Thinking out of the Toast Box
I have been hankering for Toast Box since I read the posts from some prominent food bloggers. So today, I went to Trinoma to finally taste it for myself. First, parking in Trinoma is hellish. This is my third time to Trinoma and I keep forgetting how crazy parking can be at this place on weekends. Oh well, back to my story.
Toast Box wasn’t easy to find because even the roving guards that I asked didn’t know where. So I finally went to Concierge and got the right directions.
Am I boring you? Sorry but I’m trying to be as factual as possible. I was happy and relieved to find it because we were all really hungry. Imagine my delight when I saw the sign.
In we went, got a table and ordered. Since it was my first time in Toast Box, I asked the lady for their specials. She recommended, Nyonya Laksa, Nasi Lemak with chicken, Mama’s Special Mee Siam, Teh C, Bo Luo Yao, Chuan Tong, Homemade Barley and Milo Dinosaur.
As usual, the boboos:
- Flies. Yes, there were annoying flies in the restaurant. We sat at the corner beside the kitchen and there was always two or three flies flying around the food. The place seemed clean and there were no odors. But I couldn’t understand where the flies were coming from.
- Maybe my taste was not sophisticated enough but I honestly found the Mee Siam unsavory. Mee Siam is a noodle dish of vermicelli in spicy, sweet and sour light gravy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mee_siam). The first spoonful was enough to send it back to the counter for reincarnation as takeout. At home I tried it again, and I still couldn’t eat the rest of it. Having lived in Thailand for months at a time back in the 1990s, I thought I was thoroughly familiar with Thai food. Apparently, I was mistaken.
- The Nyonya Laksa was good. It’s reasonably priced and goes well with the Chuan Tong (the Kaya toast).
- The service crew were very friendly and helpful when I was asking for what to order.
- I loved the Homemade Barley with mint. Really worth trying!
- Toast Box is so generous with their butter and napkins.
- It is connected to Breadtalk, so you can buy bread from them and eat it with pulled tea (Teh C) at the Toast Box area. There are a lot of tables with no need to elbow your way to the counter for extra orders.
Kopi Tiam fare in a modern setting.
Mee Siam costs P135.00 (US$3.00). Only the initiated and the familiar will enjoy this.
Bo Luo Yao and pulled tea (Teh C) go together quite well. The bread costs P38.00 (US$0.85) while the Teh C goes for P60.00 (US$1.35). The bun tastes very good especially when served warm.
This is my first time to try Nyonya Laksa. Large noodles with spicy coconut milk-based broth. Not salty, but flavorful. Be warned, this one’s really hot! A bowl costs P168.00 (US$3.80). Not bad!
Chuan Tong or their Kaya toast. I loved this. This toast is the main reason for me to come back to Toast Box. This serving only costs P40.00 (US$0.90).
Another happy memory for Noreen and Shirley. The thing on the bottom left that looks like sewer water in a glass is the Homemade Barley with Mint. So good! I clicked my heels over this one. A glass is only P60.00 (US$1.35).
This is the Nasi Lemak with chicken. The rice was soaked in coconut milk before it was steamed. According to the lady at the counter, it is one of their best sellers. A plate costs P159.00 (US$3.60).
Be adventurous and give Toast Box a try.
Comments
Comment from arpee lazaro
Time: November 12, 2007, 2:08 am
to ajay: thanks a lot for visiting my site! yes, the laksa was good. you can feel the spices kick in after each bite eh.
Comment from Ang Kuwago
Time: November 12, 2007, 7:24 am
Hi Arpee! I have been enjoying your posts, especially this one. Spicy Thai Food, yum!
Because of you, I now keep a list of places to go and things to buy the next time I come down to Manila.
Keep up the great work, Foodie!
Comment from arpee lazaro
Time: November 12, 2007, 3:34 pm
to bubong: thanks a lot for visiting my site! nice to know that we were using the same sony ericsson camera phone. but i will get a better camera this christmas for better pictures.
Comment from Anonymous
Time: November 14, 2007, 5:31 am
Hi,
Naimagine ko kaagad ang lasa ng Nasi Lemak. Favorite kong kainin yan sa Brunei nuong nandon ako. Mukhang authentic talaga. Maanghang ba yung pinakasawsawan?
Sampaguita
Comment from F1NCH
Time: November 14, 2007, 12:27 pm
I-heart-the-Teh C 
Comment from arpee lazaro
Time: November 14, 2007, 4:50 pm
to odang: yes maanghang nga yung sawsawan. pag dating mo i’ll treat you to any restaurant you see here in my blog.
to f1nch: i love the teh-c too! thanks for visiting my site.
Comment from Ruy
Time: November 19, 2007, 6:40 pm
The Mee Siam looks deceptively like my favorite pancit palabok. The taste you described is so far from it though but kind of piques my curiosity.
Comment from arpee lazaro
Time: November 20, 2007, 4:53 am
to ruy: i didn’t like the mee siam. that’s just my opinion, of course. other peoople may disagree. i think it’s more of an acquired taste, kinda like wine or balut. try mo rin maybe you’ll like it.
Comment from Anonymous
Time: December 2, 2007, 6:16 pm
omg! there’s toastbox here in manila?! toastbox is one of my fave restos in singapore! im so going to trinoma tomorrow. u should try their milo dinosaur its quite popular wit the singaporeans!
Comment from arpee lazaro
Time: December 2, 2007, 6:46 pm
actually i did try the milo dinosaur and it was ok. try the laksa.
Comment from ajay
Time: November 11, 2007, 7:10 pm
Hi Arpee. That was a lot you tried..and some I haven’t even tasted yet. Your favorite barley looked like sewer water?? hehe.
I liked their laksa best because I dig it when it’s truly spicy!!