Victorino's

Just got curious about this place. It was a mere old house I used to pass by every night on my way home from the office. Later, it underwent some makeover and by the next time I saw it, it was already on soft opening (April 2013). What then was an old house tucked at the corner of Jamboree and Scout Rallos Streets in Quezon City has become Victorino's, a dining place wherein one can  feast on authentic Ilocano dishes minus the 10-hour long drive to the north.

the foyer that leads to the main dining area

It definitely helps that several cars are parked on the side street each time I pass by. I told myself  I've got to try it. No regrets. For a non-Ilocano like me, dining there was a pleasant experience - simple and no-frills but no less enjoyable.

By the way, I don't know if this helps too but when I asked the waiter who's behind this niche place, it apparently includes culinary icon Heny Sison as well as an actress whose partner is a politician from Ilocos.  Looks like culinary arts, showbiz and politics provide for an interesting mix.

These are some of the Ilocano dishes we had for lunch.

the almost paper thin bagnet chips with camote

and taro chips are excellent openers 

Victorino's take on pochero served with

bagoong and eggplant a la Ilocos

with no malice aforethought, this is definitely the 

Ilocano dish with the best name recall, poqui-poqui

(grilled eggplant sauteed in onions and tomatoes)

the menu calls this acias buridibod (malunggay

fruit and camote boiled in bagoong); please note

 that there is a specific Ilocano way of eating this

Step 1 - split it open

Step 2 - tuck it between the lips and scrape the

inside using the lower set of teeth

this is how we were eating the buridibod (used the 

spoon to scrape the inside with the fork firmly

holding and keeping it in place); the operations 

manager kindly showed us the Ilocano way

After lunch, we enjoyed Heny Sison's bestseller, the lemon torte. These photos say it all.

BEFORE

AFTER - it came crumbling down with walnuts

and all but nary a trace of how it originally was

Heny Sison's dessert spread; please note that 

the lemon torte is not displayed here as it 

needs to be kept frozen; one has to ask for it

Victorino's has a lot more to offer. One visit is not enough. 

There goes another Sunday of culinary adventure. I love Sundays. :-)