Chef
Baba Ibazeta-Benedicto has built a loyal following over the years, following
the success of the desserts at Classic
Confections. With her “classic with a
twist” philosophy in the kitchen, she
takes the simple, classic, and familiar, makes them with the best ingredients,
and then adds her personal creative twist.
But before she became a popular patissier,
Chef Baba Ibazeta-Benedicto was a kid with a flavorful childhood.
While
most youngsters her age got their hands dirty from playing in the streets,
young Baba made the kitchen her playground—a place where her hands rolled in
flour and her clothes were stained with colorful frosting. Here, she found her
true calling.
She
owes her fondness of cooking to their family cook, Warlita. Baba recalls
spending afternoons with Warlita baking cookies, brownies, and cupcakes. Baba’s
mom, Sylvia, encouraged Baba by
enrolling her in summer baking programs that honed her skills at such a
tender age. After college, Baba decided to delve into the culinary arts seriously, so she studied at
the California
Culinary Academy in San
Francisco, California.
Following
her return to the Philippines and her success in the local pastry scene, Chef
Baba felt that she was ready to move a step forward. But this time, she’s doing
it by looking back.
Nono’s and the recipes from the good old days
With meals worth craving for, amidst inviting,
pastel interiors that have the warmth of family diners, Nono’s is definitely the go-to place of people who constantly seek
the tasty comfort that comes from the dishes of their young and carefree
days.
Located at the U.P Town Center, Nono’s was
named after Chef Baba’s father and offers dishes that hark back to her
childhood.
“Nono’s is a personal journey into my childhood and home. As I began to
dream of a restaurant and what type of food I would want to create, I was
deeply drawn to—and inspired by—my favorite home-cooked childhood meals and
snacks. To me, those meals are my
comfort food and were the inspiration jumping point to establishing Nono’s. Comfort food is simple. It is
heartwarming. It is nourishing. It is home --Nono’s
is home.” Chef Baba shares.
For Chef Baba, nothing brings her back to the
fond memories of family celebrations like the Spaghetti Bolognese. Made using Warlita’s tried and tested recipe,
it has a meaty goodness that’s called for during special occasions, or for when
you’re just craving something good and hearty.
Nono’s also stays true to the classics with its Mac & Cheese that Chef Baba refers to as one of the dishes she
first learned to cook as a child. It’s rich, creamy, and has a cheesy kick that
reminds you of after-school merienda.
And while on the nostalgia train, one can’t help
but savor the flashbacks of juvenile happiness as you bite into the crispiness
and savor the tender goodness of Nono’s
Homestyle Fried Chicken. According to
Chef Baba, her team took least 20 trials just to perfect their Fried Chicken
recipe–it’s definitely a must-try!
Comfort
Food Done Right
Following a personal philosophy of classics with a twist is another
specialty at Nono’s. Baba enjoys
taking the simple, classic, and familiar, making them with the best
ingredients, and then adding her personal creative twist.
Innovating on familiar flavors also works with
Nono’s just as well as it did with
Classic Confections. Chef Baba
shares while they serve food that are familiar to the Filipino palate, they
usually replace a common ingredient with a more premium choice.
For instance, Pork
Belly Balsamic Adobo is a new
take on the staple Filipino dish. Instead of using the regular vinegar, the
pork was slow-cooked in soy sauce and balsamic vinegar for an hour, giving the
meat a sweeter and less acidic character.
Missing those classic gooey cheese sticks? Nono’s takes them to different level
with their Truffle Cheese Wontons. This starter uses parmesan and
mozzarella, and further elevates their flavors with drizzles of honey and
earthy truffle oil.
Their French
Onion Soup is crowned with a beautifully cheesy mess of gruyere, parmesan,
and melted mozzarella artfully overflowing on the edges of the bowl. As you dig
through molten cheese, the crunch of onions greets your spoon, while warm beef
broth beckons you to dunk your sourdough bread.
The
Sweet finish
Any
meal this hearty deserves a sweet finish. Aside from serving a great selection
of comfort food, Nono’s is also home
to a wide variety of cakes and pastries.
There is Chef Baba’s well-acclaimed
Nono’s Chocolate Oblivion, which
was hailed by critics as one of Manila’s finest. You'll also find classic
desserts such as Red Velvet Cake,
Meline’s Chocolate Cake, and Honey
Crunch Cake. But if you prefer something fruity, your palate will be just
fine with the familiar flavor of Lemon
Torte, Banana Cream Pie, Calamansi Bars, and Sylvia’s Strawberry Shortcake.
Nono’s also serves Cookie Skillet a la mode. Here, you
have a choice between chocolate chip or brownie cookie that is freshly baked
and topped with Vanilla iced cream, salted caramel, and chocolate fudge sauce.
The restaurant also sells whole cakes, freshly
baked breads, and cookies for customers to enjoy at home.
