Mixed Ingredients: Food, History and Literature

I have been overly excited to dine at Pia y Damaso ever since I saw it in Greenbelt 5 last year.  From outside the restaurant you can take a glimpse of the Spanish-Filipino-themed interiors which exude a quiet and soothing ambiance. The Filipino food with a twist (as they call it) and the items on the menu named after the characters of Noli Me Tangere  and El Filibusterismo aroused my curiosity. I finally got the chance to drop by two weeks ago and I dragged my J along even he was a bit reluctant. 

A few shots of the menu and the interiors.

Elegant chandeliers and inviting sofa chairs adorn the small restaurant. The dim lights create a warm and relaxing atmosphere. However, the tables are too close to each other; you can actually hear the conversation at the next table. 

For our appetizer we had Ham and Chicken Croquettes (P160)- eight crisp breaded nuggets of ham, chicken, mushroom and cream. The filling is generous but not appetizing at all. I cannot distinguish the taste of the ham or the chicken or the mushroom. All I can taste is the fried breading.

My J ordered Chicken Pastel (P290)- baked chicken breast, chorizo,  bacon, potatoes, carrots and peas with a flaky crisco crust. I grew up knowing that chicken pastel is cooked in a thick sauce made from cream or milk. That’s how my Mama and Inang (my grandmother) do it. Perhaps that’s the reason why I was disappointed that Pia y Damaso’s version is the watery kind, similar to chicken stew. My J didn’t like it too.

I got Creamy Tinapa, Asparagus and Fish Fillet pasta (P300)- sautéed fish  fillet, smoked fish flakes, baby asparagus, tinapa cream- with onions, leeks, milk and cream. I finally made a right choice to order this! I love tinapa (smoked fish) with fried or salted egg and tomatoes for breakfast. Yes, it’s so Filipino! I didn't know that it will taste really great with pasta. It was my first time to have such and I will forever remember that delectable salty flavor. The strong taste and aroma of tinapa is moderated in this pasta and leaves a pleasing texture on the palate. The generous serving is good for two persons but if you fall in love with it, you can devour the whole serving.

Although our dining experience was quite disappointing, I would love to come back for the tinapa pasta and to try the desserts on the menu. We weren’t able to have dessert anymore since we already had Fro-yo prior to the Pia y Damaso dinner. I’ll see if I can convince my J to come back for some desserts next time. I hope he’ll say yes.

*** Restaurante Pia Y Damaso

2/F, Greenbelt 5,

Paseo de Roxas cor. Legaspi St.,

Ayala Center, Makati City

(02) 729.55.11