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THE ILOCOS TIMES - ADVERTISEMENT
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Pampanga has long been recognized as one of the great culinary regions of the country with the term "lutong kapampangan" synonymous with sumptuous and delicious food.
There is a relatively new establishment which has introduced to Laoag City the delights and wonders of Pampango cuisine, RAVANDENS Grill and Catering. Located along Rizal st. (across La Eliana Hotel), Ravandens is fast gaining a reputation for good food, good music, and good company.
The restaurant has a covered "nipa hut" inspired dining area which complements the delectable dishes cooked in the traditional and savory "lutong bahay" way. For those who wish to dine al-fresco, there is the outdoor area where tables are set amidst a Japanese garden inspired setting.
For starters, sample the original sisig cooked the Pampanga way - genuine pork ears sautéed with lots of onions and a dash of vinegar. A must is the house specialty, "pinaputok na tilapia" in which fresh, plump tilapia is wrapped in foil and steamed to tender, juicy perfection. Try also their mildly spicy pepper steak - tender, marinated tenderloin tips served with sliced green peppers on a sizzling plate, a favorite of Ilocos Norte board member and sports czar Michael M. Keon.
Sample their Batangas-style bulalo, a bulalo boiled to perfection, and crispy pata, crispy on the outside, exquisitely tender on the inside. Both dishes are exceedingly delectable and are comparable in flavor to those served in the famous Barrio Fiesta restaurant chain in Manila.
For the traditionalist, there is the pinakbet made more special, cooked the Pampanga way. Appetizers include the ubiquitous tokwa't baboy, a staple of Manila restaurants. While the dish is usually served with steamed tofu, we requested that the tofu be prepared fried crispy. Take note, the customer can request management to prepare the dishes to cater to exact and personal preferences.
According to genial Ravandens co-owner Allen Aguilar: "We believe in what our customer wants, thus we are flexible in accommodating their requests. Many of our clients have become regulars and we make it a point to accommodate their requests whenever they come as in their preferences with regards to the spiciness of a dish." Pampangueños are known not only for the delectability of their cuisine or for the lavishness of their feasts, but most of all for the genuine hospitality accorded their visitors. Allen believes in maintaining the tradition.
Allen, who is a former Pfizer medical representative, credits the success of the restaurant to his wife and business partner, Josephine. According to Allen: "She is the one who personally cooks all the dishes in traditional Pampango style. She and her family have always loved to cook, and so friends and guests who had sampled their delicious home-cooked meals asked them to setup a restaurant; the rest is history. As we have expanded she has gotten more kitchen assistants, though she is still the cook with the final say on the preparation of the delectable and sumptuous dishes that have made Ravandens a favorite watering hole of the yuppie crowd."
The dining experience is made infinitely more pleasurable by a superb sound system belting out cosmopolitan listening music from the 80"s. Some recent additions to the record collection have included music from such sophisticated groups as Enigma as well as a compilation of selections from the renowned Buddha-Bar in Paris. Of course, management plays customer favorites on request. Further, prices are very reasonable; competitive as compared to the prices in other restaurants in Laoag City. For instance, the "pinaputok na tilapia" is a very reasonable at only P90.00 per order. Heavenly delicious dishes at a very reasonable price! For good food, good music, and good company, without compromising our budgets, savor RAVANDENS Grill and Catering.. Bon Apetit!
Some of RAVANDENS' Specialties:
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