Sinner and Saints Café; a place of fusion food

By Ronamee Galangco

BAGUIO CITY -- A café located within the boundary of Baguio and La Trinidad Benguet has captivated both locals and tourists alike due to its unique take on common fusion cuisine, taking the metro and provinces traditional delicacies to the next level.

From its unique entrees like their Kapangan Kinuday, pork ribs marinated with locally made rice wine and their new addition, the Benguet shawarma, using one of the regions traditional meat, the “Etag”.

Café Owners Girlie Apuntan and Jovie Sianen expressed their love for their heritage and how these cuisines fully entrails the taste of their childhood.

“ We try to make it something other than just meat, so parang naisip namin na it should represent Cordillera. We aimed for something that is not commercialized but something that comes from us,” said Apuntan in an interview.

The establishment also boasts original recipes of pasta like their potato noodles and the unique presentation of Pinikpikan Carbonara, which captures the essence of the original mountain delicacy in a more western approach. This café is also known as the “Home of the Camote Cake” and the one of a kind dessert, the “Tapuy ice cream” or also known as rice wine ice cream.

The café employs out-of-school youths and advocates the employment of those who are labelled unemployable due to age or lack of qualifications.

Association of Technical Vocational Institutions of Benguet (ATVIB) President, Angeline T. Bugtong, applauded establishments like this who support skill-based individuals, especially now that “Hard Trade” is more sought out.

“We fully support and believe in the skills of those people who take their craft and passion to the next level, moreover for those who share their blessings to the public” said ATVIB president Bugtong.

The Café hopes to bring out ore of the Cordillera’s taste outside of the region aiming for the national tongue.