La Cocina de Tita Moning

one might judge this mansion as being rustic and abandoned from the outside but not until one sees how it has retained its beautiful interior.after a the tour around the Malacanang complex, our guide Ivan of Old Manila Walks ended with what Philippines is also popular for. aside from the iconic jeepneys, our very own San Miguel beer. it was because the first brewery was built within the San Miguel compound in 1890.with this we went to La Cocina de Tita Moning for a fine dine merienda, our last stop. expecting a light merienda, we were surprised when they served us buffet style food like Kangkong salad, Chicken Galantina and Paella. bottomless Tanglad tea, of which i first tasted there, and of course a shot of San Miguel beer. not to forget their special bread pudding that has a taste of the typical pudding with a leche flan, definitely my favorite.we had a great time sharing our own travel experience along with Ivan. after that heavy merienda, of which i consider to be a regular meal, we visited the Legarda Mansion also within the Legarda compound along San Rafael street.
upon entering the ancestral house of the Legarda, i felt like we were transported back the year 1937 when this mansion was built. owned by Dona Filomena Roces de Legarda, whose daughter in law Ramona Legarda loves cooking.in its ground floor, you'll see the library room filled with books of sorts. a clinic of with medical tools that seems to be untouched for years and a room of the family's collection of antique camera equipments.at the second floor, is a huge living room a contrast to what was at the ground floor. paintings and framed family photos dominates the walls of the living room. one of Juan Luna's painting can be found there. chandeliers and great lighting makes this house even more beautiful.
several small rooms can also be found, which were converted to dining rooms as it still is part of the restaurant. one can dine here for family gatherings through reservations.other antique musical players, amplifers, power supplies and microphones are also displayed. old telephones, icoms, and antique beautifully carved wooden cabinets and tables occupy one of the rooms.paintings and framed family photos dominates the walls of the living room. one of Juan Luna's painting can be found there. chandeliers and great lighting makes this house even more beautiful. it was the best place to end a tour. with cozy chairs where we spent the rest of the time sharing our own travel experience with the other travel bloggers and tourists.i highly recommend this tour and you can book now for the next Power, Palace and a Shot of Beer tour on August 25, 2009 with Ivan Man Dy by visiting Old Manila Walks website. this tour costs P950 which includes the whole tour and a fine dine merienda to crave for.