Manila Signature Dish: C2 Classic Cuisine

When I resigned from my job earlier this year, I finally had the chance to stay at home because I don't have money, lol and develop a new hobby: cooking. Every night I prepared something different for my nanay and bunso--American, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and even Thai. But our favorite would be Pinoy food because it's easier and cheaper to prepare. Sinigang, adobo, tinola, ginataan, and ginisang gulay were my most requested dish. I guess it's true that one would never go wrong with the classics.

Over at C2 Classic Cuisine Katipunan, Chef Oliver Gascon and Unilever Food Solutions teamed up to create signature dishes that would showcase the ingenuity of Pinoy restaurateurs.

With the theme "Redefined Filipino Classics Set", Chef Oliver Gascon gave an exciting twist to local staple items. The set include Adobong Sitaw, Crispy Ribs Sinigang, and Dory Escabeche. It comes with a plate of garlic rice, pastillas panna cotta, and a glass of Castillero de Diablo red wine.

Manila's Signature Dishes 2010

Chef Oliver Gascon's Redefined Filipino Classics Set

To start, we were served a plateful of adobong sitaw. I could taste a hint of gata (coconut milk) in the dish and it reminded me of my Bicolana roots. My mama thought me how to make ginataang pork adobo and I wonder if the cooking procedure is similar to C2's adobong sitaw.

Adobong Sitaw with shrimp and pork

Am not really a huge fan of fish unless it's filleted, steamed, or fried. Good thing Chef Gascon's Dory Escabeche was not served whole else I'll be afraid to eat it. It's good that the sauce did not overpower the fried dory, i.e. not swimming in sauce. :)

Dory Escabeche

Highlighting the set was Crispy Ribs Sinigang--crispy fried marinated pork ribs served with hot tamarind soup base on the side. It's interesting how the meat stays crisp after being dipped in the soup. The vegetable are served separately as well so the labanos and kangkong was not overcooked.

Filipino Classic Redefined: Crispy Ribs Sinigang

Reminds me of crispy pata..

The Pastillas Panna Cotta provided a simple yet sweet finale to the night.

Did I mention that one set is good for 3 persons? :)

C2 Classic Cuisine is located at 287 Katipunan Ave. Quezon City (across Ateneo).

Unilever Foodsolutions (UFS), being the preferred foodservice business partners among restaurateurs, felt the need to acknowledge notable restaurants who are developing Manila as a culinary city. They have partnerered with select restaurants within the metropolis in coming up with signature dishes. UFS has synergized with these restaurants, both through dish development and promotion campaign for these signature dishes, in achieving one common goal: coming up with a different culinary experiences that provide value for money and culinary memories for diners.


If you're a restaurateur (or an aspiring one) and in need of help in coming with your signature dish, call (632) 588-8855 or email at foodsolutions.philippines@unilever.com.


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