Good food in the ’hood

The best form of advertising is still word of mouth, and word did get around about a cozy diner in the Greenhills neighborhood offering the most divine cuisine that it could only be the work of angels.

Fairly new, Angels’ Kitchen sparkles above the restaurant galaxy in Greenhills. It started as a food destination among families from the Xavier and Immaculate Conception school communities, as well as Greenhills and San Juan locals. Credit also goes to the information superhighway, where virtually anyone who surfs gives a piece of their minds via blogs and journals. Suddenly, everyone owning a digicam is a food critic, and they document their experiences and comments on places, faces, and events they have encountered. And bloggers have nothing but raves for the restaurant that have given them many pleasant memories reminiscent of their mom’s home-cooked delights,

Marnie Ong, Lucy Ong, Lisa Sy, Lina Tan, and Maizie Qua are the celestial beings responsible for Angel’s Kitchen. These five fabulous ladies are no strangers to the culinary world. A common bond for food has led them to spearhead the ICA Culinary Club, an exclusive club catering to the mothers of students from the Immaculate Conception Academy in Greenhills. They would organize cooking classes for their members featuring celebrity chefs. They also came up with a cookbook that revealed their treasured recipes of classic comfort foods.

At once exotic and homey, odd and familiar, delicious and more delicious, Angels’ Kitchen’s menu is surprisingly sophisticated. I’ve dined three times, and there is always something in the menu worth trying with each visit. The last time I was there for merienda cena, Marnie and even her husband Oscar would personally welcome patrons and offer recommendations.

I asked for their unique version of garlicky Caesar salad, as well as their best-selling soft-shell salad with mango poppyseed dressing. As expected, it was delish! Pinoy cooking was given a twist with pinakbet paella, a medley of your usual pinakbet vegetables sautéed in rice and delicious homemade bagoong with a generous slice of bagnet. There is also the sinfully good and twice deadly pork binagoongan. I already noted down dishes I plan to try on my next visit, such as seafood best-sellers like baked salmon in aioli sauce and unagi shiitake pasta. And maybe if I’m feeling adventurous, I might just try their ostrich salpicao.

But beware: the desserts are habit-forming and naughty angel Lisa Sy, the resident baker (and cook), is to blame. Her consuming passion for desserts has inspired her to create sugar-laden delights simply too divine to pass on. I felt a sugar rush as I took a bite of her version of choco lava. Her Sunburned Lemon Tart is worth the carb splurge, too. Lisa took baking and pastry arts at the famed Dubrelle Culinary Arts in Vancouver, Canada. You will definitely feel the love with her decadent and well-thought-of line of pastries.

On my way out, I just had to buy a bottle of chicken pistachio pate for my husband Benny to sample. However, I ended up buying bottled lemon garlic tinapa and adobong tuyo, as well. They also have a wide range of bottled pasta sauces, dips, and dressings, ideal for gift-giving this Christmas season.

If you are in the Greenhills neighborhood and are looking for a place to sit down and stay well, the angels will surely lead you to their side of food paradise, and no matter what you order, you will probably linger longer than usual and go home happy, full and satisfied.

* * *

E-mail the author at henysison@pacific.net.ph.