The province of Laguna is found in the CALABARZON region in Luzon. It is located southeast of Metro Manila, surrounded by the southern shores of Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country. Laguna is known as the birthplace of the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal, and it becomes the summer capital of the South as people troop to the spring resorts of Los Baños and the man-made lake of Caliraya in Sta. Cruz.
Laguna is just an hour drive from Manila and foodies from all over the country will never be disappointed as they explore filipino culinary delights offered by the province. There are numerous restaurants and cafés all besting each other with their own best seller recipes. Driving an hour from Manila to taste the food from Laguna? It will be worth your palate.
There are four eating venues in Laguna, each offering its signature menu, good enough to make you come back for another serving.
Rose & Grace – Best Seller: Hearty Batangas-style bulalo
This restaurant specializes in beef bulalo – a simple broth made from beef shanks. Their own version of Bulalo is more rustic and different from what you prepare at home. It’s all beefy flavor. No added sweetness or tasty flavorings. Rose & Grace restaurant is located along the highway in Sta. Rosa, going to Tagaytay. It’s your first food stop when traveling from Manila.
They also serve other delectable dishes including crispy tawilis – the smallest fish on earth and they only thrive in the waters of Taal Lake; ginataang tilapia, a creamy fish dish that highlights the creaminess of pure coconut milk, with mustard leaves and ginger. All food on the menu are cooked as ordered.
Arabela Cakes, Pastries, Pasta, Pizza and Coffee
Located in Liliw, Laguna, Arabela is a sure winner when it comes to continental recipes – steak, pasta, pizza and an assortment of mouth-watering desserts give tourists confusion as to what to order first, because you would want to taste them all. It has a limited dining space in a converted basement of an old house. But guests need not be taken aback by the plethora of dishes on the menu – seafood salad with honey-mustard sauce; fetuccini alfredo with grilled chicken; or the famous Laguna cheese, “kesong puti” pizza. To top them all, Arabela’s desserts such as the bread pudding and blueberry cheesecake are to die for. Arabela is located in Rizal Street in Liliw, Laguna.
Si Christina Gateau Sans Rival
Located centrally in San Pablo, Laguna, Si Christina has the most awesome desserts – from pastries, cakes, sweets and freshly-brewed coffee. Hearty meal sets are also on the menu including sandwiches and pasta dishes. They have creamy carbonara with bacon bits and bell pepper; pesto pasta with morsels of grilled chicken. Sweet specials are their winners – pistachio sans rival, Brazo de Mercedes, and the red velvet cupcakes – they are all a must-taste.
Patis Tito Garden Cafe
If it’s homegrown Filipino dishes you are after, this garden café owned by the famous couturier Patis Tesoro, offers menu which is familiarly of Negros descent. Their version of bulalo is set apart from the ordinary bulalo recipe as shrimp paste is added to the otherwise ordinary broiled beef other restaurants offer. Other light and unique dishes to try are ensaladang pako (pako is a wild fern) drizzled with vinegar and kesong puti (Laguna’s white cheese). Patis Tito Garden Café offers healthy food choices that will surely make you want to try all.
Wherever you will go, each place will have their own special culinary delight. Manila does have its own food specialty and so with other places. To know more, check out these special buffets in Manila.
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