WHAT\u2019S THERE (i.e. WHY GO THERE)<\/strong><\/p>\n Baguio City is, of course, known for offering some of the freshest goods in the country \u2013 one of the benefits of being close to some of the country\u2019s major food sources (e.g. Benguet). It comes as no surprise, therefore, for a place named after (or at least insinuating) freshies to exist \u2013 i.e. the \u201cgulay\u201d, which means veggies in Filipino, in \u201cOh My Gulay!\u201d.<\/p>\n And this is the promise of the place\u2026<\/p>\n Which it sorts of \u201cstresses\u201d, with the venue\u2019s peculiarity.<\/p>\n Oh My Gulay! is located atop La Azotea Bldg. along Session Road, the main thoroughfare of downtown Baguio. The \u2013 for the lack of a better word \u2013 drama of the place actually starts at the building\u2019s fourth floor. From there, the concrete stairs become wooden as you go up the fifth floor. And then when you enter the main door (what with the resto occupying the entire fifth floor), you are immediately transported into\u2026 a rustic garden\/a completely different world.<\/p>\n Almost everything here is made from wood \u2013 at least most of the tables and the benches, the footstools and the tall stools, et cetera<\/em>. And then scattered here and there are traditional artworks \u2013 e.g. wooden carvings, driftwoods, et cetera<\/em>.<\/p>\n The resto has various \u201cportions\u201d \u2013 e.g. there\u2019s the seating area near the art museum, there\u2019s the seating area near the kitchen, there\u2019s the seating area that\u2019s accessible by climbing wooden stairs, and there\u2019s the seating area that can be accessed by a short hanging bridge. The last two areas are beside the windows overlooking downtown Baguio, so they are faves of most visitors\u2026<\/p>\n The overall feel of the place isn\u2019t the sole attraction here (it\u2019s like being transported elsewhere, even though you know you\u2019re in the middle of Baguio City). Instead \u2013 say, the orders are taking so long \u2013 you can saunter at the mini-garden, complete with a pond with lazy fishes; or drop by the small-ish art museum that holds some of the works of Baguio artist Victor Oteyza, who is credited for helping pioneer Philippine Modern Art.<\/p>\n For such a \u201csmall\u201d place, there are some joys to be had here, indeed.<\/p>\n WHY NOT GO THERE<\/strong><\/p>\n However, as this is \u2013 mainly \u2013 a restaurant, the gastronomic offerings of the place\u2026 disappoint.<\/p>\n I suppose the tattered menus should have served as a warning \u2013 they looked over-used not necessarily because so many people have tried them, but because they have been neglected. Check out those masking tapes used to cover food that are no longer being served \u2013 they look, in a word, tacky.<\/p>\n Yes, I\u2019d say the resto has a way with words. Cesar Asar (P120) does sound better than \u201cCaesar Salad\u201d, even if the contents are the same. And so does Anak ng Putanesca (P130), though it\u2019s really just pasta with putanesca sauce.<\/p>\n And yes, many of what\u2019s there are affordable (if not exactly cheap) \u2013 e.g. tsokolate<\/em> or kape<\/em> for P65; crepes for P90 [combinations include Mansanas (apple), Super Sosy (stuffed with peaches), and Saging at Mani Love Affair (stuffed with banana and peanut butter);<\/p>\n Taste-wise, however, I was underwhelmed.<\/p>\n The ordered Kabute (P130) pasta did not at all taste of mushroom. The Sili Omelet (P80) was not even spicy (sili<\/em>, for those who do not know, is chili). The Talong Parmigiana (breaded eggplant over whole wheat bread; P135) had too much breading.<\/p>\n Forget, too, the promise of the freshies\u2026<\/p>\n And don\u2019t get me started on the menu items that weren\u2019t available\u2026<\/p>\n UNIQUENESS WITH LIMITS\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Maybe I just happened to be there on an off-day? Perhaps\u2026<\/p>\n After all, and let\u2019s be honest here, don\u2019t get me wrong: Oh My Gulay! has its appeal.<\/p>\n That\u2019s if you want to go to a place that\u2019s\u2026 peculiar, without having to leave the downtown area of Baguio City, then this place is definitely worth checking. After all, in this city where big businesses are oh-so-willing to chop off old trees so they can build parking lots, even a mini-garden right in the middle of the city should attract\u2026<\/p>\n But if you demand more from the places you visit, then this may disappoint. And if you still want to visit, at least be warned. Here, you can fill the eyes\/heart with the beauty that\u2019s there; but not necessarily your tummy\u2026<\/p>\n Open daily from 11.00AM to 9.00PM, <\/em>Oh My Gulay! is located at 5\/F La Azoteca Bldg., Session Rd., Baguio City. For more information, call (+63 <\/em>74) <\/em>446-0108, or visit the resto\u2019s Facebook page<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Oh](\"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Oh-My-Gulay2.jpg\")
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