February of this year when I got my internet connection back and I started rebuilding my “blogging career”. It’s been months since I stopped after that very sneaky hacker took over my account and deleted my entire site. Anyway, I usually view and post my entries in our Facebook page called Manila Foodies, a haven of food bloggers, enthusiasts and even pinoys who just love eating. One fine evening in the same month, I got a message and a friend invitation from someone who wants me to like his page and he endorsed a restaurant. Umm ijuander the who was this guy? I checked out our connections and found out that he was also sharing info in manila foodies. I thought he was a blogger so accepted his friend request and liked his page. I started liking his posts about this restaurant and he eventually invited me to give it a try. I have to be honest, I thought QC was way too far from my comfort area and thought that I will never have the chance to grab a bite in this food hub Mr Kim Marcelo was talking about.
Just last week when I was having a nice morning chitchat with my idol (naks!) the @JovialWanderer aka Christine Fernandez, Tin told me that she will be attending an event and asked me if I would like to join her. BIG OMG! Tin was also invited by Kim in Casa Filipino! I immediately said yes and looked forward for our very first buffet blogging tandem!
Come Thursday April 4, 2013, our schedule for the most awaited buffet! Yey!!! Immediately after work, Tin and I took a cab and head on to QC. We then arrived in this well talked about Primero Casa Filipino.
Eerrr we actually arrived WWAAYYYY TTTOOOOOO EARLY for dinner so we decided to explore the citadel and took some photos.
While Tin was busy taking notes on her blackberry, I went out and snapped few shots of the exteriors.
Oh shocks! I forgot to bring some cigs! I then asked Manong guard AKA kuya Joey on where to find a sari sari store. Smokers like me who are not packed? Don’t worry! There’s a store along Fernandez Street. Just a few walks from the resto and our lungs are then saved lol.
I went back to Kuya Joey and had a talk. I found out that there’s church nearby (Sacred Heart of Jesus Church) that makes Primo Casa a good place for events such as wedding receptions and christenings. He also told me that they have reservations for corporate meetings and birthday celebrations as well. Store was closed last holy week and he opened doors for many customers last December. I asked him if there were celebrities dining and he smiled and said yes. Parking area is no problem in Casa Pilipino and Manong guard assists more vehicles over the weekend.
I went back and just posted our check in in Facebook lol. I noticed there was a couple seating a table away from us. Uhm, they also offer meriendas! From 2pm to 5:30 pm (just after the lunch and a little less few minutes before dinner buffets). I asked a waiter to hand me over a copy of their merienda ala carte menu.
For only 188 php net, you can choose one from each category;
“Modern Filipino”
Appetizers;
Fresh lumpiang ubod
Tokwat baboy
Friend dumpling
Main Course;
Palabok
Sotanghon Guisado
Chopsuey Canton
Dessert;
Native Palitaw
Halo Halo shooter
Turones jackfruit with butterscotch
“Western / International”
Appetizers;
Karnevorous pizza
Steam fish wrap
Chilli cheese stick
Main Course
Spaghetti meat sauce
Pasta Ala Pomodoro
Dessert
Brownies with butterscotch
Choco rhum balls
Cakelettes
After I copied the menu (lol), I went to the front desk to return the list and actually was waiting for a chance to talk to the female chef. Her name is Chef Sheena (if I remember correctly) she assured me that they serve only the freshly cooked dishes around the clock. 3 chefs for appetizers, 3 chefs for the main dishes and 2 chefs for desserts (where she’s one of the pastry guru, they also prepare the salad bar in the appetizer section).
A little over 6 pm when the man of the hour Kim Marcelo shook our hands and gave us the warmest welcome. Had a little introduction and the plates started to roll.
First stop, the appetizer section. (Sir Kim was with us as Tin and I walked our way.)
Nicoise salad with egg and tinapa bit
Potato Salad with maya-maya bits
Sisig shoters
karnevorous pizza
Being a veggie fan, baked aubergine and cumin (talong with spicy chuvaklets as I call it lol), steamed tofu cake were the first onse that landed in my plate. A little soury – spicy taste burst in my mouth! Yum… I also liked the spicy cheesy bread quesadilla, bagette canapé, lumpiang shanghai and Nicoise salad with egg and tinapa bits. Sisig shooter is the best there is in the section!
2nd round; main dishes!!
caprichon
pork nilaga
steamed rice with pandan
garlic rice
papaya pickle = atchara
always on the menu
you may ask the waiter for the best ones for the right ones
Ok I have to admit that I broke one of my 6 buffet ways. I tried and liked their garlic rice. It’s so delicious! Sir Kim told us that they just had a twist of that rice course that day so yey! Happy to be one of the first ones who tried it! CALDERETA is love love love love!! The Angus beef melted in my mouth and uhm… so yummy!!! (Now am hungry lol). I liked the veggie pritata and their version of bagnet or their fried hot off the oven pork belly love called caprichon!
The most awaited section… desserts!!!
The palutang was ssssoooo cute to eat and too delicious to munch ehehe. The rhum balls, though I don’t drink, I appreciate it a lot! We also had the halo halo shooter and we topped it all off with swirls of vanilla and ube ice cream!! (Tin and I loved the texture of the ice creams!)
They also make sure that hot dishes are served hot, they have one induction cooker per dish.
Aside from the enjoyable meal, the finest conversation with my dear friend Tin and Mr Marcelo made this dinner one of the best ones that I had. It was almost past 10 when we called it a day. Sir Kim was kind enough to ask Kuya Joey to get us a cab. Though the night was over, I have to say I went home smiling after the long day work. The food was way beyond fantastic; the talks that we had were uber awesome, what more can I ask for before hitting the bed? Looking forward for another meal in Primero Casa Filipino.
Overall, the dining experience was ecstatic. The dishes were good. If you’re looking for Filipino dishes with a twist then PCF is the best place to go. Though they have limited variety on Filipino cuisines, they also offer other delicacies that will tingle your taste buds. If you’re working within QC area and had a long hard day from work, no time to cook for your family or if your just looking for a nice place to treat your self after that work load, better stop by, have a late dinner and work your way to a dining nirvana that will make you say, “I’m ready for tomorrow”.
Primero Casa Filipino
26 sct Torillo cor sct Fernandez (not Christine)
Barangay Sacred Heart
Quezon City
921 – 2448 / 9211850
Fire N Frost by Shawn 
Wow!!! this is one awesome review!!! Thank you so much. Shawn… Btw, the Caprichon is basically a crispy lechon belly… only the skin is deep fried then baked… the rest is roasted and then baked… Bagnet kasi is crunchy and deep fried all trough out 🙂 again… super thanks 🙂
bff,perness,umabot ka sa qc,hehe! 🙂 lurve it! 🙂
i know hehe i was invited by a very nice PR manager