Chateau Hestia is primarily known for their continental cuisine restaurant tucked away in Tagaytay. On the way up the mountain, you should also check out their Wine and Deli Shop to pick up a few treats.

They offer a variety of cold cuts such as prosciutto crudo, pancetta, and cheeses including gruyere, romano, swiss, goat, etc.

They also have a moderately priced international wine selection.

If you have not tried Ottinger beer from Germany, this may be the opportune moment – chill it first and be rewarded with a thirst quenching REAL beer flavor!

Cheateau Hestia Wine and Deli Shop
Brgy. 5, Pasong Langka,
Silang, Cavite
On the way up to Tagaytay from Sta. Rosa
Tel: 0929-711-32-89
Website: www.chateauhestia.com

Hours of Operation:
Mon – Fri 10:00AM to 8:00 PM
Sat – Sun 9:00AM to 8:00 PM

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

On our next post we have pizza at Amoroma Ristorante Italiano!
Please click here!

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.

Chivas Regal 18 Years Scotch Whisky had a special private tasting and dinner event at Republiq on July 6, 2010 that we have been privileged enough to be invited to. It was our first time for a scotch tasting so it was quite an experience!

We went with our friends Governor Lee and Natasha and were looking forward to the night ahead of us.

Three long tables were elegantly setup on the main dance floor and we were escorted to our pre-arranged seats by the courteous Republiq staff. There were even placards for each of the guests, was pleasantly surprised with their attention to detail!

The Chivas Regal Brand is owned by Pernod Ricard a French alcohol distiller who also owns prestigious brands such as Absolut Vodka of Sweden and Havana Club Rum.

Upon seating we had in front of us the Chivas tasting setup of four scotch glasses each with half a shot of amber colored liquids in varying shades of color.

The event soon began and the host introduced the top executives representing Pernod Ricard. We were given a short presentation on the history of Chivas Regal and how it began at the turn of the 19th century a a family business.

The first glass was a single malt from Islay 18 Years Old in the northern coast of Scotland which was distinctively strong and smoky paired with chocolate from France. The second was quite powerful and that truthfully could be the reason why we completely forgot where it was from and what it is called, paired with yellow raisins and the third was Strathisla 18 Years Old and the foundation which makes up a large percentage of the final product, this was nutty, dry and warm and paired with almonds. The final glass was the finished product of Chivas 18 that was rewardingly smooth with a multi-layered richness paired with another round piece of chocolate goodness to top it off. It was interesting to know that the other three samples were not commercially distributed, so we were lucky to have tasted them at all.

We were then requested to proceed to the cocktails area while the dinner setup was being arranged. The crab wantons were the best of all the h’orderves and was quite a treat with the unlimited Chivas 18. We also sampled their smoked salmon sandwiches and crostinis with peppers.

Shrimp Bisque Vanilla Bean Milk Broth

The shrimp bisque was extremely flavorful with the true essence of shrimp, not too salty or creamy. It was a smooth chaser to all the scotch we just had especially with the masterful strumming of a grand harp in the background.

Republiq Salad

The house salad was refreshing with apples, dried cranberries, romaine lettuce, smoked bacon, gorgonzola cheese, topped off with an apple vinaigrette.

U.S. Angus Beef Belly

The main course was well worth waiting for. The slow roasted Angus Belly was extremely tender and was accompanied by a bordelaise mushroom fricasse sauce and a truffle scented potato puree.

The giveaway was a single shot bottle of Chivas and four mini Guanaja chocolates from Valrhona, a French chocolatier.

REPUBLIQ
2nd Floor Resorts World
New Port City
Opposite NAIA Terminal 3
Philippines

For Corporate Events, please contact:
Mr. Stephen Ku at +63-918-939-9335

Salon De Ning

You may also want to check out the new bar/lounge of the Peninsula Hotel – Salon De Ning! Please click here!

On our next post we have wood fired pizza and gelato cakes atAmici. Please click here!

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.

The birth of a new Republiq was on Thursday June 17, 2010, roll out the red carpet!!! It was definitely one of the hottest parties that we have attended of 2010 as everybody who was anybody was there dressed to impress for a private black tie event with an open bar starting from 7:00PM. From the gliteratti to the paparazzi, we managed to squeeze ourselves in the middle. By the time we got there around 11ish, the place was completely packed to capacity including a few local celebrities and international models.

