Dining has never been so fine after visiting Adarna Food and Culture. This restaurant, located along Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City, serves more than just good Filipino food: they also serve customers a heaping spoonful of culture and nostalgia with every bite. Indeed, Beth Angsioco has done a wonderful job in putting the restaurant together.

Chef Giney Villar, wearing black in the picture above, is the genius working in the kitchen and responsible for the wonderful dining experience that Adarna is known for. My personal thanks to the students of St. Joseph College, with special mention to Ms. Eena for inviting us bloggers to this event.

So what did we eat? Let’s start with the soup.

Chicken Mole Soup – chicken chunks in savory coconut milk with pechay and spices. A dish reminiscent of our Southeast Asian Heritage.  P135.00 (US$ 2.70) per order.

Sigarillas Salad – adapted from a salad served by the long-time cook of a convent school. Light and refreshing winged beans, onion and tomato dressed in a citrusy vinaigrette and sprinkled with Ilocano bagnet (bagnet is deep-fried pork belly cooked three ways) bits… P140.00 (US$2.80) per order.

Seafood Special – a true-blue Manila family shares an Iberian style seafood dish of shrimps, scallops and fish in a flavorful tomato-olive oil sauce topped with bell pepper, fried onions and parsley. P471.00 (US$9.42) per order.

Chicken Relleno – roasted chicken stuffed with chorizo, ham, quezo de bola, nuts, dried fruits and everything nice! Courtesy of a 1940s recipe notebook. It takes a whole day (or more) to prepare this spicy dish making it a measure of the importance of the occasion and the guests… Good for two to three persons. P448.00 (US$8.96) per order.

Adobong Batangas ala Adarna – The base recipe for this pork dish was generously shared by architect-granddaughter of prominent family from Batangas City. Adarna uses the original ingredients with other traditional cooking methods on a defining Filipino classic. P176.00 (US$3.52) per order.

Pancit 1913 – Chinese panciterias popularized this favorite take-home one-dish meal that working people, rich and poor, would willingly queue for as a take home treat for their loved ones after a long day’s work. Good for two people. P280.00 (US$5.60) per order.

Piassok – Hankering for something really different? From Mindanao, experience this exotic Sulu dish if beef chunks cooked slowly in smoked coconut cream and ten spices till tender then buttered and grilled just before serving. Great with beer or red wine. P304.00 (US$6.08) per order.

Kesong Puti and Langka Fry – Original Malolos, Bulacan carabao cheese and sweetened langka (jackfruit) in a crisp wrapper with mango cream sauce. A surprise treat. Four pieces. P86.00 (US$1.72) per order.

I highly recommend that you visit Adarna Food and Culture located at 119 Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City with telephone numbers +632 926-8712, mobile number +63 917 961 8113. You can email them at adarnafoodandculture@yahoo.com.