Some trace its origins to Bernardo Buontalenti, an inventor in the service of the Medicis in Florence during the Renaissance era, as a by-product of his innovations in ice conservation.
Today, gelato has spread to the most parts of the world. In the Philippines, for example, it offers people some cool respite from the heat and humidity. It also has a slightly warmer serving temperature than regular ice cream which enables it to hold well in the country’s tropical weather and allows it to have a softer yet denser texture.
Tucked inside the Picnic Grounds of Elements Hall along Scout Rallos Street in the foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area is Gelato Lab. It offers all-natural hand-crafted gelato made with high quality ingredients. To maintain the freshness of its gelato, each flavor is churned in small batches.
My daughter #ExhibitA and I decided to stopover this dessert station on our way home from a nearby bar. The call of the sweet gelato treats was just too strong!
I got myself a cup of the Dark Chocolate gelato (a regular flavor hence priced at Php100/cup | Php360/pint | Php740/tub). #ExhibitA, on the other hand got a cup of Cookie Dough gelato (a premium flavor hence priced at Php120/cup | Php400/pint | Php840/tub).
Both flavors are sinfully yummy and well worth the short side trip. 🙂
Gelato Lab is located at the Picnic Grounds, 2nd Floor Elements Hall, 27 Scout Rallos Street, Bgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City. For queries, call +63 2 4138008 or email gelatolabph@gmail.com.
Did you know you can serve Gelato Lab’s treats in your next party? For Php9,000, you can have a Gelato Lab scooping station that will give out 120 cups of gelato. This package already includes the freezer, cups, spoons and paper napkins, and one server. Your guests will be able to choose from 3 regular flavors (or you can upgrade to premium flavors for an additional Php400/flavor). For additional 20 cups of regular flavor gelato, pay Php1,300 while for additional 20 cups premium flavor gelato, pay Php1,500.
Gelato Lab’s regular flavors include: Banoffee, Black Sesame, Caramel Popcorn, Cashew, Coffee Straciatella, Custaroon, Dark Chocolate, Earl Grey, Latter Macchiato, Leche Flan, Mango Pudding, Milo Dinosaur, Oreo Cheesecake, Sea Salt Caramel, Snickers, Thai Milk Tea, Ube and Vanilla Bean.
Its premium flavors, on the other hand, include: Baileys Irish Cream, Cookie Dough, Jack Daniels Whiskey, Maltesers, Macha Choco Chip, Mochacchino, Pina Colada Sorbet, Pistachio, Rum Raisin, Strawberry and Tiramisu.
Gamers in the East of Manila now have a new haven to come together and enjoy their favorite e-games in comfort. Â Even better, they also have a place where they and their families can enjoy great food, with gaming-themed dishes and drinks at that.
The opening of Ground Zero Esports  Lounge in Xentro Mall, Antipolo raises the game for the local cybercafe industry by responding to evolving needs of the gaming community. With gaming and e-sports gaining ground in the mainstream, with some players having grown up and starting families of their own, having a place where they can hang out and dine while enjoying their passion becomes paramount.
At Ground Zero, patrons can take advantage of the impressive hardware with cutting-edge specs, fast internet connectivity (up to 300mbps) and upscale interiors to play to their heart’s content, hold a LAN party or do their office work remotely.
Families can also enjoy the spacious and well-appointed dining area, expansive food choices and an breath-taking view of the Antipolo skyline.
Together with fellow foodies, I attended the Grand Opening and was able to sample some of the resto’s gaming-themed dishes served buffet-style to guests. (Note: Serving sizes and presentation from the party buffet will differ from the actual ala carte menu.)
Chicken Hex (Php320 for Hex Duo | Php550 for Hex Squad).  Crispy and spicy buffalo chicken wings served with ranch dressing.
Mirana Pasta (Php320). Â Pasta in marinara sauce served with fresh seafood.
4 Cheese Pizza (Php435). Â A homemade pizza dough topped with bechamel sauce made with parmesan, cheddar, mozzarella and bleu cheese.
