Food Tripping Tagaytay - Last Part (Promise!)

After our big lunch at Sonya's and the dessert detour at Chateau Hestia, we decided to get down to business and look at some furnitures. But before that, we had to stop by Rowena's for pasalubong.

One for the Road

The place is about 5 minutes from Tagaytay road via Sta Rosa exit. The place is very small but the stores' pink awning and numerous cars/vans in front is an indication that you have the right place. Although Rowena's buko tart is very good, I don't think it's that great.The buko strips they use are very young and soft but the I feel the custard needs to be creamier and sweeter.

different kinds of tarts - love the pink package

blueberry cheese tart

I normally buy their Sylvanna or their Kesong Puti (P80) because my mom loves those.

neatly packaged and just the right size

Rowena's Tagaytay Contact Information:

Tel: (+46) 860 2481
Mobile: +63920 9080318
E-mail: rowenas_tarts@yahoo.com.ph
Official Website: http://rowenas-tarts-tagaytay.com

Seriously, Gutom pa Kayo?!!!

It was already late afternoon, the sun was setting down, the shops were closing when we decided to  start going back to Manila. We were about to ride away from the last shop when something caught my eye.

famous pancit of the north? color me interested!

I thought my mom would appreciate tasting the "original pansit cabagan" - whatever that is. Luckily, the store was open 24 hours. The restaurant was very small with about 5 small tables and no customer. I wasn't expecting much but the prices seems reasonable.

bagnet ..... mmmgood

I was ordering one for take out when my friends decided they wanted one to eat right then and there. Seriously, gutom pa kayo?!!!

pancit cabagan P70

We only waited for about 5-7 minutes before we were given this medium-sized bowl of pancit cabagan. Right off the bat I really liked it. The pancit was very hot and you could tell it was cooked minutes before. The toppings were plentiful : quail eggs, vegetables, bbq flavored strips of pork AND plenty of crispy lechon kawali (be still my heart). The "sauce" was almost soup-like but thick and flavorful. The noodles were not like those you use for mami but more like the ones used by Lucky Me Pancit Canton (my favorite too). It looks like pancit on steroid but in a good way.

We were pretty satisfied and munching away when suddenly we were served something really unusual.

ano po ito, kuya?

It smelled like mild vinegar with some chilis and chopped onions. My face must have reflected a wth? expression because the cook/waiter told us that we should put some in our pancit. Although we were very very skeptical, we did as he instructed and guess what? It was amazing with the pancit! I couldn't even taste the vinegar but it really enhanced the flavor. The chili also added a good zing.

Definitely this pancit cabagan have my gold stamp of approval. I loved it because it's something unexpected, simple but very flavorful. Sayang lang that they don't have any branches in Manila.

Unfortunately, there are really no specific landmark that I can use to point us again to this restaurant. All I remember that it was about 20 minutes away going down from Rowena's on the right side towards Sta Rosa exit.

I'll definitely look out for this once we go back :D

FYI: The take out version was not as good. I think it's best eaten hot and right off the pan.

Food Tripping in Tagaytay - Part 2

We were still pretty much full after our big lunch at Sonya's Garden but I convinced my friends that we should try this place that my friend, Tintin, recommended. I think the word "dessert" was all my friends needed to hear to agree with the slight detour.

Middle of Nowhere 

Going to Chateau Hestia is very easy IF you know where to look and you have a car. Coming from Sta Rosa, it's about 5 minutes before Tagaytay Road. Look for Rowena's pasalubong center on your left. Once you've seen this, turn right at the next street corner which is Lagusan Drive. The restaurant is very far from the main road and, like Sonya's Garden, is almost at the end of a fairly isolated road. Just follow the signs until you think you're lost and then you'll find it :D

restaurant was almost hidden because of all the plants

My first impression was that the place was a bit dark and gloomy. I liked it because there was only 1 other group (it was already 2 pm) and felt like we had the place to ourselves. The tables and chairs were mismatched, there were a lot of knicknacks, the restaurant overlooks a small but cute garden and at the end was a small nook where their deli was. Admittedly, it has a certain charm to it but I wouldn't want to stay overnight (too scared).

Leave Room for Dessert 

Chateau Hestia had a very extensive European menu with most of the items I'm not familiar with. The price is expensive (for me, at least) but very interesting. However, we were there for only 1 thing: dessert!

