Coffee at Dal Cielo, Los Banos

Aside from the Rice World Coffeeshop at IRRI, I discovered a small coffee and pastry shop right at the main road leading to UPLB. Dal Cielo is in front of an elementary school and is about 4 corners before the main gate of the campus. You won't miss it as it has this huge umbrella at the al fresco area.

It's a bit pricey compared to the Rice World but they have more choices - more pastries, meat pies, pasta, and of course coffee. Boyet likes their coffee better than Rice World while I particularly like their lemon squares and cream puff. As for coffee, I would give it the same score I'd give IRRI's Riceworld - best ones so far in LB.

One that intrigued us and  which we eventually tried was their sugar-free sansrival.  I didn't quite like it though maybe because i'm really a sweet tooth. 

Dal Cielo is rather small.  The dining area could be about 20 to 30 sqm only.  Despite the size, their airconditioning unit is not able to make the place cool.  It's fortunate that that at the time we were there it was rainy.  It is tastefully designed though and the toilet, though tight, is well laid out that it looks rather larger than it really is.  The verdict - if you like coffee and pastry, try it.  but if you're on a budget, just go in and buy their lemon squares and other small pastries.

Pantoja Bakery - Goodies for Less

Have you been to a Pantoja Bakery yet? I suggest you do.

We went to one last week while on our way to fetch my daughter. This one is at the corner of the National Highway and the main road in Los Banos. It's right across Jollibee.



I was told about it by my mother-in-law when she saw the bakery 2 weeks ago. So, we paid it a visit a week later and voila! the goods were so cheap. And what's more is that their products are good too. So far the ones I like are the loaves and the crackers. need to go back there to check out the other stuff.



Another thing I liked is the idea of how they encourage people to bring their own shopping bags - they give a rebate of .50 centavos for each bag that is saved. Quite a good deal don't you think?

Kusina Salud

From Kusina Salud ...

What better way to enjoy the native Filipino dishes than to be at an ancestral home in the countryside? Such is what Kusina Salud offers. The Restaurant has an array of delectable dishes from long ago and served in a modern concept. I specially enjoyed the Pako Salad which is actually made from a plant of the fern family, mixed with tomatoes, salted eggs (they weren't dyed red mind you), vinegar, onions and ginger. The flavors blended well that it was a perfect appetizer. I also loved the turon and ice cream (I've forgotten what they call it) which is saba wrapped in lumpia wrapper (something like a flimsy tortilla) that's deep fried and topped with vanilla ice cream. The mixture of the icecream with the sweet sour taste of the banana was unique - not too sweet but not sour either. Just simply sumptuous.

Kusina Salud is a treat for the tastebuds. It's owned by Ms. Patis Tesoro, one of the country's best coutourier and known to have saved the Pina cloth - a filipino fabric woven from the pineapple leaves.