All-Filipino lunch at Chalet Restaurant

It was a satisfying Independence Day celebration for me this year. It seemed that it was a day that granted me freedom from hunger, to be specific. I might not be in nearby Iloilo City, a sea away from my hometown Bacolod, where the President of the Republic commemorated the event; nor was I in Kawit, Cavite where the first republic was declared and the Philippine flag was first raised, yet I was at the rooftop of L’Fisher Chalet, an infinity pool ushering to the view of the seaport basking on my temporary freedom from work-related activities.

It’s one of the many beautiful places to be when in Bacolod. It has a good view of the port (with Iloilo somewhere on the horizon) but remains accessible to everything, situated at the heart of the city. And for this special day, we were invited to sample the new menu of the L’Fisher Chalet Restaurant.

I looked out the glass window as I waited for our food. Bacolod City is one place where there are no tall skyscrapers to block your view (as of this writing). It has a bit of everything while maintaining a quiet and steady pace of life. No wonder it has been eyed as a retirement haven by foreigners and overseas Filipino workers.

How appropriate for the Independence Day occasion that our lunch was an all-Filipino cuisine. If you happen to be in Bacolod, get a taste of authentic Filipino food at Chalet Restaurant. What’s more, it is offering a 50% discount on all food items every 11:30 am to 2:00 pm from June 12 to 30, 2015.

We began our feast with the beef caldereta. It’s a tomato-based dish with liver spread, potatoes and carrots. Another sauce-based dish, the kare-kare, which is lavished in peanut sauce and a pinch of shrimp paste on the side, was served. We tried two varieties — the seafood kare-kare and the beef kare-kare.

For those who like good food, notwithstanding the cholesterol content, the grilled liempo (grilled pork belly), krispy pata (deep-fried pork leg), bistek tagalog (beef steak), relyenong alimango (stuffed crab), and squid sisig (sizzling chopped squid) will grant you a filling meal. I think the Pinaputok na Tilapia (tilapia burst) and the Molo Soup were the healthier options compared with the rest of food served on our table.

Well, the fresh fruit juices and shakes were fantastic as we ordered cucumber, watermelon, ripe mango, and carrot juices. The desserts were also must-tries, especially the halo-halo prepared in a fresh coconut and topped with a scoop of ice cream. I had the leche flan with Macapuno and Mangga, topped with cherry to cap my meal.

And while you enjoy all these delectable food, you will be serenaded by a trio of classic singers.

Now, you have another thing to add to your “what-to-do-when-in-Bacolod” list — eat to your heart’s content mouthwatering Filipino food at Chalet Restaurant.