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This vintage-style home in San Pedro, Laguna is now a must-try private dining destination

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RHIA GRANA

<p>When 70-year-old Maria Luisa &quot;Marissa&quot; Gerodias built <a href="https://www.instagram.com/Casa_luisa">Casa Luisa</a>, a vintage-style home in San Pedro, Laguna in 2018, she intended it to be a haven where family and friends can gather. Most of the Gerodiases have migrated overseas so she decided to build a private rest house that brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc. could visit and stay in when they’re in the country.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Maria Luisa Gerodias" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/27cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Casa Luisa was named after Maria Luisa &quot;Marissa&quot; Gerodias, who built the family vacation home in 2018.</figcaption></figure></div><p>While the matriarch works in logistics and commercial leasing, her creative eye and refined taste are on full display at Casa Luisa, which is her vision. The structure features intricate woodwork and beautiful chandeliers, plus lots of glass windows that let the light in. The antique furniture and décor give the space an unmistakable nostalgic feel; the family pictures give it a sense of history—even if the structure is only five years old.  </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Family pictures" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/3cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Gerodias family pictures on display at the receiving area. </figcaption></figure></div><p>“It’s a heritage house in a way because the materials and furniture used are from old houses,” offers Luisa’s daughter, Chef Jen Gerodias, the youngest child. The window frames, for instance, are made from reclaimed wood. The eclectic tilework at the entrance are spare tiles from kitchen and bathroom counters of the homes Luisa has constructed. “Each one has a memory of a different project,” says Jen. Some of the old furniture are from the houses of her <em>titos</em> and <em>titas</em> who now live abroad.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Casa Luisa" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/14cl.jpg"/><figcaption>The antique furniture and décor give the space an unmistakable nostalgic feel.</figcaption></figure></div></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Casa Luisa" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/7cl.jpg"/><figcaption>A collection of antique decor enlivens the dining area.</figcaption></figure></div><p>What makes the house even more idyllic are the fruit-bearing trees that surround it: mango, <em>balimbing</em> (starfruit), rambutan, <em>atis</em>, cacao, <em>suha</em> (pomelo), kaffir, avocado, and coffee. But more than just making the property look straight out of Sampaguita Pictures, the trees these days serve a different purpose: their fruits and leaves provide both inspiration and ingredients for the meals Chef Jen prepares for her private dining business, which is now the new feature of the house her mother built.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Casa Luisa" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/9cl.jpg"/><figcaption>What makes the house even more idyllic are the fruit-bearing trees that surround it.</figcaption></figure></div><h3>Empanada beginnings </h3><p>Before coming home to the Philippines in 2011, Jen took up Culinary studies in Le Cordon Bleu Paris and later trained at Michelin-starred chef Guy Savoy’s Le Chiberta restaurant. She then honed her pastry making skills at Chef Roland Passot&#x27;s La Folie in San Francisco.  </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Chef Jen Gerodias" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/28cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Chef Jen Gerodias</figcaption></figure></div><p>It was in May of 2021 when Chef Jen and her two kids left city life and moved to Casa Luisa. She used to do consultancy work for <a href="https://www.launchlabconsulting.com">LaunchLab</a> and also ran a commissary kitchen that supplies meals to different restaurants around Metro Manila. But when the pandemic hit, her consultancy work took a downturn and many of her clients&#x27; restaurants closed—she had no choice but to also close her commissary.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Avocado" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/11cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Avocado freshly picked from the casa&#x27;s garden. </figcaption></figure></div><p>But soon Jen was back in the food biz, albeit on a smaller scale, thanks to a happy accident. There were many food businesses born during the pandemic, and one of those that became a hit on Instagram was Chef Jen’s French onion soup <em>empanada</em>. She wasn’t planning to make money out of it. “It so happened that we had extra dough from the commissary,” recalls Chef Jen. “Then we had remaining French onion soup <em>na ayaw na kainin ng mga anak ko kasi ilang araw na nila kinakain.