November 30, Sunday was the perfect day to take a trip to Tagaytay.  It was a Sunday following a Monday holiday so I was expecting traffic to be heavy on Monday instead since people would naturally sail through the extended weekend. 

After ziplining in Tagaytay, pasalubong stop at Rowena’s and a sampling teaser at Sanctuario Tagaytay, we headed to Paseo de Santa Rosa in Laguna for our main dinner.  Only 30 minutes passed and the car convoy was already parking in front of the Adidas outlet store.  Kanin Club was the destination.

Arriving at half past 8pm, I was surprised to still see a queue by the door.  The place was packed and there was not an empty table in sight.  More than the reviews, this is a good sign that great dishes wait behind that door marked Kanin Club.  It wasn’t too long (barely 15 minutes in fact) and our group of 6 was seated comfortably in adjoined tables.

The restaurant is a brainchild of mountain bikers, Chef Anthony Mendoza and wife Emely, along with business partners Tony Cancio and Mariel Luna of Café Breton.  When I scouted Paseo de Santa Rosa as a location for an Internet Café franchise a few years back, Café Breton was always my favorite place to hang-out as I watched foot traffic change hour after hour.  Now, there’s more reason to stop over Paseo de Sta. Rosa from Tagaytay to Manila or vice-versa.

The first few pages of the menu help you decide what to get, mentioning their bestsellers.  There are so much appetizing dishes to try, you’d have a heartache snubbing those left unuttered to the wait staff.

On the Table:

Crispy Dinuguan P233

It is KC’s most copied signature dish, which is pork heavenly deep fried to a crisp then set in a semi-dry stew of pork blood.  Menu says it’s proven to have convinced non-dinuguan eaters to like the dish.  The group seemed to be excited to try this dish and was very much satisfied at the innovative take on the unthinkable pork blood stew.  They would have enjoyed this tremendously if the Crispy Pata wasn’t on the table.

Sinangag na Sinigang P200

Sinigang inspired fried rice complete with pork liempo and vegetable tempura –a rice version of dry Sinigang.  This is what piqued my interest the most.  I love Sinigang and sour dishes –and sinangag, in fact when we have leftover of Sinigang na Baboy, I usually have it with my sinangag or I usually save sinangag rice from breakfast and reserve it for a Sinigang na Baboy lunch.  KC’s idea of marrying the two is definitely my cup of tea –or tamarind broth!  The vegetable tempura at the peak of the rice surprisingly complements the entire rice.  It was a complete meal on its own.

Tinapa Rice P133

We were debating between Fully Loaded Rice (Jim’s choice) or Tinapa Rice.  It all boiled down to Marie’s decision so we got Tinapa rice.  Rice cooked with bits of garlic and smoked fish.  Butch said Andrew would like this rice because Andrew likes salty dishes.

Vegetarian Curry P140

All the vegetable you like in Pinakbet with flavorsome curry sauce.  Between chicken and vegetable, I opted to get the vegetarian kind because we’ve had so many meats throughout the day.  This curry dish made me remember a bit of Japanese curry I tried in Japan and the Filipino curry version I like.

Crispy Pata P393

Deep fried pork knuckles, skin is light and crunchy and the meat is so tender the menu proudly claims it melts in your mouth while it challenges you to resist the temptation.  I haven’t had Crispy Pata for so long that it was the only meat (and fat) I attacked that night.  I fought the urge to grab a knuckle and gnarl on it like a starving mutt.

Sigarilyas Express P133

Wing beans cooked the bicol express way, spicy!  It was okay, nothing overly special but trying something new always makes up for a refreshing break of the mundane.

Prices already includes the 12% VAT which is really good value for money.  Our meal came up close to only P1,600 including 3 drinks.  Reminiscing the wonderful Filipino food plates we tried just made my mouth water right now… I have an intense craving to go back –soonest (any volunteers?).  KC’s promise to give a grand time satisfying your “lutong bahay pinoy cravings” was very much kept.  Kanin Club –truly a Filipino kitchen whipping up Filipino specialty dishes with a brilliant twist.  You have to experience it.

Yay, I can scratch off another name on the Miele Guide list.

Kanin Club Kusina Filipino is located at Paseo de Sta. Rosa, Sta. Rosa Laguna and is open Monday-Sunday from 11am-2pm and 530pm-930pm.  For inquiries, you may contact them at 049-5440332.  The second branch is located at Westgate, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa (771-1400).  Alabang Branch Restaurant hours: Monday to Thursday, 11:00AM – 2:30PM, 5:30PM – 10:00PM; Friday to Sunday, 11:00AM – 11:00PM; Merienda served from 2:30PM – 5:30PM, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays