Rosario town has Antonio's Kitchen
How wonderful to discover that my old hometown, Rosario, Batangas, no longer small but expanding aggressively to the left, right, center, and just about everywhere, now boasts a fine dining restaurant, possibly its first.
Antonio’s Kitchen, on 0551 barangay Namunga, along the national highway leading to Ibaan and Batangas City, is a diner’s delight for several reasons over and above its cool interiors, tasteful design, which is a blend of old and new, and air-conditioned comfort.
The place serves Continental dishes, pasta, soups, and salads aside from the usual Filipino sinigang-adobo fare.
On my first of three subsequent visits recently, in the company of Norma Aclan-haze, my elementary school classmate now based in San Jose, California, I was truly impressed. I wanted a Puttanesca for lunch, but it wasn’t on the menu.
I asked Baby Melo-palicpic, who soft-opened the restaurant in 2017, if I could have it. Post haste, she rushed to the kitchen, checked her glasswindow pantry, then reverted to me bearing some good news.
Yes, she had ingredients for my favourite pasta dish, and she could whip one up for me. It turned out to be quite good, a bit on the spicy side, with generous sprinkles of Portuguese sardines (my request), caviar, and a huge dose of sundried tomatoes.
Here’s a cursory glance at some items from their menu.
STARTERS: Fresh Salad Wrap with Chicken Milanese, Mozarella Jalapeno Bites.
SOUP: English Seafood Chowder. Creamy Mushroom Soup.
SEAFOOD: Baked Salmon in Mushroom and Blue Cheese. Fish & Chips. Grilled Tanigue. Seafood Vongole.
POULTRY AND MEAT: Authentic Chicken Curry. Honey Sriracha Liempo. Signature Baby Back Ribs.
For coffee and snack lovers, Antonio’s Kitchen also offers cakes, pastries and various coffee preparations, both hot and cold.
Baby Palicpic launched Antonio’s Kitchen, named after one of her grandchildren, following her retirement in Hong Kong, where she was part of Metro Bank’s international operations for 28 years as a customer service officer. The restaurant operates on a reservation basis as Baby herself mans the kitchen with ample help from her daughter, Audrey, and head waiter, Jimboy, imported from a top beach club in Bohol.