Amanda Virrey
Food Trip at Hill Station, Baguio City
The scent of pine trees, old wood and the aroma of coffee linger within this prime colonial structure, enticing the senses with a wondrous cuisine, which could only be borne out of a history as rich as Baguio City.
Set in the former Dormintory 4 of the post Spanish era, now Casa Vallejo Hotel, Hill Station Restaurant is considered as one of the city’s beloved restaurants due to the wealth of culinary experiences it exudes.
Honoring the historical relevance of hill stations, Hill Station Restaurant infuses a delectable cuisine inspired by the colonial settlers who had established sanitariums and rest homes around the country’s cool mountain regions.
As such, Hill Station captures a versatile market of holidaymakers, food connoisseurs and healthy eaters with an interesting menu of European, American and Asian flavors.
Mornings here would be satisfied with a delightful ensemble of Country Breakfast of home-smoked bacon, maple-flavored sausage, whole wheat bread, scrambled eggs, butter and strawberry jam; or the extraordinary Chef Dom’s Breakfast, comprised of tapang usa or baboy ramo (marinated reindeer meat or wild boar), home-smoked boneless bangus, maple flavored sausage, eggs, pickled cucumber and garlic rice; or the healthier Granola and Low Fat-Yogurt duo with honey, plus complimentary fresh brewed local coffee for all breakfast meals.
While meals celebrated during the remains of the day would account for savory appetizers like Sizzling Sisig (pork, sautéed on sizzling plate) and a creamy delight of Baked Spinach Artichokes with semi-sweet Melba Toast.
How about a more filling dish of broiled Prawn Peri-Peri with oozing butter, chilies and lemon, and Succulent Lamb Ribs with couscous and vegetables; or some pasta of slow-cooked Short Rib Ragu with Fettucine in fresh homemade tomato sauce topped with bitter sweet chocolate shaving, and Linguine with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Pecorino from Malagos farm in Davao.
You could also sample foreign cuisines at their best preparation, slowly cooked to reach the meat’s moist and tender texture and to bring out the ingredients’ rich and lasting flavors.
The Cocido Mexicana, for one, is a beef stew enhanced with oregano and cinnamon balanced with fried bananas; another one is Cambodian Coriander and Garlic Chicken that’s marinated overnight and charbroiled to perfection; and the tender and crunchy Moroccan Spiced Baby Back Ribs.
For sandwich snackers, there is the roasted Vegetarian Panini with shaved pecorino, Charbroiled Cheeseburger on whole wheat bun, and Mini Blue Cheese Burgers to name a few.
Desserts, on the other hand, are freshly made and artisanal, spoiling chocolate lovers with the likes of Chocolate Lemon Tart, Death by Chocolate, Deep Dark Chocolate Cake, Marquesa (Frozen Chocolate Mousse), Brownie Lenotre, and Homemade Ice Creams like Dark Chocolate with Cayenne, Benguet Coffee with Choco Chips.
Indulgence, being the key word to describe Hill Station’s gastronomy, is actually as good as it gets.
With the heart poured over to create each and every dish, quality ingredients sourced locally, hospitable staff who always smiles, and a pleasing ambience that is native to the city, Hill Station is a total pleasurable dining experience in Baguio City.
Hill Station
Address: Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Rd, Baguio City
Telephone: (074) 424 2734
Store Hours: 8AM–10:30PM
