THERE are times when we find ourselves looking for food that we don't usually eat, something like Korean, Japanese or Italian food.
One restaurant in Cagayan de Oro in particular claims to have the most close in authenticity of the Italian food they offer in their menu.
Eduardo Diego, established by managing partners Jeigfred Pakino and Edgardo Quimpano, is a restaurant that serves popular Italian cuisines, such as the pasta and pizza that are designed to capture the Filipino taste buds.
"We have the most close na authenticity about Italian food because it’s all tomato-based. Tomato-based gyud ang product and basically, what we're doing is we used the basic herbs in Italy: the basil, the oregano and the tomatoes, it revolves around that," Pakino said.
Located in the ground floor of Pacifico Boutique Hotel along Velez-Fernandez Streets, Eduardo Diego is a two-year old brand which came from the idea of forming a distinct dining area for Italian foods.
Its menu was originally served at J2J Fastfood and Cafe, an establishment that serves both Filipino and Italian cuisines, which is located three blocks away from the said hotel.
According to Pakino, because of the limited area at J2J and the growing demand of their customers on having a bigger space, they decided to open a restaurant specifically for Italian food. Thus, the Eduardo Diego in Pacifico Hotel.
"So we have it here, we just innovated it, coming up our own distinct taste that would capture the Filipino taste. That's the challenge there, eh. Hope we are doing it because we have a regular base piling up," Pakino said.
"Mao na among gusto ma-impart sa city locally, to introduce something like this, to enjoy a food like this that is very eloquent, world-class yet casual ang experience," he added.
Italian restaurant is not that rare in the city, however, what makes Eduardo Diego different from other restaurants, according to Pakino, is not only the authenticity of its Italian food but also the experience gained by the customers dining in their establishment.
"It’s the experience, basically on the food, because I would like to come up with a distinct taste na recall gyud na calling it our own as Eduardo Diego, attaching that is deliciously Italiana. Coming up with that tagline because we want to be recalled as tasteful, delightful na Italian taste and casual ang Italian dining experience compared with Italian restaurants na high-end gyud, fine dining," Pakino said.
"Here, we want to come up with casual, warm experience because [that's] what basically the local Italians are doing and we Filipinos are also doing, na diperensya lang kay ilang foods kay Italian," he added.
Among the menu offered by Eduardo Diego are its best-selling appetizer, Fiocchi Italiane (or Italian Flakes); its signature omelette dishes: Omelette de Bolognese, Omelette de Pancetta, and Omelette Cheesadilla; their famed Pizza Diego (meat lovers), and their tomato base Spaghetti Pomodoro.
Last August 26, Eduardo Diego celebrated its second year anniversary and at the same time its official launching as an independent restaurant.