Resto Offers Fresh fish to eat, watch
Whoever said that great ambience and fine dining are only experienced in famous and expensive hotels in the metropolis, where skilled chefs make delectable dishes?

In the remote town of Kumalarang in Zamboanga del Sur, about 50 kilometers from Pagadian City, a stopover eatery known as “Kan-anan sa Balsa” offers superb dishes at a fraction of the amount charged in restaurants elsewhere.

Clients take their meals in bamboo cottages mounted on rafts that float over fishponds. As they feast, entertainment is provided by African catfish and golden tilapia going frenzy over food bits thrown into the water.

Crab Raiser
The restaurant was opened only on November 6, according to its owner, Rey Quisumbing, who owns the 60 hectares of fishpond where it is afloat. Before going into this venture, Quisumbing was known as a crab raiser. “I wanted to explore further because business is not just about raising, producing and marketing crabs, prawns, fish and fruits,” he said. “I had been running and operating a crab business since 1972, but is became not profitable in the long run because of disease affecting the crustaceans.”

               

When the business turned bad, his employees, who have been with him for a long time, were in the brink of losing their jobs too, he said. So he thought of getting into the restaurant business.

               

Family Business
The families of his 35 employees help out at the Kan-anan sa Balsa. “The head of the family is the one concentrating and attending the farms while their wives and children take turns in running the eatery either as cashiers, cooks, and even waitresses.: Quisumbing said.
  “Some also take care of the maintenance and other services required in the eatery.”

               

Although the business was still new, clients have started coming. Many have learned of the place by word of mouth.

               

The dishes-such as “pinaputok na tilapia”, “alimango sa balsa”, “pinisik na manok” and “bilao”- are cooked and served “home-style.”
And what would be more comforting than not having to think of paying  much for every meal. For example, “pinaputok na tilapia,” which is actually broiled tilapia with lemon grass, tomatoes and other spices, only costs P55 per serving. Rice is free with that amount.
                “Alimango sa balsa,” which is cooked with coconut milk and chili, costs only P105 per serving of two to three crabs.

Vegetarian Dishes
Quisumbing said a group of six could also try their “bilao,” which consists of labtingaw and tilapia, spicy pinangat eggplant, spicy shrimps and halabos, and two pieces native chicken. The dish costs P175 or around P29 per person.
What about diners who don’t want fish or crustaceans served? The menu always has ready alternatives, Quisumbing said.
For vegetarians, there are homegrown organic vegetables such as Chinese pechay or Kangkong, string beans and eggplants.
And oh, there are fruits, such as bananas, mangoes and papayas from Quisumbing’s Royal Quality Agro Resources.
“Muslims can also eat here because we don’t serve pork dishes. Only crustaceans, fish, chickens, vegetables and fruits.” Quisumbing said.

By Julie S. Alipapa
Inquirer Mindanao