25 Seeds - Mining

My friends and I drove from Manila yesterday to have lunch at 25 Seeds. It was worth the 2 hour trip! Our reservation was for 12, but because there was absolutely no traffic, we arrived an hour early. The staff graciously met us and brought us to our table that was already prepared for us. Before ordering, we were allowed to tour the house and the garden in the back. I think this made the meal even tastier to know where the food was coming from and the ideas behind their menu. The appetizers we ordered (crab cakes and gambas and suso) were excellent. The salads (quinao and roast pumpkin, portabello confit and arrugula), on the other hand, were absolutely ethereal. Our mains included seafood kare kare, boneless chicken inasal and pata tim. All were curated expertly to enhance the dining experience. Wonderul to behold and delicious. Finally, we finished with a round of pandan sansrival and jackfruit sansrival. Delicate and sweet and perfect to end a great meal. Each of us were already planning our next drive up to taste other items on the menu. Again, it was worth the trip to Pampanga!!

Our recent lunch at 25 Seeds was most enjoyable and truly memorable. Chef Sau and his staff gave us an excellent experience. From helping us with the menu, to the moment we stepped into the restaurant, to our final dessert, everything was a treat. The menu was a varied and exciting showcase of fresh produce and innovative cuisine. Each dish delighted even the most discerning gourmet in our group (true gourmets . The hands down favourite was the tiger prawn bulanglang, which was a delicate balance of guava and seafood flavour. We held on to our soup bowls until we finished the last drop of soup. The tamales was a new experience for many of us and it was delicious, paired with ‘sourdough’ buns slightly altered to suit local taste buds. The rellenong bangus was no average relleno. The pork belly Kare Kare was worth cheating on any diet. Make sure you order enough to have seconds of the crab cakes. The camaron was rich in flavour with a tinge of chilli. And the sisig paella was delicious and maybe because we enjoyed it immensely, it didn’t seem as sinful as I feared. The tibok tibok had excellent bits of corn (something that the kind Chef Sau incorporated to support local binatog vendors even better! . The ube cheesecake was soooooo good, we managed to find room for it after the big meal. Service was excellent, spiced with tidbits of history of Kapampngan cuisine. The ancestral home was charming and well decorated, keeping much of the original features. Everything blended well to give us an experience befitting the special occasion that we were celebrating. Chef Sau, thanks again and please extend our thanks to our staff, especially Charisse.

25 Seeds Was at first intimidating because of two things; its pre-colonial ancrestral house which is considered a mansion at that time, and its owner Chef Sau Del Rosario. Given his reputation as a world-class chef. The thought of pricey food will be your initial concern but we booked anyway. : We need to get a nice place for our special event which is our 1st #TeamWAIS Unit Meeting. Exceptional people needs to be treated to a note-worthy dining experience. Upon entering the restaurant, we were ushered in by their enthusiastic, english-speaking manager! : Ms. Chariss Essirhac Sinaban. After our meeting we were treated with an array of food that initially looks familiar but definitely the flavors were special and distinctive. Our menu include, for the appetizers, Crab Cakes with Sriracha Aioli and Quinoa with Roasted Pumpkin Salad. For the main entree, Pork baby back ribs, US Beef Hanging Tender, and Spicy Chicken Brick. And a sweet ending of Bibingka Cheescake. Belly blast then food coma! Our night was special and this place including the food and staff made it even grander. Thank you for accommodating us and letting us experience a world-class chef's carte du jour. Rating is 9/10 It can be 10, if Chef Sau was available to have his picture taken with us. :

We went here to celebrate my dad's birthday. The staffs were so accommodating and polite which add to our great experience in this restaurant. The way they treat us made us feel very important. They even allowed us to explore the place, which is so rustic and photogenic. And the food.... this restaurant serves the most exclusive gastronomic delights! We love the quinoa salad, crab and corn soup, and pata tim. This place is a gem! I can't wait to go back.

Our group could only talk about the house as we settled in to our seats. That's before the food arrived. When the food comes and the only thing you can talk about during dinner is how perfect the food is, then you know you've hit the jackpot. So now you have a cozy venue and remarkable food. The staff take time to answer your questions about the restaurant's concept and the food on the menu. The Chef comes along personally to ask for your review and join in for a short conversation. Very sincere people, really. It's impossible to not come back regularly.