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

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/balikbukidako

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

After a few days of rain, a bright and sunny Manila welcomed me as I step off the plane. It was the start of my 4-day vacation in Manila, a much-needed one after a month of being toxic at work to attend my cousin's wedding. I was actually having second thoughts about this trip but having scored promo tickets a month prior to this travel was a sign for me to push this one to happen. Well, I'm happy I did. 

Months prior to my travel, I was actually clueless what to do in Manila during that trip. It was only until Dominic, the travel blogger aka Dong Ho, introduced the idea of a Binondo food trip in one of our conversations. I can barely remember how it all began, whether it was because of my desire to taste a xiao long bao and fried siopao or just his friendly gesture of bringing me to Binondo for a food trip, I honestly could no longer tell. All I knew was that I was game for one.

Dom and I met each other at Bay 7 of NAIA 3 from where we then drove off to the busy streets of Binondo. He asked me if I wanted to get coffee first but since I already had my caffeine fix before the flight, I told him to go directly to the first pitstop of the foodtrip.

It was already 9 in the morning and after parking his car in a mall, we headed to our first destination, the New Po-Heng Lumpia House. Being the direction-impaired that I am, I was just following Dom's footsteps until we reached a secluded hallway of a building where this dining establishment is located. It's one of those simple-looking restaurants - nothing fancy but with a killer specialty,  their fresh lumpia.

This freshly-rolled lumpia was so far the best I've tried in my entire life even though it might first command you to lose your poise in every bite. It's fat, and packed with a tasteful mixture of shredded vegetable, tofu, seaweed and lots of ground peanuts. I preferred to eat it as it is, no sauce nor additional garlic toppings, since I'm not a big fan of garlic anyway. It was delicious enough that I can finish the entire piece but since we were on a foodtrip, I still had to make room for the other food we were about to enjoy.

It was also a privilege to bump into Ivan Man Dy of Old Manila Walks. He was in his element - guiding tourists for a cultural and gastronomic exploration of Binondo. He even offered to include us in his tour but we were too shy to accept his invitation since we also had our itineraries ready.

Aside from fresh lumpia, New Po-Heng also offers dishes like this soup below, but the quality of the fresh lumpia really stood out from the rest of their offerings.

    

Our 2nd pitstop was at Dong Bei Dumplings for no other than, of course, their dumplings. We were actually too early that they were still on process of preparing dumplings for the day so we just waited inside their restaurant while observing their workers doing their thing. It was just a very small restaurant, somewhat similar to a makeshift kitchen with a few tables. I was already wondering how Ivan's tour group could fit in since it was also part of their walk tour. 

We ordered 14 pieces of fried dumplings stuffed with pork and chives. I opted for the fried one as I thought that the steamed dumpling would be too soggy for the palate. It was surprisingly delicious - I can savor the meat and the spices however I find the vegetables a bit overpowering, but still delicious. Nonetheless, we were able to finish everything within an hour while pairing them up with a can of cold Wong Lo Kat Chinese Herbal Tea. 

Of course, a walk tour around Binondo entails getting lost and exploring the temples and churches around the area. We decided to drop by the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo and checked out the Chinese temples nearby.

A Binondo foodtrip wouldn't be complete without grabbing their famous Shanghai Fried Siopao. It has the size which just fits in the palm of my hand but the crispiness of its bottom part makes it different from the usual siopao we're enjoying. It was just a small stall so we decided to look for an air-conditioned place where we could devour the fried siopao and get myself another dose of caffeine. 

We kept on walking until we reached the Lucky Rainbow Seafood Restaurant. Their menu was packed with loads of Chinese dishes to choose from but I was only able to save room in my tummy for an order of Xiao Long Bao. I was sensing that my tummy was already about to explode after all those gastronomic delights but nooo, I could not leave Binondo without Xiao Long Bao. The restaurant's version of Xiao Long Bao reached my expectations as the meat core was flavorful and the soup inside tasted really really good. Two thumbs up and I went out of the restaurant as one full, happy kid!

If there's one thing that I would like to experience over and over again every time I set foot in Manila, it will be this Binondo Foodtrip. Thank you very much to Dominic for allocating time and resources which allowed me to experience this. Next time, it's going to be my treat. 

Oh by the way, I forgot about the #Hopia. Maybe, hopefully, next time.