The Past Revisited with Nostalgic Flavors at Grand House

Food is often described as a continuing story, transporting you to another place and time with both tradition and nostalgic memories re-shared and retold with each dish. For one family, it's another chapter in a story that began way back in the sixties in old Binondo preserving a cherished culinary legacy.

More than any treasured archive, food is probably the best snap shot of history and culture presented on a plate. The weave of flavors presents tradition and even family values recreated in a wide array of dishes that have defined both our past and identity. In these fast-paced and changing times, few dining establishments with a link to the past remains. One of them is Grand House along Wilson Street in San Juan...

Food trends come and go, yet nothing warms the palate more than a comfortingly familiar dish with that nostalgic flavor that still resonates even as our palates continue to change and evolve. At Grand House, heirloom recipes of rich and hearty Cantonese flavors celebrate one family's heritage in a brand new setting for one of the exciting new culinary finds in the San Juan neighborhood. Dining at Grand House is like visiting a home with its bright and casual interiors, while one bite of their sumptuous offerings completes the mood. Nothing complicated or unnecessarily cluttered, just simple yet bold and real flavors. Like the spicy XO Fried Oysters (P 388) with bell peppers, chilies and soy garlic chili sauce. That delectable play on crisp textures and flavors from the succulent oysters teases the palate with its fresh and clean notes followed by just a whisper of soothing heat...

...while the classic Sweet and Sour Pork (P 468 Regular good for 3-4/P 928 Grand good for 6-8) with bell peppers and pineapples continues the rustic homespun vibe at Grand House. The classic dish is often a good gauge of any Chinese kitchen, and Grand House nails it with that delicate balance balance of savory sweet and sour notes and crunchy strips of tender pork. 

Grand House doesn't hold back on the flavors with the Stir-Fry Black Pepper Chicken (P 468 Regular good for 2-4/P 928 Grand good for 6-8) with each crunchy bite draping the palate with a flavorful burst from the black pepper sauce. It's a dish that pairs well with their timeless Yang Chow Fried Rice (P 428/P 848). Other must-try rice variants include the Salted Fish Seafood Fried Rice (P 428/P 848), the Rich Man's Fried Rice (P 488/P 968), the Grand House Rice Casserole (P 528/P 1,048) and the traditional Kiampeng (P 548/P 1,088). 

The buttery richness of tender beef comes through with the equally classic Beef and Broccoli (P 548/P 1,088) with the sweetness of the vegetables including carrots adding yet another layer of flavor to the dish slathered in a savory stir-fry sauce. Grand House also offers modern and contemporary spins on their extensive menu for beef options like the Grand House Truffle Ribeye Steak (P 2,388), Sizzling Beef Tenderloin Chinese Style (P 688/P 1,368) and Black Pepper T-Bone Steak (P 1,088/P 2,188). 

From their Heirloom Recipes selection, the Deconstructed Fresh Lumpia (P 688/P 1,368) with carrots, cabbage, turnips, green beans, marinated minced pork, shrimps, tofu and Singaporean fish balls served with garden fresh and crisp lettuce, crushed seaweed, minced garlic, crushed peanuts, wansoy, thick and sweet brown sauce and thin lumpia wrapper is a novel twist on a traditional Cantonese staple. You can customize your fresh spring roll as the engaging D-I-Y presentation becomes another colorful thread in the Grand House dining experience. The freshness of the ingredients ensures all the flavors you remember are perfectly recreated, plus the wrap-it-yourself feature injects an element of fun. 

Other must-try Heirloom Recipes offerings at Grand House include the Sizzling Stuffed Tofu (P 388/P 768), Hong Ma with Cuapao (P 988/P 1,968), Sizzling Pork Barbecue (P 478/P 948), Lion's Head in Clay Pot (P 558/P 1,108), Grand House Pork Tenderloin (P 478/P 948), Steamed Pampano with Pork and Mixed Vegetables (P 958) and Soy Chicken (P 478 Half/P 938 Whole). 

The Heirloom Recipes selection offer a glimpse and insight at the family's festive celebrations from the past with their tempting array of sumptuous dishes. Preserved by the family's "amah" as the acknowledged driving force behind Grand House, local diners can revisit the flavors in a lavish reunion at San Juan's newest dining destination. Then, there's the impressive repertoire of noodle dishes like the Seafood Fried Noodles (P 558/P 1,108) with crispy egg noodles, shrimps, fish fillet, scallops, squid, bok choy, eggs and carrots for a proper feast with the mandatory noods at Grand House. The medley of ingredients brings fresh flavors to the palate tied together by the savory sauce. 

Grand House offers ten tempting noodle options from Crab Garlic Noodles (P 468/P 928), Amah's Lomi (P 448/P 888), Grand House Cha Misua (P 688/P 368) and Truffle Mushroom Lo Mein (P 528/P 1,048) to Cha Tanghun (P 498/P 988) and Black Pepper Beef Chow Mein (P 558/P 1,108). 

The Sizzling Grand House Chicken (P 548/P 1,088) poured with the Grand House Special Sauce brings another theatrical element to your dining experience. Poured on the table after serving, the sizzle triggers your appetite for another round of tasty bites. Crisp on the outside over juicy chicken, it just doesn't get more comforting than this. Grand House offers eight chicken options from General Tso's Chicken with Eggplant (P 468/P 928), Kung Pao Chicken (P 448/P 888) and Hong Kong Peking Chicken (P 928/P 1,848) to Three Cups Chicken in Clay Pot (P 468/P 928) and Lemon Chicken (P 448/P 888) for that winner chicken dinner. 

As the year ends, it's heartwarming to know that the nostalgic flavors we love and still come back to finds a home in the San Juan neighborhood. At Grand House...

Grand House is located at 195 Wilson, San Juan, Metro Manila. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/grandhouse.dining/ and https://www.instagram.com/grandhouse.dining/ for more information or call 0906 044 5639 for inquiries and reservations. 

Dude for Food is now on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, check out these social media accounts for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and "Follow" and enjoy the ride...just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.