Treats from La Cocina de Tita Moning

Two days prior to President Obama's historic visit to Manila, I was tasked by the Tourism Board of the Philippines through Jeepney tours to guide for a motley group of Australians who are in the business of promoting the Philippines as a tourist destination.

Legarda Mansion taken from The La Cocina de Tita Moning website*

The group was headed by Ms Gillian Salter. an Aussie who's lived and worked in Manila for two years with the Mandarin Hotel. This was her job before heading back home and working in the tourism industry.

La Inocencia (Felix Resureccion Hidalgo) photo from the website*

The full day tour started with Intramuros, then back to the hotel and in the afternoon was the trip to Malacanang palace and a dinner at Tita Moning's. However, because of the state visit of President Obama, the trip to the Malacanang Museum was not permitted. The Museum reserves the right to deny entry to visitors on various ocassions: in matters of national security, and of course for the state visit of the U.S. president.

Don Alejandro Legarda Sr.'s camera's (photo from Tita Moning's website)

The evening was balmy and the guests had dressed up for a well planned evening by the Tourism Board. La Cocina de Tita Moning is an ancestral home of the Legarda's. The much lived-in home has been converted into a fine dining restaurant by one of the scions of the clan. Dr. Legarda's clinic along with his collection of antique cameras is intact. The reading room has his collections of books. A marvelous idea, I should think, since the house has remained true to the original structure and contains a marvelous collection of paintings and artifacts owned by the family through the decades: Among them,  Hidalgo,  Juan Luna and Zalameda art pieces and antiques galore that are a feast for the eyes.

Zalameda's painting of sailboats in the main foyer of the mansion

That being said,  the menu was a feast for the senses. The Menu read like a traditional Spanish feast starting with a trio of salads: grilled eggplant salad with homemade vinaigrette and salted duck eggs; papaya salad with jamon serrano, fresh basil, carabao cheese and honey calamansi vinaigrette; fresh Kangkong salad with grilled peppers, caramelized walnuts and homemade walnut vinaigrette. For the entree we had whole baked Lapu-lapu, Tita Moning's chicken adobo, Paella Valenciana, Sauteed fresh vegetables, organic brown rice. The dessert served was fresh  fruit platter and Tita Moning's bread and butter pudding. 

So many reviews have been written about the food coming out of Tita Moning's kitchen mostly revived by chef Suzie Legarda-Montinola that I wouldn't even attempt to write about the gustatory treats in store for the diners. Yes... it's that good! You actually get what you pay for. But for me, it's the little details that make dining in La Cocina de Tita Moning always a delight. The drinks served at the patio prior to the mandatory tour of the house, and the little chit chat from the food servers who have been with the Legardas for years, and the atmosphere of dining in an ancestral home complete La Cocina de Tita Moning's old world charm. Some more Salsa Monja, please?

Paella Valenciana at Tita Moning's (photo from lifestyle.inquirer.net*)