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Davao City is not only known for its iconic Philippine monkey-eating eagle, waling-waling orchid, pristine beaches and eco-adventures activities. In fact, another good thing that Davao City has to offer is its diverse culinary terrain, which includes a variety of gastronomic delights from street food to fine dining.

Since there is a huge variety of dining options to choose from, here are some of those I highly recommend, in no particular order.

Who would have thought that in one of the secluded areas in the heart of the city lies a culinary haven? The White House Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge used to be an ancestral house that was later on converted into a fine-dining restaurant offering Japanese-European fusion cuisine. Guests can choose from several degustation menus, usually ranging from five to nine courses of traditional Japanese-European dishes made contemporary and served in a romantic ambiance. Highly recommended are the Chilean Sea Bass and their famous Yamamomo Cheesecake, which is made up of green tea meringue base and topped with a yamamomo and mixed berries compote. The price can be a bit steep, but the dining experience is totally worth it.


Location: Camella Northpoint, J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City

Known for its unrivaled Sansrival cakes and mouth-watering desserts, Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp.  is definitely one of the dining establishments one has to visit when in Davao City. Even though its location isn’t readily accessible to everybody, this place is always packed with those who swore to its delectable goodness.  Recently, Lachi’s has grown to serve more than just desserts and has included dishes like their Unforgettable Pork Ribs, Spicy Laing, Asian Chicken and more in their menu.


Location: Ruby St. Marfori Heights, Davao City

3. SEA GREEN CAFÉ AND LIFESTYLE SHOP
 Those who have sworn to eat healthy this year must give Sea Green CafĂ© and Lifestyle Shop a try. Their dishes are mostly made up of organic and fresh ingredients. Highly recommended are the Smoked Salmon Linguini, Vegetable Chips, Pan-grilled Fish with Cauliflower Rice and the Tablea Cheesecake. Aside from these sumptuous meals, they also sell home-made pestos and tomato sauces which you can use in making healthy dishes at home.



Location: Circumferential Road, Dona Vicenta Village, Davao City

Switching to healthier eating habits has never been tastier at Balik Bukid. Advocating in farm to table concept of dining, Balik-Bukid only uses ingredients which are produced and harvested from their organic farm in Wangan.  One of the offerings diners must try is their Classic Caesar’s Salad which uses a unique anchovy-based salad dressing. Since all ingredients are organically produced, one can taste the freshness and goodness in every bite.


Location: Ecoland, Quimpo Blvd. Davao City

5. ANNIPIE
Annipie has been known in Davao City for years as the ultimate cinnamon destination. However, to keep up with the transitioning gastronomic market, Annipie has grown to also serve delicious rice and pasta meals, pizzatillas and mouth-watering desserts. Highly recommended to try are their Pistachio Sansrival, Trikolate and Pizzatillas.


Location: Quimpo Blvd. Davao City

If you’re craving for authentic Chinese food, one of the restaurants which could satisfy such craving is West Empire Chinese Restaurant and Seafood Garden. It is only one of the few restaurants in Davao City which offer Xiao Long Bao, a small tasty soup-filled basket dumpling, and true enough, their Xiao Long Bao is convincing enough to make you revisit them again.

Location: J.P. Laurel Ave, Buhangin District, Davao City, Davao del Sur

If ever you find your palate craving for delectable Spanish cuisine and delectable dessert creations, Tiny Kitchen is the place to be. This not-so-tiny restaurant offers traditional Spanish recipes and a dash of Filipino taste rolled into an impeccable tasty combination. Highly recommended to try are their Al A Cazador Paella, Angus Beef Stew, Marbella Pasta in Penne, Frozen Chocolate Brazo and Oreo Cheesecake.


Location: F. Torres St. Davao City

RBG Bar and Grillthe in-house restaurant of one of Davao's top hotels, Park Inn by Radisson, showcases international cuisine but recently, modifications have been made to feature dishes with a touch of local flavor and distinctively Davao. One of the highly recommended dishes to try from their menu is the Seafood Sinigang in Mangosteen which was made more exceptional with the addition of Davao’s famous mangosteen fruit.


Location: Ground Floor, Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, Lanang, Davao City

9. ITAEWON KOREAN RESTAURANT
One of the restaurants to conquer Davao’s attention this year is Itaewon. It offers an unlimited bulgogi dining experience for only P195.00, including side dishes and a serving of rice. Whether you opt for chicken, pork or beef, make sure to order loads of pork as it is their best-seller.

