Lakwatserong Tsinelas: DAGUPAN

facade of the old Metropolitan Cathedral of Dagupan

We passed by an alley and Mica pointed to the group the remnants of one of the known revolving restaurants in the Philippines which existed in the 1980s. We were in the market place of Dagupan City situated at Zamora Street. A busy and crowded one joined by jeepneys as well.

a view of the once revolving restaurant of Dagupan and the current market place

Adjacent to the market is the old cathedral of Dagupan – Sanctuario de San Juan Evangelista. Fortunately, the caretaker passed by as we get near the door of the church and so we requested to enter.

the main altar

It seemed like a secret haven as soon as the door was opened and we entered into a different dimension of a tranquil world in complete contrast with the outside scenario.

The church stands witness to the rich cultural heritage and history of our country. This old church in Zamora Street was destroyed by a killer earthquake on the 16^th of July 1990 and has since been renovated. Known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Dagupan City, it is the Episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, Philippines.

The bricked walls and the Stations of the Cross images that surround the church complemented with antique woods and elegant chandeliers composed the grandeur of the said church. After the mandatory photo session, we exited on another street – Burgos Street- and were greeted by another church.

“Are they that religious to maintain two churches?” I said to myself. After a few readings and posed queries, and so I’ve learned that on the 27^th of December 2010, the Philippine Papal nuncio led the historic transfer of the Lingayen-Dagupan Metropolitan Cathedral from Zamora Street to nearby Burgos Street. Thus, regular masses are currently held on the newly built church at Burgos Street, though special occasions demand the holding of an event at the old church.

facade of the modern cathedral

But whatever their reasons are for maintaining two churches, the fact remains that the people of Dagupan undoubtedly professes a deep faith and devotion to the Roman Catholic Church.

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What’s there to do in Dagupan City? This is a frequently asked question directed to any vagabond, where the usual reply is to eat bangus (milkfish).

But there is more than a feast of bangus while in Dagupan City. One thing is certain though and that is, a food trip is inevitable.

My recent stay at Dagupan City was pure relaxation without having to follow any scheduled itineraries – a cafe, pigar-pigar restaurant and a fishpond were the familiar rendezvous.

YELLOW TREE CAFE

I don’t drink coffee and seldom do I drink tea, only if the circumstances demand. My travel regimen does not include loitering in coffee shops. But why am I in a cafe? This is one of the exceptions.

a staircase leading to the cafe

The heat was unbearable for us to stroll around the city of Dagupan and nearby municipalities of the province of Pangasinan, and so, one refuge, is an air-conditioned tea house or coffee shop.

The Yellow Tree Café is a homegrown coffee shop of Dagupan. As more coffee shops begin to thrive in the city, of multinational corporations in the likes of Starbucks, the Yellow Tree Café remains to be patronized by the people of Dagupan and its visitors.

the interiors and the customers

In fact, the coffee shop was full of customers and students converting the same as a library as soon as we entered the shop. Though there is a veranda serving as smoking area and seats were available, we opted for a request to set-up a table inside, as it would defeat our initial purpose of being in a coffee shop (a breathe of air-condition).

veranda and the mural

At par with other known brands of coffee and frappuccino (frozen coffee), the peanut butter frappe of the Yellow Tree Café is a must try. And it was honestly the first time I’ve heard a peanut butter can blend with coffee.

More than the accommodating staff, cozy interiors, pastries and the coffee, what's there not to love Yellow Tree Cafe? It is indeed an ideal place to chill out while in Dagupan City.

GREAT TASTE PIGAR-PIGAR RESTAURANT

I have never heard of pigar-pigar. The name sounds like a vegetable for me and so I became uninterested. But the first time I tasted pigar-pigar at Ate Vi’s Bistro, served the Alaminos-style, it passed my taste buds with flying colors.

Nighttime came and so a drinking spree being in order, our friends who hail in Dagupan, Josh, Mary Ann and Mica, lead us to one of the best restaurants in Dagupan that specializes in pigar-pigar.

Pigar-pigar is Dagupan’s version of beef stir-fry. The deep-fried thinly sliced carabeef seasoned with salt and pepper can become a no-brainer favorite dish, as it complements well with beer and rice (either of course unless one insists).

Dagupan's pigar-pigar

kaleskes

The house specialty of Great Taste Pigar-Pigar Restaurant as the name of the restaurant suggests, indeed exceeded my expectations and being one of the best tasting pigar-pigar in town, I would surely be back for more servings once in Dagupan.

