When you look back on your college days, what do you remember most aside from your best friends and favorite professors? The places where you used to eat.
In this episode of Carinderia Crawl, professor and PhD student Gary Devilles takes us to Manang’s Food House, a 20-year-old canteen inside Ateneo de Manila University’s Loyola Heights campus, which he used to frequent as a college student and still patronizes as a Philippine Studies professor here.
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“Nakakatuwa kasi binabalikan talaga ang Manang’s ng mga graduates. At may mga nagiging magkakaibigan na students at mga nagtatrabaho sa campus,” says Gary.
Manang’s first opened to cater to Ateneo employees looking for affordable home-cooked meals. It’s now an insitution unto itself, with its own extension number that you can contact through the university’s telephone operator. “Ang alam ko pa nga, dito na rin sa Ateneo nagtapos ang mga anak ni manong at manang,” adds Gary.
What’s interesting is that Manang’s has built a community in Ateneo where everyone—students, professors, employees, drivers—shares the same space and dines together.
Gary, who is on a short break from his graduate studies at La Trobe University in Melbourne, orders grilled liempo (Manang’s is known their grilled meats) and sautéed vegetables with bean sprouts, Baguio beans and carrots.
Apart from their meats, people also come for Manang’s famous dip. “Their vinegar and soy sauce is similar to the Ilocano ‘sinamak.’ They mix it with garlic, onion and something special that we still can’t figure out until now.”
Manang’s also delivers food and accepts catering services, though usually only for events held within campus grounds. Their menu varies everyday but their regular items are lechon kawali, sinigang and adobo.
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WHAT GARY ATE: Grilled liempo, satuéed bean sprouts, rice and mineral water for PHP130.
WHAT GARY THINKS: The meal is simple but tasty. He likes the big serving of liempo and the fresh bean sprouts, Baguio beans and carrots in his vegetable dish.
WORDS OF WISDOM: “Totoong nakilala ang kulturang Atenista bilang elitista pero may namamayaning kultura rin sa Ateneo na tumutuligsa dito. Iyon ang dating ng Manang’s sa akin, ang mga Atenistang kumakain dito ay mga Atenistang nakatapak sa lupa.”
Manang’s Food House, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Bgy Loyola Heights, QC; +63 2 2391191 loc 5018. Mon-Sat 6am-5:45pm.
WATCH MORE CARINDERIA CRAWL VIDEOS:
– Episode 1: KC Tapsilogan at Lugawan on P. Noval Street, Manila
– Episode 2: Menes Eatery on E. Remigio Street, Manila
– Episode 3: Juan Spoon Eatery on Edison Street, Makati
– Episode 4: 15th Avenue Carinderia in Cubao, Quezon City
– Episode 5: Carinderia crawl: Sizzling beef and mushrooms at McDOKS Sizzling
– Episode 6: Tocino and tortang talong at Honey’s Canteen on West Avenue
– Episode 7: Dinengdeng and lapu-lapu at Carol’s Eatery on Retiro Avenue, QC
– Episode 8- Pork sisig at Ilar’s Tapsilog in Manila
– Episode 9: Red Gate Eatery in Caloocan
– Episode 10: Bangsilog at Erlin’s Tapsilog in Manila
– Episode 11: Pork BBQ and liempo at B-B-Q Zone in Teacher’s Village
– Episode 12: Pancit batil patung in Kamuning, Quezon City
– Episode 13: Beef and chicken pita at Hijo d’Pita in Teacher’s Village
– Episode 14: Special bulalo at Bulaluhan sa España in Manila
– Episode 15: Kanto Freestyle Breakfast in Bo Kapitolyo, Pasig
– Episode 16: Mang Tootz in Sampaloc, Manila
– Episode 17: Juana’s Budbod and Coffee in Sampaloc, Manila
– Episode 18: Manang’s Food House at Ateneo de Manila
– Episode 19: Sizzling pork sisig at Aysee
– Episode 20: Bagnet-themed dishes at Bagneto
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