Location: Mc Pod Unit 102 Mc Arthur Highway, Matina, Davao City

10. CLAUDE’S LE CAFÉ DE VILLE
French cuisine may not be common in Davao but there’s one restaurant that has made a name in the dining scene – Claude’s Le CafĂ© De Ville. The owners took over an ancestral house and it was transformed into a full-service restaurant offering French cuisine. Be sure not to miss their famous steak selections when dining at Claude’s.


Location: Rizal St, Poblacion District, Davao City, Davao del Sur


Whatever floats your boat or whatever your palate craves for, I’m pretty sure Davao City has got it all for you in terms of gastronomic sastisfaction. Truly, when in Davao, there’s a lot more to discover.  






White House's show-stealer cheesecake: the Yamamomo Cheesecake

“Bring her to The White House.”

That’s exactly my no-brainer response every time a male friend asks me where to bring a woman on a first date. If you guys certainly want to make a big and lasting impression on a first date, then why not splurge for a romantic dinner for two at The White House Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge.

Because in today’s era where people are pushing for gender equality, I guess the saying,  “the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”, also holds true for women as well. 


Situated at the Camella Northpoint, near the Buhangin Flyover, is a heritage house turned into a charming, romantic restaurant which offers an exciting fusion of European and Japanese cuisine that can truly tickle a Filipino palate. The White House Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge offers visually-appealing and impressively sumptuous dishes, created by Chef Cathy Binag, and served in a romantic ambiance with the gorgeous architecture of the property, romantic glow of warm lights and the natural beauty of the landscape as an added bonus.


And if the words you have just read still haven’t piqued your curiosity, then let these pictures do the talking.

THE FOOD

Jumbo Prawn Roll with ebiko, scallion and red bell pepper sauce
Trilogy of Foie Gras : Pan-seared Foie Gras set on Nasu Miso, Poached Foie Gras set on Onion Steak in Balsamic Teriyaki Sauce, Torchon of Foie Gras with Cranberry Ponzu, and Dehydrated Apple Chips
Unagi and Torchion of Foie Gras Box Sushi with green oburro and Japanes cucumber

Smoked Toro Tempura Roll with braised gobo and carrots served with ponzu sauce
Black Akadashi Braised Lamb Shank with marble potatoes confit served with haricot ver
Pan-seared Salmon with sauteed vegetables in lemon and butter
Grilled US Top Blade served with shitake mushroom risotto, roasted tomato with grilled zuchinni, onion steak and red wine sauce
Pan-seared Smoked Chilean Sea Bass with edamame and sweet potato mash in lemon butter sauce

Duck Leg Confit with variations of potato, served with grilled tropical fruits, mango coulis, and mango caviar drizzled with balsamic duck jus in port wine reduction
Banoffee Tart
Dark Chocolate Cake
Banoffee Tart
Indeed, with a wide selection of dishes and degustation menu to choose from, including an array of wine choices to cap off a romantic dinner, The White House Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge lives up to its name of having the best fusion plates in the city. As each dish has been intricately prepared and presented, the value for money exceeds your expectations, even though every offering falls within a price range for P300-P1500.00. After all, you're not only paying for excellent food and good taste, but you're also spending for a worthwhile gustatory experience you certainly won't get from any other dining establishment here in the city.

So please, if you want an easier way to a woman's heart, then treat her to a great dining experience at The White House.



THE WHITE HOUSE FUSION CUISINE AND WINE LOUNGE
Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Camella Northpoint, JP Laurel Ave. (near Buhangin Flyover), Davao City
Contact Number: (082) 292 of 0915 448 3601
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhitehousefusioncuisine 
Instagram: @the_white_house_fusion_cuisine 
Website: http://www.whitehousecuisine.com 




Had I been given a lot of free time in the world, I will definitely use it to grow an organic garden. Being aware of how food and nutrition play a crucial role in our current health conditions made me more cautious of what I take in. So if given the chance, I would like to see to it that as much as possible, I will only take in organic, fresh and chemical-free ingredients. But sadly, that's quite far from reality. 

Dalandan Juice and Balik Bukid's Cheese and Bread Platter

I'm quite relieved to know that Davao City is now welcoming more dining options which can address my need for a healthier lifestyle. One of which is Balik Bukid Farm and Kitchen,  a restaurant which advocates organic farming by serving dishes made out of fresh and locally grown produce and ingredients from their own garden in Wangan, Calinan, an hour drive away from Davao City proper. 

So what does one expect from Balik Bukid? Nothing more but healthy, delicious meals made from only fresh, organically-grown and chemical-free ingredients served within a traditional Filipino homey atmosphere. 

