A New Meaning to the Phrase ‘Food for Thought’ (postscript… a long one =b)

Looking at my list of Baguio restaurants to try, I noticed that there were two establishments that escaped being placed in the Food for Thought ( a.k.a. think before you eat there) category blogs.  (“Heed my voice, sniveling, spineless worms of civilization.  Tremble at the roar of approaching terror!” ~ Anthony Bourdain joking in one of his No Reservations episodes.  Just thought it was the most appropriate line to put in here.  Let’s top it off with *maniacal laugh, maniacal laugh. =))

I also mentionedplaces in one of my blogs that I didn’t bother going to anymore.  It’s all because they just gave up bringing their A game.

10) City Travel Hotel

• Gecko Bar and Restaurant (not to be confused with The Flying Gecko which used to be on Session Road.  Yes, it’s closed now.  Miss you, Flying Gecko!)

Gecko scene and food. Race – not amused, me – entertaining myself with other stuff. =b

Gecko Bar and Restaurant is one of these places.  Probably because the people they serve meals to are mainly their guests, they’re getting rusty.  When Race and I got there, they were sort of surprised that people were actually walking into their restaurant.  The food (yang chow rice, fried chicken) was okay, something along the lines of what my uncle would refer to as stuff you can easily get at home.  In this case, however, it was food that you could get easily from other places… and from those other places, I bet they’d be tastier and also, they’d more likely be reasonably priced.

11) Kamayan sa Baguio

Race and I were quick to visit this restaurant when we heard that they were open.  In a word, I describe their food as hyped.  When we ate there, we went for their lunch buffet.  It was a good enough spread for P200 but considering that I noted the kakanin dessert as the one I liked best from the whole spread; you know there was trouble brewing.

Kakanin… ’nuff said =))

I’m not really a fan of kakanin.  My ‘lola’/grandmother (by friendship, not blood ^^,) always made these for special occasions which I was okay with because there were always other choices around (fruit salad, ice cream, cake…that sort of thing =b)  For me to like kakanin, it means that everything else in the spread was so-so or bad; the kakanin was lesser evil, so to speak.  That’s how I felt about the Kamayan lunch offer.

Xine – all smiles and unaware *harharhar

I was about give this place another consideration when I was reminded that the lunch buffet we tried that time was half priced as an opening promo.  If you’re going to pay Kayaman (around) P400 of your hard earned money for either the lunch or the dinner buffet (been there, done that and it was still bleh =b), they have to bring more to the table.  I mean that literally as well as figuratively.  They have to add to their offer of dishes and also, they need to make sure that their food is super delish.  Take note, they serve regular Pinoy fare.  If you can cook mechado or dinuguan better at home, my advice would be to stay home.  It’s going to be more enjoyable and also easier on the pocket.  \m/

Nice Kamayan digs \m/

I’d give Kayaman sa Baguio one treasure chest though.   That’s for ambiance.  As a house renovated to a restaurant, they have pretty nice digs.

Race and I were at Gecko and Kamayan a couple of years back.  I do hope they changed and improved in that time.  I might be inclined to pay them another visit…but then again, why waste the time, the effort and the money, right? =b

UPDATE 12/28/2012: Ohhh, Kamayan sa Baguio lowered their prices…. hhhmm, I might give them another visit to see if they can get out of this Food for Thought listing. *rubbing index finger on chin. Hhmmm.

Speaking of restaurants with staff that are getting rusty in the competition that is business, I have to add the Safari Lodge restaurant.

12) Safari Lodge Restaurant…Hunter’s Bar (it’s called, if I recall right…or maybe that’s just the bar =D)

For our New Year reunion; Beth, Karla and I chose to eat here.  Basically, the service is what I had an issue about.  They definitely got rusty; people (I mean P3 *harhar) walked through their doors and oh, they didn’t know what to do.  They did try (Safari is trying to resuscitate their business at the moment – pulling out all the stops for advertising *heee) and for their effort, they served us great bulgogi (which our resident baker, Karla liked, so congrats, Safari). (“,)

Our Safari meal… sinigang, bulgogi, fish and chips, side dishes (nuts -which i liked, kimchi, pickled – are they pickled when they’re soaked in soy? – onions) and our strawberry shakes that kept getting spilled…not our fault =D

 for the delicious bulgogi.

The Safari scene 

Another  for ambiance.  Safari has animal heads mounted on their walls (that IS their theme and we ARE in safari) which was impressive … … … but also horrifying for animal lovers like me.  I shudder at the thought – my imaginings about how they were hunted.  *sniff.  I hope they didn’t suffer.  Uhhhmm, I guess I’ll take that treasure chest back. =))

Just so we’re clear, it’s one treasure chest for Safari Restaurant for their bulgogi that Karla liked a lot.  That’s it. *heehaha

Let’s include the bars that disappointed me to this post.

13) Concoctions Bar and Resto

14) Kalye Luna Art Bar and Restaurant

Once again, I hope this is the end of the list of food-for-thought Baguio restaurants.  It’s tiresome and also sad to have material for this category.

I still wish these (food for thought) establishments luck in turning things around for the better.

Till my next blog post, guys!  And that will be surely be about delicious stuff again.