In a sea of restaurants, cafes and joints here in Baguio City, Hungry Tribe Bistro strives to be a different kind of restaurant. Co-owner Freida Fernandez Laciste loves to call it a wholesome dining experience that is perfect for the whole family.
She describes Hungry Tribe Bistro as a place where parents need not worry about their kids if they hang out here. With the bistro’s “no smoking” and “no alcohol” policy, it sets itself apart from the rest of Baguio’s food joints where students and young people normally hang out.
Serving Up Wholesome Food and Vibe
The owners – Freida, her friends, Kelly McGurk, general manager Cindy McGurk and Tess Acosta, and their church, Christ Reigns Ministries – purposely set it up as such. Freida recalls how she and her churchmates would love to look for places to eat every after Sunday service, thus calling themselves “such a hungry tribe.” Thus, the place was borne out of their search for a place with good food and a wholesome vibe as well. Freida and her co-owners hope this place would not just be about the food but a place where people could find good company and meaningful conversations. She says, “Our goal is also to be able to minister the gospel.”
Hungry Tribe’s menu boasts of what Freida calls “the best food they want to serve in their own homes.” Head Chef Carlo Soriano and Sous Chef Jairus Salvador, and Jenny Agas are cooking up at a storm in the kitchen, under the mentorship of international Chef Lawrence Pila.
Pilipinas Popcorn was lucky enough to partake of their best menu selection and here is our review.
One-of-a-Kind Fruit Shakes
The first thing they served up were one-of-a-kind fresh fruit shakes, called the Sandia and the Mangonada. The Sandia is a fresh watermelon shake with a unique mix of herbs that go well with the sweetness of the fruit. We tasted a bit of mint and some fresh basil. The Mangonada, on the other hand, is fresh mangoes from their farm in Dagupan, with some herbs and honey.
What makes both drinks unique is the homemade, edible straw that is served with it. Made of tamarind and Mexican spices, its taste reminded us of champoy or Haw flakes – those Chinese preserves that are a good balance of sweet and sour. Both drinks are very good as they are, but the tamarind straws add another layer of flavor that one will surely love.
Fresh Takes on Classics
A Chef’s Salad and an Asian Pasta is also on the menu. These classics, however, stand out here because of the fresh twists the chefs make. For the salad, it comes with a homemade salad dressing that is a secret recipe, of course. It is creamy and tangy and goes well with all the salad ingredients.
If you love Asian-style pasta and find your favorite kind from a popular pizza chain too expensive, we suggest you try their Asian Pasta. It is a good balance of salty, sweet and sour, over perfectly cooked pasta. Kids who are not too fond of spicy flavors will love it too. This will surely be your new favorite Asian pasta.
Main Attractions on the Hungry Tribe Bistro Menu
Their Chicken Wings will be a surefire hit with kids and adults alike. They have three kinds – Classic, Mango and Garlic Parmesan. We tried the Mango one, with a light and sweet glaze. The chicken was perfectly cooked, with some juiciness still left in the meat. You can dip the chicken into their homemade dressing, take a bite and forget every care in the world.
One of their main dishes is the Tribe Herb Chicken which is served with rice and a side salad. The well-marinated boneless chicken is perfectly grilled. The marinade is naturally a secret recipe, which is a mix of spices and flavors that enhances without overpowering.
A recent crowd favorite is Chef Carlo’s creation, the Tribe Cuban Sandwich. He says that he got the inspiration for the sandwich from the movie, Chef. He marinates a whole slab of pork overnight. He adds a slice of this to a whole Ciabatta and completes it with some pickles and other condiments. A sandwich is big enough for sharing, but can be easily devoured by one hungry mouth.
More About the Space
The Hungry Tribe Bistro couples it wholesome food with a homey, welcoming vibe. Freida’s artist husband, Glen, made the wall paintings himself, giving it an artsy and hip ambiance.
The bistro also prides itself with hosting wholesome activities and events that families will enjoy. These include Open Mic nights, spoken poetry and even comedy shows.
Hungry Tribe Bistro is located at 8 M.H. Del Pilar Street, Baguio City (across Cafe Wil). It is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays. Visit them on Facebook at The Hungry Tribe Bistro.
Bring your hungry tribe here. You will go home not only with full stomachs but also full hearts.