Xing Ke Dragon Fruit Farm is probably the smallest one in size among the organic farms that I’ve visited in Taiwan. With only about half a hectare to work with, it’s incredible how they managed to fully utilized every square foot of this land to produce different dragon fruit varieties.
Did you know that dragon fruit is actually a fruit of a climbing cactus plant that is native to Central America? Dragon fruit plants have fleshy stems which can grow up to 20 feet long. Since its discovery it has made its way to Asia and other parts of the world.
Harvesting them is very easy. Once they’re ripe and ready for harvest, they can be removed from the plant by cutting them off with the use of garden shears or by just simply twisting them off.
This beautiful exotic fruit got its name after its outer skin which resembles dragon scales.
They offer a rejuvenating escape in a bucolic setting and is an ideal getaway spot for families, health conscious travelers and for all those who just want to experience a rural lifestyle.
is run and managed by the warm and hospitable owners, Wu Li Chu and her daughter Shandy. This mother-daughter pair grow rice, mulberry, roselle, various seasonal fruits and vegetables in their 5-hectare farm located
near Meihua Lake Scenic Area and is only a 10-minute drive from Luodung Night Market.
They have 6 charming wooden cabins surrounded by trees that help you connect with nature and enjoy the fresh air at the shared courtyard.
Photo courtesy of Jude Bacalso
Accommodating up to 4 people, each cabin is fully air-conditioned, has WiFi access and comes with a 32-inch LCD TV, bath tub and small fridge.
The place is clean and cozy.
I am particularly in love with the loft bed! #iwokeuplikethis LOL
Photos courtesy of Jude Bacalso
They have fun D.I.Y. activities such as scallion pancake making, fish feeding and rice harvesting. But in order to appreciate and experience the beauty of harvest, we tried the traditional method of harvesting rice. Each of us was handed a conical hat for sun protection and a small scythe to cut the ripe rice.
I was immediately reminded of a traditional Filipino song entitled “Magtanim ay Di Biro" that describes the
difficulties of the life of a farmer. In case you want to listen to the English version, watch this video:
And just before we left Fairy Story Village Organic Farm each of us came home with a box of organic rice!
Located at No. 48, Section 2, Yongxing Road in Dongshan Township, Tea and Rice Resort was once a warehouse that has been partly converted into a museum that serves as a learning center for kids and even for adults!
Tea and Rice Resort offers fun interactive activities such as mushroom planting, bento making and rice puff making to promote agricultural awareness and to achieve a better understanding about the importance of agriculture in the community.
They also offer a farm-to-table organic dining experience at their restaurant to showcase their farm fresh produce.
They have a wide range
of tea, rice and other agricultural products available at their shopping center.
We were given a brief tour of their museum and had an introductory course on rice processing before we proceeded to making our very own rice puffs.
The first step of processing rice is to feed the grains of unhusked rice into a rice huller to remove the chaff. Here, Jaison Yang of Travel Warehouse volunteered to load the rough rice into the rice huller. Once turned on, the two
abrasive rollers turn at different speeds to remove the chaff before it passes through the machine as brown rice.
The brown rice is later fed into a rice miller to remove the bran layer turning it into white rice. The whole process surprisingly took little time.
Jude Bacalso, Cebu Daily News editor, placed a kilo of white rice into the rice puffing machine which was then sealed
tightly
so pressure can build up inside. As the machine was heating up to puff up the rice, we were all asked to stand back and cover our ears. Just right before the machine released all the pressure, the guides shouted “BE PO NGA!” which is a warning that something will explode. Sure enough, we heard a loud bang that sounded like a gunshot.
The rice puffs were gathered and transferred into a ginormous mixing bowl…
and brown sugar syrup was added to make it sweet and sticky.
Photo Courtesy of Jude Bacalso
We then popped them into heart-shaped pans and let them sit for a couple of minutes to cool and…
Ta-dah! This crunchy snack reminded me so much of a Cebuano treat called ampaothat I wanted to take it home with me to show family and friends. But alas, I wasn’t able to because I devoured it immediately. It was irresistibly good.
Although it is impossible for me to sample everything that Taiwan has to offer in a span of 5 days, these are my favorites out of everything that I tried when I was there.
Hot Pot
A notable Japanese influence on the Taiwanese cuisine, hot pot dishes are sometimes called shabu-shabu in Taiwan and they are very popular throughout the country. Literally a hot pot filled with water, ingredients are cooked by placing them into the pot piece by piece as the water boils.
Because Taiwan has an abundant array of the freshest, organic ingredients, this dish requires no condiments as it already possesses natural flavors that would make it delicious as it is.
Taiwanese Tempura Photo credit: Jude Bacalso
Another Japanese-influenced grub is the Taiwanese tempura. Although it is more of an oden than it is tempura, these ready-to-eat steamed fish cakes are available in most Taiwanese 7/11 branches. They come in different variants and are served with sweet sauce or hot sauce. Lobster roll and fish tofu are not to be missed.
Bubble Milk Tea
Taiwan is the birth place of bubble milk tea so it only makes sense to have it when you are there. Although I have not tried it at some artsy cafe, I did grab a bottle of bubble milk tea from a convenience store and it was really good.
