For a primarily Catholic nation like the Philippines, the Lenten season is a time for reflection and the observance of fasting as they abstain from eating flesh meat Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent. Abstinence is one of the oldest Christian traditions in cognizance of the fact that Jesus sacrificed his flesh and blood on Good Friday, Christians refrain from eating flesh meat in honor of His sacrifice. Flesh meat includes beef, pork, chicken and turkey, and any meat of mammals and poultry.
Unless you cook at home and prepare your own food, there are a lot of choices for Lent around the Metro as this is usually the time when restaurants highlight some of their non-meat menu items, or create something special for the season. Sometimes, we all need a break from our meaty adventures to make room for lower cholesterol intake and simply practice self-discipline for Lent. Here are a few of the stops you can check out to get your non-meat feast for the Lenten season.
Corner Tree Cafe
Corner Tree Cafe is one of the oldest vegetarian places in the Metro along Jupiter St. in Makati. It is popular among vegans and vegetarians and it wouldn’t hurt to try their dishes for the Lenten season. Some of the best-sellers are Veg Arroz a la Cubana for lunch; green salad with garlic croutons, fried onions toasted pine nuts and a poached egg; Vegetarian Chili Bowl; Veg Bibimbap; Baked Tofu Walnut Burger; and they also offer gluten-free dishes so you can give your tummy a healthy break as well.
Corner Tree Café is located at 150 Jupiter St. Bel-Air, 1209 Makati, Philippines. For more information or reservations contact (02) 897-0295 or 0906 558-6177.
Pipino Vegetarian Food by Pino
Pipino Vegetarian Food is one of the most popular restos along the strip of foodie haven at Maginhawa-Malingap streets in Teacher’s Village, Quezon City. It is the vegetarian sister resto of Pino Restaurant which serves creative Filipino vegan dishes that vegans and vegetarians including meat eaters have grown to enjoy. It is definitely 100 percent plant-based so you may indulge here for Lent. Popular on the menu are Vegetable Kare-Kare, Vegan Lasagna, Mac & Cheeze (made with vegan cheese), and Pakwan Steak. You may also get healthy servings of its dairy free and egg free cupcakes and pastries. It will be open until March 23 (Wednesday) and will be closed during the holy week from March 24 to 26, and will be back in operation on Sunday, March 27.
Pipino Vegetarian Food by Pino is located at 39 Malingap St., Teacher’s Village, Quezon City. For reservations call (02) 441 1773. The restaurant is open from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m daily.
Bait’s by Chef Joseph Margate
If you’re not so much into plant-based food, seafood might be your best option for Lent. Go full-on pescetarian during your meat abstinence and head to Bait’s, developed by the makers of Pink Panda, Hatch 22, and Crisp on 28th. The seafood restaurant is headed by renowned chef from NYC, Chef Joseph Margate. Feast on its delecatable seafood menu or partake of its Lenten specials like Grilled Salmon with Citrus Avocado Salsa, Tuna Taco Bowl, Shrimp and Crab Tostada, and Caprese Sandwich with Tomato Soup.
Bait’s is located at G/F Signa Designer Residences, Valero cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Makati. For reservations, call 0917 860 4764.
Susi
One of the most popular vegetarian restos in BGC, Susi is a favorite place for people looking for gluten-free food and 100 percent plant-based dishes. Its fun approach to vegan and vegetarian food has made it a famous hangout for people who are vegans as well as people who want to be vegan even just for lunch or dinner. The menu is named after vegan celebrities or references and it reads fun so you’d just order it if it makes you smile. Favorites on the menu are Oscar the Grouch (kale, spinach, wheatgrass, and banana), appetizer Into the Wilde (wild mushroom quiche topped with crisped leeks) named after vegan actress Olivia Wilde, The Emerson (baked lentil-mushroom loaf, served with zucchini-aubergine ratatouille, and mashed potatoes) which was actually named after the owner’s cat but don’t worry, there’s no cat or any meat in the dish.
Susi: The Key to Sustainable Living is located in Burgos Circle, Forbes Town Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila. For more information, you may visit www.susi.ph or call +632 833 SUSI.
