I have been with Amare La Cucina’s Outlook Drive branch more than once. This 2025, it carried more than just warm wood-fired flavors during the Ibagiw Crawl, it highlighted deep-rooted stories of politics, architecture, forest preservation and now, fusion cuisine. The building’s past as a part of Vice President Fernando Lopez’s residence anchors the space in history, and its preservation reflects a respect for heritage that matches the art on its walls.

This is where our Ibagiw Festival 2025 Gastronomic Journey began through the efforts of Ms. Marie Venus Tan. Beginning with a venue with much history to tell and much food to share, it is worth being at the starting line. Ms. Tan welcomed us with infectious energy and sheer motivation. As she stood with spirited storytelling, one can immerse just by listening to her vision about Philippine Tourism, her drive to impact the community grassroots and passion projects to uplift lives. At the Amare+ Balcony area, it set a beautiful and serene platform for such conversations. I still cannot forget how she planted seeds of sustainable ideas in our minds.

ABOUT AMARE+

This branch also houses the Amare+ brand, their in-house test kitchen. New dishes start here before reaching the rest of the chain, so the Ibagiw menu often reflects ideas still in the process of refinement. The plates served during the crawl carried that approach, grounded in their wood-fired style but shaped with fresh tweaks made just for the festival. When Mr. Edmark Bustos was asked about expansion plans, he mentioned that a tighter plan was conceived to maintain the quality in all branches. 

THE ARCHITECTURE AND FEATURES

Amare+ La Cucina on Outlook Drive carries the quiet charm of a preserved American-style home. The structure still reflects its past life as part of the residence of former Vice President Fernando Lopez. The façade keeps its original lines, giving the place a grounded, lived-in feel. Inside, warm wood, exposed beams, and earth tones set a steady mood.

The layout is open but has intimate rooms, with pockets of seating that make it easy to settle in without feeling crowded. The wood-fired oven sits as a focal point beside the main entrance, adding warmth and a place where you can prepare your own pizza. Art pieces and subtle accents create a space that feels both familiar and thoughtfully curated for Ibagiw. It’s relaxed, inviting, and shaped by its history without feeling old, crampy or spooky.

One unique feature is their Skinny Mirror that you can find right at the Restaurant’s Entrance where you can take a selfie on a warped mirror. They also have a gelato section and a pasalubong area where you can share Amare+ delights at home.

THE FEATURED ARTISTS

Irene Joy Bawer-Bimuyag is a master weaver and textile artist from Kalinga. Her work draws from her ancestral backstrap-loom tradition but reimagines it with bold, non-traditional colors and organic motifs. Her Balatik series, for example, threads together imagery of mountains and oceans, offering a poetic dialogue between heritage and contemporary creativity.

 
Meanwhile, Art Lozano, a painter and “quiet environmentalist,” uses retro-pop imagery and vintage vehicles set in natural landscapes to explore themes of decay, rebirth, and our human relationship with the earth. 

Amparo Moldero-Magallanes is a Baguio-based entrepreneur and artisan best known as the co-founder of Amparo’s Apothecary, a small-batch natural skincare brand. You can see her artworks as well as Amare+.

Less publicly documented is Mae Anne Macaraeg, but her collaboration here deepens the sense that Amare La Cucina is not just preserving physical structures, but also helping shape a living creative space.

They maintained the sculptures of Gilbert “Bergano” Alberto from Hapao, Hungduan of Ifugao Province. His works has earned him accolades nationally and overseas recognition.

THE IBAGIW MENU

One must not miss the Ibagiw 2025 Menu of Amare+. I think they retained the Ube Pizza and Cordilleran Carbonara Pasta and introduced new Ibagiw-inspired dishes, here are the taste review:

Crackling Kabute

The oyster mushrooms come out crisp with a light batter that doesn’t overpower the earthiness of the fungi. The Amare-spiced Ilokano vinegar adds sharpness and a faint smokiness that cuts through the fried texture. Good as a starter , crunchy, clean, and not oily.

BroCau Popcorn

Baguio vegetables coated and fried to a crisp give you a mix of sweet, bitter, and grassy notes depending on the vegetable you pick up. The garlic-Asian dressing brings mild heat and a touch of sweetness, tying the flavors together. It’s heavier than it looks but satisfying if you like texture.

Strawberry Burrata Salad

The burrata is soft and creamy, pairing well with the sweet-acidic mix of strawberries and cherry tomatoes. The greens add freshness, while the strawberry vinaigrette brings a gentle tartness. Balanced and refreshing, though the vinaigrette can lean sweet if you prefer sharper salads.

Ube Pizza

This is the dish that pushes boundaries. The ube halaya adds a subtle earthy sweetness, the goat cheese brings tang, and the anchovies give a salty punch. Prosciutto and balsamic glaze help bridge the contrast. The strawberries add another sweet and fruity note. It works if you enjoy sweet-savory mixes, but it’s rich and leans experimental.

Cordilleran Carbonara

The use of kinuday gives the pasta a smoky depth that stands out from the usual carbonara. The sauce stays close to the traditional style , egg-based, silky, and not weighed down by cream. Parmigiano reggiano and olive oil finish it well. Comforting, flavorful, and easy to appreciate. I can order another round.

Strawberry Brownie Ala Mode

Warm brownie with a dense, fudgy center matched with cold vanilla gelato and strawberry syrup hits the classic hot-cold contrast. Straightforward and satisfying.

Chayote Praline

A pleasant surprise. The sayote gelato is light, slightly sweet, and clean on the palate. The local cashew brittle adds crunch and a nutty caramel note. It’s simple but distinct, and a nice ending if you want something refreshing instead of rich.

CONTACT AMARE+ LA CUCINA

• Address: 22 Outlook Drive, Baguio City 
• Mobile: Number: +63 916 332 1522
• Email: alc@amarelacucina.com
• Branch Address: 117 A.R. Villalon Street, Microtel Baguio
• Website: https://amarelacucina.com/
• Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/amarelacucina1/
• Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/amarelacucinapizzaph/