Love Triangle : mousse a chocolat, mango napoleon and panna cota P450 

Absolutely fell in love with Panna Cota at first taste. I don't normally like Panna Cota. For me, it's just a wussy man's version of leche flan and often tastes like a slightly milkier version of my mom's gelatin. But Chateau Hestia's version with passion fruit jam was very good (although it looked a bit weird). The slight sour taste of the passion fruit gave way to this very creamy Panna Cota - a surprisingly excellent combination. By this dessert alone, I could have declared our trip out there a success but of course there were other desserts I had to try.

The Mousse a Chocolat was basically like a pot de creme; rich, very chocolaty and smooth. I wish this were on top of a chocolate cake. Good to the last scrapping of the spoon. Too bad the serving was so small - in a shot glass and not even full, for goodness sake.

The weakest dessert of the trio was the Mango Napoleon which I thought tasted like the one you make at home with graham cracker, nestle cream and mangoes. Nothing special really.

Pate de Sable P175

Since the servings were tiny, we ordered one more dessert - Pate de Sable. Its chocolate wafer, espresso ice cream and toffee glaze frozen as ice cream. Sounds sosyal, no? But basically its ice cream cake and not really a good one at that. I didn't get much of the toffee part and the ice cream tasted like Nestle. My money is still with TGIF Mocha Mudpie, sorry.

I wish this was all mine :( but I had to share 

gigantic German doughnuts with apricot filing - almost as
big as the cash register :  P95

The verdict?

It looks promising and there are some items that piqued my interest but it is expensive and serving size is only good for one. Might be worth going back to if you have money. You will definitely need a car.

Chateau Hestia
Purok 5 Brgy Bukal
Silang, Cavite
Tel 0929-7113289
Email info@chateauhestia.com

open Wednesdays - Sundays

Food Tripping in Tagaytay - Part 1

Yesterday, my friend invited me to go to Tagaytay to check some furniture shops for a new dining table. As always, we didn't let this opportunity pass without doing some food tripping along the way. I ate so much that I think I went into a little bit of food coma.

Big Lunch

For Lunch, we went to Sonya's Garden. Really, what more can be said about this place? It has been so hyped up and everyone whose been there feels compelled to write about it and share their pictures.

So, why would I be different? :D

On the way to their dining hall

Morning Glory dining hall

Even though it was a Saturday and lunch time, the place was not that full. The food at Sonya's has always been the same; a set menu for lunch or dinner which is eat-and-drink-all-you-can. Most of the food will be served at your table except for the pasta course and some of the dessert.

newly baked whole wheat sesame bread from their panaderia with an array
of freshly made dips & toppings 

The bread was good, healthy and plenty. Except for the basil pesto, most of the toppings were a bit bland. I had to add some chili pepper or salt to make it more palatable. Also, it's hard to identify most of the toppings because they serve everything to you at once without the waitstaff explaining what they were.

Fresh lettuce and arugula harvested from Sonya's garden, Balsamic Vinegar and
Sonya's Secret Salad Dressing and condiments including olive oil with chili,
Parmesan, fresh mint leaves (yes), parmesan and "sonyamak"

toppings for the salad; fresh fruits such as mangoes,
papayas and pineapples, chopped boiled egg, singkamas,
cucumber and popped beans

In keeping with the theme, we also had several toppings for the garden salad. I'm not really into salad in the first place but theirs is pretty good, especially with Sonya's "secret sauce" which was a like Ceasar Salad dressing but a bit sweeter. I especially liked mixing it up with the crunchy popped beans. Kulang na lang bacon bits ;p

pretty!

Pasta course had 2 different kind of sauces; tomatoes, garlic and onion
simmered in olive oil and chunky bits of chicken with cream.
For toppings, salmon belly, ratatouille (stewed vegetables),
shitake mushroom, black olive and capers

I think the pasta course was the weakest thing on the menu. The tomato sauce was too sweet while the cream sauce was very thick and dry. I was excited about the salmon belly but they served it up with skin on, cut up in small pieces and too cooked for my liking. The best thing was the ratatouille which was well cooked but still crunchy.

glazed sweet potato and turon (banana roll with sesame
and jackfruit)

Dessert was a hit and miss. I really liked the turon - the banana was very ripe and was not too sweet. The sweet potato did not look very appetizing. The chocolate cake was not as "smashingly sinful". We were served 1 measly slice, it was moist but not as chocolaty as I expected.

"smashingly sinful" homemade chocolate cake

During the meal, they served us this amazing freshly squeezed dalandan (green mandarin) juice which was not sour at all and was perfect for a hot day. We ended the meal with hot tarragon tea that I liked. I could taste a sweet licorice-like flavor in the tea which reminded me of star anise.

tarragon tea

Location: 

Sonya's Garden is not actually in Tagaytay but in Alfonso, Cavite.

