6 restaurants in Tagaytay for your balikbayan guests

MANILA – It’s that time of the year again when relatives fly home to celebrate the holidays with their loved ones here in the Philippines.

And it’s no surprise that Tagaytay, which is only a short drive from Metro Manila, is always part of every balikbayan’s must-visit list.

To those who are looking for a nice restaurant for their balikbayan guests, we’ve got you covered. ABS-CBN News and selected media recently went on a food tour of Tagaytay’s new and tried and tested dining spots as recommended by the restaurant app Zomato.

Here are the six restaurants we visited:

Amacena

Filipino food gets a contemporary twist at Amacena helmed by Chef Luigi Muhlach, son of celebrities Aga Muhlach and Janice de Belen. The dishes served here are equally delicious as they are Instagram-worthy, with a dash of comfort. Make sure to order the Sizzling Bulalo Steak, Tuna Kilawin and Kaldereta Pot Pie.

Amacena is located at One Tagaytay Place Hotel, 445 Tagaytay-Calamba Road, Sungay West

Taaleña

If you’re looking for some Tagaytay dishes without frills, head to Taaleña, a restaurant that has been around for years. Have some Crispy Tawilis and Bulalong Batangas, among others, while enjoying a nice view of Taal Lake.

Taaleña is located at Casa Taal, Kilometer 54, Silang Crossing West, Aguinaldo Highway.

1st Colonial

No need to go all the way to Albay to get a taste of the famed Sili Ice Cream as 1st Colonial also has a branch in Tagaytay City. The Sili Ice Cream comes in four spice levels, depending on tolerance. Make sure to try the other unique flavors – pili, salabat, pipino and tinutong na bigas, to name a few – as well.

1st Colonial is located at the ground floor of Magallanes Square at Aguinaldo Highway.

Balay Dako

The hype surrounding the newest restaurant of Antonio’s Group is real. Balay Dako, which means “big house,” is a gorgeous modern colonial structure that serves top-notch local fare – including those with Spanish and Chinese influences – against a backdrop of Taal Lake. The restaurant is particularly busy on weekends for its breakfast buffet, which is probably the best available in Tagaytay today.

Balay Dako is located at Aguinaldo Highway.

Lime & Basil

Craving for some Thai food? Lime & Basil is considered by many as a gem amid Tagaytay’s many Filipino eateries, with the restaurant serving farm-to-table Thai cuisine at affordable prices. A tent can be set up at the garden, perfect for romantic dinners and family get-togethers.

Lime & Basil is located at J. Rizal Street, Barangay Sicat, Alfonso.

Bowstring

Who said you can’t have bulalo during a nightcap? Pair your cocktails and beers with this Tagaytay staple at Bowstring, which is just near the rotunda. Go to the rooftop to enjoy the cool breeze and a nice view, and order a side of Sriracha honey butter-glazed chicken wings while you’re at it.

Bowstring is located at Grandview Complex, Tagaytay-Calamba Road.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Now you can track your 'balikbayan box' online

MANILA, Philippines - Waiting for the balikbayan box your relatives sent from abroad? Now you can find out the package's status through an online tracker launched by the Bureau of Customs.

On Tuesday, the BOC launched an online tracker where recipients of balikbayan boxes can check on the status of their packages.

The online tracker can be found on the BOC Balikbayan Box Tracker microsite.

The tracker contains information on all balikbayan box shipments lodged with the Bureau, including its country of origin, Bill of Lading (BL) number, name of the foreign forwarder, name of the local forwarder/broker, date entry filed, date cleared, and current status.

To track the shipment of your balikbayan box, the recipient should know the name of the forwarder and the BL number.

"This is our way of helping our kababayans find their boxes when they encounter problems. We have received several complaints from OFW families blaming BOC for lost boxes. With this tracker, the public will not be given the run-around by people responsible for delivering their balikbayan boxes," Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla said.

While you can now track your balikbayan box, it is still likely that packages that were sent in October or November would arrive by early 2015 due to the port congestion. Cargo forwarders earlier said only balikbayan boxes sent on or before August will make it this Christmas.

Less complaints?

The Department of Trade and Industry said it expects the online tracker to lessen consumer complaints on loss, non-delivery and pilferage of balikbayan boxes.

"The tracker can serve as a venue for accredited Philippine sea freight forwarders to police their own ranks and prevent questionable acts and dealings,” said Trade Undersecretary Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba.

The DTI urged Filipinos to contract services of cargo forwarders accredited by the Philippine Shippers Bureau. The list can be found in the DTI website.

The DTI also warned OFWs to be wary of cargo forwarders offering services at fees that are way below or way above current industry rates.

An estimated 5.5-million balikbayan boxes are sent to the Philippines each year, about 40 percent of which arrive in the months leading to Christmas season.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

5 best places to bring your balikbayan guest

When it comes to foreign aid, there’s no one who has given more to us than our balikbayans. So when they're in town, they deserve to be shown the time of their lives.

1. Intramuros

For most Metro Manila residents, the first and only time they visited this majestic walled city was on a school field trip way back when. This historial area is home to Instagram-worthy structures like Fort Santiago, Postigo del Palacio, Baluarte de San Diego, Puerta de Isabel II, Plaza de Roma, San Agustin Church, and a couple of other museums and ruins. Sign up for a guided tour of the area (both Old Manila Walks and Walk This Way are popular choices) and then grab a meal or a drink at The Bayleaf Hotel's Sky Deck View Bar. For modern Filipiniana souvenirs, check out The Manila Collectible behind Manila Cathedral which sells banig mats from Mindanao, among others.

2. Greenhills Shopping Mall

Long considered the Mecca of bargain shopping, Greenhills offers the most complete shopping experience. Amazing deals on gadgets, appliances, computer accessories, games, toys, designer replica bags, clothes, and jewelleries are easy to find. During December they’re also host to the famous “Greenhills Tiangge Night Market” which opens from 10 p.m. and operates to the wee hours of the morning. With their experience abroad, Balikbayans have grown to be more practical; hence, they will surely thank you for this experience.

3. Resorts World Manila

If you want to go all-in and roll out in style, this is the place to be. This is the closest we could get to Las Vegas-style entertainment. Their casino floor offers state of the art slot machines and the latest and most popular card games. However, Resorts World is more than a casino; it features a shopping center that is home to the most exclusive luxury brands such as Cartier, Gucci, Burberry and more. The Performing Arts theater offers live shows and special events for the most cultured of guest. Finally, there’s the Opus Lounge and Republiq Super Club, where celebrities and famous personalities are often spotted partying till dawn.

For the complete list, read the original story at the Coconuts Manila website.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com