Once again, I had the opportunity to visit this literally-hidden gem in Tuguegarao. The place is not really seen if you will pass by the streets of Tuguegarao, it is in front of Joselina Hotel and behind the Petron gas station in Caggay, but I am pretty sure that you will say that it is worthwhile to search for the establishment. This visit is not my first time, as a matter of fact, I have seen how the food menu evolved. But first, I want to talk about their coffee.
Variety? Yes, a vast selection of coffee blends to choose from, but my favorite is the Ybanag brew. I like my coffee simple, black, and with brown sugar or muscovado. This blend is one of the main reasons why I keep coming back. It's smooth, not too strong, with just the right amount of coffee kick. I love this blend, they sell the beans too if you want to bring some for the family. I am a black coffee drinker, Ybanag brew and the other blends such as the Barako and the flavored ones are just as good.
The food: delicious. I was a little surprised to see that the food menu has evolved. Their version of Carabao meat Tapsilog is my favorite, but I also like the local longganisa, my usual order in my previous visits. The flavor of the carabeef tapa is just amazing. We have our own recipe of carabeef tapa in our home in Iguig, but if you are in Tuguegarao, the carabeef tapa is a quick fix. They have pasta in their menu, and I am aiming to taste them in the future. The Pigar-pigar (an Ilocano dish, they also use carabeef, which is very nice!) and the ever famous Pancit Batil-patung is now in the menu. Their version of Batil-patung is superb! They have the sizzling version, but I tried the simpler presentation. The pancit was cooked just right. I have tasted this dish in other eateries or restos, but I love their version because the noodles is not over cooked, and my tastebuds doesn't detect any MSG in the pancit. There is so much to try and talk about in the food and coffee menu, so I must say that it would be really worth the visit if you are in town, not to mention how the interior of the structure was presented. I love the vintage look and the furniture sets were just so right for the interior design. Kudos to the chef and the owner.