roasted pig – Jellybeans in the City

Prepare your taste buds for a delightful adventure that will transport you to the beautiful province of Laguna, where rich flavors and centuries-old recipes await. The Manila Hotel recently unveiled a delectable collaboration that brings together two culinary powerhouses, Café Ilang-Ilang and Calle Arco, for an extraordinary dining experience like no other. Get ready to embark on a gastronomic journey that celebrates the vibrant tastes of Laguna and its captivating culinary heritage.

Café Ilang-Ilang, the legendary dining destination at The Manila Hotel renowned for its extensive international buffet spread, has joined forces with Calle Arco, a historic ancestral home in Pagsanjan, Laguna, that has been transformed into a restaurant of Filipino food wonders. Together, they have crafted a culinary masterpiece that pays homage to Laguna’s annual food festival, Anilag or Ani ng Laguna, a splendid celebration of the region’s rich culinary traditions.

EJ Yap, The Manila Hotel’s Assistant Director for Food & Beverage, can barely contain his excitement about this collaboration. “We are absolutely thrilled to introduce AniLag to all the wonderful patrons of Café Ilang-Ilang. This partnership allows us to honor our cultural heritage in the most delectable way possible,” he shares.

Throughout the entire month of July, Café Ilang-Ilang will be your gateway to experiencing the magic of the Anilag festival. Brace yourselves for a carefully curated menu that showcases the authentic and time-honored recipes of Calle Arco, passed down through generations. From the very first bite, you will be transported to the heart of Laguna, where flavors dance on your palate and whisper tales of culinary tradition.

Prepare to indulge in a feast fit for royalty as you savor some of the festival’s highlights. Let your taste buds revel in the crispy, succulent goodness of Binagoongang Crispy Pata, a dish that combines the irresistible allure of crispy pork leg with the rich flavors of bagoong. Experience the regal delight of Hurnong Lechon, a roasted pig prepared with meticulous care and secret ingredients that elevate it to the status of a true gastronomic masterpiece.

But wait, there’s more! Brace yourself for a parade of flavors that will dazzle and delight. Savor the velvety richness of Kare-Kare (Galapong), a traditional Filipino stew made with a unique twist. Dive into the luscious depths of Pancit Habhab, a stir-fried noodle dish that will have you coming back for seconds. Indulge in the comforting embrace of Sinigang na Baka na may Langka, a tangy beef soup infused with the sweetness of ripe jackfruit. And that’s just the beginning!

Grilled Pla-Pla with Pako will take you on a journey to the lush landscapes of Laguna, with its perfectly grilled fish adorned with a refreshing fern salad. And for the grand finale, let the divine flavors of Kamote de Leche enchant your senses, as this delightful dessert made from sweet potatoes and creamy milk leaves you craving for more.

Are you salivating yet? Well, the good news is that these mouthwatering dishes will be available on a rotating basis throughout the month at Café Ilang-Ilang’s lunch and dinner buffets, ensuring that you have ample opportunities to indulge in Laguna’s culinary treasures. So, gather your fellow food enthusiasts, bring your appetites, and let the flavors of Laguna whisk you away on an unforgettable culinary adventure.

For more information and to secure your spot at this extraordinary celebration of flavors and culture, call (+632) 8527-0011 or (+632) 5301-5500, or simply shoot an email to restaurantrsvn@themanilahotel.com. Don’t miss out on this chance to experience the culinary wonders of Laguna right here in the heart of Manila. AniLag at Café Ilang-Ilang awaits you!

Every once in a while, we all get a craving for food that’s hefty and fatty, the kind that will make a cardiologist’s heart skip a beat (ironically so).

And when that craving comes, there’s no better (or tastier) way to assuage it than to indulge in a juicy and succulent piece of lechon.

Well, if you can’t buy the whole roasted pig, why not indulge yourself in some lechon liempo?

Liloan’s Pride Liempo combines the use of traditional culinary methods and ingredients and modern cooking processes to produce a perfectly roasted pork belly. Each serving is meticulously marinated to infuse the meat with flavor and roasted exactingly to give the skin a satisfying crunch to the bite.

Liloan’s Pride Liempo, California Garden Square

I got another taste of this famous lechon together with my fellow foodies when I joined a foodie meetup at the Liloan’s Pride Liempo store at Calfornia Garden Square in Mandaluyong.

There, our feast included:

Cebu Liempo (Php360). A huge slab or pork belly marinated and roasted Cebu lechon style. A spicy version is available for Php380 if you’re craving for additional heat.

Roasted Chicken (Php360). The chicken version of the Cebu liempo which makes for tender and juicy meat and flavorful skin.

Liempo Manok Rice Meal (Php190). The best of both worlds, really: the lechon liempo and the roasted chicken plus a cup of steamed rice in one plate.

Classic Sisig (Php160). Pampanga’s famous dish made with pig cheeks flavored with calamansi, onions and chili peppers. For me, it could use a bit more crunch and saltiness (from crushed Cebu liempo skin maybe?).

Garlic Bangus (Php220). A whole medium-sized bangus (milkfish) butterfly-filleted, marinated in garlic and vinegar then fried to a golden brown and topped with toasted garlic. It’s very fragrant from all the garlic but it could use more of the vinegar taste so keep some of the store’s sawsawan handy when you order this. A rice meal with a quarter of the garlic bangus is also available for Php99.

Pochero Meal (Php149). Pork belly slices stewed together with chickpeas, sliced bananas, potatoes, green beans and cabbage in rich tomato sauce. I find it ok but would prefer the beef version of pochero.

Beef Pares Meal (Php99). The power combo of beef asado, garlic rice and broth.

So the next time that craving comes, you know what to do! Hie yourself over to Liloan’s Pride Liempo.

Many thanks to Ms Ani Conanan and the staff of Liloan’s Pride Liempo for the meal and to Harvard of AlwaysHungryPH for extending the invitation.

This Liloan’s Pride Liempo branch is located at San Juan California Garden Square, Domingo M. Guevarra Street, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City.

Other branches may be found at

SM Hypermarket, Upper Ground Floor, Building B, SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Ground Floor, Connecticut Arcade, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan
Lower Ground Floor, SM Cubao, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Third Floor, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati City
The Block, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City
SM Hypermarket, North Wing, SM Mall of Asia, MOA Complex, Pasay City
Food Court, Second Floor, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a foodie meetup 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.

Tag: roasted pig

AniLag at Café Ilang-Ilang: Exploring Laguna’s rich flavors and heritage cuisine

Liloan’s Pride, California Garden Square