Oriang starts a food revolution at Market! Market!

MANILA, Philippines -Filipino food is often taken for granted, either as corner carinderia fare, or as something simple that passes for a repast at home. Oriang by Café Bonifacio is set to change that mindset by giving diners a whole new way to enjoy all-time Pinoy favorites.

Unlike most Filipino dining establishments that reach back through rustic roots with sawali walls or rattan furniture, Oriang’s is festively decorated with splashes of colors on the walls. The walls are inspired by a banig pattern. The centerpiece of its interior decor is a 4 x 4 cubistic painting of Filipino fisher folks. 

The soul-satisfying chicken binakol where the buko juice is opened just before serving, for that fresh from the farm taste.

The placemats serve as tools of enlightenment, inscribed with a brief background of its namesake Gregoria “Oriang” de Jesus, Andres Bonifacio’s wife and the Lakambini of the Philippine Revolution. Her courage inspired brothers Vic and Freddie Wenceslao, former protesters or “contemporary revolutionists” during the martial law years. 

 The brothers started with Café Bonifacio at the Podium, and now pay homage to the fearless lady with Filipino dishes amped up and ready to take on the world through their new restaurant, Oriang, at The Fiesta Market of Market Market! Market! inTaguig City.

Executive chef/consultant John Cu-Unjieng expanded Café de Bonifacio’s original menu and worked together with Freddie and chef Ojie for Oriang’s final selection of dishes.

“The dishes are familiar and still very Filipino, in different presentations. There might be ingredients like oyster sauce, which is Chinese, or cooking styles that are Spanish in origin, but these are already inculcated in Filipino cuisine. We wanted to step up the level of Filipino casual dining which is comparable to upscale restaurants but that which our guests can enjoy at affordable costs,” chef John explained.

Begin with complimentary fried hofan with cilantro pesto dressing. House specialties include ensaladang talong, crispy spring roll, sisig, crispy pata, bulalo, crispy hito, butterfly tilapia and chicken binakol.

More innovative dishes include adobo three-way, sizzling bulalo steak, and lumpiang hubad.   “What sets Oriang apart from other Pinoy-themed restaurants is how we put a fresh spin on what we serve,” chef John said.

 Desserts include a leche flan, pandan pannacota, mango latik and turon de Gregoria.”

 Vic and Freddie are bullish on the country they love with unrelenting passion. “We believe that this is the century for Asia and it is the Philippines’ time to shine,” they said. “And Filipino cuisine is a winning concept.’ 

Oriang is at the Fiesta Market of Market! Market!, Taguig City. It is open from Monday to Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 12 midnight.

For information, call 625-0597 or 0927 7240543 and like the Oriang Facebook page.