Casetta del Divino Zelo in Silang Cavite: A Hidden Italian Restaurant Worth Visiting
Casetta del Divino Zelo is a quaint Italian restaurant hidden in the outskirts of Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Cavite.
Managed by the nuns from the Daughters of Divine Zeal, Casetta was established in 2012 as an effort to fund one of the congregation’s projects in supporting mothers in difficulty.
One can say that dining in Casetta is eating with a purpose bigger than merely satisfying an empty stomach.
Sr. M. Isabella Carlone, the Italian nun who started the restaurant, shared her passion and knowledge for cooking and baking to the rest of the sisters before she retired.
The nuns make sure that they preserve the authenticity of their food offerings by using genuine Italian ingredients and equipment. Additionally, the pasta and pizza dough that they use are all homemade.
Meanwhile, the herbs and some of the fruits and vegetables they include in their dishes and drinks are grown in their garden.
To start your treat, the bestsellers for their pasta include Lasagna (Php 295), Marinara (Php 295), and Ravioli (Php 295). The layers of lasagna and the chunky sauce are beyond words!
Unlike those that you can buy in fast food stores, Casetta’s lasagna is firm yet cooked perfectly so you can enjoy the pasta, meat, and sauce in one bite.
The Marinara, on the other hand, is also cooked al dente. Its pasta is topped with a generous serving of seafood and tossed with olive oil, which gives the dish a clean, crisp taste.
Sprinkle a dash of chili flakes and parmesan cheese for an added layer of flavor!
One can really taste the freshness of Casetta’s ravioli since it is almost entirely made from scratch–from the pasta to the spinach filling mixed with ricotta cheese.
Casetta is also known for its brick-oven thin crust pizzas. When you visit, you should definitely try the 4-cheese, as well as the pepperoni and prosciutto variants.
Further, you can buy souvenirs and gift products in Casetta to take home to your loved ones. Some of these, like the chili sauce, are made by the nuns themselves.
If you’re looking for a quiet getaway (and good ol’ Italian food), travel down to Silang and visit Casetta del Divino Zelo.
How to get here
- By car: From Makati take the SLEX and turn right to Carmona Exit. From Carmona Exit, continue on Governor‘s Dr. to Emilio Aguinaldo Hwy. To reach Casetta del Divino Zelo, turn left at a dirt road before the barangay hall of Lalaan then continue straight ahead.
- By public transport: From the Ayala triangle, take the Erjohn and Almark bus bound to Tagaytay and then get off at Emilio Aguinaldo Highway before the barangay hall of Lalaan. The usual bus fare is Php 77. There is a dirt road on the left side of the highway right before the barangay hall with a signage of Ilog Maria. Go straight ahead to reach Casetta.
This first appeared in Philippine Primer’s Japanese and English Magazine November 2019 issue.