For cars, drive about 20-25 minutes from the Tagaytay Rotunda towards Nasugbu, Batangas. Once you have passed the Splendio Club, look for the Buck Estate to the right just before McMountain Home Apartelle. At Buck Estate, turn right and go straight. Just before a fork in the road is a small sign to show Sonya's Garden.

If you are commuting, take a jeepney going to Nasugbu, Batangas in front of Jollibee near Tagaytay Rotunda. Ask the driver to drop you off at Buck Estate. Once there, take a tricycle to Sonya's. Better make arrangement with the driver to pick you up at a predetermined time - I suggest after 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Jeepney fare is about P19/person while tricycle ride is P30/trip.

The verdict?

1) Ambiance - the garden is small but full of pretty flowers and there are nooks and crannies where you can just sit down, relax and take a cute photos for your FB profile.

2) Food experience - plenty, fresh and you can take as many (or little) toppings/dips for your bread, salad or pasta. If you're more adventurous, you can even mix and match it like putting the basil pesto dip to your pasta instead of on the bread. If you're picky, then this may be good for you since you are able to choose what you put in your bread, salad, pasta. If you are craving protein, this place is not for you. Note that their menu has not changed at all for the past 10 years.

For P680 nett per person, my friend said it best: food was not that spectacular but for the experience, well worth paying for it once.

empty plates mean empty mind :D

Sonya's Garden

Barangay Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite, Philippines
For reservations, call or text the following numbers: +63-9175329097 / +63-9175335140 / +63-9175231080 

email:  info@sonyasgarden.com

The No. 1 Cake in the Philippines

Honestly, it maybe the best sales pitch ever.

We just finished dinner at Ayala Triangle and was looking for a good dessert place. After checking out Banapple (packed full of people, as usual) and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (people, 1 cup of coffee does not entitle you to occupy 2 tables), we were ready to call it a night.

On our way to the parking lot, we passed by Poco Deli and casually glanced inside. I didn't think much of it but then one of their signs caught my eye "..... serving sausages and cakes too!" The alert staff at the entrance noticed my interest and told us all their cakes are homemade. Believe me, that's all we needed to hear and quickly went inside. 

cakes were displayed beside sausages and cheeses

They only had about 4-5 cakes displayed. I asked the waiter what their best seller was and he recommended the Blackout Chocolate Cake. It didn't really looked impressive but then the waiter, RJ, said with utmost conviction, "M'am, it's the no. 1 cake in the Philippines right now." 

Of course there's absolutely no doubt, we had to order it. 

Blackout Chocolate Cake P155 and Red Velvet Cake P150

The cake itself was very very moist and chocolaty. The icing was very thick, almost fudge-like but it wasn't too sweet. The top was covered completely by miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips. At first, the taste wasn't that spectacular since I was expecting this rush of chocolate goodness. But as we continued eating it, we grew to like it more and more. It had the perfect blend of chocolaty/fudge taste without being too cloyingly sweet. There are other cakes that were better (like the ones in Starbucks) but the Blackout Chocolate Cake didn't leave you feeling a bit queasy after eating it. I could easily have gone back for one more slice. 

The Red Velvet Cake was also very good. It was moist (I hate dry cakes), flavorful and the cream topping was perfect. We almost had to fight off my friend, who wasn't that into dessert in the first place, for the last few bites.

So, is the Blackout Chocolate Cake the best in the Philippines? I don't think so but it was still very good and worth going back again.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie P45 -  too dry for me

Side Note: We already had dinner when we went to Poco Deli but their comfort food selection such as German Homemade Meatloaf and Mom's Pot Roast looks very promising. Definitely will try it one of these days. 

Chocolate Heaven in a Bowl

Four words : Max Triple Chocolate Champorado

For those who do not know what champorado is (where have you been?), it is a sweet chocolate rice porridge that uses malagkit (glutinous rice) and cocoa powder or tablea.

I remember my mom cooking this some Sunday mornings and waking us up so that we could eat it while it's hot. I am sure I grumbled and complained because I wanted to continue sleeping but champorados really are best eaten hot. Mom would insist we pour cold evaporated milk. What can I say? YUMMMMMM-Y!

Sadly, my mom is now too busy to cook this for me. Or sometimes, she would buy the packaged instant version but it's not the same. So, I have resigned myself to eating sub-standard champorado for the rest of my life (yes, that dramatic) ...   until I discovered Max's Triple Chocolate Champorado.

