Incredible New Twists To Old Filipino Dishes @ Calle Arco, Pagsanjan, Laguna

Picture outside Calle Arco Restaurant.

          Our ‘balikbayan’ friend Julieta (a.k.a. Tirit) was about to leave for Mexico where she has been based for more than 20 years. Jo Ann,  wanted to make this day special for Tirit. What better way than to have lunch and later cruise around Laguna. Tirit wanted Filipino cuisine because she couldn’t have this anytime in Mexico. So, Jo Ann suggested that we eat in Calle Arco, an old Spanish house converted into a restaurant in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines, mid-point where Jo Ann and I are based.

Picture of Calle Arco inside.

     Calle Arco is famous because of the TV personalities that featured the restaurant in their programs. Some of these were Kris Aquino (Kris), Aga Mulach (Pinoy Explorer), Betong (Ang Pinaka), Cha-cha (TFC Biyaheng Bulilit), and Martin del Rosario and Bernadette Alyson (Pintada). Other famous celebrities have visited Calle Arco, like Sarah Geronimo and the equally famous actor and governor of Laguna, ER Ejercito and wife, mayor of Pagsanjan, Maita Ejercito, also a former actress.

Some of the famous celebrities that have visited Calle Arco: ER Ejercito (2^nd from left), Kris Aquino (3^rd from L), Maita Ejercito (4^th from left), and Sarah Geronimo (extreme R). Photo courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Calle-Arco-Restaurant/150933330411

     Aside from the Spanish architecture, Calle Arco tries to preserve the ambiance of the old Philippines with the different antiques the owner’s family has collected.

Picture of a cabinet containing antique coffee sets, bowls and other china.

What we ordered:

     Beef Sinigang with Langka. Sinigang is a sour soup (usually boiled with green tamarind) with your meat of choice that is a mainstay in a Filipino meal. But theirs is the only sinigang recipe that I know of, that has langka (unripe jackfruit) as vegetable. Surprisingly, the langka did not sweeten the soup, maybe because it was unripe. I am used to having green leafy vegetables as ingredients to sinigang but this recipe is unique and as a Filipino gourmand, worth trying in your lifetime.

 Picture of Beef Sinigang with Langka.

      Milkfish Belly with Mango Sauce. Sometimes, we are also careful about our diet, so we ordered this Milkfish Belly with Mango Sauce. I was trying to look for the soy sauce taste, the usual condiment in cooking Pilipino steak (bistik), but I did not find it in this recipe. Of course, the sauce was mango puree. This was lighter in flavor, a little bit sweet and sour, not salty and diet-friendly.  

 Picture of Milkfish Belly with Mango Sauce.

     Eggplant Omelet. Another Filipino favorite is "Tortang Talong" (eggplant omelet). Tirit ordered this because she said that the long eggplants in the Philippines taste better than the round eggplants that they have in Mexico. The Tortang Talong was not ordinary, as other ingredients topped the omelet. It is no wonder that we are friends because this is also one of my favorite Filipino dishes.

 Picture of Eggplant Omelet.

     Sweet Potato. Jo Ann recommended that we have this sweet potato for dessert. I completely missed the name of the recipe, but it was cooked in condensed milk with a sprinkling of cheese. It was not very sweet, and the burnt cheese added the contrasting salty flavor. We were just so full by this time that Jo Ann was able to take home what was left of this dessert.

Picture of Sweet Potato with condensed milk.

     Banana Shake. I ordered banana shake as my drink of choice. It came with chocolate syrup that added character to the drink. It was so rich and full in flavor with the taste of banana that I liked so much. The taste of milk was not overpowering which suited me perfectly.

Picture of Banana Shake with chocolate syrup.

     Each dish was good for sharing for four to five people. We tried to finish all the dishes among the three of us, so no wonder, I felt so full and satiated. What I liked about Calle Arco are the unique recipes, Filipino, yet new to the palate. If you want something new about the familiar, try Calle Arco for a different food adventure. I swear we enjoyed this food experience. 

The three of us enjoying our late lunch at Calle Arco.

     After lunch, we cruised to Caliraya, our favorite jaunt even when we were teens and had a refreshing drink of this coconut juice below. 

Picture of a fresh coconut.

     Calle Arco has this address:  57 Rizal Street, Pagsanjan, Laguna. If you are coming from Sta.Cruz, Laguna, you will pass by their famous old arch. Before reaching the Pagsanjan municipal hall, you will find Calle Arco to your right.