Rediscovering Filipino flavors at 1521

With the globalization of the Filipino palate, is it still viable to set up a Pinoy restaurant nowadays? Ponder this: on one hand, you have to market to a younger generation of diners reared on a steady diet of pizzas, burgers and pastas. On the other hand, you have to appeal to an older generation who may have grown tired of the old favorites and are gravitating to international fare. Following the suggestion of a friend, we ventured to Mandaluyong to look for 1521 in the hope of finding a more definitive answer to our question. We’re happy to say that we walked in hungry for food and answers and walked out with a positive outlook and contented tummies.

1521 has an interesting story to go along with the great food. The name stands for the year in Philippine history when the Spaniards landed in the Philippines, marking the start of the Spanish colonial period. The restaurant’s mission is very noble: to rediscover Filipino cuisine. Simply put, 1521 is all about Filipino food with interesting twists and turns; fusion cuisine that pays homage to our roots but given fresh tweaks to provide both the young and older diners something interesting to discover. We’ve seen our fair share of Filipino fusion cuisine that strays far off the mark and happily, this isn’t the case with 1521. As its owner, advertising maven, Tanke Tankeko points out, it is food that’s faithful to the fare she (and us from the older generation) grew up on.

The place, service and prices

Lagal[og] said: With the December weekend traffic, we nearly gave up on finding this restaurant and boy, we’re only too glad we didn’t. The place is a little easy to miss save for the warm and brightly-lit interiors that seem to attract passersby to perhaps try the place. The interiors are simple and clean with nice details – mismatched chairs, the warm lighting, the attractive floor and ceiling designs. The mood is casual and inviting, perfect for having friends over to share comfort food. Service is very cordial and personalized. The prices are affordable.

Ironwulf said: I was actually expecting to look for a big bold arial type sign of 1521 as we were crawling the traffic up Mandaluyong just past the flyover at Edsa-Shaw. But one quick pass and we nearly missed this hole-in-the wall restaurant which at first look, I thought has a warm, airy and inviting atmosphere. But what clearly struck me was how their logo signage was done. the numbers 1 on opposite ends of 1521 look like a spoon and fork while the numbers 5 and 2 in the middle look like a goblet — this quickly  made an impression on me that this is not your typical restaurant.  This is well thought out and meticulous in details. And we weren’t wrong. This is one surprising find that we are really eager and happy to share.

The appetizers

Lagal[og] said: Tanke was gracious to let us sample the Bad Banana Chips as appetizer. One bite and I was hooked on the spicy, garlicky taste. I haven’t tasted banana chips this spicy or intriguing. I’m a spicy eater and the degree of hotness was not a problem at all though other eaters are forewarned, the banana chips are really on the hot side. But they’re so good, I devoured a cupful before I even realized they were gone.

Ironwulf said: The Dinamitang Keso puts another twist on our usual Cheese Sticks. The word Dinamitang can connote two English words (Dynamite or Dressed) which differs in meaning depending on how you say it. And these two words apply to this appetizer since the cheese  wrapped in dough (looks like a dynamite with the pepper) are also dressed inside large peppers. A bite would spill the melted cheese to your tongue with an added dynamite spice from the pepper. Dip into the mango-wasabi sauce and you’re in for a dynamite flavor.

The entrees

Lagal[og] said: The Potchero ni Tankeko (Slow-stewed Beef) was the house specialty and came highly recommended so it was high in our list of things to order. It didn’t disappoint. The beef was oh-so-tender. And it wasn’t drowning in sauce as the dish was a bit drier than the common potchero served in other restaurants. The veggies are cooked just right and the addition of gabi (radish) on top is an interesting counterpoint.

Ironwulf said: If there’s one dish to eat here, the Potchero ni Tankeko must be it. The meat was so soft and the flavor was just right and will not overwhelm you with the flavors of the sauce the way I usually found some potcheros are done. Add the Ensaladang Talong (Eggplant Salad Sauce) that goes along with it and you’ll find the light and garlicky taste goes very well with the flavor of the beef.

Lagal[og] said: I love binagoongan so it was only logical to order the Bonggang-bonggang Binagoongan (Super Crunchy Pork with local Shrimp Paste). The pork bits were crunchy, the bagoong wasn’t that salty at all. The dish came with strips of unripe mango which of course, complements the bagoong.

Ironwulf said: I agree wholeheartedly on the name of that Binagoongan. The meat was really crunchy and easy to eat and the bagoong (Shrimp Paste) wasn’t too salty or even fishy which I really liked. While we enjoyed these true Filipino Dishes, we also got to try an Asian fusion cooking of Tom Yum Inasal (Grilled Chicken in Thai Soup). The soup, while Thai in origin, it isn’t as spicy but still has that distinguishable Thai flavor that I’m sure Filipino’s would love. The Chicken Inasal on top has really tender meat, richly marinated and lightly grilled. The combination of the tom yum soup with the tender meat really works well and tastes really good.

The desserts

Lagal[og] said: We followed Tanke’s suggestions for our desserts and we weren’t disappointed with the Frozen Cacao Tropical Yoghurt and Leche Flan Ala Cosico (Custard with Lemon Rind). The Cacao Yoghurt didn’t taste like yoghurt at all, it almost seemed like gelato with its creamy texture and unmistakeably-tsokolate a taste. The addition of nata de coco (coconut gelatin) added an interesting texture to the very rich yoghurt. Tanke intimates that they use only the freshest ingredients and the yoghurt is allowed only to last for three days, hence the fresh taste.

Ironwulf said: That Cacao flavored yoghurt really surprised me again. Being a choco lover, I never thought that yoghurt chocolate can be so rich and tasty as our good ole tablea grinded tsokolate with only a hint of sourness yoghurts usually have. The nata de coco adds another textured flavor here, probably not to overwhelm you with taste so you can rest your taste buds with these soft chewy cubes. Next time I will definitely try their other flavors like the Baguio Strawberry and Zambales Mangoes.

Lagal[og] said: The Leche Flan, on the other hand, isn’t overly sweet with a hint of dayap (native lemon) rind that lends it a slightly bitter taste that serves as an interesting foil to the sweetish taste of the custard. It’s a very ideal way of capping a heavy meal as it isn’t nakaka-umay (doesn’t overwhelm the taste buds).

Ironwulf said: The added citrus flavor from the lemon rind on this baked Leche Flan is pleasantly new on my taste buds. The egg custard is soft and not too starchy and the sweetness just right. I wouldn’t mind getting another order of it.

Epilogue

1521 is a prime example of fusing the love of Pinoy food with modern accents and subtle flavors borrowed from other cuisines without diluting or degrading the Filipino dishes that inspired them. True to its mission, the place lets the diner explore the Pinoy foodscape and rediscover something familiar yet something new, something delicious but different. And if we may add, something really good  to keep coming back for.

1521 (Fifteen Twenty One) Restaurant
547 Shaw Boulevard, Brgy. Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City • Tel. Nos. 794.0433; 0917.8606678; 0906.4904712