Sunday 6 March 2011

Restaurant Review: Cafe Herencia (Paoay, Ilocos Norte)


Cafe Herencia

The cholesterol-rich bagnet
Cafe Herencia (meaning "heritage"), in the picturesque town of Paoay, is the town's new center for Ilocano culinary tradition. Upon entering, one is inundated with the feel of Old World elegance and glimpses of our genteel past - Florentine glass decorations, antique wood and wrought iron furniture, Vigan tile flooring coupled with a superb view, across the plaza, of the famous Church of San Agustin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The base of the unique dining tables were recycled from Singer sewing machines.

Longanisa pizza
The authentic Ilocano cuisine served here includes bagnet (deep-fried pork belly boiled first in saltwater, dried, frozen and then deep-fried); the naughty-sounding poque-poque (a salad of smoked eggplant, tomatoes, onions and egg ); dinengdeng (boiled vegetables seasoned with bagoong with fried or grilled fish added); igado (fatty pork loin meat and pork liver cooked with red bell peppers and peas, in a salty-sour sauce) and pinakbet (vegetable stew with bagoong).  Their piece de resistance is the longanisa pizza (longanisa meat toppings over mozzarella cheese, all placed on a classic hand tossed pizza crust), a dish which is both an aesthetic and a gastronomical pleasure and a glimpse into the future of Ilocano cuisine. 

Herencia Cafe: MacArthur St., Brgy. 14, Sangladan, Paoay, Ilocos Norte.  Tel: (077) 614-0214

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