Oolong Tea
A soothing cup of oolong tea is must when visiting Taiwan. Very similar to green tea, it has a rich fragrance with smooth and refreshing finish. There are several varieties of oolong tea and depending on how it was crafted, it can taste light, robust, fruity, floral, earthy, and/or smokey.
Another reason to drink oolong tea apart from its taste is its health benefits. Oolong tea is not only rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals; it is said to reduce obesity and stress, boost the immune system, control diabetes, improve mental health performance, reduce high blood pressure,
lower the risk of getting cancer and promote healthy bone, skin and dental health.
Marigold Infused Water
I’ve always thought that marigolds are merely ornamental plants that repel mosquitoes and other garden pests. Turns out it’s more than that. Marigold has been highly valued for its therapeutic uses. It has antibacterial, antibiotic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antiseptic properties which make it a very useful plant. It is also rich in antioxidants that help fight and prevent cancer. At Forest 18 Farm, they infuse their water with marigold leaves and it tastes so refreshing!
Taiwan Beer
Taiwan Beer is an award-winning pale lager that has its distinctive flavor coming from the best locally grown Formosa rice. Its mild and smooth taste makes it
pretty wonderful on its own or a good accompaniment to any kind of food.
Gao Jha Photo credit: Jude Bacalso
Unique to Yilan County, gao jha is a specialty street food sold at Luo Dong Night Market. This seemingly plain, unpretentious snack is anything but simple. It is made up of minced chicken, pork, and shrimp meat which is simmered in chicken stock for several hours until it forms into a paste. Once cooled, it is cut into squares, dipped in cornstarch and then deep fried until golden and crispy.
Gao jha has a crunchy crust with a soft and gooey inside that is bursting with exquisite, complex flavor. Be careful though as you bite into these tasty treats because they are served scalding hot!
Mulberry Pasta
A signature dish of Fairy Story Village Organic Farm in Yilan County, this savory pasta is made with organic mulberry sauce then topped with crunchy pork floss and chopped spring onions. Definitely one-of-a-kind!
Xiao Long Bao
Xiao long baoare steamed buns that have a delicate handmade dough with a savory meaty soup filling. It is a culinary wonder how these magical buns are engineered in a way that it is able to hold the soup and meat with its thin, pillowy soft dough. Eating
these dumplings do require patience, restraint and maybe a wee bit of practice because you don’t want to get your tongue scalded with the piping hot soup.
I got lucky to have had them at Din Tai Fung, a Michelin star awarded restaurant famous for their xiao long bao. This deserves its own post (link to follow).
delicious selection of artisan cupcakes, designer cakes and other confectionery goodies. Over the years, they have constantly stretched their boundaries by innovating and yielding new treats that leave us wanting for more.
Presenting the latest addition to their menu… their very own ice cream!
Smooth, creamy, luscious home made frozen delight that will surely satisfy your sweet-tooth craving.
Definitely better than most store bought ice cream!
Available in flavors Matcha Oreo,
Salted Caramel, Strawberry Cheesecake and Red Velvet, how can you say no to these decadent and delightful treats?
Tedts’ ice cream makes for an indulgent treat on a hot summer day or just whenever you feel like it. Make sure to try their ice cream if you haven’t already because it certainly lives up to the hype. Price starts at 80 PHP.
Tedts has two locations, one at Zamora Street and the other at Quezon Avenue. For directions, please refer to the map at the bottom of their website.
Here in Iligan, there’s always something to look forward to. Cafes and restaurants have been popping up lately and one of them is Ichang.
Found at a prime location in Iligan where a sea of restaurants are located, Ichang stands out with its distinctive Japanese aesthetic and colorful noren hanging right in front of their doors.
Ichang is named after the owner, Ichang Hayakawa, a Japanese national hailing from Shizuoka prefecture. He runs this restaurant together with his Filipina wife, Cherryl who happens to be one of the chefs manning the kitchen.
Already on its dry run, Ichang is set to launch on the 8th of September this year.
Thanks to Dan, a common friend I share with the owners of this restaurant, I received an invitation to sample some of their dishes (my boyfriend tagged along hehe).
Kani Salad Served on a cold plate, this light salad composed of imitation crab meat, ripe mangoes, cucumber, lettuce served with a creamy roasted sesame dressing. A favorite!
Yaki Udon Thick Japanese noodles stir-fried with veggies and meat. Bound to please the Filipino palate.
Futo Maki Literally meaning “fat rolled sushi”, this sweet hand-rolled Japanese sushi is filled with tamagoyaki, oboro, sliced cucumber and shrimp. Another favorite!
Tonkotsu Ramen Made with a rich pork broth, this delicious noodle soup dish is topped with tender pork slices, boiled eggs, naruto and a handful of thinly sliced green onions. A must try for ramen lovers! Yes, yet again, another favorite!
i don’t know if you can tell but so far I’m absolutely loving their dishes!
Together with Ichang, Cherryl and their chefs
Ichang is located at The Strip, Pala-o. Don’t forget to save their opening day on your calendar! The whole Ichang team will be waiting for you there.
