Wayward Tagaytay, Wayward Son

After several days of unsuccessful food encounters, I was starting to believe that there were no more mysteries or surprises left in my hometown. I was in a rut, and I couldn't pull myself out of it. Visions of myself, lying in bed staring into a late night cable movie blaring past my unfinished burger and chips were starting to nag me when thanks to my wife and lifelong foodie critic, a chance comment led us to try another direction, one that led us past our usual road marks straight into experiencing another gem of a resto, so small and unassuming and yet so out there, another Tagaytay surprise.

Siglo is a small restaurant directly opposite the People's Park and one that can be easily missed on busy weekends when half of Metro Manila is picnicking in the park and enjoying the coolness of the mountain scenery. Its name translates to Century, which refers to the time involved in the evolution of local food recipes from various foreign and domestic influences. The menu was a collage of various regional recipes and we tried several dishes which we enjoyed.

Both my wife and I agreed that this is a "go back again" type of restaurant. The friendly waiter informed us that the neighboring hotel also hosted wedding receptions, which has slowly turned Tagaytay into an entertainment hub for weddings and parties as well as a vacation resort for families hoping to escape the heat of the lowlands and to experience different food venues.

We left for home feeling satiated and pleased with our discovery. Who knows how many gems are still somewhere out there, among the shops and stores, waiting to be uncovered and enjoyed?