Who is Juliana Palermo? This is Juliana Palermo: A 29 year-old, 5'7" tall actress from Davao whose film credits include Panaghóy sa subâ: The Call of the River (2004), Kaleldo (2006) and Barang (2006), her income from which helped to support her blind and autistic younger brother. She has also appeared in a number of ABS-CBN TV shows including OK, Fine, Whatever. Last year she traded acting and photo shoots for running her own restaurant back in her home town at the junction of Circumferential Road and Mabini Street. It opened in time for the festive season. J Palermo's Diner is no bigger than the average sitting room and accommodates just about twenty diners at its small round tables for two. In this same space, Juliana also prepares and presents the dishes herself assisted by a couple of wait staff. I was a bit surprised to find that the UK's current craze of serving food on anything but plates in chic restaurants has spread to Davao - the Cured Salmon Salad is served on a wooden cheese board: And very tasty it was too! I would never have thought to partner smoked salmon with German mustard but it works! I had Beef Bourguignon as my main course and it was served in and eaten from a casserole. It too was delicious but unfortunately it really needed a red wine reduction to bring out the flavours. My nephew had a burger: That too was served on a wooden board and the stack held together with a knife. We forsook puds but could have chosen between Apple Crumble, Fried Ice-Cream or Pannacotta. Beer, wine (by the glass or bottle) and a range of soft drinks are available as is a concoction called Palermojita, a lemon infusion with white rum. The menu is by no means vast but the service, food presentation and taste are all first class. Price-wise a couple would spend less and eat better here than at either of the city's (so-called) four star hotels or almost anywhere else in Davao. Unlike many of her former profession, Juliana is not at all pretentious and when she's not working on a food order, she is very happy to chat with her guests and pose for photos with them.
The cured salmon......... Yes. The burger....................... Sorry........... I like my cows in larger pieces.
They may not look much in the photo above but that burger stack contains two 200 gram burgers as well as bacon and cheese. Or about one pound of meat!
Give me sirloin, rump, brisket, shin, T-bone, Etc, etc.... But in huge pieces. Burgers I would only entertain if they are made in Scotland with Angus beef (I know where I do, occasionally, get them from...) and only on a beach barbeque day...
No, the bun has both halves and is, in fact, unsliced. There's mayonnaise and slices of pickled cucumber on its base.
If you're driving there, the GPS coordinates are N 7.08065 and E 125.60378. The street address I gave in the OP - the junction of Circumferential Road and Mabini Street - may not be recognised by all taxi drivers. Circumferential Road is also known as JA Sarenas and, at its junction with Mabini Street, Mabini Street is also known as Ruby Street. Just to confuse everyone! Their phone number is +63 82 224 1285.
You are such a masochist, Peter! I believe there's a route that includes: MacArthur Highway - Quirino Avenue - Mabini Street - Victoria Plaza (JP Laurel) which would pass the door. But don't ask me what number that route is as, in common with most Jeepney routes, it's bound to be unnumbered!
If I want a burger like that there is a place a short walk from where I live. I guess there will be a difference in price though the burger we eat here will include 20% VAT in the price.
