Rustic Fusion at Flying Pig

Stepping inside Flying Pig’s glass doors gives the guest a wild circus ride for the senses.

I half-expected The Flying Pig to be similar to Heaven ‘n Eggs because of its quirky and funny name. It turned out that my inkling was quite justified, since both of them are part of the Red Crab Group of Restaurants.

Thinking about crabs, I just had to comment to Chef Paulette (who is a graduate of CCA and is only 21 years old, by the way!) about the bibs we used before in Clawdaddy (also of the Red Crab Group). “Yeah! We have the bibs, too!” the petite chef exclaimed. I was sure I was in for a fun surprise.

The first sign that The Flying Pig offers a unique experience is in the chairs used for al fresco dining. A closer look would make one reminisce of the gigantic biscuit cans bought home by lola or given to homesick OFWs. The stool itself is painted black with the cushion glaring a bright red. And with a more detailed peek, you can actually see the handle of the biscuit can.

Stepping inside the glass doors gives the guest another wild circus ride for the senses. The diner is welcomed to soft house music and a mirage of cartoon images on the walls of - you guessed it - flying pigs. At the far end of the spot, one can see an intriguing pile of San Miguel Beer crates lined up vertically from the top. “Those are our wine racks,” Chef Paulette explained. An ingenious and resourceful use of excess material, in my opinion.

The diner can choose to sit beside the counter for plush, dirty white benches. But the best seat in the house is actually fronting the counter; you can easily call the attention of the servers from that direction. The waiters are an exciting bunch. “As long as you can work hard, you are welcome at The Flying Pig,” this coming from the management.

The counter actually functions as a bar and not just for bill-out. Although they have alcoholic drinks on the menu, do not mistake that The Flying Pig is for liquor-heavy people. The environment is really family and kid-friendly. And as the name suggests, carnivores will have a blast inside the quaint restaurant with the mouth-watering barbeque dishes.

A favorite by patrons is the Lager Braised Kurobota Pig Cheek (Php 495), beer-braised pork cheeks which are imported from Japan. Kurobota means “black pig” in Japanese, Berkshire pigs, to be exact. The cheeks are soft, and the risotto side dish is milky. Cherry tomatoes and an assortment of veggies complete the meal.

And as this is a barbeque house, Back Ribs Dreams (Php 388) is not to be missed. These baby backs are priced 20% cheaper than those served at other steak houses, which makes for a tender and flavorful alternative. The names for the meal sets are rather creative. There is Swine Dining for individuals, Pork in Pot for large servings like The All Meat Paella (Php 395), and Witches on Wings for breads and rolls.

For dessert, I went for the Pineapple Tres Leches (Php 165). The sweet condensed milk was prominent in the cake slice, while the crushed pineapples complemented the fluffy cake. Generously served with whipped cream and topped with a cherry, the slice proved to be a fitting end to a filling food adventure.

I do not drink, so I was perfectly happy with the specialty beverages and their House Blend Iced Tea (Php 80). The Citrus Spritzer (Php 85) lives up to its name as the Sprite concoction sizzles with the right amount of carbonation and summery goodness. I also tried the Iced Tea Riviera (Php 80). If you like honey-mango-nectar sweetness, you’ll dig its syrupy texture. As for the Belgian Mocha Freeze (Php 128), it just reminded me too much of Starbucks (for both its price and taste).

The Flying Pig’s namesake comes with a story. Restaurateur Raymund Magdaluyo’s four year-old son, Rico, was enchanted with a metal artwork (actually made from an LPG tank) shaped like a pig that had wings on it. And the pigs started flying ever since.

Service at this spot is quick and highly personalized. You may request a lowering of the ambient sound if it proves too overwhelming. They do not have their own washroom, so if you are in for an emergency toilet break, you have to walk a bit to head to the mall stalls.

Come check out the pigs in the sky at The Flying Pig, located at the Ground Floor of the Eastwood Mall in Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City. Please call 900-0886 for reservations. Pigging-out for 60 is available.

Related Posts

• March 2, 2009 -- Eating at the New Eastwood Mall
• April 14, 2009 -- Chef Gino’s Own
• April 6, 2009 -- At the Table with Mr. Kurosawa
• March 30, 2009 -- Crisostomo’s Turn
• March 25, 2009 -- Old Vine: From the Ground Up