Dina Bonnevie and Vice-Gov DV Opens Victorino's Restaurant

There is a new restaurant in town and it proudly serves Ilocano and Filipino dishes. Located in 11th Jamboree street corner Scout Rallos near Timog Avenue, VICTORINO'S is made from traditional Filipino house transformed into a beautiful reastaurant with a a patterserie, A bar and even function rooms.

The restaurant is owned by Dina Bonnevie and her husband Ilocos Sur Vice Governor DV Savellano. Together with her family and friends, the restaurant opened with the help of Chef Heny Sison.

On its blessing, the restaurant is brings the ambiance of the Ilocos Region with dishes and products available for customers to try. The rooms make you feel you went back in time into ancestral homes like in Vigan City.

We have an exclusive sneak peek on its opening and blessing last week and you might also consider to go on an Ilocano food trip at this nostalgic and unique restaurant. They served quite a number of Ilocano delicacies like bagnet, basi, Vigan Longanisa and many more which I loved because I grew in La Union in the Ilocos Region. And more than the food is the culture and also products like furniture and souvenirs which one can take home without  travelling far.

To Vice Governor DV and Dina, congratulations on your new business, Agbiag Ka!

Here is the speech made by Dina B. Savellano on the blessing of the restaurant.

The House of Voctorino: Recereating the Ilocano Experience
By Dina B. Savellano

When we thought of putting up a restaurant, we also thoughr of the ilocano experience one might have, or wish to have. Usually they would include memoriws of old houses with huge wooden planks, glass windows and chandeliers with intricate designs, vintage furnitures and hand made tiles and jars. I remember the cosy beds and "butakas" (the long lounging chairs) and creeky cabinets when I recount my memories of my first trip to Ilocos.

Driven by my family's ove for art and antiques. My husband, DV, as the family fondly calls him, opted to recreate the look of an opulent house in Ilocos. So we decided to renovate this house. I recall, he said "I want to preserve the heritage of Ilocos and build a hub for Ilocanos in Manila; and that place will showcase the artistry and culinary skills of our people, and for people in the Metropolis to buy Ilocano products."

So he commissioned the services of Architect friend, Arnel Dayanghirang to do the renovations. With the help of a family friend, the famous interior designer, Maja Olivares, they worked to execute the ideas of a typical Ilocano residence, and recreate the ambiance of a cozy Ilocano home.

DV brough his antiques to Manila to decorate the restaurant. So the antique lights, the jars, the cabinets, and "bauls" you see are all priced possesions, which he collected  trough the years, ever since he was in collage. The inetrior designer had "Abel" fabrics hand woven for the chair cushions, and a crest from an original "abel" fabril was adapted for the patterns you see on the handmade "Machuca" tiles to complete the aged look of the restaurant. Weeks of rearranging the antiques were spent until he was happy with the look of the restaurant.

"Ngam, napintas iti balat ti Ilocano!" (So now this is a beautiful Ilocano house!)

The restaurant is divided into five areas.

The Bar, where we serve thirst-quenching juices and fruit shakes made from fruits of the season. Other alcholic beverages and wines will be available, aside from the special wines of Ilocos such as, basi and tapuey; the former being made from fermented sugar cane and the latter from fermented rice.

The delicatessen will enable customers to bring "the taste of Ilocos" home. We will have vigan logannisa, bagnet, and bottled goodies made by Nana Jean, such as pickled quail eggs, shallots (lasona) and sili. Home made Bangus sardines, dulong tapenade, "burong mangga", mango and tomato jams are also favorites that everyone can enjoy at home.

The desserterie, shall feature the famous Heny Sison cakes and pastries, apart from the seasonal cakes and breads made from the produce of Ilocos such as garlc, squash, ube, malunggay, banana, rice and cassava.

The Terrace will have grilled burgers and steaks from Italian Lolo George's favorite recipies. Other grilled mouth-watering dishes will be a challenge to resist.

the function rooms upstairs will be the venues for press conference, seminars, and private parties. We are also open to cater for any occasion, on your location, and we can create pakage menus to fit your requirements.

The main dining room will be the regular watering hole for foodies who particularly like Filipino food and authentic Ilocano delicacies.

The Activity Room will feature Ilocano painters and artists from time to time  were art enthusiasts can come and see their works. The furniture, jars and trunks that adorn the area are all for sale. Little souvenirs from Ilocos, such as abel blankets, placemats, hand towels, chicharon, and sukang Iloko will be regular items as well.

Enjoy your meals and thank you for being part of today's blessing. The restaurant will open the week after Holy Week. "Dios to agngina!" 

You may contact Victorino's at Tel. (632) 2111-799 and visit their website www.victorinosrestaurant.com or email them at info@victorinosrestaurant.com

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