Davao-Gensan Trip Part 15: Bon Appetit La Boutique

It’s Day Five and we’re back in Davao once again.

In my quest to explore new gustatory territories, I already had my radar on Bon Appetit La Boutique weeks before our trip. They serve authentic French cuisine in a public square located at Plaza del Carmen, Loyola Street.

I never had a legit French meal in my life so I figured it would be a good place to start.

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Sophisticated, elegant and charming, the interior of Bon Appetit La Boutique is a beautiful reflection of France. It is a perfect setting for romantic dinner dates, anniversaries and other special occasions.

Displayed on their walls are artworks and some French products for sale.

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Sketches

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Foie Gras
Fat Duck Liver

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Canned French Delicacies

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Fragrance Pillows

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Fragrant soaps in Pomme (apple), Lavande (lavender) and Cannelle Orange (cinnamon orange) scents.

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You know they’re the real deal because the menu is written in French. It’s okay, I can’t read French too. Hehe 🙂

Okay, nuff jabbering. Food. Now.

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Baguette et Tapenade 
Homemade French Baguette with Tapenade

Made with ingredients imported from France, this baguette can’t get anymore authentic in taste. 

I’m very picky and hard to please when it comes to bread. You can ask my boyfriend. So when I say that I actually enjoyed eating this means a whole lot. 

The baguette didn’t have that awful starchy aftertaste that breads made in local bakeries here in the Philippines tend to have.

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Upon closer inspection, you can tell that the baguette has a light and airy texture with a thin, crispy golden crust.

Tapenade was something I never heard of before. It is a gourmet condiment usually used as spread for bread and is made out of black olives blended with herbs and olive oil until it forms into a thick paste. Its robust and distinct taste adds a unique flavor to the baguette. 

The baguette and tapenade were actually on the house. Yey for free bread basket!

imageCrêpe Sarrasin, Oeuf, Jambon et Gruyère
Buckwheat Crepe with Fried Egg, Ham & Gruyère Cheese

While normal people would have this for breakfast or brunch, we had it as an appetizer simply because we can (fit lotsa food in our bellies). 🙂

Folded inside the crepe is a sunny-side up egg with slices of ham and melted Gruyère cheese.

Gruyère cheese has a rich, creamy texture and tastes sweet and salty at the same time. There is really nothing like it.

This is something I can have everyday! Light, savory and decadent. That’s what it is. It’s one of those things you have to try!

And yes, the salad did go very well with it too.

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More free hot bread. They won’t stop serving free bread until you get to the main course or until you say so. 

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Penne Sauce Roquefort et Noix
Penne Pasta with Roquefort Cheese & Walnut Sauce

Roquefort is a type of blue cheese characterized by its blue veins of (edible) mold. It has a strong characteristic odor and taste that may put a lot of people off. But if you happen to like blue cheese, you will surely enjoy this dish like we did!

Served al dente, the penne was pasta perfection. 

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Steak de Gindara Grillé Sauce Beurre Blanc
Grilled Butterfish with White Butter Sauce and Potato Gratin

Tender and moist, the grilled butterfish was a delight to eat. The beurre blanc sauce was rich and buttery and it helped elevate this seemingly simple dish.

And the potato gratin was AHMEYZING. I could eat a casserole of that all by myself. It’s rich, creamy and tender. It’s so good that I’d rather have it over pizza any day! And yes, I still can’t believe I actually said that.

Bon Appetit La Boutique is a restaurant one should not pass up. I will not hesitate to recommend this place. Warm service, outstanding meals and fantastic dining experience.

Open Mondays thru Saturdays, 11AM to 11PM. Prices usually range between 300 and 500 pesos.

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 9: Swiss Deli and Restaurant

Just a walking distance from SM Lanang, we decided to take peek inside Swiss Deli and Restaurant.

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Swiss Deli and Restaurant is simply the best source for delicious and authentic European food in Davao. They really have a LOT to offer. And when I say a lot, I mean… 

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They have a plethora of meat and cheeses to choose from. Varieties that I used to only see on cooking shows are here! All imported from Switzerland and Europe (most of them I can’t even spell HAHA). 

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Check out their shelf full of quality wine imported from different countries across the globe. They have more at the cellar. I regret to say that we weren’t able to take a look there. 

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They also have freshly baked bread and pastry up for grabs and a fridge full of desserts that I didn’t manage to get a photo of.

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Some more choices of everything delicatessen

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And at this point I was just foaming in my mouth already. Chocolates, spreads, condiments… I could just go on and on and on! All the grocery items I have long lusted for… Were just right there in front of me. I felt so helpless that we couldn’t afford to purchase all of them. But we were not there to shop (trying not to sour grape here). 

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I really love their service. The wait staff were very professional and attentive. 

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I ordered Mediterranean Salad with penne (cooked al dente of course), lettuce leaves, onion, olives, tuna, tomatoes and cucumber tossed with vinaigrette. Simple, fresh and delicious!

