Missing Baguio's Food Delights

Missing Baguio's Food Delights

**when will the lockdowns end?

**when will we see better days?

**pictures taken before pandemic days

          Along that stretch of Outlook Drive, where big beautiful houses can be seen, is a restaurant serving good Baguio native dishes.

          The restaurant, in its early days, used to be an English grammar school for young sons and daughters of prominent businessmen. When the school closed for good, and ownership changed several times, the present owners decided to turn it into a restaurant.

          The resto serves good food such as Crispy Pork Kare Kare with Strawberry Alamang, Pinakbet with Crispy Pork Belly, Pork Dinakdakan, Salmon with Aligue. Beef Shanks, Mountain Rice, etc.

          You dine with a good view of tall Benguet Pines and the smell of Rosemary.

          Pray tell, is there anything else better than that ?

          Oh, the resto's name is DECADES.

DECADES

20 Outlook Drive

South Baguio

- KONTED 🖋️

Regular diners of Decades

This lady vouches for the goodness of food served at Decades.

Crispy Pork Kare Kare with Strawberry Alamang

Tender meat is served at Decades.

Pinakbet with Crispy Pork Belly

Beef Shanks

Salmon with Aligue, Vegetable Salad and Mountain Rice. Aligue is crab fat/

Yummy

View of tall Benguet Pines from the dining area

Fully satisfied customers

The place exudes the scent of the Old Baguio.

Good view as the resto stands on a ridge

Decades is near Baguio Country Club and Mines View Park.

Strolling down Session Road

Cold and foggy

Late snacks at Session Road

At Session Road

The famous Vizco;s strawberry cakes at Session Road

Descending Marcos Highway at mid-afternoon

Fog envelopes a wide area of Marcos Highway.

Almost zero visibility

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Baguio And The Monsoon Rains

Baguio And The Monsoon Rains

           Hard and drenching. But the monsoon rains did not stop us and by 7 a.m., we were exiting at Pozzorubio in Pangasinan, the farthest tollgate of the TPLEX. Kennon Road was closed and we took the wider Marcos Highway with its steep inclines made harder by thick fog that restricted our visibility. At the Green Valley area, approaching the city proper, traffic was moving at a snail's pace.

           Anticipating a high vehicle density at Legarda Road and Kisad, we decided to drive southeast by way of Military Cut-Off and South Drive. With our hotel check-in time still a few hours away, sight seeing was the order of the day. The horses were wet and out in the rain at Wright Park as there was no run-in shed. The stalls offering ethnic costumes for pictorials were not crowded. Here one could be an Ibaloi, Kankanaey, Isneg, Kalinga or Bontok. Even with intermittent rains, Mansion House had tourists crowding the main gate and taking photos. At the view deck of Mines View Park, thick, low clouds blocked the sight of the mining exploration sites that were active during the time of the Americans.

           At Outlook Drive, which is the enclave of the rich and famous, we stopped to do some routine check up. An eatery by the side of the road beckoned. And we could not resist. For Decades Fusion Restaurant, located on a ridge, has an ambiance no longer easy to find in the City of Pines. With varnished, hardwood tables and chairs, the main dining area provides a good view of tall Benguet Pines. The place exudes the Old Baguio. A fireplace, cage-like dining table, full bar and old-style lighting make the interior a cozy one.

           Decades resto serves good food. A standout is Strawberry Glazed Ribs with Lettuce and Onions. The meat is tender. Another excellent dish is the Beef Shank Steak with Gravy, Baguio Beans and Carrots. Waiting time for food to be served is about 20 minutes. Waiters are extra attentive to customers' needs. At Decades, it is fine dining without being expensive. 

            Next time, you need not drive to downtown Baguio where traffic is horrific most of the time. Simply drive to Decades at Outlook Drive, take a table by the window, place your orders and relax. Let Decades' staff do the rest for you.

- Konted

Decades Fusion Restaurant's main dining area

Good ambiance at Decades

View of Benguet Pines from the dining area. At this time of the year, it is often foggy.

Cage-like dining area

Strawberry Glazed Ribs with Lettuce and Onions

Grilled Pork Belly with Lettuce and Onions

Beef Shank Steak with Gravy, Baguio Beans and Carrots

Salmon with Aligue, Vegetable Salad and Red Rice

Fine dining at Decades

Decades' Full Bar

Too early for a drink?

Another group picture at the bar

Baguio is Konted's 2nd home

At the balcony facing the road

Where to dine al fresco

Baguio flower at Decades' front garden

Foggy Outlook Drive

Decades offers yummy food, fine service and good ambiance. Time to try it.