Harina Artisan Bakery Cafe, White Plains

That Saturday had me driving from ParaƱaque to Quezon City but thankfully there was no traffic on EDSA. The lengths I travel to eat in a new place! Harina Artisan Bakery Cafe used to be Monsee’s but I never even got to try Monsee’s. Since my whole family loves bread, I like the whole Harina idea of baking bread in a traditional way, lovingly handrolled and using no chemical additives.

Harina Bakery Cafe

Anyway, good that I was famished when I arrived at the place. This pretty Breakfast Tart (P290) immediately enticed me at the table-

Breakfast tart at Harina

…. it’s a rectangular slab of puff pastry shell filled with spinach and cream cheese, then topped with sliced tomatoes, an ample strip of homemade bacon and two sunny side up eggs. Despite the sinful toppings, the star of the show was the delicious flakiness of the bread so that every bite was heaven!

The Peanut Butter & Banana (PBB) Chocolate Stuffed French Toast (P290) of my seatmate was begging me to “eat more! eat more!” The chocolate spread of the sandwich was oozing, like it was crying to be licked and tasted. Faced with such temptation, how can you resist? :)

Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich

But this wasn’t all. The Strawberry Cheesecake-Stuffed French Toast (P290) looked tempting as well. Couldn’t decide between the PBB Chocolate or this one, so the glutton in me had a slice of both….mmmm, all are good. Grumpy old me in the mornings should have a better mood for the rest of the day if a bakery like Harina served me excellent breakfasts for the rest of my life…hahaha.

Strawberry French Toast

Don’t leave the bakery without ordering the Bloomin’ Bread (P320, good for sharing)- it’s supposed to be one of the house specialties. This is crusty pull-apart Italian loaf filled with basil puree and an assortment of melted cheese. Served on the side is a dip of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.

Harina Bakery Cafe

Their rich-tasting cinnamon rolls make me dream of a beautiful Christmas….

Cinnamon rolls at Harina

The donuts made me crave for coffee ….

Doughnuts

For a meal in itself, the Chicken Caesar Sandwich (P220) is recommended. Cajun-seasoned chicken was grilled then sliced to be put on this sandwich filled with all the good things – caesar dressing, lettuce, poached egg, bacon and parmesan cheese on a piece of delicious crusty baguette.

Cajun Chicken Sandwich

Anyway, the curious customer might ask what else is there on offer. Harina has the rest of the breakfast classics like Muesli, Eggs Benedict, Biscuit & Gravy, Pancakes, Omelets, Steak & Eggs plus Filipino rice meals like Lukban Longanisa and homemade corned beef.

Harina Bakery Cafe

Harina Artisan Bakery Cafe
118 Katipunan Avenue
White Plains, Quezon City
Tel. No. 3526721

Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday, 6am to 9pm