Filipino Tita Si's is on target.(product information of Tita Si's)

Byline: Ron Recinto

Feb. 17--As if alerting the passersby below, the sign above the red awning of the sand-colored building on Ford Road in downtown Garden City screams "Filipino & American Restaurant." To the right, in slightly smaller type, is the name: Tita Si's. Restaurant owners Todd and Simonette Podwoiski want to clearly send a message to patrons that this is a place that blends both cultures inside. Tita Si's offers authentic Filipino food ranging from traditional noodle and meat dishes such as pancit and adobo to more hard-to-find delicacies such as stewed oxtail. Yet Todd Podwoiski, 34, knows that Filipino food is a difficult sell. Filipino food is not pretty food. It is not ornate like Japanese sushi, nor does it have the flair of pad thai or other Thai dishes. "It's a blend of Asian and Spanish fare," he said. "There's the noodles and stir-fry from the Asian side and the stews from the Spanish influence." Still, many dishes from the Philippines are flavorful and Tita Si's has them on the menu. For example, there is a pork stew called menudo, a marinated beef dish in lemon and soy sauce called bisteak and a delicacy called dinuguan, which is a pork blood stew. The restaurant also offers a good selection of traditional American dishes such as hamburgers, chicken wings, salads and steaks for those not so adventurous. The Podwoiskis opened Tita Si's more than a year ago. Tita means "aunt" in Tagalog, the main language of the Philippines. Si is Simonette's nickname. The 35-year-old is Filipino. Tita Si's has a humble interior. Bamboo lanterns hang from the ceiling. The walls are decorated with Filipino items, including carvings, hats and paintings. There's also a mix of family photos from the Philippines and some American sports memorabilia. The elongated restaurant has a bank of booths along one wall. On the opposite side is a long bar. Tables with simple chairs fill the space between. The front of the restaurant is dedicated to karaoke. There's a sound booth, lights and several TV sets. Todd Podwoiski says he's working on getting a new television and other improvements for his karaoke setup. Local bands perform in the space on weekends. The menu is filled with choices, and it's best to ask what's in them. Each time we visited, the staff was courteous, patient and offered smart suggestions. We found the Consoladora's Lumpia ($4.95), a version of a Filipino egg roll, quite tasty. It was stuffed with a spicy blend of ground beef, garlic, corn, peas and other vegetables. This is Simonette's mother's recipe, and it's a good one. The pork ...