Something about Old Houses Turned Into Restaurants in Metro Manila

Will Fly for Food

I love eating in posh, modern restaurants (who doesn't) but there is definitely something else when you eat in old houses turned into restaurants in Metro Manila. First thing is, you always begin to "feel" the history of the place once you step inside. You try to imagine how the former residents had lived there.

Last night we were treated to dinner at Bagoong Club on Dr. Lazcano Street in Diliman, Quezon City, just a few minutes from Tomas Morato. Outside it looked very much like any old house in the area except that it announced a curious sounding resto business (although the facade didn't look that exciting. See image on the left).

Some eateries tickle your appetite at first glance even a mile away. With Bagoong Club, my very first thought was, "A house?"

I mean, from afar it wasn't impressive. But up-close, after parking the car and alighting, you'd see how it actually looks good at night with the lighting effect and a homey welcome at the entrance. You'd feel you were specially invited as a guest for dinner at a home where the mom did the cooking. And traditional moms cooked awesome traditional food dishes.

Yet, hearing the resto for the first time, I wondered whether the chow there would be a nice dining experience---would we eat nothing but bagoong food dishes? That would be boring. But at the same time, something in the nook and cranny of your brain told you the menu would probably be something very innovative and creative. I mean, just look at the interior of the reception.

How the place looked at night.
Image from Jay Jay Lucas

They made a cozy reception area of the living room with framed pictures all over the walls boasting of celebrities who have dined there---I saw pics of President Duterte, the late German Moreno, Pauline Luna, Cory Quirino (I think), and many others. The living room set reminded me of my lola's house in Bulusan and the blend of various wood planks against the concrete walls created a soft, homey ambiance.

Hmm, the place was impressive after all. Too bad I and my wife forgot to bring our cams!

Now, for the menu. Have you ever heard of "Puro Kababuyan"? That's how they named one portion of their pork menu. It easily caught our attention and soon found the rest of the menu amusing. But sometimes, that's the problem with amusing menus---it's hard to decide what to experiment on. It was both exciting and risky. What if it turned out bad? So we tried those that still sounded somewhat traditional---Crunchy Dinuguan, Bulalong Mungo, Crunchy Insalada (the best), Kare-Kare, Okoy, and of course, Binagoongan Rice.

Tsinoy Foodies

Strips of chilled and crunchy turnips were served as appetizers with interesting selections of bagoong in two flavors and shades. I used to buy something like this in the streets of La Loma when I was in grade school, but his was definitely a leveled up, improved, posher version. And appetize my palate, it did!

I loved how the Okoy was presented like a fountain on freeze mode, the long, crunchy strips of camote (with crunchy shrimps in between) serving as "shooting water." The concocted vinegar dip that came with it was "ulam" enough with rice. You can see tiny herb particles floating that enriched the flavor better.

I loved everything, but what we ate at KAMBAK in Sto. Tomas, La Union was still something else.

Anyway, after dinner, I tried to look around Bagoong Club. What looked like its former side garage was turned into an elegant dining area. Looking for the men's restroom, I was led upstairs where I took a peek at some rooms with their doors slightly opened, but it was too dark inside to see anything. They were probably offices. Then I imagined how they had been used as bedrooms by their former occupants. At the same time, I remembered how people say old houses hide some spooky mysteries in them. All old houses look strange and mysterious and can easily stimulate the naughty thoughts of a curious mind.

By the way, there are other old houses in Metro Manila which have been tuned into restaurants. You shouldn't miss La Cocina de Tita Moning on San Rafael Street in San Miguel, Manila near Malacanang and the office I used to work in. Casa Roces is another one in the same vicinity, at the corner of JP Laurel and Aguado. Cafe Ysabel in San Juan. And Ninyo Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge on Esteban Abada Street, Loyola Heights in Quezon City. Just to name a few.

What I Discovered in Sto. Tomas and San Fernando La Union

KAMBAK Restaurant serving
mouthwatering Ilocano cuisines.

La Union is the province that links Pangasinan to the North, especially to Ilocos. Legend says that before naming the province of La Union, Pangasinan used to be at war with the North.

Then the folks living in between began reconciling both provinces. That's when it was started to be called La Union or The Union.

But that's not the discovery I'm referring to here. It's something more exciting than that.

Recently we went to La Union to attend a funeral and along the way I discovered some things new to me.

First, it was my first time to use the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX). It only took us from a few minutes to about an hour to reach our destination from Balintawak. After a continuous drive passing by Tarlac and Pangasinan overlooking vast acres of rice fields and mango orchards, we found ourselves already in Binalonan, Pangasinan.

After the bridge that connect Binalonan to La Union, we felt hungry and looked for a nice place to lunch. Along MacArthur highway in Sto, Tomas (to your right when going to San Fernando), we discovered this fine eatery serving superb native Ilocano dishes---KAMBAK.

