A gypsy in my soul

There were a lot of copious tears shed when GourmetGypsy Art Cafe's main outlet on A. Roces Ave., Quezon City closed its doors last year, a sad offshoot of the business slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The school and branch on Maginhawa street, UP Village remained open, however, becoming the hub of meals on the go for the frontliners. It was a matter of time before chef Waya Araos-Wijangco thought of something where her restaurant furniture and equipment would logically go. When she said aloud that she was planning a Gypsy branch in our adopted city of Baguio, where her husband Ernie works, I started salivating, recollecting past meals enjoyed at her Kiss the Cook, Kiss the Cook Gourmet, Gourmet Gypsy Art Cafe--salted egg pork belly, Ama's (sculptor Jerry Araos') mechado, the bowl of bibimpap that I had when I met up with Sibyl Jade Peña and Patty Yambao plus the surviving members of the groovy Samahang Demokatiko ng Kabataan one December noon, the dinner concerts Pablo Tariman, Joseph Uy and Al Andres Andres organized that promoted classical music. So yesterday my family and I decided on a food trip to mark a milestone in my daughter Kimi and grandchild Kai's lives. It was easy to spot Gypsy Baguio by Chef Waya. It was near the foot of Quezon Hill, with a steep driveway that takes you up a white house. Waya was staffing the kitchen herself, and Ernie was there to receive us in a private room with a high ceiling where we could practice safety protocols. The old staff from the Roces ave. branch were also there to welcome us and take our orders. High on our list was Ama's Mechado (the secret is in the cut of meat, the batok or neck of the cow and hours of slow simmering in fresh tomatoes). Kimi's favorite (the squid ink pasta), what later turned out as Kai's favored aglio y olio pasta with cholesterol-rich salted egg pork belly, the seafood laksa soup that Joseph swears by, etc. etc. I almost forgot to add how refreshing the strawberry lemonade was--fruits we have in abundance in the highlands. For takeout we had two loaves of chocolate babka, consumed by the ravenous family on the same day. There is a smidgen of leftover in the fridge to remind us of our gustatory adventure. My other daughter Ida, who couldn't be with us, instructed us to take lots of pictures. She commented on our family pic: how come Nanay and Tatay look so sad even behind our masks? We weren't sad. We were satiated beyond satisfaction and were aching for our afternoon siesta. Burp! All photos by my grandchild Kai Mykonos

Signage of Gypsy Baguio by Chef Waya along Pilar Hidalgo Lim Road, Quezon Hill

The white house

Chickpea hummus with pita bread

Squid ink pasta with cubes of ripe mango

Selfie by Kai

Family portrait at the entrance of Gypsy Baguio by Chef Waya