I have been obsessed with their champorado for the past couple of weeks. Ask my friends or anyone I have been in contact with, really. Theirs have the right consistency (not too watery), sweetness (no need to add sugar) and chocolate (sweet, thick, pure chocolate taste). What more can I ask for? They have the breakfast version - by itself or with gourmet tuyo (salted dried fish) - and the snack version , which I prefer. For the snack version, you can choose 1 kind of ensaymada, the champorado and 1 drink (pepsi, ice tea or sago't gulaman). All for P95!

Highly recommended and a great comfort food. I just hope that Max won't pull it out of their menu soon.

Food Tripping in Binondo

I went to Binondo last weekend for no reason at all except I was craving Chinese food. So,  I invited my kaladkarin friend, Tina, for a food tripping to the oldest Chinatown in the world. 

First mistake was that we went there too early. It was about 8:30am and most of the restaurants were closed. In fact, most of the stores too.  We walked along Ongpin Road, like lost ducks,  trying to find an open restaurant or cafe. 

first drink of the day - cane juice for P15

bought some lucky charms

Finally found a restaurant open in Benavidez st. called Wai Ying. 

tina waiting for food

According to the waiter, this is one of their specialty - sliced fish congee (P120).
Taste was clean, not fishy at all, but wished it was piping hot. Not bad at all and the
serving was more than enough for one.

Kuchay Dimsum (P70) which took forever to be served. Not good at all .
The wrapping tasted gummy and might not have been prepared fresh that
day. The filing was tasteless.

After our disappointing breakfast, we walked a bit more before deciding to have an early lunch at the Estero, a row of fast food eateries near one of the canals in Binondo selling cheap Chinese food. 

buttered chicken (P130)

decided to be adventurous and ordered salt and pepper frog legs (P120)

What can I say? The buttered chicken tasted like butter while the frog legs tasted like ... chicken (really). After being served, I realized the folly of ordering two fried items which tasted alike. However, I blame our waitress for this because she was the one who recommended the two items. I would have wanted to order something else a little bit more Chinese like Hototay soup but we were already full. 

After our early lunch, we decided to visit Lucky Chinatown Mall in Divisoria. We had to ride a motorized sidecar because we were advised by the local vendors that it was a bit far. Paid around P50 for the ride. 

Lucky Plaza is brand spanking new and huge! Most of the stores
were still closed when we arrived. 

couldn't figure out if this was only for decoration

found these delicious ice cream pops in one of the more modern
Chinese mini-stop

Tina had the corn pop (P45) while I had the  pistachio siciliano (P65).

Don't know what the 'sicialiano' part was for but it was delicious!

swanky

Kakaloka coffee beans - "insanely good"

one of the open areas of the Lucky Mall

The stores in Lucky Chinatown Mall are the same in other malls. Although most of them are high end - as far as I can see, no Bench or Penshoppe. The only thing that makes Lucky Mall different from other malls is the architecture (styled after Chinatown in Singapore) and the unusual number of swanky Chinese restaurants. I saw a lot of Chinese eating in the restaurants while fresh dumplings are being made seen through a looking glass in the kitchen. Maybe I should try one of the restaurants here one of these days but I have a sinking suspicion that it may cost me. 

Not willing to go home without eating at least one decent dumpling, we decided to try once more and head back to Binondo to Tasty Dumplings located beside the Binondo Church - just a store away from the famous hopia place, Eng Bee Tin. 

Surprisingly big restaurant that can seat 80-100 people. My phone decided
to die on me so I wasn't able to take pictures. Photos courtesy of www.happyfoodies.com 

streamed dumplings

One of the more surprising thing here is that there is no siomai.  Forgive me if I show my ignorance by thinking that a dumpling place will have siomai. Nevertheless, we ordered steamed dumplings (P150) and small steamed buns (forgot the name). 

The steamed dumplings were actually a disappointment. Yes, the wrapping tasted way better than the ones in Wai Ying but I felt that it was still thick and chewy. The filling were measly and unsatisfying. The steamed buns were not very good either. It was ... okay. Based on what people are eating at the other tables, it looks like the fried porkchop  is their best seller.  Ironic for a restaurant called Tasty Dumplings. 

All in all, my food tripping in Binondo was not really a success. I wasn't able to find good Chinese food. In hindsight, I think should have stuck to the old favorites such as Sa Lido or Sincerity.  Oh, well ... next time!