Sentro 1771: Lamb Caldereta, Crispy Pork Kilawin, and more!

Sentro 1771

Allen received gift certificates from a previous blog event at Sentro 1771 which he graciously (and thankfully) shared with me for a lunch. Sentro 1771 is known for their modern Filipino cuisine. Even the ambiance and their food preparation resonate such idea.

Sentro 1771 Gift Certificates

Crispy Pork Kilawin (280Php)

Slathered with thinly sliced leeks, carrots and onions, kilawin style

Sentro 1771 Crispy Pork Kilawin

It was only upon writing this post that I realized that Crispy Pork Belly (as seen in the gift certificate) and Crispy Pork Kilawin are the same. So that explains why this dish had vinegar at the bottom and all those shredded onions and carrots. I initially thought it was just a simple deep fried pork belly, and that they didn't think of separating the vinegar dip (haha!). Nevertheless, even though I wasn't sure of what I was eating at that time, I enjoyed this dish with its crunchy meat and how its flavors combined well with the vinegar.

Lamb Caldereta (480Php)

Boneless lamb shoulder stewed with carrots, bell peppers, tomato sauce, and spices. Can be mild or spicy

Sentro 1771 Lamb Caldereta

Lamb Caldereta is listed in Sentro 1771's signature dishes. After trying this out, it really deserved its position. Though caldereta is usually served with a kick of spice, we opted for the mild version. The mild version is really mild to almost no spice at all. I love everything in this dish: the tenderness of the lamb and how its natural essence was uncovered, the consistency/texture and flavor of the sauce, and even the vegetables I was able to eat.

The complimentary dishes were all great but we found ourselves wanting for more, thus dessert!

Classic Ginataan (Small - 75Php; Big - 150Php)

Ube, sweet potato, glutinous rice balls, banana and tapioca cooked in thickened coconut milk. Can serve as dessert or merienda!

Sentro 1771 Classic Ginataan

Talk about Filipino merienda and it would be ginataang bilo-bilo/halo-halo that would first come into my mind. So even though Sentro 1771 offers a lot of other interesting dessert selections, I gave in to my craving and had their Classic Ginataan solo size. This did not disappoint. Even though I have tried a lot of ginataang bilo-bilo, there is still something about this that made it stand out. It has a thick consistency, not too sweet, and the ingredients are of the right tenderness.

Banana Tart (150Php)

Puff pastry with a light custard topped with caramelized saba banana slices

Sentro 1771 Banana Tart

On a sweeter side, Allen had this Banana Tart. It isn't the usual tart with the hard crust. Everything goes smoothly here: banana, caramel, chocolate, and pastry. It's a recommended dessert.

Thanks to Allen for the Sentro 1771 experience. I hope to try the Sinigang na Corned Beef soon as it has been bragged as the Specialty of the House.