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My boyfriend ordered Veal Bratwurst Sausage with some mashed potatoes and veggies on the side. It was our first time to have veal so I really like how we were able to really taste the meat. No extenders. Just pure veal goodness. Never had sausage that good in my life! The best, really.

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And for our dessert, we had Chocolate Mousse. Light, fluffy and had just the right amount of sweetness. A really nice treat to conclude our snack. Yes, not meal. Snack. HAHA. This was after CBTL. We’re such pigs, I know.

Serving world-class delectable meals at reasonable prices, Swiss Deli has impressed me on so many levels. Needless to say, we had a fantastic dining experience. 

They’re open daily from 8AM to 10PM. 
You can view or download their menu here

24 & 2 Part 3: T.G.I. Fridays

T.G.I. Fridays, a.k.a. Friday’s, has finally come to CDO! 

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I know I’m a little too late on this announcement but better late than never right?

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Upon finding our seat, I was amused! Here’s le boyfriend with our special guests, Buzz and Woody who joined us for dinner that night.

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Hanging right above my seat are two real guitars. And there’s Bruce, the Legend (as Kato) and Bruce, the shark from JawsReal awesome. 

Anyway, for our appetizer, we had Cajun Chicken Salad. 

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Crispy fried Cajun-battered chicken strips served with tomato, egg wedges, grated cheese and some mixed greens coated with honey mustard dressing 

I’d have to say that the chicken somehow tastes very similar to KFC’s. Not that it’s a bad thing, I do really love KFC myself. 

I love everything in this salad especially the tomatoes (sorry chicken you’re not the star here for me haha). They’re fresh, juicy and sweet. I could seriously eat a bowl of those tomatoes. 

And lemme tell ya, this is one HEFTY appetizer and is practically a meal in itself. I was starting to feel stuffed eating just halfway through this salad

And as if that wasn’t enough, my boyfriend had to order Mushroom Onion Swiss Burger.

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Juicy pure ground beef patty topped with tomato, lettuce, pickles, caramelized onions, melted Swiss cheese and thick toasted buns. Served with some crispy fries.

I liked it and it is very good but I’ve had better burgers than this albeit just smaller in size. 

By the way, have you ever wondered how to eat a monster of a burger without spilling all over the place? Well, here’s the trick… Grip it tight and turn it upside down! 

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Yup, you read that right. Try it for yourself and be amazed!

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Excuse me while I give this burger a kiss.

Since we had a coupon for a free Mocha Mud Pie, we just had to have it even if we were about to burst at this point.

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As written on their menu, it’s rich chocolate-almond mousse and coffee ice cream frozen in a chocolate crumb crust. Topped with hot fudge and toasted almond slices.

We loved it. It’s not too sweet and it reminds me of one of my favorite desserts, Death by Choco. Too bad we weren’t able to finish it all up. Much to our displeasure. 

I heard their steaks and ribs are very good but we’ll reserve those for another time.

Lunch at Hellenic Tavern Hotel

Emmanouel Sapountzakis, owner of Hellenic Tavern Hotel, brings a piece of his birth place to Tagaytay with his Grecian-inspired hotel and restaurant which he manages with his Filipino wife.

Hellenic Tavern Hotel is fairly easy to spot as it is located just along Aquinaldo Highway, opposite of Lourdes Church.  

Now, before I carry on, let me just ask you… 

How would you feel sitting on a balcony (away from all the hustles and bustles of a metro city) facing a ridiculous breathtaking view of Taal Lake surrounded by pristine mountains and several clusters of mist? 

Well, let me answer that question for you…

Awestruck. That’s it. You’d be just completely awestruck and lost for words like I was. Photos don’t do justice to this God-made beauty.

I never thought that I’d fall in love at first sight but there I was… totally captivated by such refreshing scenery.

Who knew having lunch with my boyfriend while overlooking at lush green pastures in broad daylight could be quite romantic?

Speaking of lunch…

We had delicious Elleniki Salata (Greek Salad) as our appetizer. Let me just say, I never had salad that good! Everything was absolutely fresh! Not to mention that most of the ingredients are home-grown! Cucumber, onions, lettuce, tomatoes… 

I loved the tomatoes! I never had tomatoes like their tomatoes. If I remember it correctly, they were more sweet than sour. And would you believe me if I say that they actually made their own feta cheese?

Now I’m starting to miss the salad all over again…

We also had Shawarma. A Mediterranean take on a Middle Eastern cuisine. Toppings include lamb shavings, tomatoes, onion, cucumber, potatoes and a dollop of tzatziki. All of that wrapped in home-made pita bread. 

For our main course, we couldn’t resist trying out one of their best-sellers, Moussaka. It’s basically an eggplant casserole topped with Bechamel sauce. It’s a tasty mix of eggplant, potatoes, zucchini, minced beef and Parmesan cheese. If only I could have this everyday, I totally would even if it means having to clog my arteries! 

