Tastes from Los Baños (part 1)

Nestled at the foot of Mt. Makiling, Los Baños is a small town located in the province of Laguna, south of Metro Manila. Dubbed as a “Science and Nature Town”, Los Baños is a scholarly locale, being home to the University of the Philippines in Los Baños (UPLB), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and the Philippine High School for the Arts. As a town gifted with many natural wonders, Los Baños is also a site for various outdoor activities owing to its proximity to the forests and the mountains.

The Pedestrian Foodista recently made a stop at Los Baños, Laguna, and sampled the delights of their local restaurants. Los Baños certainly did not disappoint, as we found dining gems that can give their big city counterparts a run for their money.

Coming from a two-hour bus ride, we went straight to Cucina Mio, a small restaurant located near the UP Los Baños campus. We were greeted with an unassuming exterior – a small house with a modest garden. Reserving our judgment until much later, we entered the place, and we were quite surprised with the restaurant’s cozy interior. Cucina Mio was a small place, but it had a very intimate ambiance, perfect for dates or small get-togethers with special friends.

We checked out their menu, and I noticed how their restaurant served local Filipino and Filipinized foreign fare, with offerings as varied as pla-pla (a local fish), ginataang sigarilyas (winged beans with coconut milk), and beef salpicado. Being a bit curious with the menu, and feeling a bit adventurous, I tried their spaghetti with Laguna cheese (about Php 140.00)*. I was happy with the way Cucina Mio utilized local produce in their recipes, and serving it in well-plated, satisfying portions. I was happier when I finally got to taste their food. The clean, slightly salty taste of the Laguna cheese certainly complemented the tart pomodoro (tomato sauce) atop their al dente spaghetti. It was a very light yet satisfying meal, perfect with a refreshing calamansi/Philippine lemon juice drink (Php 70.00).

With the spaghetti whetting my appetite, I ordered their chicken adobo (Php 195.00)**. Being in an adobo state of mind, I also had their rice with chicken adobo flakes (Php 45.00). When I tasted their adobo, I was just in heaven. It was one of the best chicken adobos I ever tasted in my entire life! The chicken was done just perfect, with its meat falling off its bones. The taste of the sauce was great, with a hint of tartness rounding out the savory flavor of the soy sauce. It was even better paired with the rice with adobo flakes. It certainly reminded me how adobo became my favorite comfort food that I enjoyed during cold, rainy nights – which was incidentally the same weather we found ourselves when we arrived in Los Baños!

Overall, I would say that eating in Cucina Mio was one of the best experiences I had dining out. With cozy, intimate interiors, superb food, and good service, Cucina Mio is one of Los Baños’s foodie gems. With their restaurant’s thoughtful presentation of Filipino cuisine, it makes one proud that our homegrown food could be enjoyed at a level that is comparable with other cuisines. Definitely, a visit at Cucina Mio would leave one wanting for a second, a third, and much more.

(to be continued)

*                   Laguna cheese, or more commonly known in the area as kesong puti, is a locally made product from carabao milk. It has a very clean taste, almost akin to feta cheese, but a little milder.

**                  Adobo is a local Filipino dish made with chicken or pork, braised in a soy sauce and vinegar mixture. It is a Filipino classic, with every household said to have their own version, while retaining the same salty, tart flavor perfect with piping hot, steaming rice.

Got your own Los Baños stories? Share it with us! Email us at thepedestrianfoodista@gmail.com, or leave a comment on our guestbook. Thanks!