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| Spanish meets Filipino Cuisine in one of the most famous tourist spots in Manila, the walled city - Intramuros. |
Ilustrado is a fine dining restaurant operating since 1989 situated in one of the most famous tourist spots in Manila - Intramuros. Ilustrado serves Filipino Spanish Cuisine which really brings out a familiar phase in our identity as Filipinos. When we were colonized by the Spaniards we were influenced heavily in many aspects of our way of life from religion, politics, culture and even down to our food. Ilustrado is one of the many restaurants in the country which serves high quality and word class Filipino dishes worth trying!
Ilustrado is a term commonly used for the "enlightened" educated, well-traveled Filipino during the Spanish era. Today, Ilustrado caters to clients whose palates are conversant in savoring cosmopolitan and neoclassic flavors of Spanish, Filipino and International dishes.
Team Kaladkarin invited me to this intimate eat up with fellow food bloggers and we were welcomed by the owners of Ilustrado, Bea and Bernice Pimentel. I love how both of them are passionate about everything that is Filipino and their vision to reach out to the younger generations to showcase the best of what the Filipino Cuisine has to offer.
INSIDER TIP: Ilustrado catered and brought its world-class Filipino-Spanish cuisine to various events and meetings of the visiting foreign delegates.
Ambiance
The ambiance of Ilustrado gives you a trip to the past and brings you back to the classic dining scene. The place has a lot of elegant embellishments, vintage furniture and antique design which gives it a very historical vibe. I just love how cozy it is and feels familiar, very homey.
The ambiance of Ilustrado gives you a trip to the past and brings you back to the classic dining scene. The place has a lot of elegant embellishments, vintage furniture and antique design which gives it a very historical vibe. I just love how cozy it is and feels familiar, very homey.
Ilustrado can be very intimidating by how it looks because it feels like you have to be formal or wear a proper attire when dining here. Everything seems proper, the place is quiet and doesn't look any modern at all. Good thing they have these other branches such as the Pasteleria Ilustrado in Alabang, Solstice by Ilustrado in Rockwell and Cafe Ilustrado in Makati which is less thematic making it more attractive to a wider group of audience.
Ilustrado is also perfect for intimate gatherings, dates, big functions and even wedding receptions.
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| Dips |
FOOD
First thing, we were served In-house dips (Boursin Cheese, Cheese Pimiento, Butter, Liver Pate, Spicy Cheeseball) paired with toast bread and biscuits. All of them were good but Boursin Cheese was my favorite!
These dips can be bought in mini jar containers and are the perfect Christmas gifts this holiday season!
First thing, we were served In-house dips (Boursin Cheese, Cheese Pimiento, Butter, Liver Pate, Spicy Cheeseball) paired with toast bread and biscuits. All of them were good but Boursin Cheese was my favorite!
These dips can be bought in mini jar containers and are the perfect Christmas gifts this holiday season!
The second dish that was serve was the Eggplant in Filo.
It's baked grilled eggplant wrapped in Filo Pastry. What I liked about this was the Feta Cheese and Cream Cheese inside that made it really exciting to eat. It reminds me of eating an unassuming Xiao Long Bao that usually looks dull on the outside but will surprise you when you munch on the inside.
It's baked grilled eggplant wrapped in Filo Pastry. What I liked about this was the Feta Cheese and Cream Cheese inside that made it really exciting to eat. It reminds me of eating an unassuming Xiao Long Bao that usually looks dull on the outside but will surprise you when you munch on the inside.
Adobong Bagnet with Taba ng Talangka
Ilustrado's very own version of the Philippine National Dish.
This is thrice-cooked tender pork belly simmered in soy-vinegar & spices making it even more rich with crab fat. The pork skin is really crispy AF and the taba ng talangka sauce complements the dish well.
Sinfully good! I would give this 10 stars if 5 isn't enough.
Ilustrado's very own version of the Philippine National Dish.
