La Preciosa - Laoag City

Our friends invited us to join them for dinner at this restaurant - touted to be the best in Laoag City. It was full at 7:30 pm and we had to wait for about 15 minutes before we were able to get a table. Famous for its regional (Ilocano) specialties we ordered their more popular dishes, starting with the Poqui-poqui - an eggplant omelet combined with slices of tomato and onion. I am not normally a fan of vegetable omelets but this one was really delicious! As our British friend, Rob, said "It is food for the gods! Yummy!"

We also had the Crispy Bagnet which is basically deep fried, crunchy pork loin served with achara (a kind of relish). Along with this we ordered Halabos na Hipon (Steamed prawns) and  Kare-kare (a peanut based stew which includes eggplants, string beans and tripe). All these dishes were done perfectly and tasted really delicious!

For the piece-de-resistance, we ordered the house specialty - the carrot cake. Living up to its reputation, it was the best carrot cake we have tried!

Being a very popular restaurant, reservations are highly recommended. For the walk-in customers, there will be some waiting time before a table becomes available. The waiters are efficient and friendly. The ambiance is just right - it is as if you are dining at a relative's house.

I'll give it 5 stars for the food and 4 stars for the service (because of the waiting time). Parking is very limited so if you're staying in a local hotel or a relative's house it is advisable to take a tricycle to get to this place.

Conti's Bakeshop & Restaurant - Katipunan Avenue

Pardon me if I've been off the grid for quite some time. It's just that I had to undergo a minor surgery about a month ago. That was the first time I'd been hospitalized since I was toddler. Considering that I am now 67 years old says a lot about my health. Unfortunately this recent incident behooved a change of lifestyle particularly in terms of dietary habits. To make a long story short, I am now on a no-red meat, non-dairy, non-caffeine regimen. Seafood and chicken are acceptable as long as they are served with veggies. Adding soup would even be better.

That said, my slow return to eating out (a practice my wife and I did at least three time a week before) was done with utmost precaution. When Cynthia suggested we go to Conti's after doing some errands I hastily agreed. Not only was the restaurant near our home, it was also one of our favorites. For me, Conti's had become synonymous to Chicken Ballotine - one of their specialties.

Naturally that was what I ordered without even looking at their menu. It was as good as I remembered it to be. The stuffed chicken breast rolled in creamy sauce was so tender and delicious. The side vegetables were cooked just right, with just enough crunchiness and seasoning. The dish was also served with garlic rice. Definitely 5 stars!

My wife ordered the Callos - an ox tripe and knuckles stew with slices of bacon in garlic tomato sauce. It was also served with mixed vegetables and garlic rice. Cynthia enjoyed the smoky flavored entree and she said that the tripe and knuckles were very tender. She rated the Callos 4 stars out of 5.

For dessert, we shared a cashew nut covered sans rival. Although this sweet pastry would normally be a no-no for me, we justified our ordering it by saying that we haven't had this in months! Again, it was perfect with just the right amount of butter in between the crunchy layers. Hands down 5 stars.

Service at Conti's was very commendable - the waiters were very attentive and the food was served without much waiting time. The only drawback is the limited parking space and double parking is the norm. However, the security guards were very efficient in directing and managing the parking lot affairs. If you're double parked, just be prepared to have your meal interrupted so you can move your car for the other vehicle to get out. Overall, 4.5 for the food, 4.5 for the service and 3 for parking.

Please check their website: http://www.contis.ph/