At first, I wondered what KAMBAK was all about. I thought the ad concept was that you'd "come back" (kambak) to the place after you get a taste of how good the food dishes are. But after we asked management, it turned out the resto's specialties are Kambing and Baka native dishes. Thus, KAMBAK. The menu sounded interesting and we ordered dishes that sounded the most exciting.

Aside from the popularly known dishes like pinakbet, dining-ding and pinapaitan, we tried Kinigtot (which we were told meant "surprised" beef). But the pinakbet was far from being just ordinary. So with the dining-ding and pinapaitan. Aside from being authentic, the flavors were enhanced so that each bite tickled your appetite more. The kinigtot tasted like pinapaitan without the bitter taste.

Sunset at the beach from our hotel's window and terrace.
San Fernando,La Union.

We also tried their binagoongan rice, kilawing kambing, bagnet, bagnet pinakbet, tinolang native chicken (which was so tasty and the chicken meat was tender), and sinigang salmon head. They were all perfect.

After lunch, we decided we'd definitely come back to KAMBAK on our way back home.

When we got to San Fernando, we looked for a hotel. There were few hotels in the city. After we did, and after a short nap, we looked around and found this view of the sea that highlighted the sunset. The hotel itself wasn't that nice but the beachfront at the back somewhat compensated for the lack. When we got back from the funeral, we found the beds comfy enough and the air-conditioning working. There was water in the bathroom and toilet. That was good enough for a cheap hotel.

Hotel in San Fernando.

Oh, during the funeral, we were treated to a dinner where I tasted crunchy and tasty fried "espada" or sword fish partnered with fresh tomatoes. The triangular suman (rice cake wrapped in leaves) cooked in gata or coconut milk was delectable and creamy.

Back to the hotel, which was beginning to be a mystery to me. The picture above is the hotel's corridor and staircase. When my wife first stayed here years back (also for a funeral) with her family, she told me of a scary episode. The lights turned off by themselves and there were strange knocks on the door. And she said they felt something eerie.

View of the highway in the morning. Taken
in front of the hotel.

Anyway, back to our stay there. In the morning, the hotel restaurant offered delicious breakfast, which was somewhat surprising. I didn't expect the tapa and fried egg  to be as I wanted them and the pancit guisado was superb with its fresh and really crunchy vegetables. I had several repeat servings which proved too much for my tummy. It became bloated later, but the trick was to walk some and not drink water until an hour after breakfast.

Establishments in front of the hotel.

For lunch, we roamed around San Fernando and saw a Tapa King outlet where I had pinakbet. It was unexpectedly delicious for its cheap price of only P49.00. Then we went straight for the church funeral.

After the funeral service and burial, we proceeded home and made good our promise---to be back to KAMBAK. We had almost the same menu and enjoyed them all the more. I told myself, I have to feature this resto on my blog. If you want to follow in my footsteps when traveling up North, make sure to drop by KAMBAK and sample the dishes I mentioned here. And muse how the Local Hiker also ate the same in that very restaurant. In a sense, we have crossed paths.

Make Sure You See These Places in Tagaytay this Summer!

Cool climate and tough ridges. That's what I think about Tagaytay. What most folks know about it are the usual sights---Picnic Grove, Palace in the Sky, views of Taal plus the colorful fruit stands and bulalo restaurants around.

But Tagaytay is really more than that. Take these spots for instance:

From the Museo Orlina website.

Museo Orlina

Ramon Orlina is a famed glass artist the world over. And you can drop by his museum in Tagaytay called Museo Orlina and see his unique glass sculptures. You also enjoy works of other artists using various art media. After checking out the artworks---or after a tiring tour around Tagaytay---you may relax at its coffee shop on the roof deck.

The place also features exhibits, art and music, and other artists. If you want to see what art in Tagaytay housed in a posh and modern museum looks and feels like, then we'll see you at this place.
Ramon Orlina is a pioneer in glass sculpture in the Philippines and a foremost practitioner in the same. See his unique compositions the next time you visit Tagaytay.

It's located along Hollywood St. in Hollywood Subdivision, Tolentino East, Tagaytay (near Sta. Rosa).

Image from PhilStar.

Twin Lakes Shopping Village

First, it only had Starbucks, said to be the best outlet in the country. Today, this tourist hangout is among the best food-trip destinations in Tagaytay. If you love eating at a cool mountain spot in this city, sampling French and Italian desserts and eating exciting palatable breakfasts and dinners while overlooking scenic spots, then don't miss this place.

Some eatery options---Bag of Beans, Buon Giorno, The Farm, Bagoong Club, Fruitcakery, La Crepenie and Silver Bucket, to name a few. The place is in Barangay Dayap, Itaas, near the Nasugbu Highway.

41st Division USAFFE Marker

It's okay to enjoy the Sky Ranch theme park with the family, but I didn't include it here because it's become too popular. No need to introduce it. It will be like talking about Luneta Park---it's recommendable but no need to introduce it.

