Who knew that a Filipina's tea lounge in one of the world's tea capitals would draw rave reviews?
Claire Buyson's "Lakwatsa" tea lounge did just that -- garnering the praise of food critics and London city folk, including Filipinos.
According to the news site London Evening Standard, at the Lakwatsa cafe-lounge in Portobello Road on Notting Hill, "people are not snacking on Spanish tapas but Filipino meriendas."
"They are larger than canapés but smaller than starters, a plate of them costs no more than £6 and ideally you share them with friends," said writer Victoria Stewart.
She noted that the main draw to Lakwatsa, launched only in December last year, is its food that includes "garlicky prawn toast, tempura and yakitori skewers but its primary features are Filipino — made mostly using her mother’s recipes."
Lakwatsa also earned praises on Twitter:
Exotic teas, Pinoy merienda
On its website, Lakwatsa said it serves exotic fruit-flavored teas such as mango, lychee, and kumquat. It likewise serves milk-based teas such as taro, matcha, and honeydew melon.
Just like in the Philippines, Lakwatsa's bubble teas can be served with additions such as tapioca pearls, popping boba (fruit juice balls) or healthy supplements such as aloe vera jelly, aiyu jelly, and grass jelly.
Lakwatsa serves its teas in glass jam jars with colorful, oversized straws.
The tea lounge also serves Filipino merienda with a twist: vegetable, pork, and prawn lumpia; adobo rice balls, prawn toast, turon, halo-halo and more.
Evening Standard writer Stewart said she tried the adobo rice balls — "chicken marinated in vinegar, soy sauce and garlic and wrapped up in sticky sushi rice,which are rich and slightly more than a mouthful, and lumpia Shanghai — a crispy, meaty and well-seasoned pork spring roll."
"The prawn toast — 'they go mad for this; — has a garlicky Filipino touch, while a little bowl of spicy fried squid arrives with a sauce made with olive oil, soy, ginger, onions, chillies and lime juice," Stewart added.
'Big part of life'
In the Evening Standard article, the owner, Buyson, 31, noted that food is a "big part of Filipino life."
She noted how Filipinos usually shared everything and "all of the food comes at the same time. There’s no order. It’s not like you have one main thing."
Buyson noted that for Filipino dishes," the seasonings tend to be garlic, soy sauce and sugar. A classic Filipino dish is adobo — like stew in a pot, eaten with a spoon and fork."
Although she was born in London, Buyson, who studied business management and worked after-hours in bars and restaurants, said she grew up eating Filipino food.
Claire Buyson's "Lakwatsa" tea lounge did just that -- garnering the praise of food critics and London city folk, including Filipinos.
According to the news site London Evening Standard, at the Lakwatsa cafe-lounge in Portobello Road on Notting Hill, "people are not snacking on Spanish tapas but Filipino meriendas."
"They are larger than canapés but smaller than starters, a plate of them costs no more than £6 and ideally you share them with friends," said writer Victoria Stewart.
She noted that the main draw to Lakwatsa, launched only in December last year, is its food that includes "garlicky prawn toast, tempura and yakitori skewers but its primary features are Filipino — made mostly using her mother’s recipes."
Lakwatsa also earned praises on Twitter:
Pheebz @PheebzEatz: @lakwatsa_UK I'm super-happy you're getting some good publicity. I recently tried another bubble tea, but yours is far superior!
Mark Corbyn @Boy_Mestizo
@yummychooeats mmm yeah I love @lakwatsa_UK , was there last saturday. Well chuffed to see them and filipino food in the papers :-D
'i-am' Online @iamassociates
Make sure you keep your eyes peeled in the Evening Standard tonight for the amazing (and delicious) @lakwatsa_UK
Selina Periampillai @yummychooeats
@Boy_Mestizo @lakwatsa_uk sounds good! Might have to take the mother in law there! After your supperclub of course :)
Exotic teas, Pinoy merienda
On its website, Lakwatsa said it serves exotic fruit-flavored teas such as mango, lychee, and kumquat. It likewise serves milk-based teas such as taro, matcha, and honeydew melon.
Just like in the Philippines, Lakwatsa's bubble teas can be served with additions such as tapioca pearls, popping boba (fruit juice balls) or healthy supplements such as aloe vera jelly, aiyu jelly, and grass jelly.
Lakwatsa serves its teas in glass jam jars with colorful, oversized straws.
The tea lounge also serves Filipino merienda with a twist: vegetable, pork, and prawn lumpia; adobo rice balls, prawn toast, turon, halo-halo and more.
Evening Standard writer Stewart said she tried the adobo rice balls — "chicken marinated in vinegar, soy sauce and garlic and wrapped up in sticky sushi rice,which are rich and slightly more than a mouthful, and lumpia Shanghai — a crispy, meaty and well-seasoned pork spring roll."
"The prawn toast — 'they go mad for this; — has a garlicky Filipino touch, while a little bowl of spicy fried squid arrives with a sauce made with olive oil, soy, ginger, onions, chillies and lime juice," Stewart added.
'Big part of life'
In the Evening Standard article, the owner, Buyson, 31, noted that food is a "big part of Filipino life."
She noted how Filipinos usually shared everything and "all of the food comes at the same time. There’s no order. It’s not like you have one main thing."
Buyson noted that for Filipino dishes," the seasonings tend to be garlic, soy sauce and sugar. A classic Filipino dish is adobo — like stew in a pot, eaten with a spoon and fork."
Although she was born in London, Buyson, who studied business management and worked after-hours in bars and restaurants, said she grew up eating Filipino food.
According to Lakwatsa's website, Buyson came across bubble tea in California, home to thousands of Filipinos.
She said she wanted to create a lounge that would provide comfort and cultural experience, aside from delicious food and drink.
She said she wanted to create a lounge that would provide comfort and cultural experience, aside from delicious food and drink.
Buyson, who has a passion for food and travel, urged people to visit their lounge and "enjoy the Lakwatsa experience."
She said she hopes that people would come and "check out what we've created."
With positive reviews on social networking sites, blogs, and even news sites, it looks like Buyson's Lakwatsa popularity will just spiral.
As Stewart noted in the Evening Standard, "eating like this makes eating fun." - Veronica Pulumbarit/KBK, GMA News
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