Dalampasigan, a tagalog word which means “seashore” and it was something I was expecting to find when we arrived at Kainan sa Dalampasigan in Nasugbu, Batangas. There was no seashore nor a view of the sea but we weren’t disappointed. Instead, we found a gem of a restaurant, like a secret garden, breezy and exuding with Filipino hospitality and charm.
Mrs Baker’s | A Delicious Find in Nueva Vizcaya
It’s always a delight to find good restaurants outside of the metro. Mrs Baker’s in Nueva Vizcaya is worthy a stop when traversing the roads to Tuguegarao or Banaue. This two-storey establishment with warm and homey interiors is owned by Chef Jehan Damasco who have competed on internationally pastry competitions. Established in 2010, Chef Jehan had cooked up a sumptuous menu of local favorites and international flavors that not only Nuvo Vizcayanos rave about but those fortunate visitors enough to have stumbled upon this gem of a resto. We went here twice when we were in Nueva Vizcaya and here’s to share some of our favorite dishes.
Filipino Food in the US: Our Favourite Spots
Watch out, America: according to the Huffington Post, Filipino food has “all the trappings of the next big ‘it-cuisine’”. Ten years ago it may have been difficult to find outside of major centres of Filipino immigration, but as people discover south-east Asia’s cozy home cooking, restaurants are popping up all over. Whether you’re taking a vacation to New York and want to find the best eats on your cheap holiday, or you grew up in the Philippines and miss the flavours of home, here are a few of the most popular Filipino restaurants in the US:
Adarna Food and Culture: Unabashedly Old World
The location of Adarna is a bit strange. Instead of situating itself nearer the more conspicuous and more frequented areas of QC, the restaurant seems to sit by its lonesome along Kalayaan in Diliman. The wonderful thing is that curious guests and repeat diners do come all the way here — maybe some, for the enigmatic ambiance, some, for the different vibe, but all come for the delicious eats. Hmmm, but I’m getting ahead of the story.
Adarna Resto: Food in Culture, Culture in Food
“I wanted the people to be revitalized after eating” said Chef Giney Villar, much like how the legendary bird Adarna, where the restaurant’s name came from, would revitalize and cure people of their illness. Chef Giney traveled around the country and brought back the historical and heirloom recipes that date back to the early 1900s and recreated them for people to enjoy now. Just the thought of trying out recipes that probably our lolas used to make was enough to feed my curiosity. And the interesting twist is that Chef Giney’s a vegan. So how would those meat dishes taste without her actually taste-testing it first?
Wake up to Pinoy breakfast fare at Sentro 1771
No doubt, the Pinoy has gone global, his taste buds included. He/she has acquired a liking for tastes and flavors that transcend our borders but probe deeper and there’s this deep-seated, deeply-rooted liking for Pinoy food. Your happyfoodies are no exception. We love Pinoy food, period. But is there a place for Pinoy food in a fine dining set-up? The people at Sentro 1771 would like to believe so. The purveyors of modern Filipino cuisine, Sentro 1771 puts a twist to Pinoy fare. Their breakfast offerings at their Serendra location list more Pinoy selections than the Western kind. But are they worth waking early for? Your happyfoodies checked them out.