Get historical for a while in Tagaytay and drop by the USAFFE Marker. It's just near the Metro Tagaytay College of Business and Arts and the site where the United States Armed Forces in the Far East landed during World War II. The 41st USAFFE paratroopers picked this site because of its thick forest and high-peaked terrain before proceeding to liberate Manila from the Japanese Imperial Army. 

It's nice revisiting the past with your family now and then and ponder on the past.

Google Map

The Good Shepherd

Of course, there are other more exciting places here than The Good Shepherd---like Zipline Tagaytay in Picnic Grove, the Bath House at Qiwellness Living, Residence Inn Zoo where there's also a zipline, and Paradizoo. 

But it so happens that ube jam is my favorite, especially if you buy it freshly baked. You can only buy that at The Good Shepherd along Tagaytay Road in Sta. Rosa.

Other sweet delicacies are available here (and said to be the best in the city), pasalubongs, root crops like camote and ube, and of course, its popular halo-halo topped with the best tropical fruits, desserts, ice cream and ube jam. 

Parking is ample. You can drop by there and take pictures, shop while eating ube jam, warm and freshly out of the oven. Nothing beats the experience. I think it has the best ube jam in the Philippines.

The Really Exciting Thing about Bohol's Loboc River Cruise

Image from philpad.com

Bohol's Loboc River cruise---the first time I heard of it when I was a new content writer (or what I call "online hiker") for a Philippine travel blog, I immediately fell in love with it. Imagine this huge raft made of bamboo, nipa and other native materials floating along the river while the crew team serves you delectable meals.

What could be a better travel experience in Bohol?

And I'd heard how charming Bohol was and how enchanting its forest life was which mesmerizing tarsiers made even more mysterious. So, as Juan Hiker, I immediately and desperately desired a visit to Bohol---and especially try the Loboc River cruise.

Sadly, it still remains to be seen.

But I'm an online hiker and nothing can stand in my way trying to have a virtual Bohol trip. So I packed up and hiked on the Net and started the adventure.

Refreshing Drinks First

So, as soon as you get on board the raft or boat, the crew team offers you a refreshing drink. If I were there I'd opt for the fresh coconut juice anytime, with the clear sweet juice still intact inside the coconut shell. They just cut off the top,  put in a straw and serve.

Lunch Buffet

Then buffet lunch is served---before any cruising starts. This is probably so your sightseeing along the river won't be interrupted by your lunch. You focus on your lunch first and then the sightseeing later. And what is lunch all about?

Aside from mouthwatering native Filipino and Boholano cuisines, you are surprisingly treated to a wide array of European and Asian food dishes. And no wonder, because a lot of foreigners are often on board. They get it all balanced even---you have dishes of meat, chicken, vegetables, fruits, pasta, rice, and desserts.

The Cruise

After lunch, the cruise starts. Now you can forget about food or lunch (although the rich flavor of the food dishes you enjoyed still linger in your mouth) and focus on the sightseeing, picture-taking and talking with other fellow passengers.

You see the rich forest life of Loboc, Bohol---the lush green vegetation and wilds and the light green river water itself. You catch sights of more native huts along the river---eloquent description of Loboc life on the riverbanks---and other small fishing boats. The 30-minute ride going to and then another 30-minute ride going back will take you to a different world, amazing enough to make you forget city life for a while.

Then, when you see the small Busay Falls you'd know the cruise is in its final chapter. The P450 you paid was all worth it.

What's the really exciting thing about Loboc River cruise? It's simply to be there, enjoying everything!

Next destination? How about the centuries old Loboc Church? Or a zipline adventure that runs across the Loboc forest, river and waterfalls?

Being Beefy about Life to Succeed

Often, you have to be beefy about life, that's what I always tell myself. The thought comes to me especially when I eat this special Pinoy beef dish we call Bulalo.

I believe the best bulalo dish comes from Tagaytay, that is, except if you can show me one better tasting (and that means you have to invite and treat me for a good meal of your bulalo version to convince me).

It's a beef stew with the bone marrow included and giving that yummy kick to it, plus a  lot of crunchy vegetables I love. Like the one in the picture which we enjoyed in one restaurant we tried in Tagaytay overlooking Taal Lake. After 5 days of nothing but conference meets, my friend treated us to lunch and ordered 2 bowlfuls of bulalo with big plates of pancit, fried chicken and spring rolls. The place was so relaxing because of the panoramic view of Taal right in front of us.

Oh, the restaurant's name? It was Leslie's, along Nasugbu Highway in Tagaytay.

Being beefy about life means you always "eat" or take in life principles that are nothing short of solid and "protein-packed" wisdom that build a tough mettle or mental disposition in you. A lot of times you have to be extremely tough---but even real beef food dishes need to be tenderized to be enjoyed. Tough but tender---that's one thing I really need to be able to travel long distances being Juan Hiker.