Flavors of Baguio: Pork Love for Dinner at Le Monet

Sometimes, all you need to do is give in and go with the flow...

...and more often than not, you'll also feel a whole lot better. At Baguio's elegant Le Monet, giving in is easy. And you'll be glad you did...


Located at the very heart of Camp John Hay in Baguio, Le Monet's central location places you in the middle of it all, with elegant accommodations as your home base in Baguio. The impressive lobby, with its ornate chandeliers, put on a dazzling light show every day, welcoming your arrival at Le Monet.

One of Le Monet's aces is its sumptuous buffet at The Lobby, with its wide and impressive spread for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each day, one can savor and enjoy the best of local and regional flavors alongside international favorites. And you can enjoy seconds and thirds and more at the ultimate buffet feast in Baguio.  

Baguio has always been known for producing some of the finest vegetables and freshest produce, and a generous helping of garden fresh salad greens with a wide variety of dressings is always a good way to start your buffet feast at Le Monet. And a heaping serving of fresh salad greens guarantees a balanced meal before the mains... 

...and a quick tour of the buffet layout offers a feast of mouthwatering options. At the Carving Station, I was slowly drawn to to this elegant slab of pure pork love, the Ilocos Bagnet. Tender and juicy pork with a crisp layer of crackling for contrasting textures, resisting the temptation is just a futile exercise, so I gave in...

The station chef slowly carved three slices, punctuated by the crisp crackling sound as the knife sinks in the Ilocos Bagnet. Good thing I had a heaping plate of salad earlier, and that should be enough to compensate for my main course. Wishful thinking, but who cares. Thick slices of Ilocos Bagnet drizzled with a sharp chili, onion, soy-vinegar dip with a side of fresh greens, and I just knew my first ever dinner at Le Monet would be memorable.

And it was. The delicate notes of the tender and juicy pork, with thin layers of fat capped by its crisp layer of crackling combined for rich flavors and contrasting textures, with the richness tempered by the bold flavors of the soy-vinegar dip. You can also have your Ilocos Bagnet fried for added crispness, and the station chefs will gladly do it for you and in just minutes, serve your plate of crispy bagnet.

But Le Monet offers even more culinary treats, and my flavorful journey at Le Monet has only just begun... stay tuned for more posts on Le Monet's many dining options.

Le Monet Hotel is located along Ordono Drive inside Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Baguio or call 519-4903 or (+632) 376-5059 (Manila Office) for inquiries and reservations.

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