Destinations

Pipino (Vegetarian Food by Pino): Creative vegetarian chow

Vegetarian resto Pipino may have started as just the little sister (or bother) or Pino Restaurant, but it has become a must-visit for green lovers. Visit to see why.

Published

11 years ago

April 26, 2013

Mikee dela Cruz

“We know how hard it is to be a vegetarian in this country, and we believe that you should be able to go into a restaurant and not have to worry about unwanted meat in your dishes.” Here is this venue then that serves “convenient and deliciously satisfying meals for all vegetarians and veggie-lovers.” Because this resto “takes your favorite Filipino fare and turns them into creative dishes… to bring you a vegetarian restaurant that bridges healthy and delicious.”

That, in not so many words, is the spiel given by Pipino – which is actually somewhat of an offshoot of the restaurant Pino. Remember when every Jollibee branch in the Philippines used to have a (smaller) branch of Greenwich attached to it? Well, if Pino is Jollibee, then Pipino is its Greenwich. When Pipino was opened in April 2011, it almost seemed as an afterthought since it was only a six-item line of Pino’s menu. Eventually, though, this place has grown into a resto of its own. And it is largely because, yes, of that spiel of theirs, which they – fortunate for health buffs – somewhat fulfills.

Pipino’s venues are… in a word, nice, albeit small. Small because they only form parts of the bigger Pino; though nice, nonetheless, because – while nothing fancy can be seen here – they easily bring to mind small town cafés. Wooden tables with wooden benches? Check. Blackboards with the day’s offerings written for surveying? Check. Young (and friendly) waiters/waitresses (like they’re working their way to school)? Check. Heck, there’s even a bulletin board in the branch in Quezon City – in case you’d like to post or get info on those who post stuff there. No wonder that the yuppies, celebrities, fashion models (arguably diet conscious), bohemian, et cetera frequent the place…

All the same, the venue (for all its niceness) wouldn’t matter much if the food isn’t good.

And Pipino delivers on its promise somehow.

They have – for the lack of a more dramatic word – “common” offerings that can be found in most other restos. For soup (P45), there’s the Cream of Pumpkin, Cabbage Noodle Soup, Cilantro Soup, Tomato Soup, among others. They’re okay, though not too memorable for me – unlike Le Bistro’s Minestrone Soup with Malunggay Pesto, or even (now this isn’t that healthy, though it’s definitely good) Yellow Cab’s Tomato Cream Soup.

But starting with the starters and beyond, the dining starts to become… an experience.

Must-try starters, for me, include: Tofu Satay (with peanut sauce, P165) that may as well be called “yum balls”; and the Raw Dip Platter (miso malunggay pesto, aioli and carrot dips with vegetable sticks and pita bread, P195) that has something for just about everyone (even the non-vegetarian, but curious enough).

For entrée, try Banana Polenta (with asparagus salad and dried tomato confit, P220), which effectively merges the banana’s sweet mush with the dried tomatoes prune-y flavor; Squash Risotto (with toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh ginger, P125), which is filling without being nakakasawa (feeling like you’ve had too much); and Vegetable Curry (with couscous and tofu chips, P195), which has just enough tang so that that after-meal taste curry tends to leave in the mouth isn’t apparent. And then there’s the Watermelon Steak (with taro miso mash, string beans and pickled mushrooms, P220), which tasted just as I remembered steak to taste like (when I used to stuff myself with steak in the past) – succulent somehow, and juicy (thanks to the watermelon’s juices), too, so that “mouth-watering” gets new meaning/becomes literal.

Other offerings include: Portobello Inasal (with red beet purée, ensaladang talong and brown rice, P260), and Stuffed Dried Tomatoes (with brown rice, mushroom salpicao and orange leek salad, P225).

Sandwiches tried included: Black Bean Burger (with lettuce and mango salsa on whole wheat bun, served with sweet potato fries and aioli, P155), and Tofu and Garlic Mushrooms (with aioli on whole wheat bread, P155).

