Chef’s Home encountered some problems with the barangay officials that’s why they had to vacate the bigger location in front of The Mansion, and instead they moved to this small one story hole-in-the wall type of building.
Owner-Chef Alvin was in Malaysia when we came. He was sourcing for fresh ingredients for his Asian fusion restaurant. His wife Gina came to greet me. She has a fantastic memory. She still remembers me.
She said the photo of their famous crab dish posted on their Facebook account was my crab. A few years ago, before leaving Baguio, I ordered three giant crabs to bring home to Manila. I think I paid about P7,000 for the most delicious crabs ever. She took a photo of the big bilao of crabs before I picked them up.
This new place is cute but it borders between cute and carinderia type with plastic table covers and monobloc chairs.
In my opinion, their top-class cooking deserves a better presentation. Not flashy, but at least something better than what they have right now. Besides, their dishes and prices are not low-end, so the carinderia vibe does not jive with their top-notch food.
Maybe they can retain their present location, but improve the place.
Suggestion: Get rid of the plastic table covers that are more suitable for canteens or carinderias. Use simple wooden tables, with natural stain that do not need to be covered. Replace the monobloc chairs with more decent-looking dining chairs. Simple, but not plastic. Maybe wrought iron, without the curly twirly scrolls. Wood would do well too, low back because their place is tiny, with simple straight back, no curving.
Chef Alvin and wife Gina’s dishes are still one of the most delicious in Baguio, in my opinion. Look beyond the simplicity of their current restaurant’s location, just focus on the quality of their food.
This fried papaya salad is a must. It’s good for four persons. It’s delicious and could be a meal in itself. Watch out though that it has lots of herbs and garlic which could make you unkissable for hours to come.
We ordered two giant prawns cooked with garlic, we had fried lapu-lapu. I had the two kinds of sauces served separately.
Edmund and I ordered food good for 4 persons. Although very full, we still ordered gula melaka. That made our bulates spin. Nahilo na talaga sa busog. I didn’t know where the other photos went. I must have accidentally erased them.
Our food bill reached over 2,000. So when you dine here be prepared to budget 1,000 + per person if you order prawns which is P400 per piece. But worth it though. They do have less expensive dishes in the menu. The portions are good to share.
One more thing, if you are not religious, keep an open mind when you hear their religious songs that are played non-stop. The couple are Christians and they probably wanted to share their faith with their customers.
A piece of paper with printed religious teachings is given to the patron together with the food bill.
Tagalog version
At Chef’s Home, busog ka na, babait ka pa.
13 Outlook Drive corner Romulo Drive
Baguio, 2600 Benguet, Philippines
Phone:+63 916 444 5756
Hours: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
