The Breakfast and The Furious

by Ryan

(Firstly, I apologize for the corny title. Really, this is what you get from taking two Creative Writing classes in college so there.)

Once upon a time there was a quaint all-day breakfast joint in Tomas Morato called Heaven n' Eggs. It wasn't the best place on earth but needless to say it had its rustic charm. It had a solid lineup of pancakes, toast, and then some. (Sorry for the ambiguity; this was years ago when things like masticating cold, leathery five-day old pizza counted as a proper meal.)

Slowly though things got weird. Its last branch in Glorietta traded in the sky blue wallpaper for black, and changed the concept from rustic breakfast place to heavy metal rock act. Because as we all know, breakfast brings to mind screeching guitars, leather, and KISS.

Bacon, eggs, toast, demon's blood - all part of a complete and balanced breakfast.

Trends have come and gone - a dizzying list of cupcakes, burgers, frozen yogurt, and milk tea joints - but all-day breakfast? Not quite. There's a little joint in Barangay Kapitolyo's budding dining street though that's sold out on having diners down cereal at nine o'clock in the evening. Whimsically called Milky & Sunny, the venture plies pancakes spouting pet names teenage sweethearts would call each other like Blueberry Honeypie or Choco Marble Warble. The cutesy Sanrio Little Twin Stars concept aside, the food - fluffy pancakes, hearty rice meals, and cold cereal - may not be wholly magical yet but it is damn satisfying.

Left: Milky and Sunny's Strawberry Cream Cheese pancake. Right: A logo I fell in love with at first sight.

There's the Strawberry Cream Cheese pancake (P140) with swathes of Philadelphia and jam between layers. A fourth pancake would have probably made this a more impressive stack, but even then, apart from the gussied up spread, it's still downright homey. Growing boys and lumberjacks should opt for the Breakfast Big Plate (P250) where you can mix and match several protein-rich choices like sausage and corned beef with the breakfast staples of bread (bagel or white), hash brown, and eggs. It's a gratifying sight when set on your table but then again you could probably have the same deal at home.

The Big Plate is perfect for the growing man-child in all of us.

The omelettes add a bit more flair what with a winner like their bell pepper, potatoes, and sausage combo (P130) that's both sweet and slightly garlicky with a smattering of pesto on top. Sugar-deprived students from St. Paul's and UA&P can avail of cereal too: There's Koko Krunch and Honey Stars to be had, but it would be nice to spot some Cap'n Crunch and Fruit Loops in the mix as well.

Left: Quirky artwork lend a sense of the fanciful to the ambiance. Right: Milky and Sunny's
red and green bell pepper with potatoes and sausage omelette  

As restaurants continue to explore the idea of comfort food as something worth building on, Milky & Sunny could very well shine in a neighborhood that's quickly getting saturated with restaurants as Kapitolyo. (Guys, would it really hurt to try something else other than Charlie's for once?) There's some lingering irony however: In trying to promote its image as an all-day breakfast diner plying pancake and eggs the way mom makes it, diners might begin to wonder why they ought to pay for food they could readily have at home.

Still if just for the charming, bright blue ambiance, the chill working space, and solid breakfast fare, I may be persuaded for a second bowl of Honey Stars.

Milky & Sunny is located in #9 East Capitol Drive, Briggy Hall, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. Visit their Facebook page here

Posted in: bacon, breakfast, comfort food, diner, egg, Kapitolyo, omelette, pancake, Pasig