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

Japanese Doll Lipsticks!

Dolls have been a part of the Japanese culture.  One of the most adored Japanese dolls is the Kokeshi doll.  It is a doll that is made of hand painted wooden material bearing the face and cylindrical body of a little girl. 

My own Kokeshi doll, 4" in height, 1 1/2 " in width

Product description on the packaging

The Kokeshi doll has been used in the olden days as a form of art and craftsmanship of the Japanese villagers.  To this day, the Kokeshi dolls are being given as a form of gift for Japanese people and as souvenirs for tourists.  The material used has varied though, some Kokeshi dolls now may be made of machine-painted or printed plastic.  The traditional wooden Kokeshi would always be preferred by a collector. 

The Kokeshi charm has been put to several uses.  At first glance, these cute Kokeshis may be mistaken as miniature dolls or keychains.  

Cute Kokeshi dolls, take your pick!  1 1/2 " in height, 3/4 " in width

But look, the bottom part of the body is actually a lipstick wand, covered by the face and dress which serve as cap.  These lipsticks, sans carmine color, are lip balms in the form of lipsticks.  They smell fruity with a hint of urea.  Urea is a moisturizer usually found in cosmetics and skin care products especially made for sensitive skin.  Cetaphil, a skin care brand for dry-sensitive skin  has a urea content.

These Kokeshis are actually fruity balms in lipsticks

Who would have thought that these cute Kokeshis are lip soothers?

I'm not sure if these Kokeshi lipsticks could be easily found elsewhere.  I stumbled upon them in one of my shopping sprees and I hoarded the majority of the pack.  I have not actually used any of them to soothe my lips.  I just love looking at them and smelling them.

Good news though, the traditional wooden Kokeshi dolls could be found in most Asian art and souvenir shops.  

The traditional Japanese wooden Kokeshi dolls behind me

A doll is always a thing of beauty.

Go Gaga Over Balenciaga (Greenbelt 5 Showcase)

Cristobal Balenciaga has been dubbed by Christian Dior as "the Master of us all".  Some of the great designers who have been proteges of Balenciaga include Oscar dela Renta and Hubert de Givenchy.  Balenciaga had clothed Spanish royalties and aristocrats since he started his business in 1918.  His legacy had spread from Spain to Europe, Americas and Asia.

Balenciaga Greenbelt 5 brings the beauty and quality of Balenciaga products to the Philippines, being the exclusive distributor of the famous Spanish luxury brand in the country.   Balenciaga Greenbelt 5 is owned and managed by Homme et Femme Philippines. 

Balenciaga is located at the Ground Floor of Greenbelt 5, the Philippines’ prominent shopping destination for designer brands.  

Balenciaga Greenbelt 5 has friendly and accommodating staff willing to assist the store’s visitors. 

The store is moderate in size but installed mirrors and glasses give illusion of a larger space.  The store has a clean crisp modern interior.  It imbibes a relaxed stress-free ambience. 

The facade of Balenciaga Greenbelt 5

The store is prettified by the interplay of bright colors of the Balenciaga products, which is illuminated by the store’s good lighting.  The cubic polygonal shelves containing the products are made of shiny metal, clear glass enclosures and colorful fiber plastic blocks. 

The deep blue color of the visitor’s couch and royal chair compliment the other colors in the store while their velvet fabric provides a soft caress to the body of anyone who will rest on them. 

On the deep blue velvet couch

Strategically located adjacent to the couch is an electronic monitor that shows Balenciaga-clad models doing their signature back-and-forth catwalk on the runway.

The electronic monitor shows Balenciaga models doing the catwalk

The collection consists of colorful bags, shoes, wallets, belts, bracelets and timepieces—all made of luxurious leather and fine metal pieces and ornaments.   

Price Range (in Php):

Bags:

     Classic Design 50-80K

     Mini Giant  85-100K

Shoes  23,698- 41,998

Watches   74,998

Bracelets  11,998

Here's the whole collection.  Go feast your eyes!

The store carries the Balenciaga Paris and Florabotanica fragrances. 

The Balenciaga Paris and Florabotanica frangrances

I enjoyed my brief "photo shoot" at Balenciaga Greenbelt 5.  It was lunchtime and the store was on a quiet relaxed mood.  The staff also was very helpful in my task.

Come and visit Balenciaga Greenbelt 5!  :)

There are a lot of knock-offs but it pays to buy the real thing.  

Location:

Ground Level, Greenbelt 5, Greenbelt

Ayala Center, Makati City

(Coming from the main lobby in Dela Rosa St., turn left to the automatic glass door. Straight ahead, Balenciaga is just beside Furla and a little in front of TWG Tea Company)

Contact Numbers:

02 728 0177

0917 5199211

Credits:

Many thanks to Ms. Bianca Natola and Mr. Rey Postrado of Balenciaga Greenbelt 5