FEELS LIKE HOME

Set in the charming backdrop of Poblacion’s quieter front, Anita Celdran’s Spanish-Italian bistro LA COLLINA serves warm, hearty meals from family-made recipes, encouraging a sustainable food system and supporting the local jazz scene while they’re at it

- PIPO GONZALES

So much has been said about Anita Celdran’s corner bistro on the less rowdy side of Poblacion. Whether it’s her Cochinillo Black Pig or her famous Fabada Asturiana, the place has gained a sophisticated following thanks to word of mouth from its more than-satisfied patrons and customers. “La Collina means ‘the hill’—as originally, we were [planning to set up] in Tagaytay,” says Anita, “It is one of the few words in Italian and Spanish that has the same meaning, but in Italian, it’s spelled with two L’s. We chose the double L because graphically it looks like a hill.”

With a menu composed of both Italian and Spanish fare, the curated list of dishes is not just something Anita came up with to appease the average customer’s personal favorites. It was a passion project which she had in mind since her days working overseas. “I lived in Washington, DC for 16 years, when I used to work in International Development. When I finally retired from my work, I wanted to do something I've always wanted—and cooking is my passion. I really wanted to put up a restaurant in Washington, but it was hard.” Fortunately, with a bit of encouragement, she finally went for it with the help of some friends who provided financial backing.

A HIDDEN GEM