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Tagaytay Day 2 – Breakfast at Antonio’s (Part 4 of 4)

Lord and Aksana — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:57:31 +0000

A food trip to Tagaytay is no trip at all without a visit to one of the greatest restaurants in the Philippines – Antonio’s! It was Aksana’s first time to visit this fine dining restaurant serenely situated deep within the rolling hills of Tagaytay.

Just follow the Antonio’s road markers from the main road and after 2 kilometers and a few turns, you will arrive at a large black gate on your left.

Antonio’s has grown over the past ten years from a seating capacity of forty people to one hundred forty. Aside from consistently fantastic food, understated classic elegance that is so atmospheric you feel like you have been brought back in time to an Argentinian hacienda during the golden age of the 1920’s. Just basking in the chic black and white interiors took Aksana’s breath away. Owner and Chef Tony Boy Escalante must wake up every morning in a good mood as his establishment also serves as the primary home for his family.

Our favorite outdoor table by the pond, watching carp is just so relaxing.

To start off I had the bananarama smoothie with freshly blended strawberries, banana, apple juice, and strawberry yoghurt. Have no doubt, it tasted even better than it sounded.

Bananarama Smoothie - PHP 220.00++ ($US 5.00)

Aside from the anti-oxidants and countless vitamins and minerals it cleansed the palette for the entrees to come. On the other hand Aksana loves brewed coffee so it was gratifying that the coffee was unexpectedly refillable.

Garden Crepes – PHP 220.00++ ($US 5.00)

The texture of the wrap of the garden crepe was light and gentle yet surprisingly crispy. What really shines is the freshness of their ingredients – the filling of white button mushrooms, bell pepper, tomatoes, onion and cheddar was a savory combination. Definitely worth ordering again.

Corned Beef & Eggs - PHP 435.00++ ($US 10.00)

Who has not eaten corned beef in the Philippines? This corned beef however is not canned but made fresh by submerging the brisket in a special brine over a few days then boiling it. The meat was so tender and flavorful and served with horseradish and mustard. If you are a fan of corned beef for breakfast, make sure to try this version without preservatives. The scrambled egg was a treat in itself, it was so fluffy and delicate and must have been whisked to perfection.

Panna Cotta - PHP 210.00++ ($US 5.00)

For dessert we tried the panna cotta, a classic Italian desert that originated from Piemonte in northern Italy. Simply made from heavy cream, milk, sugar and gelatin it was not that sweet but the poppy seeds and rich flavors of vanilla and caramel made it shine.

We left at around 11:00 AM back to the Summit Ridge Hotel to check out at 12:00PM and head back to Manila for the drive home.

The Breakfast at Antonio’s menu has so many dishes to consider and drool over! Did you know that Antonio’s has been the highest ranked Philippine restaurant in the Miele Guide for the past few years? Please find below their full size menu.

P.S. It may soon be a good occasion to take a trip to Antonio’s as their new Breakfast venue will be setup on the same property by end of June 2010.

Frida

Breakfast at Antonio’s

Brgy. Neogan, Tagaytay City

Tuesday to Sunday 7AM – 4PM

Tel: +(63)-46-682-0218

Mobile: +(63)-918-899-2866

On our next post we would like invite you for launch of Kalinka Home Coked Delicacies From Russia With Love at the Legazpi Sunday Market on June 6, 2010. Please click here.

Related Tagaytay Posts:

Tagaytay Itinerary (2 Days | 1 Night) Romance in the Sky
Tagaytay Day 1 – Ryuma Ramen | Summit Ridge Hotel (Part 1 of 4)
Tagaytay Day 1 – Summit Ridge Hotel |Taaleña | (Part 2 of 4)
Tagaytay Day 1 – Buon Giorno | Fling Yoghurt (Part 3 of 4)
Tagaytay Day 2 – Breakfast at Antonio’s (Part 4 of 4)
Ryuma Restaurant Saturday Lunch Specials
Chateau Hestia Wine and Deli Shop
Amoroma Ristorante Italiano, Tagaytay
Bulalo at Josephine Restaurant, Tagaytay
Antonio’s Breakfast Revisited
Green ATS Bulalohan and Restaurant, Tagaytay
Remember life is way too short, don’t let it pass you by. Enjoy Hour Philippines!