It was our first time at Resorts World and our initial impression was the shopping promenade had a resemblance to Caesar’s Palace in Vegas – marbled and majestic without the picturesque sky mural on the ceiling. While the luxury retail stores are still scheduled to open in the next few months, this place is definitely worth walking through aside from visiting the Casino.

Republiq is located on the 2nd Floor of Resorts World and the entrance hall was quite spacious and a tremendous improvement from the original Embassy’s humble beginnings at the fort. Thanks to Vanessa, we quickly obtained our stamps for entry.

Upon entering the main dance hall, the music was pumping and there was a buzz of activity as it was still an open bar on Absolut vodka! The ambient and comfortable neo-classic interiors with high industrial style ceilings, modern lighting and baroque palacial bas-relief was a refreshing change of scenery and brings Manila ever closer to the New York club scene.

We joined our friends Saf and Tanya at the more relaxed left hand side bar while watching the host for the evening Tim Yap do his thing. A few dirty martinis later and it was time to rip up the dance floor.

With a total capacity of 800 people, convenient and available parking, experienced and friendly staff, the vivacious Embassy clients and no curfew at Resorts World makes Republiq one of the best clubbing venues in Manila. With respect to security, this has also been improved as the first security sweep is done by Resorts World before further pat downs by Republiq security. How was your Republiq experience?

REPUBLIQ
2nd Floor Resorts World
New Port City
Opposite NAIA Terminal 3
Philippines

For VIP table reservations, please contact:
Ms. Vanessa Tomagan at +63-915-846-8761

For Corporate Events, please contact:
Mr. Stephen Ku at +63-918-939-9335

On our next post we attend a Chivas Regal 18 Years tasting event at Republiq. We also had a chance to sample the new food to be offered by the Republiq Cafe. Please click here.

Aksana Kalinich and Natasha Chystsiakova @ Salon De Ning

You may also be interested in checking out the newest bar of the Peninsula Hotel – Salon De Ning! Please click here!

Check out the party that will end an era – July 13, 2011 Embassy’s Final Party!!! Please click here!

As Embassy is now gone, you may also be interested in the Grand Launch of Prive Luxe Clubbing at the Fort Strip, Fort Bonifacio. Please click here!

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.

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

All content is the sole property of HourPhilippines.com, any reproduction in whole or in part shall be subject to prosecution.

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:

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

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.

When you get that craving for unbelievably succulent melt in your mouth fish that is lightly battered and deep fried to crispy perfection, only one restaurant comes to our minds and that is the cozy and unassuming Fish & Co.

Fish & Co. is a Singaporean franchise that has arrived in Manila under the umbrella of the successful Bistro Group of Restaurants including T.G.I. Friday’s, Italianni’s and Outback Steak House. For the best Fish & Chips in Manila, they have easily won our vote.

We normally go to the outlet in Greenbelt 3 but they have other branches as well at various malls in the metro including Trinoma, SM Mall of Asia, Alabang Town Center and Shangri-La Mall.

Fresh Oysters 6 Pieces – PHP 265.00 ($USD 6.00)

We started off with the oysters on the half shell. They were extremely moist and tasty with the ground pepper, lemon and a touch of Tabasco!

The Best Fish & Chips in Town – PHP 405.00 ($USD 9.50)

We ordered the Best Fish & Chips in town and the New York Fish & Chips. With the first bite, you will be pleasantly surprised with the crunch factor, then the juicy white fish suddenly melts in your mouth like butter. It is quite a sensation, and to make it even better you can add any of three side sauces – freshly pressed garlic, jalapenos, and sour cream. One bite and you will definitely be hooked!

Where do you go for a hearty serving of fish and chips?

Fish & Co.
Greenbelt 3, 3rd Level
Ayala Center Makati
Tel/Fax: +632-729-7431 to 32
Website: http://www.fish-co.com/

In our next post we will share with you our experience at the Hong Kong Emperor Seafood Restaurant at the SM Mall of Asia, please click here.

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.