Bagoong. Fermented shrimp paste. It’s always a love and hate relationship — to the olfactory, yes — but love, love, love for the gustatory. It might not be as pleasant smelling as a freshly baked Baked Wellington but any dish cooked with fermented paste is always one for the hungry juan.
Opening their first branch outside Manila, Bagoong Club Restaurant is one of Davao’s newest gastro hub that will have you asking for another cup of rice unconsciously. Located south and just a few stone’s throw away from a university, it’s no wonder this place has slowly becoming a favourite amongst locals and visitors alike.
A recent trip to the restaurant made me love bagoong even more. Their menu is filled with Pinoy favourites elevated with a few splashes of bagoong. From their appetisers to their mains, you’d know that they love the bagoong to a tee.
Bagoong Rice Often served at home on a cold, rainy day, it would be a shame if Bagoong Club won’t have their version of bagoong rice on board. As it turned out, theirs is very moist compared to what we are used to. Though one to favour a dried bagoong rice (of course, perfectly made with day old rice), their version is one for a dried ulam on your repertoire of flavours. Would have loved it even more if they included some chilly, paprika and tons of fried shallots and garlic pieces.
Grilled Chicken Inasal This is definitely lit. Opposite of their bagoong garlic chicken, this dish is grilled, juicy and very moist. Yup. Moist to the core. Not only that. This dish is topped with a hefty serving of cooked bagoong that seeps right into the chicken tenders. Oh the melody it creates with every bite. This goes well with plain or flavoured rice.
Bagoong Garlic Chicken Crunchy, juicy and very Pinoy. Though dry, this dish is one for the road. Why? Because Bagoong Club provides for a hefty plate of bagoong as appetizer, you can create your own flavour without having to order a new dish. Make it sweet with their minatamis na bagoong or chilly with their kicking bagoong variety. Either or, you’d surely love the play on flavours.
Talong and Tofu Torta A new fave on my list. It’s packed and very magulay. On the outside, it looks like a typical lumpia or omelette. But once you dig in, you’d be surprised of the crunchy and delish filling it has. From cubed tofu to strands of crunchy bean sprouts and talong slices, it felt like Christmas in my palate. Can be eaten with or without rice, the gravy on top makes for a perfect coat of additional depth with every bite. Best paired with their in-house bagoong.
Leche Flan with Ube Halaya and Macapuno Considered a special dessert on their menu, their leche flan is packed and, as a friend said, sturdy. Unlike our usual leche flan, theirs is considerably sweet and not umay. I loved that you can verily eat a spoonful with some ube halaya and macapuno without the umay taste. Their leche flan is good for sharing.
Bagoong Club Davao is located at 123 University avenue, corner Talisay street, Juna subdivision, Matina, Davao City.
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