Last weekend, I finally managed to have a taste of C’s in Angeles City, Pampanga. It was PapaMark’s treat to her two daughters – Alex and Sam who just arrived from an eight-day, four-country, four-resort early summer break with their titas – Jaqui, Michelle and Christine.

After a visit to Hernz Ice Cream factory in Bulacan, we drove to Angeles City for an afternoon snack. This time, we were not disappointed for we had the whole restaurant to ourselves! Yehay!

Apart from its offering of authentic Italian dishes, C’ Italian Dining is famous for its own unique pizza creation, the PANIZZA. And Panizza it is that we feasted on during our visit!

Panizza is a pizza of thin and crispy dough layered with a blend of five different cheeses and herbs, served with a combination of choice toppings like mushrooms, artichokes, parma ham, salami, sun-dried tomatoes, scallop flakes, and bacon amongst the many on offer in the menu.

Unlike other pizzas, C’s panizza come in a rectangular shape, sliced in diagonal strips, and served with arugula greens.

Panizza Paolo Miguel

Panizza Nina

We ordered two panizzas with different toppings: Paolo Miguel with cheese, parma ham slices, artichokes, mushrooms, and anchovies; Nina with NO HERBS except for an all-cheese and bacon topping. Alex and Sam tell me that these were named after the owners’ kids who loved their panizzas made this way.

A rolled Panizza Nina drizzled with pesto.

To eat the panizza, one simply takes a strip and arranges layers of arugula leaves on the strip with the selected topping then rolls it into a bite-sized mouthwatering treat. The arugulas’ bitter taste disappears when you sink your teeth into this delectable modern interpretation of an Italian staple.

C’ Italian Dining, a top notch restaurant by any scale and twice voted as Philippine Tatler’s Best Restaurant, has a spare adobe stone-clad interiors that provides an ambience perfect in savoring regional Italian dishes that have gained superlative reviews.

Every now and then, Chef Chris adds new creations of flavorful and masterfully combined entrees like Whole Rainbow Trout with tomato and basil presented on golden roesti with assorted garden greens; US Beef Shortribs braised in red wine served with cannelli beans ragout and parmesan polenta; and Halibut with Herb and Pecorino Crust (above photo) served with pomodore enticed linguini.

C’ Italian Dining is located at 1210 Don Juico Avenue, Clarkview, Malabanas, Angeles City, Pampanga. Telephone number: +63-45-8924059.