Food Trip Ba Kamo?

Here's something I put together from a producing stint I did for The Filipino Channel (TFC) last month.  Basically we were on search (well, I searched and we were all set to try haha) some of the outrageous/unique restaurants in the Metro.

Sharing here some really cool places we visited for that kakaibang food and kakaibang dining experience. :)

Coconut House

Quezon City Memorial Circle
(02)3924115

First stop was Coconut House. You know how coconut is called the 'tree of life' 'cause of the endless byproducts you can get from it? Well, this restaurant sorta proved that point by making endless dishes and desserts with coconut. And I mean EVERY dish and dessert in the resto has coconut.

Loco over coco. || All dishes from breakfast, lunch, dinner and merienda are made with coconut. 

The Coconut House is the brainchild of owner Jun Castillo, who not only loves coconut (obviously), but promotes coconut byproducts to help coconut farmers all over the country. He's been fighting for farmers'  rights and supporting the Philippine coconut industry for the past 30 years. Big thumbs up for our guy. 

The resto also cosigns coconut products from different provinces.

My "foodtripper" Vince learning more about the restaurant's history from store manager Chris. 

Shout out to my friend's friend, Vince, who agreed to host the segments. It's his first on-cam stint, but he was really good that the interviewees thought he hosts other shows as well. :) We still refer to him as the guy-na-napulot-ko-kasi-mukhang-malakas-kumain. Haha. Thanks Vince!

Anyway, the food. Coconut House serves your favorite Pinoy dishes-- with some coco twist. We were able to try their bestsellers- Pancit Buko, Coco-Okoy, Sinigang na Liempo sa Buko and Halo-halo.

Clockwise from large photo: set meal; Sinigang na Liempo sa Buko; Halo-Halo; Pancit Buko and Coco-Okoy.

I bet you're all wondering how on earth does Pancit Buko taste like (?!) haha.

Well, the pancit definitely tastes... uhm, interesting. :) It's the kind of stuff that needs a bit of getting used to before you really appreciate the taste. Sinigang is my favorite ulam ever, so altering the dish didn't exactly work for me. :| My favorite would have to be the Coco-Okoy and Halo-Halo.
The sweet, soft coconut strands works really well with the salty, crispy okoy. Dip it in vinegar and the flavors just all come together. It's a whole lotta healthier too.
Their halo-halo, is to die for! I swear it's the best halo-halo I've tried so far (Aling Taleng's since-1933 halo-halo in Pagsanjan comes a close second :p). Chris says it's because they use coco milk ice cream instead of ice. Yum!

The restaurant has its patrons and a steady traffic of customers from health junkies in QC Circle. Not to mention first-timers and foodies. Whether its to feed your tummy or your curiosity, the Coconut House is a sure must-try.

Kanto Freestyle Breakfast

San Joaquin St., Plainview Mandaluyong
(02)4002268

Kanto Fresstyle Breakfast is a hole in the wall eatery that serves, wait for it... gourmet food. O-ja!

Not your typical karinderia.

Vince ready to try some Kanto eats.

Literally located by the kanto, it serves food like eggs benedict, pancakes, hungarian sausage with potato wedges all gourmet-style. Even their cooks are in full chef get up!
Freestyle, because you can have your meals customized- how many strips of bacon, what goes with your fried rice and tapa and so on.
But no, this place is not just for breakfast because it's open 24/7. Good news for  all you who want to try it out. :)

Hea-ven-ly. || Mixed Berry Pancakes.

I was still full with the coco-goodies so I passed up on the dishes here. But THIS, heavenly stack of pancakes was just too good to say no to. It tastes just as awesome at it looks. :)

I'd definitely be back here to try all their other dishes. Did I mention that Kanto Freestyle is also totally budget-friendly? Everything on their menu is below 100 bucks.

Chef Arch's Lime: Streetfood na Pina-Sosyal

San Rafael St., Plainview, Mandaluyong

(02)7755428

Just on the street next to Kanto Fresstyle is its popular counterpart- Chef Arch's Lime: Streetfood na Pina-Sosyal (formerly called Lime 88).  The two restos  are yin and yang of some sort, if Kanto Freestyle serves gourmet by the kanto, Lime is casual dining that serves street food with a twist.

Both restaurants are brainchild of brothers Vince and Chef Archie Val Juanta. 

Street Style Barbecue Platter

Quail Eggs Tempura

Creamy Garlic Tuyo Pasta

These are just some of the pina-sosyal street food that Lime has to offer. We were also able to try their Balut in Red Wine Sauce and Adobo Hash with Bacon Scented Betamax. They even have their pina-sosyal desserts like Ice Scramble and cocktails like Choc-Nut Martini, how cool is that?:)

The food were all good (I give the Tuyo Pasta my My Fave stamp), but I guess what makes them more enjoyable is the sense of familiarity in all the dishes. I mean these are our comfort food and cheap thrills taken to the next level (not to mention plated be-a-u-tifully.) Do pop in here for the food or just the experience, the place is perfect for barkada night outs and dinner dates. :)

La Cocina de Tita Mooning

San Rafael St, San Miguel, Manila

(02)7342146, (02)7342141

strictly by reservation only

From kanto and street foods to fine dining in an elegant ancestral home. I give you La Cocinca de Tita Moning! Haha.

The place used to be the home of the Legarda's until they decided to turn it into a restaurant several years back.

Elegance down to the smallest details.

Vince said if he were to visit La Cocina again it would be for two things; 1) the food and 2) the place itself. And I couldn't agree more, the Legarda's did a pretty good job preserving all their stuff that the restaurant is nothing short of a family museum. Everything from furnitures to paintings, old cameras, silverware, radio equipment, wardrobe- you name it.

Clockwise from large photo: living room; authentic hand-painted china; me camwhoring by the antique wardrobe;
fancy dresser; antique radio equipment. 

Their table set up gives 5-star hotels a run for their money.

L-R: wine collection; dining set up.

All guests, whether you're a group, a couple or going solo, gets to tour the entire house with their warm and friendly staff. Look for Ma'am Tining, she's the head of the staff and been with the Legarda's since 1970's. She even ended up marrying the family chaufeur. :) Anyway, she knows the entire family and house history so do ask for her when you dine there.

The tour is just half the fun, there's still the food to enjoy.:) All the dishes served are from family heirloom recipes. These are Spanish-Filipino recipes of Tita Moning that had been passed on to the third generation.

All dishes made with love. :)

I forgot the names of the dishes (sue me hehe), but I have to say they were all really, really, really delicious! You can tell that the dishes were all made with love and the recipes, tested through time. It was a dining experience that reminds us of things that are truly Pinoy- the value for family, and the love for food. 

All in all, it was one delicious production (shout to my wingman, Mac as well). :)

Vince told me that a friend of his in Germany saw our segments and thanked him for making the videos 'cause "they make us connect to home." And I couldn't be happier for that comment. More than suggestions of foodie spots Pinoys here and abroad can try out, if one Pinoy felt a tad less homesick after watching these segments, then I guess we did our part. :)

'Til next food trip!

Roanni