Baker J Café Clark, Mimosa Golf clubhouse unveiled in Pampanga
New Clark City, Pampanga — French culinary experience was married with local fares at the recent opening of Baker J Café Clark, located at Quest Plus Clark’s spanking new Mimosa Plus Golf Clubhouse in Pampanga.
This is Baker J’s second restaurant for diners who hanker for some good, old-fashioned French food and joie de vivre, the first one being the popular outlet at Crimson Filinvest City Alabang, which started as a humble patisserie in 2020.
A moveable feast
The grand launch of the Mimosa Plus Golf clubhouse and Baker J Café Clark was attended by New Clark City bigwigs (Inset photo) : Filinvest Development Corp. president-CEO Josephine Gotianun Yap; Filinvest; senior vice president Francis Gotianun; Chroma Hospitality country manager James Montenegro; BCDA chairman Delfin N. Lorenzana; BCDA president-CEO Aileen Soza,;CDC president-CEO Agnes VST Devanadera; LIPAD CEO Noel Manankil; and executives from Filinvest and Chroma Hospitality.
Aside from Baker J’s baked goods, featuring classique and nouveau French offers, and a belly-popping menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the other star of the show was the unveiling of the redesigned golf clubhouse and two legendary courses – 36 holes of delightful golf that exploits the differences in terrain of the vast property.
The Acacia Course (closed at press time for renovations) is the easier of the two. It winds around most of the original layout through ancient trees from which the course gets its name. The holes are short for the most part and although there are a few lakes, the course is very playable for golfers of all handicaps.
The Mountain View course is, without a doubt, one of the best layouts in the country today. The undulating terrain and breathtaking vistas provide an ideal setting for golf and the Mountain View provides some of the best. This is the championship golf course that hosted Tiger Woods, and is a test for golfers of all skill levels.
At a monstrous 7,303 yards from the tips, the Mountain View is one of the longest in the Philippines. It straddles the new and old worlds of Philippine golf courses. On the one hand, it is of modern construction and, on the other, the century-old acacia trees and expansive layout give it the feel of a much older golf course. The quality of the layout, the aesthetics and the challenge presented to the golfer are on par with the best golf courses in the country.
Great golfing getaway; hacker’s nightmare
It is a slightly unusual layout with three par-3s on the front and just one on the back nine. The first three holes take you around a hill that hosts the former communications tower of the old American air base. The golf course opens up after the almost claustrophobic opening holes and the golf becomes more enjoyable.
The Mountain View really comes into its own on the inward nine. Two of the longest par 4s and three par 5s are on this side, making it a formidable task for the weekend golfer. The 480-yard (from the green tees) 12th and the breathtakingly beautiful 458-yard 15th will prove especially difficult. It is interesting that the hardest hole on the back is the 578-yard par-5 13th; water is in play after the tee shot and the green is set just up against the lake, which poses most of the problems for the golfer.
The par 3s are superb; six looks like it belongs on a postcard, while 16 offers the ultimate treat: an island green. It is not too long measuring just 153 yards from the gold tees and the green is generous. The course closes with a magnificent par 5 that requires maneuvering your ball around century-old acacia trees. The hole plays uphill toward the clubhouse and is well bunkered to frustrate all but the best approach shots.
There are beautiful views of the Zambales mountain range and Mount Arayat is never out of sight. This is a beautiful place for golf. Factor in the amazing cuisine of Baker J Café, and you have the makings of a great golfing getaway that is more accessible than ever.
Nature-inspired metropolis
Filinvest Development Corp., which purchased the rights to Mimosa from the BCDA several years ago, ostensibly turned things around in Clark. Rebranded as Filinvest Mimosa + Leisure City, it is envisioned as an integrated, balanced, and eco-centric community. Filinvest intends to capitalize on the 201-hectare property’s strengths and develop the key components of the new city—leisure, business, residential and nature.
“We plan a leisure metropolis that is very much nature-inspired,” Filinvest CEO and low handicapper “Joji” Gotianun-Yap told Manila Standard. “We want it to be the top-of-mind destination for tourism and commerce in Clark and in the North.”
Indeed, the changes since Filinvest took over have been sweeping. Most of the old cottages were demolished to make way for the new facilities. New office buildings have sprung up. To achieve the goal of making Filinvest Mimosa+ a premium lifestyle destination, Gotianun-Yap said the development of a hub for shopping, dining and events continues unabated. A lifestyle mall—Clark City Front Mall – will soon be home to some of the best retail stores and restaurants in a nature-inspired and al fresco setting. It will also have its own event grounds, a sprawling venue for some of the biggest events in the North.
A quick hop from Metro Manila
The new north-bound Skyway extension project of San Miguel Corporation, connecting the south of Metro Manila to North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Exchange (SCTEX) has meant that the once distant city of Angeles is now a mere two hours away from the Sucat interchange away, in normal traffic.
Meanwhile, new facilities have mushroomed at New Clark City, aside from the newly-renovated Quest Plus Clark Hotel. There’s the Marriot, Midori, Hilton Sun Valley Resort, Radisson Park Inn, Swissotel Clark and others. Casinos, Korean, Filipino, Italian and Japanese restaurants/cafes are also everywhere. If you get bored on the base and its sprawling highways (one beef: inadequate street lights for night driving), there’s always the city of lights just outside the confines of Clark.
‘I am satisfied, I am awake’
The tranquil property of Chroma Hospitality in the North is bringing the best of the French culinary experience with the opening of Baker J Café.
“We launched Baker J online in the middle of the quarantine as we saw an opportunity to sell healthy bakes and other bread and pastries,” explained Chroma Hospitality country manager, Mr. James Montenegro. “We opened our first full scale restaurant soon after at Crimson Filinvest City Alabang. The success has been overwhelming which prompted management to expand. A second full-scale dining outlet and Quest Plus Clark’s Mimosa Plus Golf clubhouse is the perfect location.”
Known for their baked goods, featuring classique and nouveau French offers, Baker J Café also boasts of an extensive menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Inspired by the restaurant’s philosophy, the J in Baker J stands for “Je suis”, which means “I am” in French. The menu reflects the diners’ cravings and moods, like Je Suis Comblé (I Am Satisfied) for the French main dishes, and Je Suis Reveillé (I Am Awake) for the gourmet breakfast selections.
Chef Jean Louise Leon in the house
Opening as early as 6:00 a.m., diners can start the day right with Baker J’s all-day breakfast menu such as eggs benedict, which one could enjoy with sautéed spinach (eggs Florentine) or with smoked salmon (smoked salmon eggs benedict); savory shakshuka, which is available in a vegetarian-friendly version and a meaty iteration featuring house-made spicy beef and lamb sausages; and French pastries: crisp and flaky Croissant, petite Madeleine (made traditionally using techniques from Northeastern France), and Kouign-Amann also known as “butter cake” from Douarnenez, France.
To wash down all the delectable food, diners can choose from a wide range of Baker J signature beverages — from refreshing summer drinks to detox options, espresso, frappé, and even mocktails and cocktails.
At the helm of Baker J Café Clark is Quest Plus Clark’s executive chef, Jean Louise Leon. The Brittany-born chef has given the best guidance to the team that is giving Kapampangans a casual French dining experience.
Baker J Cafe is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. It is located at the newly opened Mimosa Plus Golf clubhouse, just a short distance from Quest Plus Conference Center Clark, all within the Filinvest Estate in Clark, Pampanga.