Location: Gomez Street, Dagupan City, 2400

Contact Numbers: (075)6586880

09177018037

Owner: Rommel R. Cerezo

Email: cerezorom@gmail.com

ATC IHAWAN

When boredom and exhaustion strikes, there’s only one activity to rejuvenate our weary souls – beer drinking. The self-confessed ‘clean-living’ individuals may protest but this is the kind of lifestyle most define as fun. The search for a place to drink in Dagupan City is not hard. Anywhere would be fine actually.

But with a fishpond and cottages on stilts, this is the best way to spend an immersion in Dagupan City (I so declare).

There are a lot of restaurants and bars on nearby fishponds of the city, but we opted for the more scenic and less commercialized façade – ATC Ihawan.

Before the sun sets over the horizon, ATC Ihawan has turned into one party place - feast on sea foods, beer drinking and a live performance of varied types of music and of all genres in the form of a karaoke.

adobong talaba

That was the finale of our Dagupan trip and I truly enjoyed it!

sunset at the fishpond

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Apart from the rice cake that is known all over the Philippines making its origin at Calasiao, Pangasinan – the Calasiao puto – there are dining establishments on this first class municipality of the province that stands out in providing a rich culinary experience to all visitors.

Mica served as our official tour guide while in Dagupan. With the proximity of Dagupan to Calasiao, either a short jeepney and tricycle ride I recall, we were lead to two of the famed restaurants of the province serving nothing but authentic dishes in the province of Pangasinan.

PANADERIA ANTONIO BAKERY AND RESTAURANT

Situated at one of the main thoroughfares of Calasiao - Judge Jose de Venecia Avenue - Panaderia Antonio Bakery and Restaurant is one restaurant every guest should not miss out. The restaurant is a pride of the province of Pangasinan.

the restaurant's facade

A relaxing ambience emanated as soon as we entered the restaurant. Not only for family and friend’s bonding, I suppose the restaurant can emit an atmosphere of love and “getting to know” stage of dating. We were surrounded by couples as I silently observe the type of guests the restaurant attracts.

Our dining table was served with some of the best dishes the restaurant offers. It was truly a gastronomic treat! Beef kare-kare, sizzling T-bone steak, pizza and of course, the boneless bangus, which Dagupan is known for, graced the affair in welcoming us, so as the complimentary chicken skin.

chicken skin

boneless bangus

pizza

Seldom do I eat kare-kare and it all depends on my whim and for no other reason. But the beef kare-kare of this restaurant is truly a must on your plate, distinctly prepared from what I had tasted on other restaurants and eateries as of writing. And I only had a few servings. Since it would be gluttony in the guise of food tasting should I place another order, as my main order was T-bone steak, I was already contented on a minute for minute spoon traveling to Christian’s plate who ordered the kare-kare.

kare-kare

sizzling T-bone steak

Too bad, I wasn’t able to try any of the pastries and bread offered at the bakeshop, but the late lunch served to us would already suffice so as to declare that we have experienced the best of Panaderia Antonio Bakery and Restaurant.

DAGUPENA RESTAURANT

Built and styled like an old traditional Filipino house, Dagupena Restaurant provides a homey vibe of a dining experience. From Hotel LeDuc, where we stayed for this trip, it took a tricycle ride to reach the said restaurant.

As soon as we alight from the tricycle, we immediately checked on the interiors and placed our order for our brunch (breakfast and lunch).

What’s for brunch?

The Binagoongang Crispy-Pata is definitely one of the must-try at Dagupena Restaurant, which makes the restaurant a tourist destination and a landmark in itself.

Binagoongang Crispy Pata

As the name of the restaurant implies, the restaurant takes pride on what Dagupan City is known for in terms of culinary masterpiece. Since it first introduced Pangasinense cuisine during 1928, the restaurant have continued to redefine its creations, with more dishes to choose from, paying tribute to cultures that have enriched the heritage of the region.

To satisfy our hunger before we make the mandatory tour of Calasiao and Dagupan, our table was filled by no other than the Binagoongang Crispy Pata and Bangus Al-ajillo complemented by tsokolate batirol and a soup I forgot the name.

Bangus Al-ajillo

Tsokolate Batirol

Dagupena Restaurant made me realize that a gastronomic experience in the said region does not limit to the different servings of bangus and pigar-pigar, as being innovative and adept with the changing times, their dishes continue to evolve evident by the introduction of the sinful, mouth-watering and tasty binagoongang crispy pata.

As the first meal of our second day in Dagupan, Dagupena Restaurant was the right choice for a first pit stop of discovering the region. A highly recommended place to dine while in Calasiao, Pangasinan.

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