Tagaytay Food Trip

On lazy weekends with nothing much to do, Tagaytay can easily be on one’s top-of-mind for a food trip for several reasons: (1) it’s a quick and smooth drive from Metro Manila; (2) it has plenty of decent choices; and (3) it has a relatively cooler weather compared to the metro. There can be other reasons for sure.

I had foreign and local guests I brought to Tagaytay on separate days very recently. My dilemma prior to the trips was this: if I bring them to Antonio’s, Sonya’s, Marcia’s, Josephine’s, Leslie’s, Taalena, Buongiorno, Gourmet’s Café, Amoroma, Bag of Beans, etc., the trips would have no value-add to me personally.  Since I wanted something new for ourselves, these are the places we went to:

Nurture Spa Village. For the longest time, my impression of this place is that it is solely for wellness (detox, body scrub, massage, etc.), not much as a culinary destination which it actually is. And since food is part of wellness, I took my chance and inquired if my guests and I could just drive in and eat. No sooner had the lady on the other line said yes than we started hitting the road already. We had late lunch here but we did not choose the wellness food for no particular reason. It has a lush garden that not only allows for relaxing walks but also provides excellent backdrop for picture-perfect moments. From the main road (that road leading to Batangas), look for Magallanes Square (right across Leslie’s, Starbuck’s, Yellow Cab, etc), then turn right on Magallanes Drive, go straight down the road and turn left immediately before hitting the dead end.  

adobo - its gentle sourness can leave one salivating a bit

guinataang pork binagoongan - menu says that it is 

stewed in coconut milk, chilli and shrimp paste

verdant garden for relaxing walks; well-furnished tents are used for glamping

(a.k.a glamorous camping)  

a cute pool for a refreshing dip under the shade

Joaquin’s Bed & Breakfast. Thanks to an officemate for this. She had her usual Sunday jog in nearby Nuvali after which, took her breakfast here and posted a status update on fb with a matching photo. I like the homey privacy that the B&B provides, a far cry from the touristy feel of the nearby Cliffhouse. We had coffee and dessert here after our lunch in Nurture Spa Village. Both my foreign and local guests were raving about its coffee. Me, I like the turon halo-halo. A plus factor of the B&B is the front seat view of the Taal Lake and Volcano. It’s along the main road, same side as Cliffhouse but just a few meters farther, way past the Petron gas station by the corner of the main road and Mahogany Drive.

i was craving for halo-halo but there was none; i was offered

instead turon halo-halo which is really halo-halo in lumpia 

wrapper but without the shaved ice and evaporated milk

the deck affords a spectacular view of the Taal Lake and Volcano 

the sight of the lake and volcano provides a perfect moment 

whether for one's regular meal or for coffee, tea or dessert 

Mahogany Meat Market.  Dining here is hawker style a la Singapore and Malaysia. Let hair down and just choose any of the canteens or carinderias. Not ordering its fresh and hearty bulalo and crispy tawilis is like not having been to the meat market at all. From the main road, make a right on Mahogany Drive, go straight ahead and drive past the intersection. The market is on the right side of the road.

Left: delightful showcase of Filipino food; Right: meal comes with these cute bananas

what is a Mahogany Meat Market meal without this bulalo?

crispy both, baby tawilis (left) and crablets (right)