And lastly, for our dessert, we had Baklava. Basically, it’s made of filo pastry layers filled with chopped nuts and then bathed in (again, home-made) honey.

Dining at Hellenic Tavern Hotel is definitely one of the best dining experiences I’ve had ever. You can check out more of their food and prices here.

And in case you’re looking for a place to stay there, they also have rooms with scenic views at reasonable rates! 

With Mr. Sapountzakis himself. Yup, he’s 100% Greek. LOL at the hover hand!

Anyway, when in Tagaytay, don’t ever miss to drop by at Hellenic Tavern Hotel! Truly a magical piece of Greece in the boondocks! 

Double date at BBQ Chicken

Upon arriving in Manila on the 31st of August, my boyfriend and I were able to meet up with two of my friends (a couple) for lunch.

They recommended us this place called BBQ Chicken. Funny how it’s a really straightforward, right-in-your-face and no nonsense name. It’s like they completely ran out of ideas on what to call the restaurant and just settled with something that couldn’t be any more obvious.

BBQ Chicken is a Korean restaurant located at Unit A 2/F Pearl Plaza, Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

One of the first things I noticed as I entered the restaurant was the upbeat KPop music playing in the background. Which I love! Really, there’s no use in denying I like listening to KPop because I do. 

The ambiance (I like the cutesy chalk art touch) and service is good. By the way, I have to point out that the photos were actually taken way past lunch time. This restaurant has regular customers and is usually full. It’s not empty as it appears to be in the photos. 

This is my boyfriend’s lunch, Spicy Chicken Barbeque Set. It’s a dish of grilled spicy chicken served with a lump of rice and mixed vegetables at the side. I like how they managed to not let all the spices outshine the flavor of the tender and moist chicken. It’s pretty good.

And here’s my lunch, Grilled Chicken Salad. I love this salad. The chicken tidbits were very flavorful and I can tell that they used fresh vegetables because it had that crunch to it. It’s also worth noting that the dressing was very good as well.

The prices here average around 200 bucks which is not really bad considering that it’s justified by the good food, good service, good place and the lovely sound of KPop music ringing in your ears. I’d definitely go back here whenever I can.

Lunch at Bourbon St. Bistro

I know it’s been a long month of eerie silence here on blog. And it’s not because I’ve been lazy or I’ve completely forgotten about my blog and my readers…

It’s just because nothing much and too much has been happening at the same time. I don’t know if I’m making any sense but I’ll try to break it down for you ladies and gentlemen. 

First, I honestly haven’t been going out because I’ve been so consumed by the fact that I now earn much less than before. It concerns me to not have savings anymore. I’ve been endlessly hunting for another online job since June. To my dismay, I still haven’t found any. And as much as I wanted to go out and dine, I couldn’t. I was ill and I lost most of my funds to medication. To top that off, my dad was hospitalized and I had to take care of him.

Second, I offered my wardrobe styling skills for free in exchange for an all-expense paid mini-vacation for 3 days. I might get to this soon. 

But for now, I better stop my yapping and you guys better brace yourselves for some food porn RIGHT NOW! 

BAM! Just like that. 

Above were the bad boys my boyfriend and I had for lunch at Bourbon St. Bistro yesterday in celebration of our 14th month of togetherness. 

We were lucky enough to still catch them at Rosario Arcade. I heard that they will move to a different location some time this August.

So anyway, what I like about Bourbon St. Bistro is their AMAZING service. I love it when food servers are polite and attentive, know what’s on the menu, know what’s available or not on that day and make good food suggestions. Plus, they serve food really fast too!

This was our appetizer. A plateful of Beef Quesadillas (you can have it in chicken if you wish) with two different dips. I like the green one better. I believe that’s guacamole? I’m sorry. I’ve never had guacamole before, okay? Don’t shoot. My boyfriend liked the red one more. I don’t know what that was but I know it’s not chili sauce. But if it was, then why the hell was it not spicy? Oh, I must tell you that every bite of their quesadilla is a happy burst of cheesy flavor and that the dips go very well with them. Yum!

Cajun Spicy Wings. I just recently discovered that I love anything with cajun. And no, the wings weren’t spicy to me nor to my boyfriend at all. But the wings are really tender and good. I like that the wings came with a salad because I love salads!

A closer view of the dreamy looking wings with the salad right behind it.

Their I-don’t-know-what-you-call-this seafood pasta. Well, don’t blame me. The dish sounded very French to me and I can’t speak nor spell French. And this wasn’t even in their menu. This was a food server’s suggestion. Not bad. I liked it better than the Seafood Gambero from Pancake House. It’s just the parsley that I don’t like about this dish. I can’t explain why I don’t like parsley. I just don’t. But I realllly want to love it. And I am trying.

Here is a more delicious view of the seafood pasta. 

And I almost forgot to end this post with concrete evidence of us dining in the restaurant…

A candid shot.

Final verdict? NOMNOM. I highly recommend this restaurant and I want to sample all of their dishes. Bye for now!