Sisig Pizza (Php435). A Pinoy take on the pizza with pork sisig, peppercorn sauce, quail eggs and green chilis topped with mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
Rum BBQ Pudge Ribs (Php490). Â Grilled ribs marinated in rum barbecue sauce. (Note: In the ala carte menu, this is served with diner’s choice of Java rice, plain rice, mashed potatoes or House Special Fries).
Beef Salpicao.
For dessert (the highlight of my meal), we had Pistachio Sans Rival (Php160), Blueberry Cheesecake (Php130) and Red Velvet Crinkles (Php80).
Ground Zero is a promising restaurant and gaming cafe concept as it brings together a spectrum of gamers, foodies, families and everything in between.
Ground Zero Esports Lounge is located at the 2nd Floor of Xentro Mall, Mambugan, Lower Antipolo, Rizal.
Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended the grand opening of this restaurant. Â All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.
Don’t Tell is a bar tucked away in a building along with other dining establishments along Scout Rallos Street in foodie-friendly Tomas Morato area. Taking its cue from Prohibition Era speakeasies in the US, this bar serves as a haven for young professionals, a place where they can unwind after their work day or party it up during the weekend to hip-hop and R&B tunes.
Together with fellow Zomato foodies, I was invited to its exclusive #KeepItHush party where we were treated to free-flowing drinks along with performances from celebrity DJs.
The free-flowing drinks consisted of one’s choice between Jack Daniels whiskey or vodka, with option to add either Coke or Sprite. I then opted to sample a Jack-with-Coke and, the drink I used to have during my college days, Vodka with Sprite. And since I’m in a bar, I thought I might as well order my favorite drink: so I got myself a shot of Bailey’s as well. 🙂
The bar chow that we ordered were pretty standard and were served immediately:
Chicken Tenders (Php299). Chicken tenders glazed in a spicy sauce.
Truffle and Parmesan Fries (Php289). Large wedges of fried potatoes seasoned with truffle oil and parmesan crumbs.
Chili Beef and Cheese Nachos (Php450). Crisp nacho chips topped with jalapenos, chili beef, shredded lettuce and salsa.
Beef and Mushroom Salpicao (Php389). Beef tenderloin and button mushrooms sauteed with garlic confit in olive oil.
I had to pull a “ninja move” and disappear before the party really got going as this bar scene, with the constant music and dim lighting, isn’t really my thing. However, those who like to party will surely appreciate the youthful energy of the place.
As for me, I got some good chow and a couple of great photo opps, so I’m not really complaining. 🙂
Disclosure: Together with other Zomato foodies, I was invited to attend a party held in this bar. The food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself. The exception to these are the Chicken Tenders and Bailey’s shot which I paid for.
It was a wet and rainy evening when I made a long hop over from my workplace to Quezon City’s Banawe area to attend a Zomato Foodie Meetup at 13 Ubay Street Comfort Dining.
As I made way through Banawe’s narrow streets in the rain, I grew apprehensive thinking on where to park when I got there. Fortunately, the restaurant’s ground floor mostly serves as it parking space, giving diners somewhere convenient and secure to park their cars. According to the restaurant’s owner, Chef Zaza Sarmiento, parking space was one of her non-negotiables when it came to her resto’s layout: a boon, I’m sure, to many motorists who just want to feast on her brand of Filipino food.
Upon entering, diners are treated to a feast for the eyes with a tasteful display of various eclectic artwork which were taken from the chef’s own family collection and travels. From the array of masks reminiscent of Bacolod’s Masskara Festival and the huge colorful mural at the staircase to the photos depicting local life on the walls (taken by her grandfather), the restaurant’s interiors are unique and indicative of the personal and family memories close to the owner’s heart.
The dining area, which takes over most of the restaurant’s second floor, is quite spacious, able to accommodate an entire family reunion or an office Christmas party.
Together with other Zomato foodies, I partook of another feast: this time of dishes that Chef Zaza deemed as among her favorites yet are underrated. These were classic Filipino flavors and recipes that she gave her personal touch to and made from scratch, in line with her vision to bring families and friends together over good food.
We started with some Spanakopita (Php170). These are triangular deep-friend pockets filled homemade laing, tinapa and kesong puti (white cheese made from carabao milk), and served with a dipping sauce of braised tomatoes.
Among the chef’s number ones is the Sinigang sa Lechon Kawali (Php410). This dish made of deep-fried pork belly boiled in tamarind-sour broth with red raddish, kangkong (water spinach), sitaw (string beans) and okra has a sweet aftertaste that sets it apart from other versions of sinigang.
Its version of Beef Pares (Php390) on the other hand, brings slices of beef brisket stewed until tender in the restaurant’s pares sauce. It is best enjoyed with the restaurant’s homemade chili garlic sauce.
Vegetarians have something healthy yet hearty to enjoy as well: the Mushroom and Tofu Salpicao (Php180) brings a mix of button and shimeji mushrooms sauteed with deep-fried tofu cubes in a garlicky sauce.
Our meal was capped with a delectable scoop of homemade Langka Ice Cream (Php70). Jackfruit is a staple in many Filipino desserts but is seldom an ice cream flavor so this serving is a rare treat.
Plus, if you like your Filipino food with with some refreshing craft beers and ciders, you’re in for a treat: 13 Ubay Street is also the home of Elias Wicked Ales and Spirits.
There’s much to like at 13 Ubay Street, all centered around the resto’s desire to give comfort to its diners.
As can be gleaned from its name, this restaurant is located at No 13 Ubay Street, Santa Mesa Heights, Banawe, Quezon City.  For inquiries and reservations, call + 63 2 5796484 or +63 917 8762692.  It is open daily at 11am to 2pm and at 5pm to 11pm.
Trivia: Did you know that 13 Ubay Street also served as one of the locations of the teleserye “Pangako Sa ‘Yo”?
Disclosure: Together with other Zomato foodies, I was invited to attend a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.
I took my kids to Mad Mark’s in Pioneer Center, Kapitolyo last Monday for lunch before we run our errands for the day.
I remember that we used to have our weekend dinners at its former branch in East Capitol Drive several years ago. Â That was when Kapitolyo was the only foodie area in our radar. Â We stopped going around the time when we discovered other food communities as well as other Mad Mark’s that were more conveniently situated in malls.
This new branch in Kapitolyo is definitely an improvement over their old one. Â For one thing, it has twice the floor area and can accommodate more people. Â Secondly, being located in the Pioneer Center compound, there are a lot more parking space.
This branch is definitely more spacious, allowing the resto to play around with a few minimalist decor and furnishings that give homage to its artisanal beginnings.
I guess my major beef with this Mad Mark’s branch is how undermanned it is. Â At 11.30am, the time when most restaurants expect an influx of customers, it only has one person manning the store and most probably one cook in the kitchen. Â This resulted to long waits for our orders and requests, as well as the unavailability of some items in the menu.
When we were getting ready to order, we were informed that only the “Grill Works” – the steaks, ribs and grilled chickens – were the only viands available. Â Furthermore, of the seven side dishes on the menu, only plain rice, Garden Grains (Mad Mark’s version of fried rice), corn and carrots and smashed potatoes can be ordered.
We didn’t mind given that we just wanted to order the Signature Steaks (Php330), 150g premium USDA flat-iron steaks served medium-well accompanied by our choice of cream sauce. Â We were lucky enough that our favorite side dishes were also available. The steaks and sides served to us did not disappoint: the meat was cooked as per our requested doneness and the sides and our chosen sauce complemented the steaks very well.
We also ordered Mad Mark’s own Home-Brewed Iced Tea (Php49) – which I found a bit too sweet – to wash the steaks down.
And, of course, a visit to Mad Mark’s will not be complete without ordering dessert. Â Today, we decided to try the Liquid Cheesecake (Php160): it consisted of two pie pockets filled with a gooey custard topped by a scoop of Mad Mark’s Half-Baked Madagascar Ice Cream and drizzled over with thick chocolate fudge. Â I don’t get why this dessert is named Liquid Cheesecake (and I really don’t care; my kids and I liked it!).
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This Mad Mark’s Creamery and Good Eats is located at Pioneer Center Supermart, 8006 Pioneer Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.
As a working mom, one of the regular challenges I face is trying to fit in all my errands and tasks during the weekend. Last Saturday was particularly hectic: I had errands elsewhere and I didn’t know if I will be able to finish them in time to come home and prepare an appetizing dinner for me and the kids.
Fortunately, Honestbee has recently expanded its services to food delivery and among its partner merchants is Buffalo Swing Cafe.
This resto is situated in the Maybunga area, quite some distance from my home. I never heard of it before as I don’t usually explore the area for dining options.
Already anticipating how busy my day was going to be, I already booked my orders the night before using the Honestbee app. I ordered the following:
1 order of American BBQ wings (Php175 – 5 pieces)
2 orders of Butter Parmesan Wings (Php175 – 5 pieces)
1 order of Macaroni and Cheese (Php170)
1 All-Cheese Pizza (Php345)
I chose 2 flavors of wings so that the kiddos and I will have some choice in our viands. The Mac ‘n Cheese is a special request from my daughter #ExhibitA, while the pizza is a treat for my little boy who is, by the way, is a self-confessed pizza monster, so I’m hopeful that the pizza order will be a hit with him.
The entire bill amounted to a little over Php1,000 but since I applied the Php500 reward I received for referring a friend of mine to Honestbee, my actual payable amount is Php569.
I was still stuck in traffic by the time my orders arrived. Fortunately, #ExhibitA paid for the delivery while I was gone.
By the time I got home, dinner was already laid out at the table, ready to be eaten.
Not surprisingly, the little boy loved the All Cheese Pizza. It arrived still warm with the brick oven baked crust still crisp and the cheese toppings rich and creamy. My little pizza monster was able to polish off 3 slices.
The Mac ‘N Cheese, on the hand, was a hit with #ExhibitA. We found the noodles firm and the sauce really cheesy, with bits of bacon to add a meatier flavor to the dish.
We actually loved the Butter Parmesan Wings. It had a new kind of flavor that is a departure from the usual spicy buffalo wings. The American BBQ Wings wasn’t bad either. It was quite close to the barbecue sauce flavoring we’ve come to expect and had some zesty aftertaste which counters some of the umay factor.
Both sets of buffalo wings arrived still warm and had tender and juicy meat, which was very much appreciated by the kids and myself who all made short work of the meal.
I’m glad that with Honestbee there’s now a convenient way for me to have food delivered at home, with various options other than the big fast food chains. It’s become a life hack for busy working moms like me who want to give their kids a dining treat without having to spend all day in the kitchen, nor having to forego other important activities.
If you’re in an area where Buffalo Swing Cafe delivers via Honestbee, I would recommend ordering from it. Sign up for Honestbee using this referral link and get Php500 off for a minimum spend of Php2,500. You can download the Honestbee app on iTunes or Google Play.
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Lugang Cafe is the offshoot of Bellagio, a Taiwanese restaurant chain which first opened in Shanghai in 2001, bringing with it a combination of authentic Taiwanese cuisine with a modern and vibrant restaurant design. Since then, it has grown its China operations to include outlets in key cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Najing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Wuhan, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Xiamen, Quanzhou and Galaxy Macau.
Outside China, it is known as Lugang Cafe, currently with 7 branches in the Philippines, and recognition as a recipient of Philippine Tatler’s 100 Best Restaurant Awards.
Walking in to Lugang Cafe’s O Square branch in Greenhills Shopping Center, I can’t help but be impressed by its sleek, contemporary yet decidedly Asian decor. It has floor-to-ceiling windows that let in lots of natural light (great for food photography!) and even allows passersby to peek at the chefs at work in the kitchen. It has distinctive wall art, fixtures and furnishings that give the place a luxurious and premium look and feel, quite a departure from the usual down-home (and sometimes shabby-looking) Chinese restaurants.
Even though the place was packed with the Sunday lunch crowd, we were lucky to find ourselves a table with the help of a very accommodating hostess. There was a frenetic kind of energy to the place, what with the servers rushing here and there and the din of clanging utensils from the diners.
For my Sunday lunch together with Hubby and my daughter #ExhibitA, we ordered an array of dishes that showcase Lugang’s penchant for carefully selected ingredients imported from China, cooked fresh (with no chemical additives), and developed by the 14 world-class chefs it employs.
Steamed Pork Xiao Long Bao (Php268 – 8 pieces). Did you know that in China, making Xiao Long Bao, also known as the soup dumpling for the flavorful pork skin broth that accompanies the pork leg meat inside the fine, delicate hand-rolled skin, is considered an art form? Lugang’s take on this challenging dish results in a very light and delicious dumpling that whets the appetite for more.
Steamed Vegetable and Pork Dumplings (Php268 – 8 pieces). A lighter take on the usual pork dumplings as the meat has to share the limelight with some greens.
Steamed Pan Fried Siopao (Php268). Another departure from the run-of-the-mill cuisine, this version of the steamed siopao has bottom which has been seared to a crisp texture, adding an interesting contrast in texture to the light fluffy bun that envelopes the meaty filling.
Spicy Beef and Tendon Noodles Soup (Php320). Tender choice cut beef sirloin slices and melt-in-your-mouth tendons are accompanied by a savory and spicy broth and firm handmade noodles (that I had trouble cutting with my soup spoon, hahaha!) and topped with aromatics. This is definitely something I would want to sip on during cold rainy days.
Pineapple Fried Rice (Php320). A twist on the regular fried rice, with cashew nuts adding texture and pineapple bits lending some sweetness to the dish. Although it went well with the viands we ordered, I think this rice is a bit too oily for my taste.
Beef Tenderloin with Crispy Garlic (Php680). A new dish offered by Lugang first introduced in this very branch last year, it features tender cuts of beef braised in a flavorful garlic sauce, quite a flavor grenade!
Fried Prawns with Oats (Php580). Humongous prawns covered in an oat-filled batter and deep-fried to a golden brown. While it has an interesting texture, I think that the oats do not do much to enhance the prawns’ taste.
All in all, our Sunday lunch at Lugang Cafe introduced us to a host of absorbing new tastes and textures, as well as wowed us with the luxurious restaurant interiors. We definitely wouldn’t mind returning and revisiting our favorites or trying out the other dishes being offered.
Which brings us to…
Lugang Cafe’s UlTEAmate Feast
From August 28 to September 28, weekdays at 2.30 to 5.30pm, diners can eat all the Steamed Pork Xiao Long Baos their hearts desire, together with other unlimited dumplings, for only Php298 per person at all Lugang Cafe branches. Â For more details, visit Lugang’s Facebook Page.
I might have some difficulty availing of this offer – what with work schedules and all – but take heart, I vow to find a way!
Lugang Cafe’s Lauriat Feast
Did you know Lugang can deliver platters and packed meals with your favorite Taiwanese dishes right at your doorstep? Â
This Lugang Cafe branch is located at Ground Floor, O’Square, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 906 2176217. Other branches are located at:
Level 1, Main Mall, South Arcade, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City (Tel:Â +63 906 2176216)
2/F The Block SM North Edsa, Pag-asa 1, Quezon City (Tel:Â +63 2 3328725 or +63 915 7469693)
Skypark, Level 5, SM Aura Premier, 26th Street corner Mckinley Parkway, Taguig City (Tel: +63 2 5195663 or +63 906 4555873)
Glorietta 2, G/F, The New Ayala Center, Makati City (Tel: +63 2 4033303 or +63 906 4555879)
F Fashion Hall, Bldg D, SM Megamall Edsa cor. J. Vargas, Brgy Wack Wack, Mandaluyong City (Tel: +63 2 6316436 or +63 915 1742243)
Level 1, Pedro Gil Wing, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila (Tel:Â +63 995 7564734)
Since Conti’s opened its doors in 1997, it has grown into one of the most established names in the Filipino food scene with multiple branches all over Metro Manila. Its claims to fame include its Baked Salmon dish and its Mango Bravo cake, and it continues to evolve in terms of product offerings and service innovations (which now include baked goods and reheatable take-outs).
Together with a good friend of mine, I have made Conti’s Greenbelt our go-to meetup place whenever she comes home to the Philippines on vacation from Singapore. It seems that the restaurant’s homey yet flavorful fare and bright airy interiors provide both of us a comforting feeling of home as we share the happenings in our lives during the few months we were in different countries.
