Can you believe we drove all the way to San Pablo Laguna just to eat? 🙂 Yeah that’s how crazy we can get when it comes to food! 🙂
San Pablo Laguna is 1.5 hours away from Manila. You’ll have to drive through SLEX and pass by a lot of towns before you finally get there. This is where you’ll find Patis Tito (formerly Kusina Salud). This is an exaggeration of hole in the wall restos cos it’s so far. But since I didn’t drive, I don’t mind! Haha! 🙂
Patis Tito Garden Cafe is owned by the famous Patis Tesoro and her husband Tito. Aside from being a famous designer, Patis Tesoro is also the organizer of Viaje Del Sol – a popular tour promoting the Southern Tagalog provinces of Laguna and Quezon. I’ve actually never tried Kusina Salud before despite it’s popularity except once when a relative got Kusina Salud to cater for his wedding. This was a special request because Kusina Salud bever really accepted catering services. Anyway, to cut the story short, Kusina Salud has closed it’s doors already but only to pave way to a newly improved restaurant – Patis Tito, now fully managed by the Tesoros – Patis and Tito.
The restaurant is a secret hidden. It’s located in the inner streets of an already secluded town. The entrance is tiny and you’ll be suprised to find a huge airy garden restaurant inside those mini gates. 🙂 The place is very Filipino! Well, because aside from it being a Filipino restaurant, Patis Tesoro is known to be an advocate of everything Filipino including her magnificent handmade designs of terno (Filipiniana gown).
The restaurant had native Filipino vintage interiors but still classy and the open space was very conducive for lunch during a nice windy day. 🙂 It also had a garden with plants for sale and a mini zoo with giant cages of rare beautiful birds.
Now onto the foodm yes? 🙂
We had: (1) “Paco Salad” or Fern Salad, (2) A Platter of Spring Rolls, (3) “Kulawo” or Eggplant Salad, (4) Crispy Fried Tilapia with Special Sauce, (5) Spicy Beef Saplicao with Garlic Noodles, (6) Bulalo, (7) Pork Binagoongan, and (8) Turon con Latik. WHEW! Talk about pigging out huh.
Okay, before I say anything, I’d like to tell you that honestly, I am not a fan of Filipino Cuisine. SORRY 😦 Yes I do enjoy eating them, I am proud of them, but I don’t “love” them or crave for them. Gladly, I find everything we ate, dee-lish! 🙂 The Fern Salad was oh so yummy and refreshing. I even had to make an extra order. 🙂 I loved the exotic Eggplant Salad as well and the Turon Con Latik was a perfect sweet ending.
Unfortunately, I don’t think the far drive to Laguna is worth it for the regular eater. When regular, I mean, not super food lovers (foodies) like myself. I’m not sure if it was the climate (it was raining when we went), but it’s just far. Yes I enjoyed the meal and looking around but I won’t recommend you to drive all the way here except if you have other business in Laguna. Perhaps if you ought to buy some embroidery in Lucban Quezon (for example), then you should give it a try. 🙂 Schdule a foodtrip down South like Viaje Del Sol so your trip will be worth it. 🙂
You can visit http://www.patistitogardencafe.com/ for more details on how to get there etc. Happy eating!!! 🙂
Foodie for life,
♥ Abby Wasabi
Wasabi Doodles 