A taste of the good life

By ROWENA BAUTISTA-ALCARAZ

November 27, 2010, 6:30pm

Abe’s Farm also has a mini spa village of consisting cozy air-conditioned huts which can be booked for overnight stays.

 A trip to Abe’s Farm, a lifestyle village at the foot of Mt. Arayat in Magalang, Pampanga is a three-hour drive to good food, relaxation, pampering, and other nocturnal delights.

When people said that Abe’s Farm is a haven of hidden delights, they weren’t exaggerating.  Where else can you see a huge tract of land that offers the finest country cuisine, a relaxing spa, and a museum that holds mementos of two great men of their times - Emilio Aguilar Cruz and his son Larry?

“I think the idea of having a farm here started when my grandfather died,” shares Lorna Cruz-Ambas, president of LJC Group and daughter of well-loved gourmet-restaurateur Larry Cruz.  “Parts of his ashes were thrown in the foothills of Mt. Arayat and I think the germ of an idea of having a vacation house here started with my father. Later on we acquired the property and developed this, really, as more of a vacation house.”

Since it opened to the public, Abe’s Farm has been frequented not only by the locals who simply want to enjoy their signature dishes along with the comforts of a dreamy bamboo and antique wood rest house, but also by travelers and out-of-towners seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

For starters, the “Fern Salad” in all of its interestingly provocative mix is appetizing as it is piquant.  A single spoonful might get you hooked.  What followed was an exquisite mouth-watering experience made up of Krispy Tadyang,  Kare-Kare, Sinigang na Bangus belly with ripe Guava, and the sinfully delicious Crispy Pata. After that glorious meal, Sikreto ni Maria, a mix of sticky rice and ripe mangoes dipped in vanilla-flavored ice cream and carabao’s milk was revealed to us.

“When my father opened up this place as a restaurant serving Abe food, he wanted this entire complex to be called Abe’s Lifestyle Village.  So, there’s a spa that we are now operating by ourselves and still part of Abe’s Farm offerings. And then there’s the museum,” says Lorna.

Sons of Magalang

Unveiled in May of this year, the E. Aguilar Cruz Musuem (or Abe Museum)was a project shelved when LJC fell ill.  His family and friends decided to honor the memory of LJC, his inspiration Abe, and Magalang by turning the house into a museum.

Upon entering the museum, visitors will notice its predominant Art Deco theme, inspired by the unique geometric grill patterns on the fence and windows of the original house.  This is the milieu that inspired the arrangement of the rooms.  From the reception area and museum shop, a gallery leads to Abe’s room. In it are a few selected artworks by Abe, the originals of which are found in the different restaurants of the LJC Group.  A bust of Abe, a Julie Lluch creation, lords over the collection that details his life as an artist.  In the adjacent room is a tribute to the kin-based creative partnership of Abe and Larry.  This room is characterized by collaborations of both men and their analogous lives as writers, gourmets, and beacons of the “good life.”

On the second floor, the Larry J. Cruz Library holds choice books from his personal library which visitors could peruse.  The library features a book of the month and displays it in an especially designated corner.  Across the hall, a lounge area contains Abe’s furniture, memorabilia, writing instruments, and more artworks.

“This is an example of a 1930s house that my father and his friend artist-architect Agustin Goy found in Magalang.  The house they bought was so old and damaged by age and infestation that they found only a fraction of it usable. Goy, who was challenged by having to look for parts that would fit the building, filled in the rest.  The grills found on the windows, on the fence and gate, however, made the purchase of the house worthwhile,” recalls Lorna.

Season’s delights

“When my father got sick, he fast-tracked everything.  He sat down with us and told us what to do so all of these that we’re doing are according to his wishes.” tells Lorna, adding that, “to complete the package, there’s another place we want to put here where we can have some arts and handicrafts showcasing the local flavor of Pampanga.”

The LJC group has also found a way to give back to the community that has nurtured Abe’s Farm.  Coinciding with the launch of the museum, they put up the EAC Foundation and gave scholarships to deserving students from Magalang.  “We got students who are in the hotel and restaurant course.  Eventually, when they graduate, we may be able to provide them employment.  We started it this year and hopefully we will be able to grant more scholarships to other deserving students,” says Lorna.

This Christmas, the LJC-RCBC bankard MasterCard will be giving away a collectible journal which features the sketches and paintings of E. Aguilar Cruz for every P10,000 spent at any LJC Restaurant.  The LJC’s “Good to Dine” program will be giving a share of its sales from their popular dishes to institutions working on cancer.

“I remember when my father had cancer, we lacked facilities here that we had to go abroad. We wanted it to be more meaningful and there are a lot of people who need our help,” says Lorna.

(The trip to Abe’s Farm at the foothills of Mt. Arayat in Magalang, Pampanga was made possible through the efforts of MasterCard, in collaboration with RCBC Bankard and the Larry J. Cruz (LJC) Restaurant Group that launched the LJC-RCBC Bankard MasterCard that offers a plateful of dining benefits.)