Recently, we worked a minor miracle by shiffling our schedules around so we can meet up again in our favorite place to catch up and chat.
As always, I ordered my favorite dish, Conti’s Baked Salmon (Php425), a slab of Norwegian pink salmon, baked with Conti’s special topping and served with a salad of seasonal greens and a tomato-ey paella rice. I also got a Mango Banana Yoghurt Shake (Php145) as a fresh and fruity refreshment.
My friend, on the other hand, ordered a Homemade Beef Tapa (Php240) and a Yellow Mango Shake (Php135), to get a flavorful taste of home.
Since Conti’s tagline is “delightfully yours,” my friend and I have, in effect, made this resto delightfully ours. It is our place to meet and come back to our favorite flavors.
This Conti’s branch is located at Ground Floor, Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center, Makati. For queries and reservations, call +63 2 7560327.
Other branches are located at:
Alabang: Westgate Center, Alabang Town Center
Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Paranaque: BF Homes
Pasay: South Wing of SM Mall of Asia, Blue Bay Walk
Manila: Robinsons Place Ermita
Taguig: Serendra BGC
Pasig: Ayala Malls the 30th
Mandaluyong: Shaw Boulevard cor Laurel Street
San Juan: Northeast Square Greenhills
Quezon City: Robinsons Magnolia, Katipunan Avenue in Blue Ridge, Trinoma Mall, SM North EDSA The Block, Ayala Fairview Terraces
You can also have your Conti’s favorites delivered where you are by calling +63 2 5808888 or ordering through the Conti’s online store.
After taking care of my morning errands in Makati around lunchtime, I was faced with the challenge of finding somewhere to eat. Fortunately, I espied the branch of Amiciamong the eateries inside the Ayala Triangle Gardens.
Amici started out as a canteen that caters to the employees of the Don Bosco Printing Press. At that time, it was called Amici di Don Bosco (Friends of Don Bosco). Its menu then consisted of coffee and gelato which later expanded to include wood-fire oven baked pizzas and homemade pastas. The reputation of this restaurant serving tasty and authentic Italian food prepared by priests grew and attracted more and more customers. Today, Amici has 9 branches in Metro Manila, a recognized institution when it comes to authentic Italian pizza, pasta and gelato.
For my lunch today, I opted to munch on two flavors I have been craving for: truffle pasta and chocolate.
Linguine al Prosciutto e Tartufo (Php370)
One of Amici’s best-sellers, this is the resto’s version of a truffle pasta. Linguini pasta are cooked al dente then drenched in a masterful blend of prosciutto, truffle oil, porcini and shitake mushrooms. The smell of truffle oil may be overpowering to some but I didn’t mind it one bit. I found the serving portion a bit too large so I left half to take home to my daughter #ExhibitA; Amici’s dishes are #BestWhenShared anyway.
Turtle Pie Gelato (Php95 per scoop) by Cara Mia
Rich dark chocolate with drizzles of caramel and studded with pecans. I found the scoop a bit small but, well, as a wise woman once told me, quality is never cheap. I treat getting myself a gelato at Amici as a sort of indulgence or reward for myself.
The place is clean and well-lit and has a busy and energetic vibe given the lunchtime crowd. That said, I found the service very warm and accommodating: I was seated very quickly, and given garlic bread to munch on while waiting for my order. Also, my water was refilled without my having to request for it and my request to have half of my pasta wrapped for takeout was immediately done.
This Amici branch is located at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Salcedo Village, Makati City and is open weekdays from 10am to 10pm and weekends from 12nn to 8pm. For reservations and inquiries, call + 63 2 6216111 or +63 977 4596625.
