All Things Black
As a child, my mom raised me to crave for that tangy tasty kick given off by the delectable sauce of adobong pusit. The thought of taking out a container of Adobong Pusit from Milky Way in Powerplant, and dining in Capricciosa when it still had branches in Connecticut and Greenbelt 3, guaranteed a smile on my face. It’s something I associate most with comfort; that I’m always lured to ordering every squid-ink based item in a restaurant’s menu. Here are some of these gorgeously black dishes that I've enjoyed recently.
LOCAVORE’S PUSIT ALA POBRE (P220)
Locavore’s Pusit ala Pobre shows a mature and sophisticated version of the classic dish. Slices of tomatoes and onions are replaced by bright cherry tomatoes and caramelized shallots; while its thick sauce is accented by garlic bits and spring onions. This dish may be meant to be an appetizer; yet who wouldn’t say no to pairing it up with a bowl of garlic rice?
Locavore PH
10 Brixton St. Kapitolyo, Pasig
Date of Visit: October 31, 2015 with Charlie Ledesma, Howie and Gwen Chuahiock, and Tikay Yu
MILKY WAY’S ADOBONG PUSIT (P325)
Milky Way has been serving up delicious comfort Filipino food for so many years now; that it doesn’t have to rely on fancy plating, or exotic offerings to capture the market’s attention. Its Adobong Pusit may not be that Instagram-worthy; but its perfectly sour squid ink sauce would just keep you coming back for more. It’s so good that I don’t even mind forgoing the actual squid pieces. Just give me a bowl of its sauce, and I’m golden. The best part? They have to-go versions of this heavenly treat.
Milky Way Café
2F 900 A. Arnaiz Ave. cor Paseo de Roxas, Makati City
Date of Visit: May 7, 2015 with Lily Chua
SIMPLE LANG’S CHILI GARLIC ADOBONG PUSIT (P245)
Simple Lang may be seen as a wallflower compared to the previous two; however, its attempt to innovate on the classic dish should not go unnoticed. Its sauce may not be as rich as the other two's; however, the heat of the chilis in the sauce definitely gives an interestingly new dimension to this dish. If you’re into squid ink that’s more viscous than soupy, then this will surely satisfy!
Simple Lang
Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati Ave., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati City
Date of Visit: June 18, 2015 with Jolly Aganon, Lisa Manila, Mimi Yu, and Alphonse Burkeley
WILDFLOUR’S HOMEMADE SQUID INK PAPPARDELLE (P520)
Ever since Capricciossa closed down, I needed to find a replacement for my go-to squid ink noodles. Although, Arrozeria’s Negra Fideua is delicious; it feels more like paella than a pasta dish. Fortunately, I found the next best thing in Wildflour, through its Homemade Squid Ink Pappardelle. It wasn’t your typical squid ink pasta dish; since the sauce was actually of a tomato cream base. The squid ink portion of the dish was in the noodles themselves. These freshly made flat noodles definitely know how to turn the flavor on! As a complement to the noodles’ saltiness, the sauce has hints of sweetness, and is accompanied by a fresh seafood medley of shrimps, squid rings, and clams. The best part of the experience is that you won’t have to think about those black teeth stains anymore!
Wildflour Café + Bakery
GF Frabelle Bldg., Rada St., Legaspi Village, Makati City
Date of Visit: July 28, 2015 with Migz Dimayacyac
BAIT’S SQUID INK PASTA (P395)
If Wildflour’s Pappardelle is too pricey for your budget, Bait’s offers a cheaper alternative. The noodles have a lighter flavor; and are paired with ground chorizo; instead of a tangy tomato cream sauce. It’s pretty flavorful but I found the dish a bit too dry, and a bit too tedious to eat as the clams were too tiny. I’d choose Wildflour’s in a heartbeat, but Bait’s Squid Ink Pasta isn’t a bad choice either.
Bait’s by Chef Joseph Margate
GF Signa Designer Residences, Valero cor Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Makati City
Date of Visit: July 31, 2015 with Gwen Chuahiock and Charlie Ledesma
Other Black Things Worth Trying: Ramen Nagi’s Black King, Bistro Remedios’ Pusit Adobo in Su Tinta, Your Local’s Chorizo Sandwich, Arrozeria’s Negra Fideua