Ditto, for pasta/noodles: Cheese-less Vegan Lasagna (with eggplant, zucchini and silken tofu ricotta, P120), Veggie Tempura with Udon (with soy mirin, P145), and Creamy Pesto (with wasabi onion rings, P165).

End the meal with the Choco Cake (dairy- and egg-free, P80 per slice), Cupcakes (green tea, vanilla cinnamon or red velvet, P50 apiece) and Muffins (choc chip, P30; coconut, P20; choco-banana, P20; and blueberry, P30), or – my must-try – Homemade Ice Cream by Pipino (P35 to P45 per serving, with flavors including fresh lemon, oreo, coconut, dark chocolate, an vanilla graham).

Turning vegetarian is indeed hard(er) because of the lack of places to dine as a greens-lover. And while not everything in Pipino works for my taste buds, it sure makes going green easy and… yes, tasty. Drop by and discover for yourself.

Pipino is open daily – from 11.00AM to 12.00MN from Monday to Saturday, and from 11.00AM to 10.00PM on Sundays. For reservations, catering, advanced orders for pick-ups, and bulk deliveries, call (+63 2) 4411773, or email pipinovegetarian@gmail.com.
For those who’d rather have stuff in front of their doors, Pipino delivers; call (+63 2) 2121212.
Else, head to its restos. In Quezon City, head to 39 Malingap Street, Teachers Village; while in Makati City, drop by #38 Jupiter Street (corner Planet Street).
For more info, visit http://www.pipinovegetarian.com/.

Related Topics:Pipino vegetarian restaurant vegetarianism

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Destinations

Pinoys’ top picks for weekend adventures

With the “ber-month” holidays on the horizon, Pinoys are setting their sights on short weekend, domestic getaways. These short trips provide a refreshing mix of relaxation and adventure without the pre-planning required for travel to faraway destinations.

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Agoda looked at searches made by Pinoy travelers for overnight stays between late August to September. Manila, the second most populous city of the Philippines, emerged as the top choice, followed by Cebu, Tagaytay, Boracay Island and Batangas respectively.

Mike Hwang, Country Director, Philippines at Agoda shared, “Weekend getaways or staycations are an excellent way to recharge without the need for extensive planning. The Philippines offers such a diverse landscape where travelers can enjoy the cityscape, the beach or even the mountains without needing to travel too far. Each location also offers unique experiences that cater to different interests.”

Here are Pinoy’s top destination choices for a weekend break:

Manila
Manila, the bustling capital of the Philippines, offers a mix of iconic landmarks and modern attractions. Visitors can do anything from exploring Intramuros, the historic walled city, to enjoying a shopping spree at numerous malls. The city’s vibrant nightlife and diverse culinary scene make it an ideal spot for a quick urban escape.

Cebu
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Tagaytay
Just a short drive from Manila, Tagaytay is a popular destination for its cool climate and stunning views of Taal Volcano. Here, visitors can enjoy a leisurely day at Picnic Grove, savor local delicacies at Mahogany Market, or simply relax in one of the many cozy cafes overlooking lake Taal.

Boracay Island
Boracay Island remains a top choice for those seeking sun, sand, and sea. With its powdery white sand beaches and vibrant nightlife, it offers a perfect blend of relaxation and excitement. Activities such as kite surfing, island hopping, and sunset sailing are just a few of the many attractions travelers can enjoy here.

Batangas
Batangas is a favorite for its accessibility and diverse attractions. From the pristine beaches of Laiya to the diving spots in Anilao, Batangas caters to both adventure seekers and those looking to unwind. The province is also home to historical sites like the Taal Heritage Town, making it a well-rounded destination. Agoda’s extensive offerings include over 4.5 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, all of which can be combined in the same booking. This makes planning a weekend getaway easier and more convenient.

Travel

70% of Filipino travelers can’t get enough of their favorite spot: Agoda

Agoda surveyed travelers who just booked a new trip to their favorite destination. The largest group of respondents from the Philippines 54% cited adventure as the main purpose for their upcoming trip. 44% are traveling for food, while 25% declared celebrations to be their main travel purpose.

