Casa Filipina Bakeshop & Restaurant

What’s the appeal? Well, there’s a lot more to the Philippines than Imelda Marcos and her shoes. Positioned on the western edge of the Pacific near China, Vietnam and Malaysia, the Philippines (an archipelago of over 7,000 tropical islands) have always been a commercial hub, a link between East and West and a cultural melting pot. The result is a food culture that’s utterly unique.

At Casa Filipina, your adventure may well begin before the food arrives. A stand-up easel in the bakery serves as the restaurant’s only menu, offering a dozen unfamiliar dishes such as pinakbet and embutido without a word of description. You’ll have to corral Tess, Tony or their affable server for explanations and suggestions.