Lutong bahay, pica-pica and chica-chica at Tapika

The invitation came from Baby Gil, Philippine STAR columnist (Sounds Familiar) and Viva Group of Companies VP for Corporate Media.

"There’s a new bar-restaurant along Katipunan Road, Blue Ridge (in Quezon City)," smiled Baby. "It’s called Tapika. You should try the food. One of the owners is Tess."

Tess R. Cruz, that is, a top executive also of Viva which is headed by her brother, "Boss" Vic del Rosario, Jr.

So, equipped with empty stomachs, photographer Richard Chen and I dropped by Tapika on a Monday and found the place very homey (the food would come a little later). At the entrance, a beautiful poster of the new Viva movie, the Sharon-Robin starrer Pagdating ng Panahon, covered one side of the glass door. We learned later that that same night, Sharon and Robin and the rest of the movie’s cast, together with that of the Viva movie Weyt a Minit, led by Janno Gibbs, etc., were also at Tapika for the post-premiere blowout.

There’s a cozy waiting lounge behind the door and another one at the opposite end of the room, so that when the place is full (as it has been these past days) you can sit back and relax – and listen to the soothing piped-in-music – while waiting to be seated. The Muslim-inspired curtains and wall hangings give the place that "feel at home" ambience. The sala sets are done in bamboo, with colorful throw pillows.

Tess was around to welcome us, together with co-owners Joji Jacobe and husband Jess, Ed Santiago (without wife Elvie), Bambi Temeña (without husband Erwin) and Joji’s son Joel, an architect, who did the interiors, including the dressing up of what could have been a distracting post at the center of the bar, which Joel turned into a beautiful tree behind which is an artificial waterfall (the same one, only much bigger, Joel did for one side of the Aresi Restaurant on Tomas Morato Ave., Quezon City).

The area downstairs can accommodate 80 to 90 people and the one upstairs, good for such functions as birthday parties, wedding receptions, baptismal salu-salo, etc. – from 140 to 150 people. The place can be turned into a ballroom-dancing arena if the clients wish to, but for the time being, it serves as a drinking area (especially at night) for yuppies, students (from nearby Ateneo, Miriam, UP and other schools) and people who love to dine out leisurely while chatting with companions and listening to soft music (piped-in, again).

Tapika occupied 400 square meters of the 700-square-meter lot where Padi’s Point used to be (it has moved somewhere else). Only five weeks old (open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then from 5 p.m. until way past midnight), it is the newest addition to that road which is fast becoming a restaurant row, rivaling the nearby Libis.

"At Tapika," said Tess, "it feels like coming home. The place feels like home and the food tastes like homemade, lutong-bahay, and not lasang-restaurant."

Oh, yes, the food.

For starters, the Tapika owners prepared appetizers like Balut ala Pobre (P75 per serving), Pinoy Baked Oysters (P110 per), Chicken Skin Chicharon (P85 per), Chicken Lollipop with Garlic Dip (P120 per), Bangus Sisig (P130 per) and Kilawin Tanguingue (P160 per).

Why did the group decide to call it Tapika?

"Well," said Joji, "we did think of other names but Tapika sounds the most attractive, don’t you think? Tapika is a native American word for ‘rays of the sun.’ But we coined another meaning for it, as in ‘Tara, pika-pika tayo,’ shortened to Tapika."

All the owners are food-lovers; some (including Joji) love to cook, but the rest just love to eat. Tess and Joji have been good friends since their Holy Spirit days where they studied from grade school to college. The others are Tess and Joji’s "latter-day" friends. The group members come from both the "old" generation and the "new" generation, so they all contribute ideas (food, etc.) that appeal to everybody, regardless of age.

Joji was once a canteen concessionaire, while Bambi was in the catering business. Ed is a landscape artist, while Jess is in construction. Al is a dentist. Tess is in movie production, all right, but the Del Rosarios once did own a bar-restaurant (turned into an entertainment hub at night, complete with bands and singers). Yes, remember Circus at the SM North EDSA? The spot is now occupied by Shakey’s.

And now, the main course(s).

After our bowl-fuls of Sinigang na Tiyan ng Salmon (P170 per serving), we feasted (remember, we were starving!) on Bicol Express (very hot, P100 per), Sizzling Bulalo (P105 per), Bangus Belly (P100 per) and Pancit Con Buko (P190 per).

Enough already?

Not quite.

For dessert, Tess and company ordered Tapika Turon (topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel syrup) which is, according to Bambi, one of the place’s specialties, the one most everybody orders.

"We also serve kiddie combo meals," added Bambi, "at very reasonable prices."

Meal 1, for example, is made up of spaghetti, toasted bread, hotdog on a stick with marshmallow and pineapple chunks, jello (or ice cream) and iced tea. All for only P105.

When the Tapika partners (nine all in all, including spouses) agreed to put up a bar-restaurant, their idea was some kind of a cyber café which was in vogue last year. There was an available space somewhere along Commonwealth Ave., said Joji, but it was a blessing in disguise that they tarried a bit. And then Padi’s Point vacated the space on Katipunan Road just in time.

"We had the place completely renovated," said Bambi, "and now it has an identity and a look all its own."

Yes, very Tapika.

Before we left the place burping, Tess reminded us to take a look at the ladies’ room which has been a source of amusement among the fast-growing Tapika habitués/clientele.

"It’s different," said Joji.

"You might never have seen any rest room like it," said Bambi.

"In fact," smiled Tess, "our customers have their photographs taken inside it."

So we took a peep and, true enough, it was "something else."

For inquiries about Tapika, call 647-80-33 to 35.