Sincerely,

Lord and Aksana

HOURPHILIPPINES.COM

FOOD | TRAVEL | LIFESTYLE

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Tagaytay Day 1 – Buon Giorno | Fling Yoghurt (Part 3 of 4)

Lord and Aksana — Wed, 26 May 2010 13:40:19 +0000

Buon Giorno’s Balinese Bed

If you are looking for an authentic Italian restaurant in Tagaytay, you don’t have to look any further than Buon Giorno at the Cliff House along Aguinaldo Highway. Aside from a diverse selection of antipasti, pasta, and pizza, they also offer a relaxed al fresco dining experience. Make sure to reserve the Balinese bed ahead of time as it is the coziest seat in the house! While you are there, you may as well indulge in a Fling frozen yoghurt for dessert.

We arrived for an early dinner around 6:30PM and was cheerfully greeted by the staff and swiftly brought to our table.

After all the alcoholic beverages that day, it was time to detox al fresco and we started off with none other than a grape shake which was vibrant in color and bursting with flavor.

Grape Shake – PHP 135.00 ++ ($US 3.25)

They must have used a tad bit more grapes to ensure satisfaction. This was well worth the price and we were hoping that rest of our orders would be at par.

Oil and Vinegar Cruet

The complimentary foccacia bread was perfect for mopping with a handy olive oil and vinegar cruet.

New York Pizza – PHP 274.00 ++ ($US 6.50)

Their New York Pizza is one of their bestsellers and rightfully so – The peperoni, bell peppers, onions, black olives and mozzarella provided a good combination of flavors and textures as well as a crunchingly good crust!

Spinaci E Funghi Ravioli - PHP 250++ ($US 6.00)

Aksana, being a ravioli fan opted for the spinach and mushroom in a light tomato sauce. The ravioli dough was blended with spinach, which was a nice touch to the creamy filling of spinach, cheese, and mushroom on the inside. By the time she was done, she was craving for more.

Buon Giorno is exactly what it presents itself to be – moderately priced Italian goodness on the ridge and we would definitely come back to sample another pizza and possibly their breakfast. How did you like Buon Giorno? What are your favorite dishes? Have you tried their breakfast?

For dessert, we went for the one and only frozen yoghurt place in Tagaytay which was just right around the corner, a tenant of the Cliff House – Fling!

Fling Yoghurt – Casual PHP 85.00 ($US 2.00) | All the Way PHP 125.00 ($US 3.00) | Toppings PHP 25.00 Each ($US 0.50)

The frozen yoghurt was just as expected, sour and delicious but maybe our taste buds have already been numbed by all the other Red Mangoes of this world?

Buon Giorno
Cliff House Tagaytay
Aguinaldo Highway
Tagaytay City, Philippines
Tel: +(63) 46-413-2102

Fling Frozen Yogurt
Cliff House, Aguinaldo Highway
Tagaytay City, Philippines
Website: www.haveaflingwithme.com

Our Tagaytay weekend getaway continues at Antonio’s Breakfast for brunch. Please click here.

Related Tagaytay Posts:

Remember life is way too short, don’t let it pass you by. Enjoy Hour Philippines!

Sincerely,

Lord and Aksana
HOURPHILIPPINES.COM
FOOD | TRAVEL | LIFESTYLE
All content is the sole property of HourPhilippines.com, any reproduction in whole or in part shall be subject to prosecution.

Tagaytay Day 1 – Summit Ridge Hotel |Taaleña | (Part 2 of 4)

Lord and Aksana — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:48:43 +0000

The Summit Ridge Hotel stands ten stories high above the Tagaytay Ridge and offers commanding views of Taal Volcano and Lake. It is conveniently located opposite a renowned Tagaytay landmark Josephine’s Restaurant. As it is a Robinson’s Land development they have also built a promenade with a Robinson’s Supermarket. We arrived at 12:15PM and did not have any difficulty checking in ahead of the standard check in time of 2:00PM.

The lobby was spacious and airy, front desk swiftly processed our reservation and we were then escorted by the bellboy to our room. The glass elevators were a nice touch similar to the Belle View in Tagaytay Highlands.

Our room was a 32sqm. Twin Classic Room on the 4th Floor that we booked a special local rate of PHP 3,250 Net ($US 80.00) vs. the rack rate of PHP 7,250.00 Net ($US 180.00) due to the low season after Easter. While this did not include breakfast, it was not an issue as we already made plans to eat at Antonio’s Breakfast.

The hallways were wide and breezy as the open architecture provided unhindered airflow.

Summit Ridge Twin Classic Room – Php 3,250 Net

We easily felt at home in our room due to the soft wooden tones and Asian inspired decor. The split type air-conditioning was sufficiently able to cool the room in a few minutes even though it was a scorchingly hot day.