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55% of travelers have visited their favorite destination between 1 to 3 times in the past decade, making up the largest chunk of repeat visitors. 10% of travelers have even visited their favorite destination ten times or more.

Mike Hwang, Country Director for the Philippines at Agoda shared, “Where some make it a habit to globetrot, others find pleasure in revisiting their favorite destinations. Agoda’s Return Visitor Ranking shows that for Filipino travelers, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea are more than just destinations, they are experiences that travelers crave to relive. Agoda is proud to facilitate these journeys, offering a diverse range of accommodations, flights, and activities to make any trip enjoyable, no matter if it’s the first or the tenth.”

When asked what makes Japan, Thailand, and South Korea so irresistible, half of Filipino respondents chose “Ease of Travel” at 50% as the primary reason. “Local Cuisine” at 47% was a close second, followed by “Convenient location” at 34%, “Safety and Cleanliness” at 33%, and “Previous Positive Experience” at 30% to round out the top five.

Looking at the survey data from an Asia-wide perspective, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam are the destinations that Asian travelers can’t get enough of, respectively 44% of Asian travelers listed “Ease of Travel” as the main reason for going back to their favorite destination.

Interestingly, this aligns with the preferences of Filipino travelers, who also prioritize ease of travel and local cuisine.

Agoda offers travelers great deals on a wide range of accommodations, flights, and activities for everyone looking to revisit their favorite destinations. Whether it’s the first visit or the tenth, Agoda’s easy-to-use features helps travelers plan and book the next adventure with ease.

Destinations

Big Bad Wolf schedules another Manila book sale at Ayala Malls Trinoma

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Surprise, Manila wolfies! Big Bad Wolf continues to take the city by storm. This time, the Wolf is heading up north of the metro! Opening this August 7 until August 15, the world’s biggest book sale is setting up shop at Ayala Malls, TriNoma Activity Center.

Big Bad Wolf returns to Manila after its triumphant runs at Parqal and Glorietta, extending its mission to reach one million new readers with the TriNoma book sale. Big Bad Wolf is bringing a collection of over two million books to the TriNoma Book Sale! With books from different genres, including self-help titles, Filipino literature, romance novels, and so much more, Manila wolfies are sure to find their next great reads at the book sale. Metrobank is also set to return as Big Bad Wolf’s official bank partner, offering credit cardholders a 0% 3-month installment promo for single-receipt purchases worth at least P3,000.

Along with its third Manila book sale, Big Bad Wolf is continuing its partnership with Ayala Malls and extending its support for “BookLat: Open. Imagine. Discover.” This Ayala Malls initiative promotes reading for leisure and entertainment, providing an extensive collection of books at affordable prices.

Through “BookLat,” Ayala Malls targets to gather about 20,000 books for public school kindergarten to grade 3 students within Ayala Land Estates and Ayala Malls communities. Big Bad Wolf is set to donate 1,000 books towards the initiative.

Aside from returning partners, local publishers such as Feast Books, Adarna, Tahanan, Lampara, Bookmark, and independent book publishers will be joining the TriNoma book sale for the first time. Big Bad Wolf is committed to supporting local publishers, ensuring their unique voices and stories reach a wider audience. This collaboration promises to provide a richer and more diverse selection for book enthusiasts, highlighting the vibrant literary culture of the Philippines and offering a unique opportunity to discover new and exciting titles.

Get ready to be swept off your feet because Big Bad Wolf guarantees another unforgettable book sale for Manila bookworms! Cosplay enthusiasts rejoice as “501 Legion,” a storytelling activity infused with cosplay, makes a comeback at the TriNoma book sale! Young ones will get another chance to join the “Little Wolfies Crew” on weekends and experience life as part of the wolf pack. To learn more about the program and to stay updated on unbeatable deals, promos, and more exciting surprises heading your way, keep an eye on Big Bad Wolf’s social media pages.

For more information regarding Big Bad Wolf’s current and upcoming Book Sales, you can visit their website or check out their social media accounts (Facebook | Instagram).