Westgate Center is a lifestyle district in Alabang where a number of casual restaurants and cafes are located – one of them is Cafe Breton.
Serving breakfast as early as 7 in the morning, Cafe Breton is a place where expats and locals come together for their gourmet crepes, exquisite coffee, and all-day breakfast.
The contrasting wall colors, wooden furniture, and unique accent pieces add a country rustic charm that makes the cafe look timeless and inviting.
The focal point of this cafe is the kitchen where you can watch them prepare your food right in front of your very eyes.
True to their claim, they do have excellent coffee! Their cappuccino is rich in flavor with a smooth, velvety foam on top. I think it’s the ultimate morning pick-me-up.
Cafe Breton’s menu has an extensive breakfast selection that includes crepes, galettes, sandwiches, desserts, coffee and many more. Price ranges between 150 to 300 PHP per dish.
La Primavera Veggie Scramble A creamy omelet with a medley of tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and gruyere cheese served with buttered toast.
Adam and Eve A delicate crepe stuffed with soft, stewed apples topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and a dash of cinnamon.
I may not be an early bird but I do love me some great brunch!
The combination of good customer service and pleasant dining experience made love Cafe Breton instantly. We’ll definitely come back here if we can.
The moment we swung the door open, baristas chorused “Welcome aboard!“ with great enthusiasm as we walked right inside.
Adorned with travel memorabilia, tour brochures, directional signage, and world clocks, this travel-themed coffee shop will surely inspire your wanderlust.
Bean Voyage Coffee Roasters is a place for travel enthusiasts, curious souls and people from different walks of life who want to sip on their faces… literally. They are the first (and the only one as of this posting) to offer the selfie coffee experience outside the area of Luzon.
Of course, we had to give it a go and take a selfie.
Staring at 140 PHP, you get to have your selfies printed on top of your favorite coffee blends.
If you want to grab your first selfie coffee at Bean Voyage Coffee Roasters, here’s how it’s done:
Ever since I found out about Simplejoys Bakery and Cafe last year, my boyfriend and I have been quietly trying to hunt it down. The elusive cafe proved to be a challenging quest for both of us and it was only after our third failed attempt of locating it that we finally found it along J.R Borja and Burgos streets (close to the new bridge) in Cagayan de Oro City.
This whimsically designed concept café is a haven for those who love everything quaint and charming. Obviously, I’m part of that statistic. Hehe 🙂
Fully adorned with dainty decor, vintage finds, and shabby chic furnishing in pastel colors, it creates the perfect space to duck in for some afternoon tea and desserts.
Still full from our fill at Wild Onion, we opted to get some of their desserts only. We had their green tea gelato, chocolate avocado cake, and ube halaya frappe. While I genuinely enjoyed the ube halaya frappe and green tea gelato, the chocolate avocado cake is in a league of its own.
The cake comes with a chocolate coated breakfast cereal base and the middle is smeared with a silky, creamy avocado filling. Its topped with a rich chocolate ganache that has just the right amount of sweetness and then sprinkled with fine cocoa powder. This cake made a great impression on my first bite! I’m afraid to say that I’ve finally found a cake that I enjoy as much as Micky’s Cakes (if not, more).
Whoever thought that avocado and chocolate go well together is a freakin’ genius! If there’s only one thing you should try from their menu, it should be the chocolate avocado cake. For the love of everything holy, don’t miss it.
Simplejoys Bakery and Cafe should be expecting to see me more often. Not only is their place cozy and makes for great photo ops but the desserts are also worth the journey!
Centerpoint is the newest dining and entertainment hub located at Domingo Velez Street in Cagayan de Oro City. Lined with karaoke lounges, bars and restaurants, this strip truly comes alive at night.
One of the places to visit is a gastropub called Wild Onion Pub and Grub. They offer a casual dining experience and provide tasty food and specialty drinks at reasonable prices.
Classic Burger and Hiroshima Bombs are some of their best sellers so, of course, we had to try those.
Classic Burger
Branded for a personal touch, this burger boasts a thick beef patty, packed with veggies that’s sandwiched between fluffy, tender buns. It also came with a side of crispy fries.
Cucumber Lemonade
Served refreshingly ice-cold, this delightful mix of cucumber juice and lemon juice is good for relieving the summer heat.
Hiroshima Bombs
These are croquettes filled with mashed potatoes, mozzarella cheese and jalapeno bits served with a sour cream aioli dip. The Hiroshima Bombs are the bomb! They were flavorsome and surprisingly substantial. To all fellow potato lovers, this is everything you need.
I actually prefer this one over the burger.
Dining at Wild Onion Pub and Grub was such a pleasure. The waiting staff was very accommodating and the food is good.
We will be back soon to try more of their food and when it’s not too early for cocktails. Happy Ending and Gugmang-Giatay sound too interesting too pass. Haha!
Wild Onion Pub and Grub offers:
15% discount on the total food bill every Monday
15% discount on the total food bill every Tuesday for Nurses, every Wednesday for Bank Employees and every Thursday for Teachers
