THE STORY OF THE OLD MAGNOLIA ICE CREAM HOUSE BUILDING

                What’s in a place that makes it cherished is like asking what’s in a house that makes it a home? Filipinos are by nature sentimental and it is the intangible sentiments that give priceless value to an inanimate object or place.  From time to time we love to relive those magical moments of our childhood and those happy memories we had with our family and friends.  Those happy memories   are always intertwined with places.

                There was once an old building located in Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City known as Magnolia Ice Cream House. It was built by a rich corporation known as San Miguel adjacent to its ice cream plant in 1970.  It was a time when the city was just developing and expanding.  There were not many malls, restaurants and other places of recreation there back then as it is now, more so, a stand-alone ice cream parlor. It was a novelty.

                Many people loved that place and came there not only for its delectable ice cream concoctions but also for the delicious sandwiches, shakes and ice cream cakes it served. These brought a lot of "smiles and priceless memories". For decades, the place was a witness to countless family bonding, friendships and even teen romance but nothing can compare to the joyous   magical feeling it imparts to  children.   Set amidst  a  colorful outdoor children’s playground and  a beautiful landscape topped with Bermuda grass, palm trees and sculpted bougainvilleas , to many who just passed by  especially  the kids, the site,    was  an enchanting place.  They often wondered what was like to be inside.   

                As the years passed, with the city’s landscapes and urban lifestyles changing, so too was the business climate... In the late 90s, faced with unfavorable condition of its Magnolia ice cream business, San Miguel sold it to its long- time partner, Nestle.  The ice cream plant and the old Magnolia Ice Cream House building were however, spared.  San Miguel instead, leased it to Nestle for a long- term basis.

                With the change in management, the place was eventually renamed to Nestle Creamery. Many missed the old Magnolia Ice Cream House logo but still continued to  patronize the place. After all, even with the name changed and the menu revamped, this was still the same old place that sheltered  those priceless memories.  Many who came there when it was already Nestle Creamery loved the place just the same. It  still served those   heavenly ice cream concoctions  that  satisfied  many peoples’ craving. The place still continued to witness  many family bonding, friendships,  teen dates and still imparted  that joyous magical feeling to children.

                Meanwhile in 2004, after a  five-year  hiatus  in the ice cream business, San Miguel reintroduced the Magnolia brand to the market. When the long-term lease  agreement between San Miguel and Nestle ended, it was anticipated that the name Nestle Creamery would revert to the original Magnolia Ice Cream House... but this was not so.  

In early 2010 many were surprised and saddened when unexpectedly the old building that housed the Nestlé Creamery and the original Magnolia Ice Cream House was  shutdown and subsequently,  torn  down. Many swore that had they known that it was going to close,  they would have visited the place for one last time,  for old times’ sake. Many who have dreamt of going there had to accept the fact that their dreams would forever be, just dreams for the ice cream house was no more...

                As it turned out, San Miguel had already constructed other ice cream plants  and had other idea for the place. They sold the place to a rich real estate developer, known as Robinsons in 2008.

                Fortunately,  Robinson has a golden heart and understood people feelings and sentiments. So in August 2012, in   place of the old  Magnolia Ice Cream House building, it inaugurated an upscale mall which it  named Robinsons Magnolia , paying homage to the significance of that  place. It will be part  of Magnolia  town square that will also include residential buildings called, Magnolia Residences.  More importantly, there is a new Magnolia ice cream parlor inside the complex  known as the , Magnolia Flavor House,  for "old stories to be continuously  retold and new memories to be formed. "

                Times have changed, the old building is gone but thanks to Robinsons and the new Magnolia Flavor House that   place will continue to have a spot in the hearts of  many.  It was a nice ending after all.

The new Magnolia Flavor House

WHAT’S THE FUSS – IT’S CHICKEN BON CHON

           Last night  my family and I were along Shopwise Arcade, Araneta Center, Cubao when I noticed some crowd gathered along in front of an establishment. I  found out they were waiting in line to dine at the newest restaurant in the area which was packed with customers.  It was Chicken Bon Chon.  My wife, who works at the SM Mall of Asia a couple of days a week, told me she is fascinated why everytime she passes by a branch in that mall, there are always full of  customers.

             From a flyer, I read, “Crispy Chicken Secret the World Craves For." We decided to have our dinner there to see for ourselves what’s this chicken many people craves for. We patiently waited in line for our turn to order and be seated. We tried its soy garlic and spicy flavored  wings, drum sticks and thighs as well as its Kimchi Coleslaw. For desert we had Banoffee  Pie and Blueberry Torte flavored yogurts. 

             I liked the Kimchi Coleslaw and enjoyed the deserts but it was for the chicken that I patiently waited in line . The fried chicken’s real crispy outer covering was good. It’s like eating fish crackers(chicharong lapad type) cooked in brown sugar. Inside, the meat is tender and moist but it was rather bland.

