Cocina Peruvia

Senor Pollo

Peri-Peri

Chikos Peruvian Roast Chicken

Cafe Havana

The LJC Group has been dishing out A-1 quality dining for the past thirty or so years now.  I happened to schedule a meeting at the Cafe Havana at the Greenbelt complex as couple of weeks ago, and was happy to get a cold mango-lychee shake to cool off in the warm afternoon sun.  We didn't get any Cuban favorites, instead we stuck to good old sisig, the recipe of which probably came from Abe's or Cafe Adriatico, the group's Filipino flagships.  I understand that a band plays nightly at center stage, must be fun!  Viva Havana! 

Mantaro

I love sharing my foodie discoveries, and Mantaro was an instant hit with me and Monique. It's a small restaurant serving authentic Peruvian food, located at the corner of Sct. Tobias and Sct. Limbaga, diagonally across from Estrel's Cake Shop.  Operated by a husband and wife team, the food is prepared fresh, and comes to your table piping hot.  Average spending would come to around P650 per person, but I assure you it's worth every centavo.  Simple dining atmosphere, a lovely place to spend a quiet and romantic evening with your loved one!

Our first order was Arroz Con Mariscos (P340), as and I inhaled the savory aroma, my appetite doubled its intensity and immediately brought my senses to life.  This was the way I wanted my rice! 

Next came the twin viands of Lomo Saltado (P380) and Lengua Guisada (P420); both were perfect with a nice touch of lime at the side.  Soft tender beef & ox tongue, rich sauce and enough veggie and condiments to bring out full flavor.

By the time our Pollo Ala Brasa (one fourth chicken for P185) arrived, my palate was already overwhelmed with the richness of the cuisine.  As a result, the roasted chicken didn't get enough exposure, rather it was the coleslaw that I attacked in order to calm my taste buds.

While the names of the dishes sound familiar, it's not exactly the Spanish cuisine that you might be accustomed to.  There is a distinctly different taste to the food.  Flavors are awesome, oftentimes bursting with herbs and spices (brought in from South America). Now that I think of it, the food would have been better eaten with plain white rice; the arroz dishes are enough to stand on its own.  Seating is limited, so you might consider coming early or calling for reservations especially if you are a big group.

Cuba Kano

I enjoy road trips.  Driving out to the countryside can be a de-stressing exercise for me, and the great bonus comes in the form on discovering new places to eat in.  Mitzi, Gab, Monique and I were a bit dismayed at the ghost-town aura of Clark Field, but the day was saved by our newest find--Cuba Kano restaurant, serving juicy steaks, mouth-watering Cuban dishes (cochinillo and Latin subs included).

Brasas

I must admit I haven't any notion of what South American street food is like, and I went to the Brasas outlet at the Podium with an open mind.  I was excited to try the place, having seen their signboard at their SM Jazz branch along Reposo St. in Makati some months back. I had a beef wrap, which was almost like a burrito, but with beef slices instead of ground beef (couldn't tell if this particular wrap had cumin though).  The wrapper was firm and didn't leak, and the dish was served in around 10 minutes.  The meal wasn't bad for around P300, but I wasn't that full either.  Maybe some dessert was needed...