NEGROS OCCIDENTAL| Silay’s El Ideal Bakery & Refreshment

Monday, March 14, 2011

The Cesar Lacson Locsin Ancestral House where El Ideal's Current Home

After our morning hunt for Silay City’s grand old mansions, we finally gave in to our tummies and headed to El Ideal, the oldest restaurant in Negros, for our much-delayed breakfast.

El Ideal's Airy Interior Entering the antiquated bakery, we were transported to bistros of bygone days. Similar to Bacolod’s La Corona Café, it exudes an air of eateries found in the sidestreets of Carriedo in Manila. The floors were bare concrete and the painted walls devoid of any decor. The expansive interior was lighted by vintage fixtures hanging across the ceiling (which I remember from my childhood days) and draped windows streaming in light from the outside.


We ordered our breakfast, sat ourselves on one of the bakery’s corner and contemplated the place’s history.

El Ideal is housed in the Cesar Lacson Locsin Ancestral House, a National Historical Institute certified heritage structure. The bakery started operation in 1920, specializing in homemade breads and cookies and was handed down from one generation to the next up to its current proprietor, Maritess Villanueva Sanchez, Cesar Lacson Locsin’s granddaughter.

The bakery had evolved since, now offering more pastry choices; most notable of which are the Guapple Pie, Angel Cookies, Pan Gasiosa and the traditional Piaya. Online reviews have also been raving about their Lumpiang Ubod, which sadly like all the delicacies I mentioned previously we were unable to try out as we were really craving for the more traditional silog breakfast.

Freshly Baked Pies at Silay's El IdealBreakfast arrived, chicken longaniza for me and luncheon meat for L. My meal came with steamed rice (would have preferred it fried), for L, buttered toast. It also included two fried eggs and a choice of coffee, tea or juice; all for Php90.00. Not bad really if only for all the additions, we were disappointed with the measly serving size of the meat (specially the luncheon meat). Food was okay, nothing to write home about really.

Another thing I noticed, although the place was clean and air-conditioned, there were quite a few flies inside the room. It was kinda irritating to eat with them buzzing around and trying to land on our food. We were eating with one hand while using the other to shoo them away.

On hindsight, we should have really tried their baked specialties and did away with the usual breakfast fares, we could have enjoyed the place more, it still is a bakery after all.

Huge Windows at Silay's El Ideal El Ideal's New Signboard Contrasting with the Structure's Old MaterialLuncheon Meat Breakfast at El Ideal Architectural Rendering of El Ideal in Silay Chicken Longaniza Breakfast at El Ideal in Silay

 

Click to view location on Google MapsClick to view El Ideal MenuEl Ideal Bakery & Refreshment
Address: 118 Rizal St., Silay City, Negros Occidental
Contact Number:. (034) 495-4430




 

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10 comments

  1. love your Silay Series, pwede ka na gumawa ng travel guide :)

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  2. Pinoy Adventurista
    Sayang di namin nasubukan yung Guapple Pie, next time =)

    Claire
    Haha salamat Claire =)

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  3. Replies
    1. May branch po ba dto sa manila yan? Saan po? Salamat

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    2. I don't El Ideal has a branch in Manila, Herbert

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  4. It started 1920's till now little improvement pa din, unlike the other restaurants and bakeries

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    Replies
    1. I actually like El Ideal as it is, very charming.

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  5. Buko pie is also a bestseller. A lot of buko inside. The pastry MASA PODRIDA is great. Like a shortbread. I'd been buying it since the 70s. These items are best reserved ahead of time

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the tip! We'll definitely try that next time we visit El Ideal!

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