The owner of Domus shared to me a funny story about their name: They had a guest who asked:
“Sir, unsa jud meaning sa Domus? Sum-od?” (Spelled backwards, it’s the name of this eating place in Amigo Subd., Piapi.)
To the Tagalog-speaking people, sum-od can mean nakaka-umay, nakaka-sawa, or ‘boring’ food lacking in variation.
Well, if you must know, sum-od is the exact opposite description of the food that Domus offers.
From what I know, neither of the owners/proprietors of Domus is chef-trained, nor has had prior restaurant experience.
But because Domus serves genuinely good food, it’s safe to say that everything they do at Domus, and how they do it is “by gut feel” and from real encounters and adventures they had experienced from their childhood.
For me, Domus is what proper Filipino food is: rich, fatty, salty, umami, and hearty.
Isn’t it peculiar that sometimes the best food is made through love, and basic human instinct, or what some refer to as “cooking-by-feel”.
You feel that the food needs a bit more spice? Put some more!
You think coconut milk will cut through the fattiness — although it seems counter-intuitive? Then yes, add some!
You think noodles made crispy will add another layer of umami and mouthfeel to the dish? Then go on, fry the palabok noodles!
You think a one-to-two- day process of the Pork Sinilihan will make it taste better? Oh, yeah, why not do it?
Steamed Bokchoy with Chillies, that’s it; it doesn’t need more. Simple, yet it makes sense.
“Quality over quantity”. That is what the owners always replied to me whenever I suggested to them to add more tables and chairs. Domus was easily declining three to four groups every night!
“Unya na, puhon lang…. maabot ra ta ana!,” they would modestly tell me.
And so now, I’m so happy and proud of the way Domus has actually lived up to the hype. I hope they will be a staple in Dumaguete.
Trust me, Domus makes food you cannot dislike. The best dishes at Domus thus far: anything Sinilihan; Pork, Chicken, Tofu; Crispy Palabok; Ugly Chicken/Tofu Parm.
Domus is easily amongst the Top 5 restaurants in Dumaguete. Malayo pa pero malayo na!
_______________________________________
Author’s email: [email protected]
