatung relives those memorable moments with dishes like this at Talisay The Garden Cafe.
The comforting Balbacua (P 480) is a traditional Cebuano stew with tender ox-tail, tendon and trotters gently simmered for hours with a rich blend of spices. The thick broth coats the palate with its spiced richness, complementing the melt-in-your-mouth tendon, trotters and ox-tail. It's a hearty dish that exudes nostalgic, homestyle flavors and for Chef Tatung, a taste of his home.
The Lengua in Mushroom Cream Sauce (P 630) takes me back to childhood summers and my grandmother's cooking, down to that buttery and nutty sauce. The lengua is fork-tender, delivering an indulgent savory richness perfectly finished by the creamy mushroom sauce. It's dishes like this that trigger fond memories, and you can find that at Talisay The Garden Cafe.
The Jamon de Talisay (P 640) is an elegant brick oven slow-roasted slab of ham with a sweet and spiced pineapple glaze evoking the flavors of the coming holidays. But this dish makes everyday a holiday with the succulent yet delicate notes of pork capped by the sweet spiced notes of pineapples. Served with roasted vegetables, you'll come back for this dish again and again at Talisay The Garden Cafe.
Other must-try savory dishes at Talisay The Garden Cafe include the Talisay Fried Chicken with Homemade Salsa Verde (P 390), Pescado y Coco (P 820), Crispy Pork Belly Adobo (P 460), Beef Rendang (P 640), Karne Norte con Patatas (P 620), Grilled Tuna Belly (P 490) and Prime Ribeye Steak (P 1,790).
But save room for dessert. Talisay The Garden Cafe's in-house bakery offers a tempting selection of desserts...
...like the Creme Brulee Quezo de Bola Cake (P 240) with the decadent caramel sweetness of creme brulee and the sharp notes of quezo de bola blending seamlessly in an elegant cake...
...or the equally sinful and moist Chocolate Cake mixed with crushed peanuts for subtle and delicate nutty notes...
...and the Talisay Signature Cassava Cheesecake (P 240) for an unusual yet refreshing take on a classic dessert infused with familiar local flavors.
After a sumptuous and comforting meal at Talisay The Garden Cafe, take a seat in the garden and relive those memories from childhood filled with nostalgic flavors when good food, no matter how simple, was all about real flavors. Experience it again here at Talisay The Garden Cafe...
Talisay The Garden Cafe is located at #44 Maginhawa Street, Teachers Village, Quezon City or call +632 829-39077 and +63 919-877-6321 for inquiries and reservations.
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