Five Food Stops From Calamba to Los Banos

Haven't been out much lately for food trip but here are some of the must try's once again which adds to my two other posts:

Foodtrip in UPLB
Foodtrip in UPLB 2

We go a bit further away from the campus to the next barangay and to the city of Calamba trying out different dishes some old and some new. Here's a short list of great sources of goodies we have visited so far (since the last post).

1. Casa Bulgogi (Korean Restaurant)

Location: Lopez Avenue, Los Banos. (walking distance from the UPLB gate beside Eat-sumo Teri House)
Korean food! Haven't tasted that for a while now. I really like their sweet, salty dishes which is why it was no surprise that I ordered their bulgogi  dish. Of course, a korean dish will not be complete without kimchi on the side. This restaurant opened only in August and we had a chance to eat during their opening promo period, meaning free iced tea and a complimentary korean hand-made cellphone accessory.

2. Satya Graha

Location: Siving Street , 1460 Lopez Street.

Still in Los Baños and also quite near the campus, this restaurant is not really easy to find. You have to take the road beside the Maquiling Elementary School and walk a bit inside until you reach a vacant lot. It is located at the left side of the dead-end road, opposite a carwash station. I, myself wasn't sure I took the right road until I saw a sign that says "Vegetarian."
True to their sign, they served vegetarian meat-looking dishes. Their famous vegchon was surprisingly tasty but their vegetarian barbecue was delicious. They were both very filling despite their non-meat content. This place is a perfect hide-away or a place for long, undisturbed conversations.

3. Anyummet

Location: Villa del Sol Compound, National Highway, Anos, Los Baños

In the next barangay from Batong Malake is the "Fried of Ilocos." Pronounced as "Anyamet" which is an Ilocano expression, this restaurant boasts of its authentic bagnet and longganisa. And they are not wrong. Their classic bagnet is cooked to crispy perfection. They also have a poqui-poqui (eggplant) version with bagnet and one of my fave dishes kare-kare bagnet. It is a few meters away from the Original Buko Pie pasalubong store. You can't miss it.. should I say, you MUST not miss it.

4.  Cakes by Kat

Location: 2nd Floor SM Calamba

This fourth one is not exactly a restaurant, it is a booth found on the 2nd floor but they sure have really good cakes.  I tried three kinds at once that I wasn't able to take a picture before digging in. I hijacked a photo from their Facebook account below. Their bestsellers are the cheesecakes but so far, I liked the black forest best. Plus, they also sell macaroons. (not the coconut ones in Goldilocks)

5. Christine's Baby Back Ribs

Also found in SM Calamba, they have really tasty baby back ribs not to mention affordable portions. For only P100, you can get a smaller portion of the baby back ribs although they also have a bigger portion at a higher price. The picture below is the smaller portion combo with apple pie.

Healthy Living, Healthy Eating!

UPDATE: They are no longer located at PhilHealth building. According to their facebook page, they will be transferring a few blocks down the road in front of Teachers Camp. :)  (July 7, 2016)

We stumbled upon this restaurant called Live Long along Leonard wood road beside the PhilHealth building and I'm sure glad we did. They had the most delectable smoothies, tastiest pesto and interestingly different kind of wrap. The best thing about the food is that its all made from natural ingredients!

From the condiments and spices like sea salt, coconut sugar, stevia and fruits and vegetables some even coming from their own backyard, the owner makes sure to use as much unprocessed  stuff to create all the food and drinks in their menu.

Knowing the benefits of eating right by using organic food, Tina, opened her restaurant to share her knowledge and her love of delicious but healthy dishes. She was able to create tasty and creative plates and drinks, especially smoothies, blending different things together to make beautiful and appetizing masterpieces, named creatively as well.

Their food can be portioned for sharing but of course, can also be enjoyed solo. The cute cabbage wrap was something new. Chicken chunks wrapped in cabbage leaves like a sushi roll and were steamed nicely, with the cabbage leaves still a bit crispy. The soy sauce blended with chili sauce and a bit of lemon was a great dipping sauce,

I am a recent fan of juicing fruits and vegetables but I have not tried anything with yogurt. It was a real treat to try their apple, pineapple, banana and yogurt smoothie and one I will definitely have again. It was served in a mason jar, good for one, also good for sharing. Let them know, and they'll provide shot glasses.

The pesto, oh the pesto... It may seem just like another ordinary pesto pasta dish but definitely is not. The dish is just bursting with flavor. The amount of olive oil was just right that it didn't overpower the other spices. The noodles were al dente, and they have added a special ingredient which I won't mention but you would have to discover for yourself when you visit the place.

The ambiance is perfect, a little out of the business district and parking space outside.

Overall, a must-try for all health-conscious and even for those who are not. You can visit their fb page here. :)     

Great Food Places in Baguio

Every time I write about food places in Baguio, there's another new one to try out. Here is the third of the posts I have written about the oh-so-yummy places we have tried and won't definitely be the last.