Other branches are located at:
Don Bosco School, A. Arnaiz Avenue, San Lorenzo, Makati City (Tel: +63 2 8221111, +63 916 9227972 or +63 906 1234456)
Second Floor, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City (Tel: +63 2 4039373, +63 917 8946897 or +63 917 8218988)
Third Floor, Mega Atrium, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City (Tel: +63 2 6361340, +63 2 6361341, + 63 947 2998417 or +63 906 8463051)
Ground Floor, 101 Missouri Square, Missouri Corner Connecticut Street, Greenhills, San Juan City (Tel: +63 2 724 4804, +63 2 724 4806, +63 936 7190592, or +63 908 9901506)
Bellagio Square, Tomas MoratoAvenue, Laging Handa, Quezon City (Tel: +63 2 3766458, +63 915 6272060 or +63 905 1958506)
Ground Floor, The Block, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City (Tel: +63 2 709 5545, +63 906 7243019 or +63 916 7890754)
Ground Floor, UP Ayala Technohub, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City (Tel: +63 2 709 0999, +63 995 1693154 or +63 936 2935257)
Ground Floor, The Oracle Hotel & Residences, 317 Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City (Tel: +63 956 6031048 or +63 935 4402663)
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The last and final stop of our Zomato Tagaytay Food Crawl was held at Siglo Modern Filipino. Located along the Tagaytay – Calamba Road beside the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and right across Picnic Grove, Siglo is the restaurant attached to the View Park Hotel Tagaytay.
Siglo (which translates to “century”) is so-named in honor of 100 years of evolution of Philippine food, from the Spanish and Latin influences brought by the colonizers, as well as flavors from China, America and Southeast Asia which found their way here via trade.
Siglo synthesizes a century’s worth of Filipino culture and cuisine from all over the country, Â and supports the local economy by using ingredients sourced from local farmers.
It also seeks to preserve heirloom recipes – dishes that your great-grandmother might have cooked and using ingredients like adlai and siling labuyo that she might have used – while still innovating on the classic Filipino dishes through modern techniques and added creativity.
The restaurant is quite small (can seat at most 50 diners) but it has a lot of charm. Ethnic-inspired furniture and decor abound, and its advocacy for the appreciation of Filipino cuisine is apparent in the use of traditional materials and design. Â When you sit down and wait for your order, you can amuse yourself in puzzles and trivia that feature Filipino food courtesy of the placemats used.
My fellow foodies and I were served the Blockbuster Bilaos, hefty servings of themed Pinoy delicacies with dishes representing different locales in the country. Â These are best shared among a group of 4 to 6 people. Â Bilaos are flat and round-shaped implement used in separating rice grains from other particles like chaff, dirt and small pebbles. Â When I was young, the rice that was delivered to us had a lot of impurities so my yaya and I oftentimes had to pick the impurities from the rice (hence the term “nagpipili ng bigas“) that was laid in a bilao.
Siglo Bilao (Php1,800)
This bilao features native Tinola, classic Kare-Kare, Crispy Tawilis, Pancit Pusit and Siglo Salad. Â These are all heirloom recipes of Filipino dishes collated by Siglo’s team during their travels. Â For me, the standout among these dishes is the Pancit Pusit; it had the distinctive salty-sour garlicky taste of Adobong Pusit which I absolutely love. Â I would have eaten more of this were I not afraid of going home with black teeth (it would have been worth it, though!)
This bilao boasts of timeless classics that barkadas (groups of friends) crave for when they’re hanging out such as Regular Bulalo (a staple in Tagaytay), Crispy Sisig, Calamares Frito, Himagsikan Wings (Siglo’s version of spicy buffalo wings in which the chicken pieces are glazed in shrimp paste and honey sriracha sauce) and gising-gising.
Luzviminda Bilao (Php2,400)
Named after the portmanteu of the Philippines’ three major island groups – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao – this bilao features dishes representing bestsellers from north to south, serving as a quick culinary tour of the country. Â It includes Bagnet Ilocos, Chicken Binakol, Seafood Kare-Kare, Lumpiang Shanghai and Ubod Salad. Â The standout in this bilao is the bagnet with its savory tender meat and crispy crackling skin.
All the bilaos come with steamed rice and fresh fruits.
We washed down our food with a refreshing Pomelo Amaranth Juice which is not part of Siglo’s menu but is actually the welcome drink of View Park Hotel.
Siglo Modern Filipino is located at the Ground Floor of View Park Hotel, 3500 Tagaytay-Calamba Road, Sungay East, Tagaytay City. It is open Sundays to Fridays at 7am to 10pm and Saturdays from 7am to 12mn.
Disclosure: Together with other Zomato foodies, I was invited to attend a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.
Jellybeans in the City 