Pigging Out at Livestock Restaurant and Bar

The invite said, “Have you had crispy pata so tender you can slice it with a Popsicle stick?”

Of course an intriguing invite like this is something you don’t let pass by. So I got my feet, together with my colleagues, at this unassuming restaurant for a special lunch. Little did we know that we were about to experience more than the intriguing Crispy Pata. As it turned out, the restaurant has every intention of filling us up; it was literally pigging out at Livestock!

The Buzz: Livestock is a relatively new restaurant (they opened last quarter of 2013) at the heart of Quezon City. Built by the husband and wife tandem of Chef Ching and Chef Mico Uy, Livestock prides itself in using the freshest pig meat raised in their own hog farm in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

The Vibe: Two words: it’s big. We were invited for lunch so I wasn’t really able to gauge what kind of crowd they have. But based on their interiors alone, I could imagine families eating out on weekends, the yuppies (it has a bar!) hanging out on weeknights, and food lovers in between.

The Food: Livestock tries to incorporate pork in as many items as possible in its menu. In fact its actual quirky menu involves what I’d like to call a ‘pig map’ which shows what dish is made out of what pig part.

Asked how she’d describe their menu, Chef Ching says it’s multi-cultural. Together with her husband, they built a menu that’s heavily influenced with Spanish and Asian dishes.

What do they serve Livestock? Here’s a taste of the menu:

Pig’s Wings - Livestock’s take on buffalo wings. Imagine chicken wings in its full glory and wrapped in bacon. Yum! Warning though, it will get salty (from what I have experienced) on your second wing.

Livestock Caesar Salad - Even your salad will get the livestock twist. If you intend to start your meal with something “healthy”, get this on your table and endure the task of resisting the crispy pork belly.

Seafood Laksa Soup - Do you enjoy coconut milk-based Pinoy dishes? Then, this one will be a favorite. It is described as a seafood soup of fragrant, spicy broth with a refreshing sour note. Fragrant: check. Spicy: check (trust me, it has that perfect balance of spiciness). Sour, nope. Wasn’t able to find that taste which is really a ‘yay’ for me.

Rich Man’s Pot - It’s not called rich man’s pot for nothing. This rice dish is made even more full with eggs, cabbage, eggplant, pork ribs, chorrizo and more! If you wish to stick into one type of dish (which is really hard to do) and get as much as you can, then this is the meal for you.

Crispy Pata - The star of the restaurant. You have not been at Livestock if you don’t have this on your order. True to their promise, the crispy pata is so tender you can cut it with a popsicle stick. Amazingly the skin is so crispy while the inside stays juicy. A tip though: eat this dish as soon as it lands on your table. You won’t be able to appreciate what we are saying here if the meat gets cold.

Crackling Pork Belly

Crackling Pork Belly - Livestock’s take on the famous lechon Cebu. It tastes superb and it is very tender. Unlike the crispy pata which loses its magic when left cold, this crackling pork belly is still enjoyable even if it has been resting in your table for a period of time. A must not miss on your visit.

Mushroom Duxelle Fish Fillet - Something on the lighter side. For someone like me who loves mushrooms, (this dish is using shiitake and button mushrooms) this is second best item in the menu (the crispy pata will always hold the first spot).

12-Hour Roast Beef - The name easily gives away what they had to do to get this dish on the table. It’s tender and good butyou might want to order this on your next visit as ordering this alongside the crispy pata and pork belly won’t make you appreciate it that much.

Four-egg Spinach - This interesting dish uses century egg, salted duck egg, quail eggs and (to make it four) egg whites. It’s a refreshing dish perfect to take after feasting on pork.

Bacon Ice Cream Sandwich - The dessert. How can you say no to ice cream, especially if it has bacon? It’s creamy, it’s sweet, and it’s salty. This desert will definitely explode in your mouth.

The Verdict: All in all, the experience was overwhelming. Livestock offers just about any dish you could do with pork. If you happen to be on a diet or temporarily abstaining from pork and you are to be in this restaurant with friends who want to kill you in jealousy, don’t fret because the non-pork items are equally delicious and, visually, Instagram-worthy.

***all photos by Ma. Alyssa Malapote for circuitmag.net

Livestock is located at No. 34 Sgt. Esguerra Ave., South Triangle, Quezon City. They are open from 11AM-2AM. For reservations, call 332 0409. You may also visit Livestock on Facebook for updates.