Places along Session Road

1. Luto ni Juan

Location: Ground floor of Prime Hotel, Session Road
From its name, you already can get a feel of what to expect. Litson manok, pancit, liempo and other lutong-bahay. The best thing is you can get plates with mixed chicken and liempo or fish with chicken complete with soup and a bit of vegetables on the side.

2. Oh My Gulay/ Vocas

Location: Top floor of La Azotea building, Upper Session Road
There are a lot of blogs written for this place. Two things I like: Talong Parmigiana and the view of one side of the city.

3. Cake Palace

Location: 4th Floor Porta Vaga Building, Upper Session Road
It was my first time to try lychee flavored tea and the mixed fruit teas. They both had a delightful smell but I liked the lychee better. Plus, they also have the rainbow cake.

4. Calajo 

Location: Upper Session Road, where the Mandarin Restaurant used to be
I first saw this place in La Trinidad, and now have branched out to the city. I was surprised at how nifty they were able to transform the old Mandarin to a hip and modern style. The food? I love their yogurt and their vegetable salad. They also have large servings of bread.

5. Beanstalk

Location: 2nd Floor of the City Center Hotel, Lower Session Road
Convenient location and also the best view to watch the Flower Festival along session road. They serve chicken floss bread which goes well with their brewed coffee. Their cakes were too sweet for my taste though.

6. Pamana/Hawaiian BBQ/ Tsokolateria

Location: Upper Session Road, behind SM Baguio
This place used to be Barrio Fiesta where we usually buy the best Crispy Pata. We tried this new place and glad to find they have "inherited" my mom's favorite delicious dish. Their ambiance really speaks out the restaurant's name as old family pictures in large frames and mirrors hung on walls and ceilings. The motif of black and white for the tables and chairs adds a classic look.

Assumption road. A bit away from Session Road but still walking distance. 

7. Ili-Likha

Location: Assumption road, in front of the Saint Louis Elementary School
A food community built by the same artist who built the Oh My Gulay Restaurant, this place encourages healthy eating with the organic and healthy menus the different food stalls offer. You can easily tell the similarity in ambiance with Oh My Gulay by the built-in art in walls and floors. I was only able to try a few, Lihim ni Maria's fried ice cream and basil sandwich.

Mines View Area. A little further from the Ketchup Community

8. Amare La Cucina

Location: Within Albergo Hotel, a few meters from where they rent the horses
Perfect pizza! So far the best brick-oven pizza I have ever tasted. This place definitely tops my list of great sumptuous thin-crust pizza. Every bite is a delight. Their house blend of Mint iced tea is a must-try. But for the coffee lover, their Capuccino is really smooth. I have been wanting to go to this place because of numerous good reviews and was finally able to. And all I can say is it was all worth the rave.

Good Food in Baguio 2

A lot of local restaurants in Baguio with their bestselling goodies have ceased to exist in the past few years. Some recent ones are Star Cafe and their huge cinammon bread, authentic Chinese food in Mandarin Restaurant ( i love their almond lychee dessert) and the famous streamline cake by Session's Delight. Much to the dismay of Baguio residents, these restaurants which we have grown to love have closed for different reasons. There are still some which remain and two of which we just recently discovered.

Let's start within the city center going out to the borders of the city limits.

1. Ebai's Cafe and Pastry

Location: Upper Session Road, beside Zola and Cathedral
Personally, I love their apple walnut cake. This is best matched with a cup of hot steaming brewed coffee. This probably is one of the best ways to start the a cold day in Baguio. Aside from the pastries, they also serve breakfast and meryenda.

2. Solibao Restaurant

Location: Upper Session Road and in Burnham Park
One of the best place to get puto bumbong all year round. Its mostly served as a dessert and is most delectable when eaten hot with melted butter and muscovado to add sweetness. They have other delicious meals like sinigang, liempo, gising-gising and other Filipino food. Solibao is a constant favorite because of the convenient location and of course, their good food.

Solibao's famous puto bumbong

Liempo

Spicy gising-gising

fish sinigang

pinakbet

 3. Uncle & Auntie Half-Half Eatery

Location: Along Marcos Highway, besides Mamita's Restaurant

Moving outward the city center, this place is not exactly a restaurant but a lot of people eat here because of their half-half viand. Its made up of half pork and half beef in a bowl of pinapaitan soup. Its quite affordable ranging from 90 to 120, with rice and free bulalo soup included.

Pinakbet, beefereta and their famous half-half

4. Marosan's Restaurant

Location: Long-long beside the Puguis Communal Forest

Marosan's is a common name both in Baguio and in La Trinidad. We found this place by accident when we were taking the circumferential road from La Trinidad to Baguio. The place at the time was still having some renovations but just like the other Marosan's they also serve alcohol aside from food. We were there around 4pm and there was a live band playing. We also had a chance to talk to the owner, Sir Johnny and he gave us a free tour of the place. They had a view deck where you can see a large area of La Trinidad. Beneath the restaurant was "resort-like" structures complete with a pool and cottages. It is still under renovation but it is a great place to relax and have some peace and quiet under the pine trees where birds and butterflies abound.

This is the second part of my Good Food blog in Baguio. Here's the first in case you missed it. :)