This is thrice-cooked tender pork belly simmered in soy-vinegar & spices making it even more rich with crab fat. The pork skin is really crispy AF and the taba ng talangka sauce complements the dish well.
Sinfully good! I would give this 10 stars if 5 isn't enough.
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| Adobong Bagnet with Crab Fat P495 |
Paella Ilustrado This is Paella done the Ilustrado way!
It has chicken, chorizo, prawns, clam, squid, tomatoes and many more
This is my 2nd favorite dish that was served during the night. I love how they cooked the rice. It's soft, moist and flavorful. There's zero umay factor so it's a must try for rice lovers like me! The seafood were cooked well and the serving is definitely good for sharing.
Callos Madrillena
A hearty & extra thick version of the traditional Madrid Dish.
A savory ox tripe stew made with garbanzos, Chorizo de Bilbao, Pimienton, and Bacon Slab. The ox tripe melts in the mouth making you want to beg for more!
A hearty & extra thick version of the traditional Madrid Dish.
A savory ox tripe stew made with garbanzos, Chorizo de Bilbao, Pimienton, and Bacon Slab. The ox tripe melts in the mouth making you want to beg for more!
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| Callos Madrilena P475 |
Twice Cooked Angus Beef Shortplate on hot plate
Angus beef lathered with wild mushrooms, roasted vegetables, pesto, marbles potatoes and brown sauce. Most of us liked this dish but it wasn't so special to me. It wasn't hot anymore when I ate it cause I was busy taking photos haha so the beef became a little saggy and the sauce already dried up. Texture wise though it was still good and the beef was so tender!
Stuffed Chicken Relleno
Chicken fillet topped with cheddar pan gravy. Yuuuum!
I love how this is overflowing with sauce and best paired with plain rice. Filipinos love gravy so much that some U.S. fast food chains in the country would even offer unli gravy due to public demand. Haha! So a big thumbs up to this!
Chicken fillet topped with cheddar pan gravy. Yuuuum!
I love how this is overflowing with sauce and best paired with plain rice. Filipinos love gravy so much that some U.S. fast food chains in the country would even offer unli gravy due to public demand. Haha! So a big thumbs up to this!
Not everything goes well with Paella to be honest and a dish as tasty and flavorful on its own like this could be enjoyed already with a hot plain rice.
Dessert
One of the things I didn't expect that I will love in Ilustrado would be their desserts.
The owners spoiled us so much and served us overflowing sweets on the table.
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One of the things I didn't expect that I will love in Ilustrado would be their desserts.
The owners spoiled us so much and served us overflowing sweets on the table.
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Assorted Cookies and Sweets
(Double Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies, Banana Wallnut Chocolate Chips Cookies, Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies, Fuge Brownie, Tres Leches)
(Double Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies, Banana Wallnut Chocolate Chips Cookies, Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies, Fuge Brownie, Tres Leches)
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ULTIMATE CHEESCAKE
It is very sweet, light and creamy. It has the right amount of sweetness and will make you want to eat more.
If you are looking for a quality cheesecake to be given as a gift, THIS IS IT. This is the cake that will make all the ladies say YES without having to pop the question!
if you haven't tried this, you're seriously missing a lot in life. I swear!
The quality and consistency of the food that they serve is what makes Ilustrado stand out among the rest. The owners are very hospitable and all the servers were really attentive to our needs. I believe that Ilustrado will continue its success because of their vision to serve high quality food, timeless dishes and give each and everyone who will dine here an unforgettable cultural experience.
Ps. The Ilustrado Restaurant in Intramuros offers a variety of venues and function rooms for special events and corporate meetings. They also have branches in Makati and Bonifacio Global City. What’s more, they offer a complete Catering Service package to bring the Ilustrado signature entertaining to your special events.
Thanks Ej Bunag of #ilovetoeatph & Team Kaladkarin for the invite 
I will definitely be back in the future!
I will definitely be back in the future!