Cravings Group of restaurants offers month-long ‘meat-free’ Lent specials
The Cravings Group of restaurants made it easy to find meat-free indulgence this Lent as all their restaurants in the Metro will be highlighting dishes meant for your fast. Cravings, Lucia, C2 Classic Cuisine, B&P, The Blackboard, Epicurious, Lombardi’s and Wicked prepared their Lenten Chef’s Specials – a creative menu offering heavenly seafood dish options and vegetable entrees this entire month of March.
To cap your seafood craving, head to Cravings for a mouth-watering serving of Prawns Thermidor with Artichoke and Mushroom and Truffle Tagliatelle, or you may drop by at Cravings Fraser Place for these themed choices – Spicy Tuyo Spaghetti with Sundried Tomato and Grilled St. Peter Fish Fillet with Rice Pilaf in Garlic Confit. At Lombardi’s, they will be serving Pasta Linguini e Gamberetti (shrimp linguini with white wine, zucchini, basil and tomatoes) and Salmon con Salsa di Limon (baked salmon in garlic and lemon sauce served with pumpkin risotto). Lucia Ristorante likewise will have prime pasta and fish dishes for its Lenten specials. Order Angel Hair Vongole (Clam Pasta) which is available for solo, sharing and family plates and Dentice Alle Olive (grilled lapu-lapu in lemon and olives wrapped in parchment paper with baked potatoes).
For meatless yet mouthwatering dishes, B&P will have the Stir-fried Fish and Tofu and Grilled Oyster Mushroom Burger. Wicked on the other hand highlights Vegetarian Lasagna and Tuna and Capers Sandwich. Epicurious meantime offers guilt-free menu starting with a snack of Tuna and Capers Sandwich with Grilled Zucchini and Tomatoes (served with Camote Chips and Moringga Lemonada. For the main dish, the resto will be serving delectable Black and White Sesame Custard Prawns with Pesto.
Enjoy a fine dining Lent at Blackboard and order Prawns Aligue Risotto, Almond Cobbler, Rosemary Orange Sauce and Potato Mash and Mushroom and Truffle Tagliatelle. C2 Classic Cuisine will be serving more familiar Pinoy dishes like Crispy Pancit Palabok and Tilapia with Mango Salsa.
Here’s a list of the Cravings Group of restaurants in case you decide to dine there: Cravings (Katipunan; Molito; and Fraser Place Hotel, Makati City), Lucia Ristorante (inside Hotel Celeste located at San Lorenzo Drive, Makati City), C2 Classic Cuisine outlets (Shangri-La Mall; The Lakefront Wharf in Sucat and along Missouri Street in Greenhills), B&P outlets (Shaw Boulevard; Il Terrazzo Tomas Morato; Science Hub 3 McKinley; and Robinsons Cyberscape Alpha Ortigas), The Blackboard (5th level of The Podium Mall), Epicurious (East Wing of Shangri-La Plaza Mall), Lombardi’s (East Wing of Shangri-La Plaza Mall and Robinsons Place Magnolia) and Wicked (East Wing of Shangri-La Mall).
Bag O’ Shrimps
If you’re ready for a more casual approach to seafood, get your hands dirty and head to Bag O’ Shrimps that offers a fun dining experience as you get to eat fresh shrimps and other seafood, well, in a plastic bag. Dig in to freshly cooked seafood or put on some gloves that will be provided for you. One of the popular dishes on the menu is Bag O’ Momma Shrimps by the Bag. You can have it mild or spicy; just inform the servers how you like it. It’s not for the squeamish, though, so if you plan to bring a date for Lent, make sure he knows he’s in for an adventure.
Bag O’ Shrimps is located at Tuscany Estate, Upper McKinley Rd, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. Call (02) 585 2789 for reservations.
Catch
Catch is a fine dining seafood restaurant concept created by the group that gave us Hooch and Smith Butcher and Grill. It replaced the former casual fine dining restaurant Lulu at the burgeoning food strip in L.P. Leviste. It just opened a few months ago and so far, it has been getting good reviews from diners. It offers meat as well but for Lent, indulge on all the shellfish and the seafood that the place offers. Some of our favorites from the menu are best sellers Catch Pasta, Catch Fish and Chips, Line Caught Sustainable Big Eye Tuna, Tuna Poke, and its crunchy Salt and Chili Squid.
Catch is located at G/F 125 V Corporate Center, L.P. Leviste, Street Salcedo Village, Makati. For reservations, call 0915 751 1226.
