You can’t be a full fledged Filipino if you haven’t tasted sisig, lechon, or crispy pata. These heavenly yet sinfully delicious pork dishes are a staple in every Pinoy celebration. Unfortunately, they also tend to be very unhealthy. And when you commit to eating healthy, you have to let go of any chance tasting these dishes again. The owners of Nuezca Cafe felt that society is now so overrun by mass-produced meats and produce, so they were inspired to put up a resto that is all natural and organic. Nuezca Café is a casual dining restaurant that incorporates organic meat so seamlessly you’d wish it was done in every restaurant in the country.
The unassuming restaurant hides its humble abode with trees and other flora along Maginhawa Street in Quezon City. Situated in a two-storey establishment, with both an air-conditioned and al fresco areas, Nuezca Café gives off a home-y vibe that is close to nature. A perfect break from modern restaurants seen in Maginhawa—the street known for its local food scene. No one would think there would be a place offering organic and healthy food on this food strip. Nevertheless, Nuezca humbly considers itself a simple organic restaurant that delivers “farm to table” dining that is at par with other more expensive restaurants in the metro. Perhaps what makes Nuezca special is their Filipino approach to organic eating, which is something I would love to have all day, every day.
Because Nuezca’s all about organic meat, I decided to try their Pork Sisig (Php 260). Sizzling, chunky, and savory, the dish perfectly marries the soft texture of pork with the tasty umami sensations from soy sauce, egg, onions, and spices. In what feels like an almost melt in your mouth experience, the sisig hits all the right spots in your taste buds. It may not be the traditional sisig that’s full of pork gizzard, but I can live with the mouth-watering goodness of this dish that’s also organic. They also have organic chicken if you’re not too keen about eating pork. I tried their Stuffed Organic Chicken (Php 190)—basically chicken breast stuffed with cheese—which reminded me of Chicken Parmigiana and Chicken Cordon Bleu combined. Although, only their pork and chicken meats are organic, everything else is still healthy. All their dishes are 100% MSG-free, still providing a healthier dining experience for their customers. Some are: Vegetables: Tortang Talong (Php 100), Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw (Php200), Chicken Tinola, Chicken Sisig, Lechon Kawali, Sinigang na Baboy, Beef Kare-Kare, Beef Caldereta (ranges from Php 200-400), Gising-Gising, Grilled Pusit, Sizzling Gambas (ranges from Php 200-300).
Nuezca may not be the flashiest organic restaurant around, but their principle to serve traditional Filipino dishes that cater to our Pinoy culture while offering an avenue for healthier and better living sure makes up for it. For all its worth, Nuezca can show you that the Filipino dining experience can be healthier too and more so if we use natural ingredients that are locally sourced from our farms.
I know as Filipinos we cannot really depart from our love of pork just yet. But let us not forget that we should also be mindful of our choices to achieve overall wellness–because if we are not mindful now, we may regret it later when our health begins to suffer. So, let Nuezca Café serve you with all natural and organic meat dishes that will gratify your Filipino taste buds without sacrificing health.
NUEZCA CAFÉ
Address: #53 Maginhawa Corner Mahusay Street, UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City | Google Map
Mobile: +63 906 248 7225
Landline: 02 433 6451
Email: nuezcacafe@yahoo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nuezca-Cafe-889839981095700
