Cucina Gayuma

I first read about Cucina Gayuma in clickthecity, and after a friend relayed their dining experience in the place, I was all for trying out the restaurant. It was with anticipation that Rob and I looked for the small sign just after the Ortigas-Santolan intersection going to Gilmore.

Parking would be tough, although by night time, most of the nearby shops are already closed and it's relatively easy to find a car slot. Gayuma is just a small resto, only 2 floors with about 12-15 tables. Not that elaborately furnished, Gayuma offers a simple, homey ambiance with its wooden tables/ chairs and wall furnishing.

What I love about Gayuma is their menu -- they offer fresh new tastes that most probably won't be found in other restaurants, and probably difficult to duplicate, too! There were alot of dishes I initially wanted to order, but we settled on Pesto Pita Pizza for appetizer, Chicken Galantina (for the chicken lover in me), and Laing Pasta (note that I don't eat laing talaga).

The Pesto Pizza was just okay.. I found the crust a bit tough, but the taste was certainly different from regular pizzas. The tuyo certainly brought the zest into the dish.

Pesto Pita Pizza (Tomato, Tuyo, Olives, Cheese), P95

Chicken for me, would always be a safe choice in any restaurant. And Gayuma's Chicken Galantina gave a fresh take on chicken - beautifully prepared with corn on the side, the chicken fillets are stuffed with longganisa and peanuts, then wrapped in bacon, with a semi-sweet sauce. Very nice, indeed.

Chicken Galantina, P230

The hit for the night was absolutely the Laing Pasta (coming from a non-Laing eater). First, the serving was good for two already. Second, the dish makes me want to try laing on its own. It's pretty difficult to turn over someone to a new taste, and I highly commend Gayuma for being able to do just that. The Laing Pasta would definitely be a mainstay on my order list the next time I go to Gayuma.

Laing Pasta, P190

Other interesting dishes on their menu (for the next visit): Laing Cheese Spread, Guava Vinaigrette Salad, Balsamic Bagoong Salad (i don't eat bagoong too), their own version of the Jap Maki, and Bistek Tagalog.