All roads lead to Quezon province this May with the colorful celebration of the harvest feast of St. Isidore on May 15 in several towns. There is the much sought-after Pahiyas of Lucban, Mayohan of Tayabas, and the Agawan of Gumaca and Sariaya.

On the way to these festivals, chances are one will pass by Palaisdaan Restaurant in the provincial road in Tayabas.

Palaisdaan is a 1.3-hectare landscaped property, with 34 bamboo huts and pavilions.

A must-taste is the "sinugno" or grilled tilapia in coconut milk, the restaurant’s specialty developed by the late Luming Delos Santos, matriarch of the family.

Owner Rene Delos Santos said seafood lovers can feast on a variety of pla-pla, hito (catfish), lapu-lapu, sizzling fish steaks and seafoods, pampano, and palos, among others.

Another must-taste is the menudencia, Tayabas’ local version of the menudo with a more tender twist.

Native delicacies such as longganisa, budin (cassava cake) and nilupak are also available.

The restaurant added boating and fishing equipment and recently opened lodging units to provide a complete countryside experience for the family.

According to Delos Santos, the restaurant serves about 150 visitors on a typical day. The number more than doubles on weekends and holidays, he added.

Delos Santos recalls that the restaurant started as a place where his late father, Mang Eto, entertained his guests, while his mother can easily whip up great-tasting home-cooked dishes.

Because of the great business opportunity presenting itself, the couple decided to transform their place into a full-blown restaurant in 1991 to accommodate the growing patronage. And the rest as they say, is history.