Good Food, Rumor and Humor at Restaurante Pia Y Damaso

It would be ideal to write this article in Filipino.  But for the benefit of my international audience, I have written it in English.  Besides, how would I make an exact Filipino translation of "truffle cake with white chocolate-almond pastille with dark chocolate mousse and ganache."

Menu Logo

Restaurante Pia Y Damaso offers Fil-Hispanic fusion cuisine, specifically inspired by the dishes and characters in Noli Me Tangere, Jose Rizal’s subversive novel depicting the oppression of the Filipino people by the Spanish government and clergy during the colonization.  The ambience of the restaurant brings you back to old Hispanic times.  The glass bead chandeliers provided subdued lighting while the façade, interior and furnitures are mostly in white. 

Me and my bank colleagues in the enclosed area near the entrance door

Dining at Pia Y Damaso is a colorful experience.  The name itself provides a juicy rumor.  Dona Pia Alba, Kapitan Tiago’s wife, was rumored to have asked the help of Padre Damaso through prayer requests so she could bear a child.  Dona Pia gave birth to Maria Clara, whose real father was later revealed to be Padre Damaso.  Whether Dona Pia was raped by or had an affair with Padre Damaso is a matter of argument.  One could only guess or read between the lines of the Noli's chapters.

Other colorful characters of Noli include Dona Victorina and Dona Consolacion, two matriarchs that provided comic relief even as they frequently fought in the novel. 

The protagonists of course are the star-crossed lovers, Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara.

The menu's dishes, desserts and beverage are all adapted from Noli.  There’s the Tinola, Callos, Paella, Camarron Cocido, Valenciana, Tsokolate Eh and many more. 

Some of the main dish, desserts and beverages even bear the names of the characters of the famous novel. 

Kapitan Tiago’s Kare-Kare -native beef and ox tripe stew in peanut sauce with shrimp paste Php 600

Placido Penitente- a logical faux paella negra Php 400

Croque Monja - pan-fried sandwich with Malagos goat cheese Php 280 (I think this is dedicated to Maria Clara, remember she was interned in a nunnery at the end of the novel)

The desserts merited a lot of the Noli characters.

Ben Zayb Coffee Banana Tart- spiced cookie crust with Belgian chocolate silk, caramelized bananas, whipped cream, dark chocolate ganache and caramel sauce. Php 160

Brazo ni Dona Vicki- chewy meringue with fresh butter curd Php100

De Espadana Quezo De Bola Cheesecake- baked cheesecake with santol, prune and fig compote Php 220

Ibarra’s Kiss- hazelnut chocolate torten with dark chocolate mousse, caramel cheese and candied orange confit Php 175

Maria Clara’s Velvety White Chocolate Cheesecake- baked cheesecake with native Davao lime and calamansi marmalade Php 220

Salvi’s Canonigo- baked caramel lined meringue with vanilla crème and fresh mangoes Php100

Sisa’s Dementia- truffle cake with white chocolate-alnond pastille, dark chocolate mousse and ganache Php 175

Torta ni Juli- baked crumble tart with spiced apples, guapple and red cherries Php 125

Tsokolate Eh and Toasted Ensaimada Quezo De Bola- made with Davao tablea cacao and Malagos goat milk served with toasted ensaimada Php 250

Tubig ni Maria Clara- a pitcher of cucumber juice with citrus slices and ginger shreds (good for 4-6 people) Php 300

We had ham and chicken croquettes for appetizer.  For main dish, we had Kapitan Tiago’s Kare-Kare, Pork Belly with Chorizo and Chickpeas, Roast Chicken with Sherry and Pimiento, Camarron Cocido and steamed organic rice.  These dishes are very typical of Spanish cuisine—rich in sauce and garnishings.  Olive oil is always present in the taste (Spain has vast olive plantations).  To quench our thirst, we had Tubig ni Maria Clara.  I forgot to advise the waiter to lessen the ginger or not put any ginger at all in the drink.  Next time I won’t forget.

Ham and chicken croquettes

Kapitan Tiago's Kare-Kare

Pork belly with chorizo and pimiento

Camarron Cocido

Tubig ni Maria clara

To satisfy our sweet cravings, we ordered Sisa’s Dementia, Ibarra’s Kiss and Maria Clara’s Velvety White Chocolate Cheesecake, along with Davao Malagos Goat Milk Leche Flan.  We were unanimous in saying that Sisa’s Dementia and Ibarra’s Kiss were the winners in our sanity and on our lips.  We finished off our meals with brewed coffee, a special blend of Arabica beans from Latin America.

Malagos Goat Milk Leche Flan, mmmm so milky

So good Sisa's Dementia, we did not scream out, "Basilio! Crispin!" though

Maria Clara's Velvety White Chocolate Cheesecake, so delicate and silky...

Who could resist Ibarra's Kiss?

Just like the people dining in restaurantes during the Spanish colonial era, we had little gossips, laughter and sharing of dreams and aspirations in between meals. 

Restaurante Pia Y Damaso has only one store, located only at 2^nd Floor of Greenbelt 5.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 spoons