Every time I go to Binangonan, I take my late lunch at Bahay Kawayan in Taytay. When I went last week, the place was so full. Only one table was vacant as if they reserved it for me. Right after I sat down, there was a couple who spotted it but I beat them by a few seconds.
It was so noisy and chaotic. They closed the main door to accommodate a photo booth. There was a private party in the separate room. I hate eating in noisy restaurants but surprisingly I sat there for an hour not minding the people around me. There was a glass that fell on the floor and shattered into pieces. The sound of crashing stainless steel trays could be heard from the kitchen. I could hear the karaoke mic from the private party plus the loud conversations of diners.
I found tranquility amidst the chaos. I must have been buried in my thoughts because before I realized it, my food was done and gone. I was in deep thought while I ate the cup of rice and a small order of pinangat na dalag. Even after I finished eating, I didn’t want to leave yet. In fact to prolong my stay I even tried to order halo-halo but they ran out. I continued to sit there for a few more minutes. I felt some peace and quiet. I must be communing with God, praying with my heart. Or maybe I was just exhausted that I just sat there quietly unmindful of what was happening around me.
This dalag looks scary pala in the photo. If you’re not from Rizal, you’ll be scared to eat this.
