We bought a voucher at Deal Grocer last month for the 4-course dining experience for 2 at Cocina de Tita Moning. I’ve wanted to try that place for so long but I find it too expensive. Thanks to the voucher, we only paid half, which is an amazing deal considering how great the food was!

I really enjoyed the experience – house tour, service, the short history, amazing food and the trip down memory lane (the houses in that area are very old yet still beautiful)

Built in 1937 by Dona Filomena Roces vda Legarda, the Legarda house was one of the first Art Deco Houses built in Metro Manila. It is located on San Rafael St, San Miguel, Manila. Only a few paces from the Presidential Palace of Malacanang, this neighborhood was once Manila’s most elegant district.

In this house, Alejandro Legarda lived with his wife Ramona Hernandez ( Tita Moning) and raised four children .
Dona Ramona (Tita Moning ) was fond of throwing grandiose and lavish parties in this house where her culinary skills and perfection as a hostess became known all over Metro Manila.
The Legarda house still stands today and houses “La Cocina de Tita Moning” where we recreate the wonderful parties of Manila’s most elegant era.

Before dining in, you will be asked to have a “pica-pica” in the garden area. I’d be happy to eat there actually, with the lights and the fresh air.

They served pandan iced tea and toasted bread with quezo de bola. Very good start as you can see from the photo above There were only two left in a span of 5 minutes, thanks to the Husband.

The meissen plates on the walls and the very happy Husband.
Trivia: Servants were not allowed to touch/clean the meissen plates. Instead, the kids were asked to stay up to wash and dry them.

We were asked to choose between menu2, 4 and 8 and we chose below:

Menu 8

Cream of Pea Soup

Fresh Arugula Salad with Mangos and Grapes, Gorgonzola Cheese, Caramelized Walnuts and our own Homemade Walnut Vinaigrette

Osso Buco Gremolata with White Wine Saffron Risotto (Beef Shank stewed in White Wine and Tomatoes served topped with parsley, garlic and lemon rind)

Caramelized Saba Bananas with Vermouth Fresh Fruit Platter

Duo of two desserts: Tita Monings Bread Pudding and Chocolate Pot au Creme

Barako Coffee, Herb Tea from Our Garden or Native Chocolate

They have more than 10 set menus which I would like to try every other month if I get new vouchers.

These are really good and soooo worth the travel and price.

See how happy The Husband is? Photos are a bit dark, please pardon them. The dining area was designed for a date place.

Some parts of the house that are open for tours.

A bit scary especially when trying to pee. Great experience nonetheless. Didn’t I say we’d go back again?