Raymond Lombos
Solihiya, the restaurant which opened recently at posh Greenbelt 5, is hardly what Filipinos typically expect of traditional Binondo restaurants.
Gone are the slow ceiling fans, the high-backed chairs, and all the "charming" details we usually associate with the Chinatown restos of yore. Instead, one finds a clean well-lighted place with furnishings and accents straight out of a furniture maker’s dream showroom.
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| Pata Tim | |
Despite the modern interiors though, the flavors have remained faithful to what Filipinos remember of comida china (that curious mixture of Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino cookery). A glance at Solihiya’s menu, for instance, shows that they’ve taken pains to write the entries the way Chinatown’s restos used to present their fare (in Filipino and Spanish, though now with a sprinkling of English). Moreover, they have even managed to retain such archaic dishes like pinsec frito (fried dumpling) and hototay soup that were mainstays in old menus, but which now are but quaint reminders of our culinary past.
"Solihiya is an ode to the old Binondo restaurants," explains Nick Santiago, the restaurant’s general manager, noting that more than just a means by which to indulge in nostalgia, the restaurant is but their way of bringing back old flavors and dishes in a more contemporary setup and location (i.e., Makati City).
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| Escabeche | | Not surprisingly, almost all traditional dishes that were loved by our parents and grandparents are present in Solihiya’s bill of fare. These include Pata Tim, variants of Morisqueta Tostada (fried rice), Bihon Guisado, Chinese cold cuts, Salt and Pepper Shrimp, and much more. Acquiescing perhaps to more contemporary tastes, other Filipino favorites are also represented, like Crispy Pata, Kare-kare, Escabeche, and starting this summer, even Halo-halo.
This confluence or weaving together of flavors and influences, says Nick, is what prompted them to call the restaurant Solihiya (the traditional hexagonal weave) in the first place. "We are here to celebrate the diversity of Filipino cuisine," he declares. Considering the marvelous flavors and dishes that the restaurant offers, we are sure that a diner at Solihiya would agree wholeheartedly.
Solihiya is located at the 3rd level of Greenbelt 5, Makati City.
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