Classic Caesar Salad
Farm Salad

The lunch we had during the Davao Food Appreciation Tour 2014 wasn't my first time to experience dining at Balik Bukid. During my first visit, my taste buds were captivated by their tasty Classic Caesar Salad, of which they used anchovies as the base for their dressing (others use bacon!). From then on, I started trying different salads from this restaurant and all of them exceeded my expectations.

Here are the main courses served to us during the food tour. All of their dishes were made from ingredients harvested at their farm so the availability of the dishes in the menu is based on the availability of ingredients.

Kare-Kare
Pork Liempo with Ensaladang Talong
Paksiw na Pata
Blue Rice 

One thing noteworthy about Balik Bukid is their unique Blue Rice. The blue pigment of the rice is actually derived from the Blue Ternate flower which is known to be rich in antioxidants. Thus, the blue color doesn't only make it aesthetically beautiful but adds more nutrients as well. This rice goes very well with their flavorful entrees.

Chicken Barbeque with Ensaladang Talong
Kinulob na Pugo


Quail eggs are usually a common addition in Filipino dishes but in Balik Bukid, the quail itself is the star of one their unique entrees, Kinulob na Pugo. It might not look as good as it tastes but the dish was flavorful and so tender that the meat just fall right off the bones. Definitely worth a try!

Chocolate Island
Ice Cream in a Basket

Who says ice cream can't be healthy? Balik Bukid has delectable ice cream desserts made in their kitchen. Don't forget to try their Chocolate Island Ice Cream which is a trio of chocolate ice cream sandwiched between their home-made tasty puffs, drizzled with tableya (native chocolate) and smothered with peanut bits. Ice Cream in a Basket is another option if you want to skip the chocolate.



Everything from Balik Bukid follows the concept of natural organic farming and sustainable living. The walls of the restaurant are made up of recycled plastic bottles drawn together and the furniture and fixture depicts rural living. 

The next time that your body is craving for something healthy, listen to it and give Balik Bukid Farm and Kitchen a visit. Your body will then thank you for that!


BALIK BUKID FARM AND KITCHEN
Quimpo Blvd. Matina, Davao City
Contact Number: 0915 595 1127
Email: balikbukid@yahoo.com

Operating Hours:
Monday - Thursdays: 11:00 am - 10:00pm
Fridays - Saturdays: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm 
Sundays: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm 


HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Pardon the lack of posts here in my food blog but if you were also following my lifestyle blog, MISS LITRATISTA, you would probably have an idea what made me busy these past few days, weeks, and months. But now I'm back, I hope to devote more time for this blog this 2015 and still continue to bring you more stories about my gastronomic adventures. Crossing fingers!

But first, let me kick off the new year with, oh well, backlogs! I stumbled upon a number of drafts which I haven't started writing about so here I go, trying to share them one at a time. 

So if there's one thing I wish you all for this year, it will be loads of sweetness in your life. And what better way to be sweet is no other than indulging in sweetness overload! Take a pick from any of these hyperglycemic delights from one of my favorite dessert places in Davao City, Dulce Vida by Tiny Kitchen Bakery + Resto, located at Tulip Drive Extension, Ecoland Subdivision, Matina.


OREO CHEESECAKE
MAJOR MAJOR CAKE
TIRAMISU CAKE
BRAZO DE MERCEDES (one of my favorites from Dulce Vida by Tiny Kitchen)
PILAR'S CARROT CAKE
TORTA CHOCOLATE
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Discovering a new branch of Tiny Kitchen within a few kilometers from my home base is like finding a pot of gold. I just find it inconvenient for me to travel more than 8-10 kilometers to their main branch at Torres St. just to satisfy my cravings for their sumptuous delights. But with this nearby branch, I can just easily put them cravings away in just one ride.

Another good news is, aside from just pastries and desserts, Dulce Vida Bakery + Resto also offers rice meals, pastas and other dishes which you can also find at their main branch. 

ANGUS BEEF STEW
CHICKEN CASSEROLE
MARBELLA PASTA (SPAGHETTI)
HOUSE SALAD
DULCE VIDA CHICKEN SET

MARBELLA PASTA (PENNE)

The place can be a bit small and just perfect for couples and to a maximum groups of 4, but if you're coming in a number a bit more than that, then better proceed to their main branch instead. Another word of warning too, the place closes early so don't expect it to cap off your midnight cravings.



DULCE VIDA by Tiny Kitchen Bakery + Resto
Tulip Drive Extension, Ecoland Subd.
Matina, Davao City
Contact No: +6382-3059232