"Malate: A Matter of Taste" features essays born out of the feelings, memories and discerning tastes of people who have been touched by the Malate way of life. The book is about Malate, the place that has come to stand for a lifestyle and a lifestyle that, in turn, has become a landmark in Filipino culture. It chronicles the life that is Malate, going beyond culinary tastes into something more reflective of the Filipino lifestyle at the turn of the century.

In this book are narratives tracing the growth of the Malate way of life which defies definitive description to this day, and historical accounts of how Café Adriatico, the café that gave rise to Manila's café society, was established quite by accident rather than by design, by journalist Lorenzo "Larry" J. Cruz. The book is about the place that has become a landmark in Filipino culture.

"A new book lovingly documents the restaurants and places that have become synonymous with Malate district. It is also about a man who started it all." - James P. Ong; Philippine Daily Inquirer