It has been a while since I last ate at Susie’s Cuisine—seven years ago, to be exact. The problem lies in its location, most branches being around the Pampanga area. There is, however, a quick and easy way to quench my cravings—apparently Susie’s Cuisine has a branch in Metro Manila. And they have not one, but two—one in Las Piñas and another much closer to our place, Quezon City.

But what’s the fuss about Susie’s? Well, it is one of the go-to restaurants in Pampanga, serving Filipino and Kapampangan delicacies and comfort food since the early seventies. It was at Susie’s Cuisine San Fernando branch where I first tried their dishes and haven’t forgotten about it since.

Craving for a home-cooked pork binagoongan and a plateful of pancit malabon? How about a classic afternoon merienda of lugaw and lumpia? If you happen to pass by Quezon City, I have just the place for you. Neatly tucked in a quiet street, an eatery called Lola Idang’s Bahay Pancitan.

The place is not that big, with only about ten tables set on a 35-square meter eating space. The restaurant is so unassuming that you’ll hardly take a second look at it; plain white tiles flooring, simple decors, plastic Orocan chairs, and tables laid with generic plaid table clothes. What distinguishes this small diner from the throngs of eating places in Quezon City though is their food.

It was by pure chance that we got to sample a relatively new pancit batil patong place in Quezon City. Coming from Tandang Sora , we alighted on a jeep at General Avenue en route back home, and by pure luck chanced upon Noa’s Diner. From its simple tarp sign, you’d assume it’s just another carinderia, but I did a double take as we passed it—I saw a sign printed on bond paper posted on their wall proclaiming they serve our favorite noodle dish in the Philippines!

THAT SMALL SIGN PRINTED ON BOND PAPER HAD US GOING INSIDE

Pancit batil patong, as you probably know by now since I can’t stop talking about it here on my blog, is a noodle dish that originated in Tuguegarao City. What’s different with it from all the usual pancit in the country is that they mix in carabeef  and top it with poached egg. The miki or noodle they use is also unique to the city, so most panciteria serving this in Manila actually buy theirs all the way from Cagayan, transporting them using public buses that ply the province to and from Manila. It’s actually one of the reasons why most pancit batil patong restaurants in the metro are located near bus stations that have routes going to Cagayan Valley. It’s such a surprise then to find a panciteria such as Noa’s Diner quite a way away from any bus stations.

It was two in the morning and the lobby was completely deserted. Time, indeed, flies when you’re having fun. Just a couple of hours ago, we were at the highest rooftop bar in the city, enjoying cold drinks and swapping travel stories on one corner of Seda Vertis North’s open-aired roof deck. And now, I’m totally woozy and needing a bit of a breather before going back to my room—it was already way, way past midnight. Not really the best time to be going home, especially when you’re on a staycation with your mom.

AFTERNOON VIEW OF QUEZON CITY FROM SEDA VERTIS NORTH

Seda Vertis North is one of the newest hotels that have sprouted in Quezon City. While most of the luxury accommodations in the city are located on the Timog part of town, this one’s situated somewhere easier to access, right beside the Trinoma Mall where the MRT North Station is. It can’t get any easier than that.

Straight from our Tagaytay trip, our van from Taal Vista Hotel took us straight to Quezon City’s Maginhawa Street to check out The Wander Space, a travel-related café right in the middle of Quezon City’s premiere food hub. Together with my traveler friends, tired as we were, we cannot be more excited, our destination was right within our alley.

THE WANDER SPACE CAFE AT THE THIRD FLOOR OF MAGINHAWA’S BUILDING #80

Located on the third floor of the eponymous Building #80, right beside the famous bookworm hangout Bookay Ukay, The Wander Space blends café culture with travel. Put up by Kim and Bam, two young entrepreneurs who are themselves true blue travelers, one can immediately feel that this is a passion project upon entering its wood-framed glass door.

We were on our way to a foodtrip weekend at Taal Vista Tagaytay, call time was still at five in the afternoon and the meeting place was in Cubao. With a few hours to spare, I was racking my brains on what to do to while away the time when I remembered a comment I received on my Facebook page about a pancit batil patong place near Cubao.

Together with my constant pancit companion, C, we headed to Anonas to find Jenter Food Hauz Pancit Tuguegaro. Going there was easy enough. From the corner of EDSA and Kamuning, we boarded a Project 2-3 jeepney and alighted at the corner of Anonas and Bigna Street. From there the panciteria is just a hop away.

Ever since frequenting Quirino Highway in Quezon City, I’ve always passed by an old panciteria near the Sangandaan intersection. Aling Leoning’s Special Pancit Palabok, it humbly proclaimed above its doors. I’ve always thought of trying out their food, but I always gravitate to the nearby Jollibee and its mouthwatering Chickenjoy. About two weeks ago, together with A and BG, I finally got the gumption to avoid the bee, enter the old panciteria, and try their noodles.

LEONING’S SIMPLE INTERIORS

Aling Leoning’s naturally lighted interiors is straightforward enough. A foyer leads diners to a counter where they take your order, you then turn right to the small dining hall filled with a combination of heavy iron and rattan chairs paired with marble-topped tables. The furnishing was more fitting for a garden, than say, a panciteria, but I guess it gets the job done.

The rain poured as we alighted from our van, transferring from the nearby Cocoon Boutique Hotel to Hive, their sister hotel. We were on the second day of our QC staycation and the latter was gonna be hosting our stay for the next 24 hours. The two are actually just walking distance away from each other but they were very generous and insisted on providing us with a van—for us and our luggages—we willingly obliged, of course, lol.

HIVE HOTEL’S FUNKY LOBBY ~ PHOTO BY BLISSFULGURO

Hive Hotel’s lobby is a mix of contemporary modernism interspersed with funky adornments. On one corner stands a tall bookcase painted in bright oranges and filled with meticulously arranged Lonely Planet travel guide books. On another, bare white walls are made more interesting with old wooden planks and circular metal flourishes. And finally, the furniture—over-the-top retro with its seventies inspired forms and colors. Coolness!