Much of the rejuvenating energy inside Earth Kitchen has to do with the rustic design that greets you as soon as you enter the room--a wall of potted plants in one corner, aerial greens swaying from the ceiling. Behind the stalks of bamboo shrouding the windows, it's easy to forget the honking of cars trying to inch forward in the Katipunan traffic outside; even easier to feel great about the food you're ordering when you realize that you're supporting local farmers.
Earth Kitchen, the brainchild of Hizon's Catering and Melissa Yeung of Got Heart Foundation, prides itself on using organic ingredients and avoiding genetically-modified organisms and pesticides in their produce. With establishments such as Green Pastures, Roots, and Juju Eats cropping up in the past years, Earth Kitchen distinguishes itself by fashioning each dish to showcase the produce of the Got Heart farms in Tarlac, as well as their partnering communities from Luzon to Mindanao.
Healthy doesn't always mean leafy greens at Earth Kitchen. But if that's what brings you here, then their Watermelon and Rocket Salad (P245)--peppered with edible indigo flowers, emphasizing vivid color as well as freshness--should do the trick. And while other dishes can be made vegetarian upon request, I recommend their succulent Beef Kebab (P355) and creamy Uni Negra Risotto (P290) for non-veggie eaters. Afterwards, I like to follow up my meals with a Pitcher of Fresh Dalandan Juice (P240) to cleanse the palate. Most servings are good for one person.
While Earth Kitchen tends to keep half of the restaurant open for walk-ins, its proximity to villages such as St. Ignatius and White Plains makes it a convenient spot for families to dine after mass. Parking can get tricky at these hours, but it's also the opportune moment to catch a glimpse of Earth Kitchen's main clientele: families, and women in their 20s and 30s.
Yun nga lang. Earth Kitchen is the kind of restaurant that has me crossing my fingers for the next time my relatives decide to hold a reunion, only because the price line is a bit too high for me to justify coming back on my own. But Earth Kitchen makes certain that their food tastes incredible despite the price line. That you can also give back to indigenous communities seems to be an added plus. Maybe, someday, its prices will sink just a little closer to our side of earth. read more