Café Inggo: Of Food and Friars
Rarely do we associate life’s pleasures with spirituality. In fact, for most of us faithful, they seem to be on the opposite ends of the spectrum. While enjoying food isn’t actually sinful, the virtues of simplicity and charity seem to go against our urge to indulge in gastronomic pleasures. But enjoying food need not equate to gluttony, and we can always find other ways to celebrate our faith and be charitable.
Going to church and dining out after service is actually a common tradition among many Filipino families. But for a new café in Quezon City, mixing food with religion has been a good combination. In fact, the café is right inside the church compound. Café Inggo 1587 is coffee shop and restaurant inside the Santo Domingo Church compound. Serving coffee and Spanish and Filipino favorites, the café has had much success and enjoys a loyal following. What used to be a coffee shop that served just coffee and cakes, Café Inggo 1587 now serves a host of local and Spanish-inspired dishes, consistent with our local heritage as a previous Spanish colony.
The brains and brawn behind Café Inggo is former seminarian and former hotelier Vic Alcuaz. Alcuaz, himself a product of Dominican education, has been in the travel and hospitality industry all his life. And although running a restaurant of his own was never his plan, it still came quite naturally with his background in hospitality. With an invitation from friar friends from the Order of Preachers, Alcuaz decided to take over from the space’s previous tenants and put his own signature on the new café concept.
Café Inggo’s interiors are of course, Dominican themed. A beautiful bust and a painting of Saint Dominic seem to stand guard as diners enjoy the food and drinks being served.
Going to church and dining out after service is actually a common tradition among many Filipino families. But for a new café in Quezon City, mixing food with religion has been a good combination. In fact, the café is right inside the church compound. Café Inggo 1587 is coffee shop and restaurant inside the Santo Domingo Church compound. Serving coffee and Spanish and Filipino favorites, the café has had much success and enjoys a loyal following. What used to be a coffee shop that served just coffee and cakes, Café Inggo 1587 now serves a host of local and Spanish-inspired dishes, consistent with our local heritage as a previous Spanish colony.
The brains and brawn behind Café Inggo is former seminarian and former hotelier Vic Alcuaz. Alcuaz, himself a product of Dominican education, has been in the travel and hospitality industry all his life. And although running a restaurant of his own was never his plan, it still came quite naturally with his background in hospitality. With an invitation from friar friends from the Order of Preachers, Alcuaz decided to take over from the space’s previous tenants and put his own signature on the new café concept.
Café Inggo’s interiors are of course, Dominican themed. A beautiful bust and a painting of Saint Dominic seem to stand guard as diners enjoy the food and drinks being served.
