The name, said ex-hotelier and now café owner Marie Rada, was supposed to be “literal”. Coffees, she said, are placed on “mga puting tasa (white cups).” But even that notion changed over time; “it evolved even as the name stayed the same,” Marie said. And that “evolution” happened with the emphasis on what’s being offered, “yung laman ng tasa (what’s inside the cup).”
And so welcome to The White Cup (TWC), what may well be a community a coffee shop/café along BF Resort Drive in Las Piñas City, though – sans the intention of disparaging the concept of “community cafés” – eyes to offer world-class/high-end café must-haves albeit in a more localized setting.
The café isn’t big (can’t even compare with, say, that newer Starbucks in Tagaytay). But there’s enough space to comfortably accommodate around 13 pax (in the airconditioned area). The seats are predominantly couches; though outside, there are plastic chairs (not monobloc) and wooden stools.
The outside is an “extension” of sorts – outside the café is Double Decker Diners (DDD), a burger joint that is also owned by Marie, and where customers can cross-order from TWC. DDD has five tables for four, as well as high tables/stools – in total, able to accommodate 33 pax.
But while the place is comfy, you also head here because of what’s being offered.
For a small-ish café, the menu is filled with… a LOT. You can start with the tossed green salad with chicken (P180); and then continue with the signature TWC Spaghetti (with bacon, chorizo, sun-dried tomatoes pesto in ricotta cheese sauce; P180) or one of the sandwiches (grilled ham and cheese at P180, or chicken wraps at P169).
A fave among the hot beverages is the Café Americano (P110), perhaps helped by the fact that it’s “unlimited”. But the Belgian Hot Chocolate (P120) and even the flavored lattes (120) aren’t bad.
Non-coffee based drinks (all priced at P140) include: Cookies & Cream, Hazelnut Latte, Cotton Candy, Wild Blueberry and Fresh Lemonade. Coffee-based frappes (also priced at P14) include: Rocky Road, Nutty Mocha, Dulce de Leche and White Chocolate Dream.
But if you really want to try their best, opt for one of the signature drinks (P120) – e.g. Butterscotch Chai, Toasted Hazelnut, White Choco Fudge and Strawberry Mocha Java.
For the drinks, be sure to try the Salted Caramel Mocha (P140), something Marie proudly claims as “pasok sa taste ko (suits my taste well).” The drink itself is more sweet than salty; but – here’s a secret – try sipping the froth first before sticking the straw at the bottom of the glass to first get a taste of the salty before enveloping this with the sweet.
The pastries are, in a word, divine – something Marie said she made certain by accessing the suppliers of giant chains like Starbucks. Admittedly, the Oreo cheesecake isn’t as Oreo-filled as I myself prefer it to be; but the muffins are moist, blueberry cheesecake truly cheesy, et cetera.
A must-try is the Ensaymada Ice Cream (P140), which basically plays with one of the ways Pinoys eat ice cream – i.e. stuffed between bread. This time, instead of buns, sliced grilled ensaymada is used, so the casing is soft and fluffy, and the ice cream as palaman adding to the sweetness.
Marie has grand plans for the place; which is not entirely surprising considering the response she got from it (“Ten times better nowadays,” she said). DDD has a breakfast buffet, and “baka magkaroon din dito sa TWC (perhaps TWC will have something similar).” If not, perhaps a pastry buffet for afternoon tea. “But we’ll see how (we can make this) work,” Marie said.
TWC is turning five this June, even if it’s been in its current location less than a year (it turns one here this April). But this one’s going places – in a manner of speaking. And really, it’s not surprising why.
The White Cup is located along J.B. Tan Street, BF Resort Village, Las Piñas City. For more information, call 0917 882 2695, or visit TWC’s Facebook page.
