Café by the Ruins: Years of Good Food for the City and Its Visitors (the 100th blog \m/)

Through the years (at least from the time I became aware of the world outside =b) Café by the Ruins has always been there providing good food and great meal experiences for Baguio’s residents and its visitors. (I remember hearing their ads on the radio, listening to the grownups talk about dining there, etc. )  It’s only right then that this is the restaurant I feature for my 100^th blog. Weee!!! (“,)

The store facade

It wasn’t until I was well away from the schooling years did I get to eat at Café by the Ruins. (Ohhh, like Forest House, I’m pulling my hair out.  I waited so long =D You really have to set your mind to eat in a unique place like this and also, you had to prepare yourself for the experience.) For years, I was teased by this café’s tall close-knit bamboo fencing (not even giving a small peek into its surroundings *making pouty faces =b).

Antique stove on display =)

I finally got to dine there with my student, Reagan and a fellow teacher, Marc.  (Shout out to Reagan and T. Marc! (“,))  While that first visit was just for tea, it was an experience that quelled my curiosity and at the same time, left me wanting for more.  It was like I was transported to another world, the way their café was set up.  (With the ruins on the other side, the lush garden growing sort of wild with the dap-ayon the other for the al fresco dining; I recall my forgetful brain nagging at me for not having a camera. *hee)

The cafe scene 2010-2012

When a friend from another country came to Baguio for the first time, Café by the Ruins was one of the places we went to.  This time, for snacks – something to chew on *harhar, it was a good experience for me and my friend.  (Shout out to Paul! (“,))  Of course, we had their bread and spread (go, kamote bread! =D), crème brulee, tea and coffee.

The scene in 2008 (before the cafe was by Eurotel. Take a look at the gazebo behind the blinds here). The cafe creme brulee…everything else became cam shy with my cam shy friend. *heehaha

It’s breakfast at the Ruins with Race, next visit.  The café French toast was my choice and this came with a fruit cup, coffee or tea.  Race woke his stomach up with a bowl of champorado.  This was served with a saucer of fried boneless dilis (which looked more like daing, so I don’t know the difference anymore =b).  Interesting though, I never knew this to be a good combination.  It tasted fine, wonder of wonders, alternating with the champorado. *shocked look dissolving from my face.

The breakfast spread with a pretty strawberry slice in the fruit cup ^^, I STILL like my sister’s version of French toast better – sweet and gooey like. =D And you know what champorado looks like, friends.. imagine it with a saucer of dilis/daing on the side. *hihi

In one of our resident chef’s homecomings (up and down Karla went =D), we met up at this cafe.  It’s Beth’s first visit to Cafe by the Ruins and she enjoyed it thoroughly.  (I think that’s also got to do with P3 being complete again ^^,)  We had pasta, zucchini patties, I think those were and fruits topped with cream.  For drinks, it’s the lassi that always catches my eye.  Just take a look, as per the menu: ‘Carabao yogurt blended with fruits of your choice or natural yogurt with salt and pepper or honey.’  Ohhh, salt and pepper in a drink! (“,)

The spread for P3 reunited. (“,)  Get a load of that rice.  *nomnomnom

For family gatherings, Cafe by the Ruins is also a good choice.  At my cousin’s homecoming, we got to enjoy a variety of dishes.  (Shout out to Kuya Les and Ina…oh yes, and Bunny, too! (“,)) Of the selection, it was the shrimp and mango curry that made waves.  We did munch happily on every other item, too, like the bagnet and the artisanal ice cream, the lava cake, everything. ^^,

The homecoming spread \m/ More bread, more spread, more, more of everything!!!

With the holiday season over, Race and I started 2013 off dining at Cafe by the Ruins.  (We were timing it: The tourist crowd back where they needed to be, Cafe by the Ruins finished with their renovation – they’ve got a mezzanine now, and me at the height of my obsession to try out the cafe’s beauty of a strawberry shortcake.)

Cafe by the Ruins’ new-ish digs…view from the mezzanine =)

Beginning the year with a Cafe by the Ruins spread (“,)  Amusing that guava float.  When the iced guava melted, the consistency was… *hihi, I want you to see for yourself.  But it was good… I can imagine how refreshing that beverage would be in the summer. ^^, I loved the rice wine based soup and the salad with fried kesong puti, will have to come back for more of that.  The risotto wasn’t what I expected.  I didn’t read the menu description and was just thinking it was going to be creamy oozy rice-y. It was rice topped with chicken, mushrooms, and celery in bechamel cream.  I got my strawberry shortcake though, so the world was right again. =))

X marks Café by the Ruins for good food in Baguio. Here’s to more years of good food and great dining experiences!

They can add Beth the spirited, Karla the congenial, Xine the eccentric and all our (foodie) loved ones to the list. \m/

Food: 

Service: 

Ambiance: 

Price: 

Cafe by the Ruins

23 Chuntug Street

Baguio City, Philippines

442-4010

facebook.com/pages/Cafe-By-The-Ruins/38813861009