</em> What I did was I turned the soup into an <em>empanada</em> filling, added some cheese, and served it to my family during lunch.”</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Casa Luisa" s="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/26cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Casa Luisa&#x27;s empanada</figcaption></figure></div><p>Chef Jen posted a snap of her flaky pastry on her IG and food writers Angelo Comsti and Alicia Sy asked if they could order from her. The two then posted their <em>empanadas</em> on their respective Instagram accounts and the interest in Jen’s savory pockets of goodness grew even bigger. Inquiries started pouring in, prompting the chef to open a bakery in Casa Luisa. When she found out the family driver Fred used to be a master <em>panadero</em> back in the 80s and 90s, it was like things were just falling into place. She tapped him to help her run the bakery. With a system that Jen put in place, she and her team were able to make as many as 700 <em>empanadas</em> in a day.</p><p>Casa Luisa’s <em>empanadas</em> are really quite special, just ask their loyal fans. The fillings are unique yet familiar (Mango Sampaguita Cheese, Chorizo Fundido, Pizza Ala Diavola, 4-Mushroom Duxelles, Spinach Feta Bacon), and the casings as flaky as a good croissant. “It’s dough, butter, dough, butter and you have to work fast or you always have to have a freezer. It’s like a labor of love,” says Chef Jen. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Casa Luisa" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/15cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Some of the old furniture are from the houses of Gerodias family members who now live abroad.</figcaption></figure></div><h3>Private dining </h3><p>Just like the <em>empanada</em> biz, opening the casa as a private dining destination was also not in Jen’s plans. It all started when her Tito Raul Gerodias, a lawyer, would invite his clients and team over for private lunches. “[My uncle] is my biggest fan,” the chef says, smiling. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Private dining at Casa Luisa" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/6cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Chef Jen doesn’t even like to call Casa Luisa a restaurant. “This is really a home because I actually live here,” she says.  </figcaption></figure></div><p>News of her delicious meals eventually spread by word of mouth, and soon she and her household staff were preparing feasts for family reunions, wedding showers, team-building events. Recently, the casa launched its open table offering—where those interested to experience the casa and Chef Jen’s meals, whether you’re a solo diner, a couple or a group, can reserve seats either for a Sunday brunch or lunch.</p><p>This is the first time the French-trained chef is serving food under her own brand, after creating dishes for other restaurants for years. ANCX was able to sample Casa Luisa’s lunch menu recently and we must say it’s worth the drive to San Pedro. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Empanaditas" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/10cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Casa Luisa&#x27;s empanaditas are served topped with beautiful figs from La Petite Ferme in Lipa, Batangas. </figcaption></figure></div><p>Our lunch started with a sampling of the casa’s flaky and savory <em>empanaditas</em> and house-brewed hibiscus calamansi iced tea. The onion soup filling of the <em>empanaditas</em> is made with real marrow bones that’s roasted and turned into a beef stock, and then reduced for 18 hours. The pastry has goat cheese from Malagos Farms, and is served topped with beautiful figs from La Petite Ferme in Lipa, Batangas.</p><p>This was followed by the <em>sinuglaw</em>—which is a combination <em>sinugba</em> (grilled) and <em>kinilaw</em>. You’re supposed to wrap the fish and pork in lettuce like a samgyupsal together with the chicharon, and <em>ensaladang manga</em>. Add some heat to the mix with a drizzle of their homemade mango chili sauce.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Sinuglaw" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/1cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Sinuglaw or sinugba (grilled) and kinilaw.</figcaption></figure></div><p>The <em>sinuglaw</em> is a perfect prelude to the next dish—lamb <em>adobo</em>. The lamb ribs were simmered in coconut milk, coconut vinegar and coconut sugar. There’s none of the usual soy sauce so it’s essentially <em>adobong puti,</em> but the inspired use of Bagoong Balayan gives the necessary salt component. The dish is topped with native garlic and <em>etag</em> (smoked and aged salted pork from the Cordilleras). The casa typically serves this with <em>suman sa ibos</em>, <em>burong mangga</em>, and salted duck egg from Victoria, Laguna. There’s also a bowl of short-grain black rice for those who can’t imagine eating their <em>adobo</em> without rice. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Lamb Adobo" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/20cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Lamb Adobo</figcaption></figure></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Suman sa ibos" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/13cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Suman sa ibos, ensaladang mangga, salted egg duck, and their homemade mango chili sauce.</figcaption></figure></div><p>Next is the Yellow Gingerfish. The kind of fish served actually depends on what’s fresh and abundant, and on our visit it just so happened to be <em>talakitok</em>. It arrived on a bed of dill and onion leeks slathered with turmeric oil. It comes with a Bagoong Balayan citrus sauce, peanuts, and fresh chilis.  </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Yellow Gingerfish" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/18cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Yellow Gingerfish on a bed of herbs</figcaption></figure></div><p>Rounding out the mains is the Beef Wellington—US beef tenderloin seared with salt and pepper, wrapped with mushroom duxelles, prosciutto, and encased in the casa’s signature flaky, buttery pastry, served with <em>kaldereta</em>-inspired brandy beef demi-glace.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Beef Wellington" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/25cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Beef Wellington</figcaption></figure></div><p>Chef Jen goes all out with her dessert menu as well. We were already so happy with the Baked Alaska—macapuno ice cream on a passion fruit jam base and flaky butter pastry, covered with torched meringue—but this was soon followed with a sweet encore of Burnt Basque Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie, Kalamay Latik, and ice cold seasonal fruits. All in all the Casa Luisa lunch is worth the P3,700 per person meal price, and the drive to San Pedro—which is really just 20 minutes from Makati. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Baked Alaska" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/21cl.jpg"/><figcaption> Baked Alaska (macapuno ice cream on a passion fruit jam base and flaky butter pastry, covered with torched meringue)</figcaption></figure></div><h3>Like coming home</h3><p>According to Chef Jen, many of those who dine at Casa Luisa are her regular empanada buyers. “Actually <em>nakakatuwa ang mga</em> regulars because they&#x27;re kind of emotionally attached to the product somehow,” Jen says. “They sent us DMs and talk about their stories and how they connect to our food. So seeing them and meeting them right now and having this as an open place is a different experience.”</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Casa Luisa" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/5cl.jpg"/><figcaption>The casa&#x27;s vintage style toilet. </figcaption></figure></div><p>The chef clearly puts a lot of thought in the food she prepares. Having done research and development for clients for many years has obviously paid off. <em>“Kung may naririnig akong bagong produkto o</em> harvest, I’m always so excited,” she says. “I always make sure to support local communities by sourcing the best ingredients around San Pedro, Laguna and all over the Philippines.”</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Chef Jen with her staff at Casa Luisa" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/ancx/food-n-drink/2023/13/29cl.jpg"/><figcaption>Chef Jen with her staff at Casa Luisa</figcaption></figure></div><p>Chef Jen doesn’t like to label the Casa Luisa service as “fine dining,” nor would she use the phrase to describe her food. “These are foods that we’ve tried and refined. It&#x27;s family style. It&#x27;s not so stiff. I really want the casual feeling still. You can come here in your shorts,” she says.</p><p>She doesn’t even like to call Casa Luisa a restaurant. “Because our staff are not regular restaurant people. They are people who have been working for me for a long time and I’m training them for food service,” she says. “This is really a home because I actually live here. That’s why I always try to put it in our messaging: ‘Welcome to our home.’ Because to me that’s what hospitality is all about—when you feel welcomed.”</p><div><em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/Casa_luisa">Casa Luisa</a> is located at Magsaysay Road Brgy, San Antonio, San Pedro, Laguna. </em></div>

Casa Luisa earned its cred with Chef Jen Gerodias’ unique empanadas. Now it’s time to show her fans she can do so much more 