The toilet was spotless, modern, and comfortable with hot water, hair dryer, disposable toothbrushes, cotton buds and the usual toiletries.

We immediately unpacked and switched on the generic 32 inch LCD to Discovery Travel and Living. Did I mention Wifi was free and surprisingly fast?

Grolsch Premium Lager – PHP 70.00 Net (Sourced from Ryuma Grocery)

Happy with the modern conveniences of our room, it was time to pop open our bottle of Grolsch, a Dutch Premium Lager whose first brewery began in 1615. It was quite refreshing before we headed off to the outdoor infinity pool.

By 1:00 PM we were by the poolside sun beds lazing the afternoon away. The pool was shallow around four feet with a waterfall feature with a view towards the hills (unfortunately not Taal).

Shochu Gekkeikan “Bizan Special” with Gold Leaf 23.5% Alcohol – PHP 650.00 Net ($US 16.00) (Sourced from Ryuma Grocery, Sta. Rosa)

To build up an appetite we had a bottle of chilled Shochu produced in Kyoto, Japan. Shochu is a Japanese spirit similar to vodka and the difference between Shochu and Sake is that Shochu is distilled while Sake is brewed. It is known to be the better of two evils as it has only 20 calories per ounce.

Annie’s Pan Fried Salmon Steak with Mustard Cream and Mashed Potatoes – PHP 575.00 ++ ($US 14.00)

Annie’s Restaurant on the G/F of the Summit Ridge Hotel serves American comfort food from Spaghetti with Meatballs and club sandwiches to Yankee Pot Roast and Picnic Fried Chicken. We ordered the salmon steak to complement our shochu.

Summit Ridge Poolside and Daybeds

The poolside would have been perfect for a small party for couples since there was hardly anybody utilizing the facilities.

After taking a power nap in our room we freshened up to head out for happy hour at Taaleña, a short five minute drive away on the ridge.

Taaleña Calamares – PHP 205+ ($US 4.50)

Nothing like having a nice cold beer and deep fried squid while enjoying the sunset with an unobstructed view of Taal.

Our Tagaytay experience continues at Buon Giorno for a romantic dinner. Please click here!

Related Tagaytay Posts:

Contact Information:

Summit Ridge Hotel
Km. 58 Maharlika West
General Aguinaldo Highway
Tagaytay City

Tel: +632-240-6888
Mobile: +63-922-852-6800
E-mail: reservations@summitridgehotel.com
www.summitridgehotel.com

Taaleña
Km. 54 Crossing Silang West,
Tagaytay City Tagaytay

Tel: (046) 4131910 / 4132519

Remember life is way too short, don’t let it pass you by. Enjoy Hour Philippines!

Sincerely,

Lord and Aksana
HOURPHILIPPINES.COM
FOOD | TRAVEL | LIFESTYLE
All content is the sole property of HourPhilippines.com, any reproduction in whole or in part shall be subject to prosecution.

Tagaytay Day 1 – Ryuma Ramen | Summit Ridge Hotel (Part 1 of 4)

Lord and Aksana — Sat, 22 May 2010 04:30:03 +0000

Tagaytay is at the top of our list for a weekend getaway from Manila due to the fresh mountain air, spectacular views, short travel time, choice of restaurants, and activities. If you are heading up why not consider the Summit Ridge Hotel? The Summit Ridge Hotel opened its doors in June 2009 and is a modern and conveniently located hotel on the ridge. We simply reserved a room the night before, packed a few essentials and were on the way at 9:00AM the following morning!

Debenhams Outlet Store & Ryuma Ramen on the 2nd Floor @ Paseo Greenfield City (Sta. Rosa Exit on the SLEX)

Our first stop on the way to Tagaytay was the Debenham’s Outlet Store at Paseo Greenfield City, they have discounts up to 70% and a new supply of garments every week. We noticed that the 2nd floor of the building had been completely developed to house the Ryuma Group of companies including:

Ryuma Grocery
Ryuma Kids
Ryuma Restaurant
Ryuma Ramen

They were setup to cater to the Japanese community within the Greenfield Technopark.

Ryuma Grocery was clean and tidy offering a well stocked wide variety of Japanese and foreign snacks and treats.

After meandering through the grocery we decided to load up on a few alcoholic beverages that caught our eye, the most interesting of which was the Bizan Special Shochu with Gold Leaf for PHP 650.00 ($US 17.00).

Ryuma Ramen and Ryuma Restaurant are two separate units but offer the same Japanese menu.