             Overall, from this middle-aged guy’s taste, it’s not something worth the long wait but it’s sure  good to have this popular restaurant along the area  as an alternative to KFC.

             The last  restaurant I remember that   created a fuss on its opening here at the Araneta Center few years ago was Go Nuts Donuts. I remember people waiting in line even a month after its opening along the coliseum. Guess what? If I'm not mistaken that branch folded within two years. 

               At the Shopwise  Arcade, the turnover of food establishments I noticed is fast. Restaurants there come and go with  many  closing within two years.  Even popular food establishments  like Mister Donuts and Aristocrat Restaurant did not last long. There are only four restaurants in that place that have stood the test of time.   Pancit ng taga Malabon and Wendy’s Hamburgers ( although much smaller now)  seem to be  permanent fixtures there.  Blackbeards Seafood Island and KFC have been there for many years. Well, only  time can tell  how long this latest  chicken craze will last there but I hope "Bon Chon" the restaurant does.                         

Dining at the 10 oldest restaurant in Metro Manila (Part 2) – Conclusion

         From my previous post, I wrote about my   visits in  nine out of the ten oldest restaurants in Metro Manila from January  to  March.  Since that was five months ago, instead of updating  my previous  post, I just thought  of writing  a new one about  Aristocrat Restaurant , the last  among the  ten oldest restaurants  in Metro Manila that I have been  to.

 

August 31, 2012 - Aristocrat Restaurant, San Andres  St. corner  Roxas  Blvd., Malate ,Manila

          Established in 1936 by Dona Engracia Cruz Reyes,  it is perhaps a  common knowledge that Aristocrat Restaurant is an  institution in the  country. It claims to be the most popular restaurant in the Philippines, maybe rightfully so. A detailed history can be read in their website. Although a very popular restaurant, unlike its contemporary Max's Restaurant which have sprouted all-over the country, I read it has only four branches in Manila, one in Makati, one in Quezon City as well as three branches in Northern Luzon.

            It used to have old branches in Cubao  and in Greenhills, San Juan which I have been to several times. My favorites are the usuals:   chicken barbecue (of course! ), pork barbecue and pancit canton.  Few years back, it made a comeback in Cubao by opening a small branch in Shopwise Arcade, Araneta Center. I remember  a time when we took our kids to avail of  Shopwise’s   free  gift certificates. Each certificate is good for  a single  Aristocrat pork barbecue with java rice. Well, instead of eating for free, we ended up ordering for more. Sadly, this branch folded-up as well.

             This is only my second time in this original branch located in Roxas Boulevard. My first time was way back when I was a kid,  so my recollection is spotty.  We got there at a little over 11 a.m.  Located just beside  Malate Church and a stone's throw away from Manila Bay, this spacious restaurant’s atmosphere is very enticing. There weren’t  that many people dining at that time but slowly customers were trickling in. We ordered pork barbecue, half of its highly recommended Chicken Honey and had Halo-halo for desert. What can I say? Everything was great. The fried chicken's glistening skin was perfectly crisp and delicious. The savory meat  was tender and moist.  I enjoyed the  halo-halo here more than those I’ve tried in their defunct  Cubao  branch. By the time we got out, close to 12 noon, there were already many people dining and coming in. The weather was fine. We walked towards Roxas Boulevard to view the serene-looking Manila Bay.  Afterwards I took photos of the Malate Church... I promised my kids that a one day I’ll bring them here for dinner after watching  Manila Bay's famous sunset.

Top 10 Aristocrat favorites

 

Chicken Honey- surely one of the best fried chicken in its class

 

Pork Barbecue -Excellent 

Halo-halo

Malate Church

 

 

          
Conclusion:

               Overall, completing my “mission” to dine at Metro Manila’s ten oldest restaurants was an exhilarating experienced for me.  Of  the ten, I was only familiar with four ( Max’s, Aristocrat, Savory and Ma Mon Luk ) and heard the other six  only for the first time. Most of the time, the  exciting part for me is  not the  dining per se but  in the planning which involves studying maps for directions and reading  pioneering blogs for more information,  the actual travel (the walks), and in retrospect, the anxieties when you are lost along the way.  Many of these  old restaurants in Manila are intertwined with history, historical anecdotes, and historical places. The past eight months I have been to  Intramuros  twice and toured the historic spots such as,  Calle Muralla, Manila Cathedral , San Agustin Church, and  Fort Santiago among others.    I have also been to Binondo Church,  Sta. Cruz Church, and Quiapo  Church and come to appreciate more the significance of these in our history and culture. I had my own Binondo food experience and had actually walk from Recto, Avenida to Tutuban and back. This adventure  as it turned out not only satisfied  my gastronomic  curiosity but it was  also a   highly enjoyable  and educational lesson  in history.