An eatery for everyone best describes Ka Tunying’s Café. The food served is reflective of its owner, broadcast journalist Anthony Taberna—straight to the point and downright real.
It serves everyday local fare with his own personal twist. His food mirrors the preferences of his palate and of his childhood spent in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.
It was the death of his father, Antonio Taberna Sr.—the original Ka Tunying—in 2002 that drove Anthony to look for alternative means to augment his income as the family’s breadwinner.
Luckily, he did not have to search far and wide to find trustworthy people to help him start a business. His sister Heidi is a hotel and restaurant management graduate, while his brother-in-law Dennis Aliermo took on an interest in baking.
Small beginnings
With such able people to help him out, the dream to open a panaderia came true. They named the community bakeshop Tunying’s Tinapay, Kape at Iba Pa, calling it such just for the sake of having a sign.
As the demand for Ka Tunying’s breads grew, they opened another panaderia in the neighboring town of San Isidro. In time their customer base expanded all the way to Manila.
Delivering the bread to the city became too costly and too tedious. This led Anthony to think that a commissary would be the answer.
While building the commissary in Visayas Avenue QC last year, the siblings noted the foot traffic and decided to add coffee concoctions using local ingredients. The thought that bread and coffee might not be enough to pay for their rent and recover the cost once their lease contract expired prodded them to build a hot kitchen to serve all-day breakfast.
Anthony has been so blessed with success that only a year after opening their Visayas Avenue café, they opened a second branch this month on Timog Avenue.
The bread shop has expanded its menu, one that still includes traditional panaderia delights but now coupled with a sprinkling of more modern bread creations.
Their list of beverages with playfully coined names has likewise expanded. And the breakfast fare has become the most lucrative part of the menu.
Specialties
Taberna takes pride in his roots. He pays homage to his beloved Nueva Ecija by showcasing the specialties of the province. He also patronizes all the old-time makers of classic breakfast favorites such as longganisa
—particularly the famous Cabanatuan batutay and daing na galunggong.
His wish is that, as his business grows, he’d be able to offer as well delicacies from the other provinces of the Philippines.
Insisting on flavors that are “sariling atin,” Filipino breakfast cravings are served at the café include Arroz Caldo, Champorado, Tapsilog, Longsilog, Daing na Bangus, Corned Beef, Tocino and Adobo.
Ka Tunying’s also has its very own rich and tasty creation, the Creamy Baked Bangus topped with Bechamel and served with Salted Egg Adobo Rice.
I noticed that tinapa and tuyo are prominent on the menu. Understandably so, as these are Taberna’s favorites, prepared several ways: Tinapa Chowder, Tinapa Carbonara, Kangkong and Tuyo Pasta.
While he admittedly eats better than he cooks, Anthony’s personality shines on the menu especially when browsing through the beverage list.
A self-confessed “makabayan,” he is proud of the Mochabayan Frappe made from barako espresso blended with tsokolate from Taal and capped with a mount of cream. Other beverages include Ensaimada and Pastillas de Leche smoothies.
Due credit
Anthony, credits much of his success as a restaurant owner to three women: his mother, Benita, whose home cooking honed his palate to appreciate well executed comfort food; his sister Heidi who now manages the cafés and helps create new dishes; and his wife Rossel, the marketing genius behind Ka Tunying’s.
“She has that gift of knowing what will work. She is so full of ideas,” he said.
Anthony has established himself as a broadcast journalist, a successful panadero, and now a restaurateur. He is also experimenting on the tactile aspect of the business by exploring the enjoyable world of bread making and kneading the dough himself.
There seems to be no stopping Anthony, whose success story is not a tall tale but one that is quite simple.
It is that of a determined man from humble beginnings, who worked hard, persevered and, in the end, achieved.
Ka Tunying’s Café, U/GF, CASWYNN Bldg. 134 Timog Ave. Quezon City.