Dubai: The best Filipino food, they say, can be found in "barrios", or villages, back home, but for me it was easy - I just drove down to Barrio Fiesta in BurJuman Centre.
The restaurant, while remaining true to the flavours from home, does so without burning a hole in your pocket. Mid-afternoon "merienda", or snacks, cost less than Dh20; while beef ribs come for Dh42, which should give you an idea of the kind of prices we're talking about.
Culinary debut
Barrio Fiesta's culinary debut in Dubai imparts an exciting twist to the whole slew of fast and street food outlets in Karama frequented by "Kabayans" (Filipino compatriots), who are estimated at about 200,000 in the city.
From the mother-of-pearl-encrusted entrance pillars, the furniture, wooden balusters, lights and wall décor (made of abaca) - down to the ingredients - Barrio's is a food house serving up-market Filipino food at recession-time affordability.
Visiting it on a Thursday afternoon, I tried the Kilawing Tanigue (pickled mackerel in coconut vinegar and spice) for hors d'oeuvre after cooling down with the Kalamansi juice, (Filipino lemonade), which reminded me of my grandfather's small citrus farm in Calpi, Siuton in Bicol, or "Gulaman at Sago", from native gelatin and tapioca).
Some South Asians may find Filipino food a tad bland, but specialities such as "Kare-Kare" (famous recipe made of beef, oxtail, trip and veggies in peanut sauce) and "Bicol Express ni Mami Chit" (thin slices of beef, squid and shrimp simmered in spicy coconut milk sauce) more than impressed my South Asian friends, whose tastes lean on the spicier side.Gagan Mudgal, an Indian DJ and head of programming at Cool 94.7 FM in Dubai, who also joined me, commented: "The food here suits my own taste buds just fine."
It may be noted that, Barrio also has some all-veg dishes.
For dessert, the delightful "puto bungbong" (sticky rice cake wrapped in banana leaves) and "Sorbetes with turon" (ice cream with banana roll) left me wanting for more.
The Dubai outlet retains the consistency of outlets back home and the person who ensures that is head chef Lito, who brings his 12-year experience in Barrio Fiesta kitchens in Manila to Dubai.
The downside is that some orders don't come at fast-food speed, probably because most dishes are cooked to order.
Authentic fare
Ishwar Chugani, an Indian businessman, raised and educated in the Philippines, is the man behind bringing Barrio Fiesta to the UAE for ETA Star. "I thought about bringing authentic Filipino food here after looking at a food court full of Pinoys eating Chinese and western food," he said.
Though Barrio is known as a high-brow chain back home, in Dubai it brings the taste of Filipino kitchens to the table.
Give it a try, but be warned because finding seats on weekend evenings may be a challenge.
