Does having a long name for a restaurant equate to long life? I’ve seen Restaurante Pia Y Damaso in Greenbelt 5 for as long as I can remember, when GB 5 was only a string of 4 or five restos. Funny that I never got to dine fully here. I thought the small space made it more ideal for desserts and coffee. Look at what I’ve been missing!
It was love at first bite between me and the Filo Tart with Pork Asado (P220). Inside, this treat is filled with asado like the kind you have in siopao. But instead of steamed bun, it’s enclosed in crunchy filo pastry & made even tastier with apple relish. A must-try.
Finally, I can say I’ve tasted crocodile meat. It’s a lot like chicken, only more chewy. You will find this in the house salad called Elias (P450 a serving). It consists of mixed greens with “seared, marinated crocodile from Davao,” caramelized pineapple, tomatoes, crisp shallots and sweet-tangy mango cilantro vinaigrette.
The pinalutong na adobong balat ng manok (crispy chicken skin & tails), P160 a serving, was my kind of chicharon. We all knew how sinful this stuff was but we just couldn’t stop eating this cholesterol-laden thing. It’s so good… with or without beer, with or without your eyes closed ….. mmmmm. Transfat heaven 🙂
At P475 per order, you might say the fried chorizo cubes with pan de sal, egg and potatoes is too indulgent for snacking or breakfast but I was totally floored over by the taste of the pan-fried El Rey chorizo from Spain. I only saw El Rey in a big can in the South Supermarket but never really got to think about them. Now I know am buying one for Christmas or going to Pia Y Damaso if the craving hits. It’s so delicioso.
Those in the know are aware of the fact that Restaurante Pia Y Damaso was named after characters in Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere which makes it more historically relevant than other restaurants in town. This dish called Ode to Heidelberg (P1,500) is a tribute to the German town where our national hero finished writing the Noli. It’s a real German dish as I remember eating this when I visited Cologne. Boiled smoked pork hock good for sharing, with four kinds of sausages and potatoes. Try this to expand your horizon beyond crispy pata 😉
The house kua pao pan de sal (two for P250) is another favorite of mine from the Pia Y Damaso menu. Pork belly is braised till tender with the delicious blending of garlic, soy sauce & star anise then topped with roasted sweet peanuts and cilantro. Am in bread heaven!
The resto has an array of absolutely heavenly desserts too but I can spend countless afternoons here with a cup of coffee and their bibingka waffle. The bibingka is topped with slivers of quezong puti and when you drizzle it further with homemade coco jam, it is a merienda like no other!
It was also nice to meet Chef Bambi Sy-Gobio, one of the owners of the restaurant who is responsible for the wonderful culinary line-up of Pia Y Damaso. In the past, I remember collecting all issues of Good Housekeeping Philippines because I liked her work as a food editor. Thanks Chef Bambi, I’ve just unearthed the mouthwatering treasures of your kingdom.
Restaurante Pia Y Damaso
2F Greenbelt 5 Makati
Tel. No. 729-5511
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