Alternative Filipino Cuisine at Abbiocco, Paligsahan

Do you remember that warm, comforting and sleepy feeling you get after a big and satisfying meal?

Well, the Italians call that feeling “abbiocco,” after which Quezon City’s newest restaurant is named.

To live up to its name, Abbiocco Alternative Filipino offers up classic favorites and imaginative reinventions of Pinoy dishes in large servings best enjoyed with others, from intimate get-togethers to large, full-scale celebrations. These well-loved viands honor local and authentic flavors while incorporating contemporary elements and techniques that reinvigorate old recipes.

Abbiocco even included Italian, Spanish and other Western selections to its menu, signifying not just the influences these had on Filipino cuisine but also the growing cosmopolitan tastes of Filipino diners.

Together with my foodie friends, I was lucky enough to join an exclusive preview of what Abbiocco has to offer. During our food tasting event, we were able to try delectable dishes such as:

Soups (sabaw):

House Kalabasa Soup (Php198). Pureed pumpkin and diced biscocho make this a mildly sweet yet savory cream soup.

Cream of Tomato with Malunggay Pesto (Php198). Tomatoes and malunggay pesto enhanced with cream and crispy toast make this a fresh start to the meal.

French Onion Soup (Php198). In this localized version of the French dish, caramelized red and white native onions, fresh thyme and rosemary leaves are incorporated in a beef stock base and topped with a layer of melted cheddar cheese.

Appetizers (pampagana):

Fried Shrimps in Salted Egg Sauce (Php388). The trend of adding salted egg yolks in dishes is in full swing in this dish. The shrimps are plump and succulent while the salted egg sauce is subtle enough not to be too overpowering.

Kinilaw na Tanigue sa Calamansi (Php298). I usually associate this local version of ceviche with bar chows and drinking parties but, as demonstrated by Abbiocco, it serves well as an appetizer, too.

Salad (ensalada):

Abbiocco’s Ensalada ala Anton (Php348). In this localized version of the Ceasar salad, romaine and iceberg lettuce are tossed with smoked bacon bits, biscocho, sundried local tomatoes, parmesan cheese and house-made dressing.

Sandwiches:

Abbiocco’s Triple Decker Sandwich (Php358). Roasted chicken breast, scrambled native eggs, smoked bacon and lechon kawali are layered over each other along with cucumber, lettuce and tomatoes with calamansi and garlic mayo in between whole wheat bread slices.

Mains:

6 Hours Braised Lamb Shank (Php1,888). A shanknof lamb is slow cooked for six hours to achieve that falling-off-the-bone level of tenderness then doused in curry sauce and served with Abbiocco rice and side vegetables. The lamb is notably missing that gamey flavor and is well complemented by the mildly spicy curry sauce which makes this – surprisingly – my favorite among the dishes served.

Pinoy BBQ Baboy Back Ribs (Php698). Lean pork ribs is slow-cooked to tenderness, marinated in local lime, soy sauce and honey and served with garlic mashed potato, whole kernel corn and buttered vegetables.

Anton’s Salted Egg Fried Chicken Wings (Php348). Crispy chicken wings are coated in salted egg sauce then served with Mango Avocado Salsa.

Seafood Kare-Kare sa Gata (Php798). Mixed seafoods and vegetables are cooked in a rich peanut sauce and served with bagoong.

Pasta Crema Carbonara (Php348). Firm spaghetti noodles are tossed in a sauce made of egg, caramelized local onions, queso de bola, smoked bacon and pepper.

Desserts (pahimagas):

Leche Flan (Php168). The homegrown version of the creme caramel dessert, made very sweet with condensed milk with a bit of citrusy flavor from dayap rind.

Halo Halo (Php228). This traditional dessert of shaved ice, evaporated milk and other sweetened ingredients is perfect for a hot summer day. I prefer mine without the pinipig, though.

Beverages:

Mocktails (non-alcoholic drinks). Virgin Mojito (lime, mint leaves and soda water), Tornado Twist (Grapes, Tresec and Soda Water) and Shirley Temple (raspberry syrup and fizzy lime soda).

If you’re looking to reinvigorate your relationship with Filipino food, look no further than Abbiocco!

Thanks to the lovely folks of Abbiocco for the warm welcome and the fine food!

Abbiocco Alternative Filipino is located at G/F Metro Stonerich Building, 3 Scout Rallos St. corner Mother Ignacia Street, Bgy. Laging Handa Quezon City, open daily from Sundays to Thursdays from 11am until 11pm, and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 9892350.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a food tasting event held here wherein food and drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other Filipino restaurants: