Nanay Cirilas’ Filipino Restaurant in Tagaytay

I was thinking if my trip to Nanay Cirilas Kapeng Barako / Filipino Restaurant was only
an ordinary occurrence in my life or was it really meant that I meet the owners Medi and Rey? They’re really nice people and we parted like we’ve been friends forever. I not only discovered a nice place to enjoy good Filipino home-cooked food, best of all, I found two kind souls which I now consider my friends.

They love dogs too.

The place is not like a typical restaurant because it’s actually a home. It doesn’t have a big sign outside. It’s the residence of the Sarmiento’s. It sits on a 1,000+ square meter lot inherited by Rey from his parents. His neighbors are all relatives of his.

Cooking is only a hobby of Medi’s. To maintain her own pace and also their family’s privacy, no walk-ins are accepted. You have to call and make prior reservation and place your food order ahead of time.

Medi is not only a chef but also an artist. She makes handicrafts like dream catchers.

I never expected to see a motorcycle parked inside a restaurant. At Nanay Cirilas, there’s not only one but two gorgeous looking Harley Davidson owned by Rey.

This one used to be owned by a Prince of Saudi Arabia. He had 11 bikes but his new garage could only accommodate 9 so he sold two from his collection. When Rey saw this at the Harley dealer in Saudi he bought it right away. This is the only one of its kind in the Philippines. Medi wants Rey to sell this but Rey said he would give him 3 Harleys to his 3 children. One each na daw. I said wag nyang ibenta kasi he doesn’t need naman the money and he enjoys riding. I could see the twinkle in his eyes when he stares at his bikes.

Rey and his rider group distributed 35,000 copies of Holy Bible last year alone to far-flung areas reaching as far as Tuguegarao. They gave away 25,000 copies the year before that. They turned their hobby into something more meaningful and with a real sense of purpose.

Medi invited me to go up to their roof deck which is being readied for parties. They are building toilets and a nice kitchen.
The view from their roof deck will disappear in a few years because the farm behind them has been converted into a residential subdivision.

Nakakasilaw yung araw.

Time out, suot muna ako ng sunglasses.

Their two children are living in Toronto while one daughter is in Vancouver. They not only inherited the mom’s good looks and beauty queen height but they are also artistic.

Art works (for sale for P5,000 each) were done by their beauty queen daughter who was Miss Earth Canada and 4th runner-up in Miss Earth International. Their other daughter wanted to join the Binibining Pilipinas but the dad said no.
They told me that their other daughter stayed in the Philippines for 8 years after placing fourth in the Miss Earth pageant. She was able to buy a small condo in Mandaluyong but nothing much was going on with her life so the parents convinced her to go back to Canada. The parents were also always worrying about her safety.

Rey was the architect and builder of their house. I like the high ceiling and the windows he placed near the ceiling that allows natural light. yan ang gusto ko sa bahay, maaliwalas.

I wish I have a long table good for 18 – 20 px.

The art / paintings around the living room were by Medi.

I finished one pot of tarragon tea.

I am not sure if guinataang gulay is in Nanay Cirilas’ menu.
Rey asked me kung kumakain ba daw ako ng guinataang gulay kasi nagluto sya. I answered “Sige tikman natin”.
Abah, ang sarap. I ate all the okra.

My plan was really to leave our house early so I could have breakfast there that’s why I pre-ordered their All-Day Breakfast of garlic fried rice and longanisa. But it took me 3 hours to get to Tagaytay so instead of breakfast, naging lunch.

Chef Medi is 5’8 tall. Isang baldeng calcium tablets na lang and isang gabundok na Star Margarine baka maabutan ko na ang height nya. Konti na lang.

I had a very nice time at Nanay Cirila’s. I arrived at 12 and left at 1:30 pm. I still have several meetings after that. Bibisitahin ko pa si Harry.
If only I could stay longer.

Nanay Cirila is Rey’s mother. She lived up to 98 years old in Mendez, Cavite. She wasn’t sick at all and Rey predicted she would live up to 102 years old. hE requested her nanay to come live with them but she preferred to stay at her own house with a maid. One morning, while she was sitting at the balcony she told her maid that nagugutom na daw sya. The maid left her to prepare food. After a few moments, Nanay Cirila stood up to go to the dining area. She fell and hit her head. She was brought to the hospital where she stayed for about two weeks. Despite the 1 1/2 inches cut on her head, she recovered fully and was fine when she was discharged but after a few weeks, she felt ill. Until now Rey still feels sad that his mother didn’t live up to a hundred. It was her 99th birthday in April. I am like that too. Yesterday morning I was speaking to my parents(+) and wishing they were still here on earth.

Medi and Rey Sarmiento pay tribute to their mother by naming their coffee shop / restaurant after her and serving her favorite dishes. I told Medi that her mother in law was lucky to have her because she honors her thru her works. Ang bait naman daw kasi nung biyenan nya sa kanya, sa kanilang lahat.
Her mother in law’s dream was to open her own coffee shop. Medi made Nanay Cirila’s wish come true.

Nanay Cirilas’ Kapeng Barako
Filipino Restaurant
Mayor’s Dr, Tagaytay, Cavite
Hours: Open today · 8AM–8PM
Phone: 0922 291 3869

Before reaching Savemore at the corner of Mendez and Aguinaldo Hway, turn right then turn right again at the next street facing the basketball court. Their white house with orange fence is 400 meters from the corner.

Orange is Nanay Cirila’s favorite color.