There’s no better way to celebrate the ultimate Filipino holiday in a distinctively Filipino way – to eat, drink and be merry!
Check out PeopleAsia’s Filipino restaurant picks whose stories, flavors and ambience are the perfect backdrop for Independence Day celebrations.
 Savouring the Past: XO 46
Seeing as how so much of the country’s history is filled with colonial influences, one must wonder: what exactly is Filipino food? So much of our language is loaned from our neighbours and colonizers. Surely our food can’t be, in every sense of the word, native?
XO 46 Bistro Filipino, the brainchild of Sandee and Andrew Masigan, has undertaken the gargantuan task of finding out exactly what our ancestors in the Philippines ate in ten long months of hard research.
Named as such for our extraordinary cuisine and 1946, the year that we became a self-governing sovereign nation, XO 46 is a truly innovative experience that highlights Filipino food in a way that no other restaurant has been able to approximate. “Following 1946, and previous to our colonization by the Spanish, Benevolent Assimiliation by the Americans, and the Japanese Occupation, there was no culinary influence to exert over our palate,†says Andrew Masigan, his eyes visibly lighting up.
“We eat what’s in our landscape,†he urges.
(By Izzy Warren-Gonzalez |Â Photos by MANUEL GENEROSO)
(Sinigang na talakitok)
(Ensaladang mais)
(XO 46’s take on beef kare-kare with binagoongan rice)
(Bringhe rice and balbacua ,a favored Kapampangan delight with fresh coconut milk and turmeric)
Ilustrado: One Bite at a time
The romance begins long before you arrive at Ilustrado. The drive to scenic Intramuros and the multitude of curious sights and sounds along majestic Calle Real del Palacio lures you in and reels you back in time. It’s easy to forget the rest of the world, once you are in here.
According to Bea Pimentel, general manager and daughter of owners Boni and Rose, the restaurant is a tribute to the Filipino ilustrados from the Spanish colonial era, who were champions of education, religion and the arts during their time.
While Ilustrado prides itself in preserving the splendor and authenticity of traditional Spanish-Filipino dishes, it still strives to infuse fresh touches into the restaurant to keep it exciting and new. And with flavor and time confidently tucked under its wings, it is no wonder that this restaurant has evolved into what it is today — simply timeless.
(By DIANNE CARLA SIBAL |Â Photography by MAU AGUASIN)
(A flavoful foursome of tapas)
(Callos Madrilena topped with green chili peppers)
(A tasty platter of beef salpicao)
(The decadent super moist chocolate cake)
(The aromatic sampaguita ice cream)
Romulo Café: When in Romulo
Rich in heritage and history, Romulo Café was lovingly brought to life through the wistful hands of its matriarch, Virginia Llamas Romulo, the wife of the late general Carlos P. Romulo.
More than a space to celebrate the life of Gen. Romulo, Enzo Squillantini (husband to General Romulo’s granddaughter Sandie) reveals that Romulo Café is for the “Global Filipino.â€
(Romulo Café is for) the generation of global-minded, well-traveled individuals who are working their way towards their own brand of success.†Coming back home or sharing what is “home†to the others, Romulo Café will assuredly leave more than a fleeting memory with its rich flavors and colorful presentation.
Filipino cuisine, as foreigners and travelers have come to know, is jam-packed with bold flavors. But before people can come to realize the brilliance of Filipino cuisine, they have to get over the fact that sometimes, great flavors come in not so visually appetizing presentations. (Cue in mental images of dinuguan, bopis, mechado and other delicious dishes found at your local karinderya.)
Romulo Café takes all of this to mind, giving each dish an extra touch of love by presenting our food in a simple yet refined manner. Indeed, the restaurant elevates and brings Pinoy cuisine into a more appetizing light. There are definitely scrumptious morsels to be found on the menu, and each one is sure to stay true to our Pinoy palate.
(By KRISTEL DACUMOS – LAGORZA)
(Boneless crispy pata binagoongan)
(Ginataang sigarilyas with tinapa)
(Lola Virginia’s chicken relleno)
(Suman sa latik)
