A Hauntingly Scrumptious Meal Awaits at This Baguio City Heritage House-Turned-Restaurant

Joseph's at the Laperal White House
14 Leonard Wood Road, Barangay Cabinet Hill - Teachers Camp, Baguio City
Contact: 0917-567-3747
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086304281405
Open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesdays to Mondays

(SPOT.ph) It was just last December when we got word that the famous Laperal White House of Baguio City was opening as a new upscale restaurant. We're not gonna lie—what intrigued us was the idea of dining at what is deemed to be one of Baguio's most "haunted" spots. But more than that novelty, we wanted to find out if Joseph's was a spot worth traveling up North for. Is this new restaurant worth a visit more for its food rather than its infamous reputation? 

To the uninitiated, the Laperal White House is a heritage house located in Baguio City. Built in the 1920s, this house served as the ancestral home for the Laperal family. But by the time World War II came around, the Japanese who invaded the City of Pines were said to have used the house as a garrison where they tortured and imprisoned Filipinos they believed to be spies for the Americans. Fast-forward to post-war times, the house has since earned a reputation for being an active paranormal zone, with many claiming to see ghostly figures walking about the establishment.

But outside its haunted and dark past, the Laperal White House is an architectural beauty. Its Victorian-style facade and all-hardwood interiors, reminiscent of the American-era architecture prevalent in Baguio, make the house decidedly aesthetically pleasing. 

The house is currently owned by magnate Lucio Tan. He has leased the use of the Laperal House to husband and wife restauranteurs Joseph Sembrano and Gemma Escueta-Sembrano, who happen to be the folks behind Tagaytay restaurants such as Concha's Garden Cafe and Comida Y Vino.

There's so much to unpack when dining at Joseph's for the first time, but at the end of the day, we want the experience to speak for itself. Here's our experience dining at Joseph's at the Laperal White House.

Also read:
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Check out the restaurant at the Laperal White House in Baguio City:

It was a huge relief to see two things: one that the house's exterior underwent serious improvements; and two, the interior was well-preserved where it mattered and improved where it needed. 

Before, when you'd look at the Laperal White House from the outside, it would evoke a feeling of unease. But now, thanks to the improved paint job and landscaped gardens, the exteriors entice you to come closer and explore it further. 

Entering the house, we were worried. How much of this beauty did they change on the inside? Will it feel warm and inviting to diners, or will the house's eerie vibe overpower the desire for a good meal?

As soon as we entered Joseph's, all our preconceived notions about it being haunted and scary withered away. The restaurant felt warm and inviting. It felt like entering any other fine-dining establishment. A sense of refinement was abundant, but it did not feel alienating. The best part of all, the beautiful hardwood interiors of the original house were intact. If anything, they added a level of old-rich sophistication to the general ambiance of the restaurant.

Now onto the food. Reservations are a must when dining at Joseph's. You can arrange these by going to their website. But ultimately, dining here would have you choose from three set menus whose number of courses you can decide. Have up to two to five courses and mix and match starters, entrées, and desserts. Set menus will set you back starting at P980 up to P3,150. There is also a vegetarian menu for those who are meat-averse. Alternatively, you may order dishes a la carte. Though, in our opinion,  the most bang-for-your-buck option is still going for any of their sets.

There are a bunch of different combinations you can try when you dine at Joseph's. But here are our top picks per category which might help you narrow down your choices and keep you from getting overwhelmed by their vast selections.

For your first course, you can choose between salads, soups, or both. In our opinion, since you're already in Baguio, you might as well take advantage of the fresh produce and have as many vegetables as you can. But we can't deny the pleasure of having a warm bowl of soup on a chilly Baguio day either. TBH, you can't go wrong choosing any of their offerings on this front, but for salads, we recommend trying their Tomato and Avocado Salad, which is an avocado stuffed tomato concassé, or their Cocoa Crusted Chicken Liver Salad.

But if it's a warm bowl of soup that you prefer, our top pick must go to the rich and earthy Truffle Mushroom Soup. This take on the classic mushroom soup does not overpower you with the fragrant and perfume-like flavors of truffle. It's rich yet well-balanced. Also, if you know your mushroom flavors well, you might even pick up on the varied mushroom notes courtesy of the different varieties used.

If you think the buck for appetizers stops there, then you are wrong. They've got even more starters coming up. Here you can choose from quick bites like Blueberry and Salmon Gravlax, Trio Tartare, or our personal favorite, The Duo of Duck—an umami-rich starter made of shredded duck meat from the leg and breast that sits on a bed of mashed potato with duck jus. 

For the main course, there is a little bit of something for everyone. Vegetarians would be glad to know that the menu has a strong vegetarian main in the Garden Quinoa which is like your stir-fried rice made more elegant and fresh. Pescetarians could revel in the strong flavor punches of East meets West with the Halibut in Ginger-Carrot Sauce.

But undeniably, the stars of the main course have got to be the Pepper Crusted Tenderloin and the Duck Leg Confit. We're all for trying different menu items, but if you want to have a foolproof meal every time for any mood,  these two are your best bets.

The Pepper Crusted Tenderloin is your usual steak dish—one that's perfectly seasoned with a beautiful sear, cooked to your preferred temperature. There's nothing shocking about it being a top pick, as steak is always a winner. But for us, what sets it apart is the peppercorn crust on the meat. Not only does it add a bit of heat to every bite, but the textural contrast between the rough bits of pepper mixed with the bed of potato puree is just an immaculate sensation. Trust us, have your steak this way, and it would be pretty hard to go back to the usual salt and pepper combo.

Meanwhile, if you're looking for the most Filipino item you could order from the decidedly European menu, your best bet would be to get the Duck Leg Confit. Granted, nothing about that dish name sounds remotely Filipino, but the flavors packed in this slow-cooked Duck Leg are arguably very similar to Adobo. Add to that the fork-tender texture of the duck leg, and you've got yourself a winning dish that'll have you going back for more.

Make sure to save room for a sweet ending here. No matter how many courses you get, it's worth going for their desserts. Our top picks for ending your meal at Joseph's on a high note are the Dark Chocolate Tart and the Banana Rum Raisin Crepes. Chocolate aficionados will go gaga over Joseph's not-so-sweet yet distinctly chocolatey tart. The smooth chocolate custard filling goes well with the crumbly pie crust making for a textural experience at every bite. Meanwhile, those who are more into vanilla and caramel will love the Banana Rum Raisin Crepes, not only for its balance of fruity and saccharine flavors but also for the textural play that comes from the smooth and silky crepes and the bits of caramel scattered about.

Overall, our experience at Joseph's was nothing short of great. At the end of the day, Joseph's at the Laperal White House is a restaurant. It just happens to be housed in a history-laden location. Sure, there's no denying that the initial allure of dining in a supposed "haunted house" is the main draw to discovering this new Baguio haunt (pun not intended). But once you start your meal, sit down, and take your first few bites of their distinctly European menu, you will start to forget all your preconceived notions of the paranormal surrounding this restaurant. Just sit back and enjoy the Continental feast coming your way. 

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