Breakfast at Casa San Pablo

Last Saturday was CHOP’s first Food Trip for 2015.  Some 32 CHOP members and guests set out in their own cars from Manila at 6 a.m. for the small town of San Pablo in Laguna.  

Ige and Regee on the way to breakfast at Casa San Pablo

We were headed for Casa San Pablo, a beautiful B&B and restaurant renowned for its Southern Tagalog cuisine.  

The Inkeepers, An and Boots Alcantara (below), welcomed us with a tour of the property and then served us a hearty breakfast.

Photo courtesy: www.casasanpablo.com

As An explained during breakfast, San Pablo is blessed with two volcanic mountains (hopefully dormant), highly fertile soil and seven lakes which were formed by volcanic activity.  (Read the later blog entitled “Mountains and Lakes of San Pablo” for more information).  The climate in the region is influenced by the mountains which attract good rain; and the lakes are a rich source of the fish served during the magnificent Seven Lakes Breakfast. 

 An describes the “Seven Lakes Breakfast” dishes

First things first.  The delicious hot tsokalte at pinipig--a great start to a cold morning

Salty dried and butterflied biya from Laguna de Bay

The best ever Longanisang San Pablo--slightly dry, salty, with a hint of sugar

Pinaete--pounded shrimp paste cooked in coconut milk

Sinigang na Ayungin--from Lake Pandin

Crispy fried bakuli from Lake Palakpakin

Also on the menu were itlog na maalat (salted egg salad) Laguna kesong puti (white cheese) and other goodies.

After breakfast, there was a tasting (yes, more food) of the various edible products that you get at different stages of the coconut’s development--everything from lambanog (highly alcoholic coconut spirit akin to vodka) and buko pie to coconut sugar, macaroons and jam.

Lambanog is a bit powerful early in the morning!

 Pia and An prepare to “deflower” the coconut husk

Voila!  It is like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat!!

The beautiful grounds at Casa San Pablo reminded me of Baguio.

Angie and Ada thought it was as cool as Baguio.

Commercial:  You should really visit Casa San Pablo to have the full experience.  To get more information and to make reservations, go to: www.casasanpablo.com