It’s not really just because today, May 13, is Mother’s Day that you should treat mom and the family out to dinner. The more compelling reason is that 13 Ubay St., a restaurant named after its address in Quezon City, has a homey ambiance for slow meals and relaxed conversation with the clan, or even with close friends.

The truth is, owner Zaza Sarmiento herself comes from a big family—both mom’s and dad’s side—that holds frequent get-togethers. And since she wanted to apply her culinary education on her own after working as a chef abroad, Sarmiento opened 13 Ubay St. right in her father’s ancestral house.

Hung on the walls around the spacious dining area are vintage black-and-white photographs by Zaza’s lolo Joe Sarmiento and tito Ernie Sarmiento—the latter, a former photo chief of the Inquirer, joining us for a chat.

Zaza’s De La Salle-College of St. Benilde classmate Ryian Sandagon is 13 Ubay St.’s executive chef. Together they are responsible for the menu, many of which are based on Zaza’s family recipes.

Although she had also been excited enough to add Chicken Harissa (leg quarter in North African chili pepper paste with braised beans), her own dish culled from her foreign stints, Zaza has learned to listen to what regular diners want: comfort food like kare-kare.

We had them both, and the result was a delectable taste of the exotic and the familiar.

The lechon kawali, soaked in red vinegar, had us in the mood for beer—and this is what makes 13 Ubay St. all the more interesting. Zaza has tapped her cousin, Raoul Masangcay, to serve his own craft beers named Elias Wicked Ales and Spirits.

After working as a highly paid IT executive in the United States, Raoul decided to come home to pursue a passion for brewing beer that would satisfy the Filipino palate.

We sampled a beer flight consisting of mango and guyabano hard cider, Pale, and Porter—all of which burst with flavor and texture while giving us a nice buzz.

Raoul, a certified beer and wine sommelier who sits as judge in craft beer competitions and guest speaker in beer events worldwide, showed us his brewery behind the Elias bar while explaining the brewing process.

All told, 13 Ubay St. is a destination offering a unique and refreshing gustatory experience. We didn’t notice that, by the time we finished our beers, the place had filled up with dining families.

13 Ubay Street, Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City; message @13ubay; tel. no. 0917- 857 7159

Mother’s Day at Southmall

SM Southmall celebrates Mother’s Day by inviting families to view paintings by professional artists and make one of their own, to be hung at the event center’s exhibit area.

You can complete your painting with a photo of the family and a sweet note to mom.

Guest celebrities Kelly Misa, Bianca Reinoso and Nicole Hernandez will take part in the free workshop.

SM Southmall, Alabang-Zapote Road, Pamplona, Almanza Uno, Las Piñas