Ryuma Noodle Machine

It was too early for lunch, so the restaurant was still closed and we decided to grab a quick snack at Ryuma Ramen with their authentic and functional noodle machine and Japanese Head Chef.

After browsing through their Lenovo touch screen menu and asking the staff for their best sellers and recommendations we decided to share the Chashu Men, which is essentially a ramen with Chashu style pork.

Chashu Men- PHP 280.00 Net ($US 7.00)

Chashu is normally made from the fattier cuts of pork that have been braised over low heat for an extremely long time. When done properly it will render the fat out while converting the collagen into a gelatinous consistency that literally would melt in your mouth like butter.

The broth was truly exquisite and flavorful, the pork was savory and the freshly made noodles hit the spot. It was a great start to a great day that lay ahead. Have you been to Ryuma?

Aside from ramen they also offer sushi, sashimi, domburi, udon etc. What dishes did you like?

Ryuma Restaurant

Ryuma Ramen
2nd Floor
Paseo de Sta. Rosa
Com. Ctr. 4, Greenfield City
Brgy. Don Jose, Sta. Rosa City
Laguna
Tel: +(63)49-502-8401/02

In our next post we check into the Summit Ridge Hotel. Please click here.

Related Tagaytay Posts:

Remember life is way too short, don’t let it pass you by. Enjoy Hour Philippines!

Sincerely,

Lord and Aksana
HOURPHILIPPINES.COM
FOOD | TRAVEL | LIFESTYLE
All content is the sole property of HourPhilippines.com, any reproduction in whole or in part shall be subject to prosecution.

Tagaytay Itinerary (2 Days | 1 Night) Romance in the Sky

Lord and Aksana — Fri, 21 May 2010 09:04:39 +0000

A Romantic Getaway to Tagaytay: Start off with shopping for your Lady at the Debenham’s Outlet Store at Paseo Greenfield City, then have a quick snack at Ryuma Ramen before checking into the Summit Ridge Hotel. Lounge by the poolside with chilled Shochu before a leisurely dinner at Buon Giorno at the Cliffside. Top it off with brunch at Antonio’s Breakfast before heading back to the city!

The Bizan Special

DAY 1 – DEPARTURE FROM MANILA TO TAGAYTAY – (80 Kilometers / 1.5 – 2 hours)

9:00 AM Depart by private car from Makati, Metro Manila to Sta. Rosa exit on the South Luzon Expressway
10:00 AM Arrive at Debenhams Outlet Store Paseo, Greenfield City
10:30 AM Check out Ryuma Grocery above Debenhams for unique and tasty drinks like Grolsch and Shochu with gold leaf
10:45 AM Ryuma Ramen for their specialty Chashu Men
11:15 AM Depart to Summit Ridge Hotel

Summit Ridge View 9th Floor

12:15 PM Check in at the Summit Ridge Hotel
1:00 PM Lounge by the poolside
5:30 PM Happy Hour at Taalena
6:30 PM Dinner at Buon Giorno
9:00 PM Retire back at Hotel

Buon Giorno Spinaci E Funghi Ravioli – PHP 250++ ($US 6.00)

DAY 2 – BREAKFAST AT ANTONIOS BREAKFAST

Antonio’s Breakfast Garden Crepes with Mushrooms, Bell Pepper, tomato, Onion and Cheddar – PHP 220.00++ (US 5.00)

9:00 AM Wake up Call
9:30 AM Depart to Antonio’s Breakfast (Located at the original Antonio’s since July 2009)
10:00 AM Breakfast at Antonio’s Breakfast
12:00 PM Checkout from hotel
12:00 PM Depart back to Manila
3:00 PM Arrival back in Manila (Heavytraffic due to Skyway completion)

Buon Giorno Balinese Bed

Two or three days is the perfect amount of time to have a romantic getaway in Tagaytay and rejuvenate the senses.

BUDGET– PHP 10,000/$US 220 – inclusive of gas, tolls, accommodations, food and drinks. Take note that Christmas and Easter are the super peak season and reservations are normally done a few months in advance.

How was your experience in Tagaytay? Are there any other attractions that were of interest in this area or nearby? We would love to hear about them!

In our next post we share our experience in Tagaytay, please click here!

Related Tagaytay Posts:

Remember life is way too short, don’t let it pass you by. Enjoy Hour Philippines!

Sincerely,

Lord and Aksana
HOURPHILIPPINES.COM
FOOD | TRAVEL | LIFESTYLE
All content is the sole property of HourPhilippines.com, any reproduction in whole or in part shall be subject to prosecution.