Tender morcon with chorizo and egg from Abé reminds you of a Filipino fiesta. Ginger-stewed spicy beef spareribs ninja from Café Adriatico is soft and caramelized. Sikreto ni Maria, sumang hubad swimming in coconut-milk sauce from Fely J’s, is dessert and snack in one.

These are just some of the comfort food from the LJC group of restaurants that you could order to help raise funds for cancer patients.

The LJC group’s Good to Dine campaign was recently launched in Bistro Remedios in Manila, in celebration of founder Lorenzo “Larry” Cruz’s birth anniversary on Sept. 17. Cruz opened Café Adriatico in Malate, Manila, in 1979, and started the bistro trend; he is known for establishing casual dining restaurants with cozy interiors and innovative menus.

Other dishes in the Good to Dine selection are Fillet of Dory Fish Shiitake, stir-fried fish fillet with shiitake mushrooms and sweet teriyaki sauce, from Larry’s Café & Bar; Bangus Belly with Kangkong Balachian, fried bangus belly and glass noodles topped with sautéed kangkong and bagoong, from Lorenzo’s Way; Maja Blanca, white gelatin with coconut cream topped with rice crispies, from Blanca Remedios at Bistro Remedios. You can also avail of the buffet in Café Havana to join in the campaign.

LJC Group CEO and president Lorna Cruz Ambas, Cruz’s daughter, said these dishes are the bestsellers in the restaurants. The LJC Group will give P10 to the Cancer Institute of the Philippine General Hospital through the Cancer Institute Foundation Inc. for every order, whether dine-in or takeout.

“My father passed away in early 2008 due to thyroid cancer; this our way of helping those who are struggling with the disease,” she said.

It’s the second year the LJC group has been raising funds for cancer patients. It was able to raise P200,000 last year, and while chemotherapy treatments are expensive, any amount is welcome, said Cancer Institute chair Dr. Jorge Ignacio. The campaign runs until Nov. 30.

Visit Abé’s in Serendra, SM Mall of Asia, Trinoma; Café Adriatico in Malate, Gateway Mall, and SM MOA; Café Havana in Greenbelt 3; Larry’s Café and Bar in Serendra; Bistro Remedios in Malate; Lorenzo’s Way and Fely J’s Kitchen in Greenbelt 5. Call 5220403, visit ljcrestaurants.com.ph.