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

Kumori opens full cafe, launches delivery service

MANILA -- Kumori Japanese Bakery, known for its “bite-into-clouds” pastries and breads, continues its expansion in the Philippines by opening its first full-scale Café Kumori branch, as well as launching an online-ordering service.

Partnering with popular app Zomato, diners can now have their instant Signature Hanjuku Cheese fix any time. Deliveries come in a pretty carry-on box, with individually wrapped breads and pastries.

Try the new service by ordering from the Rustic Bread line. Choose from a crusty ciabatta for your sandwiches, or for something different, try the Cranberry Yuzu bread, filled with tart cranberries and flavored with a slight yuzu tang.

To satisfy your sweet tooth, the Apple Cheese Danish is a cream cheese-filled flaky treat with caramelized apples on top. The Custard Butter Bun, meanwhile, is all about soft bread hiding custard and buttercream.

Looking for a quick savory snack? There’s the Crabstick Bun, same soft bread but with a topping of crabstick and Japanese mayonnaise gratin.

Last February, Café Kumori opened in SM North Edsa. Here, diners can have their fill of Kumori goodies while sipping on their beverage of choice. The drink menu includes various iterations of coffee -- from the standard brewed at P85 a cup, to a six-hour cold brew -- as well as teas that can be enjoyed hot or cold.

It also offers milkshakes like the Chocolate Hazelnut Milkshake, or the more interesting Japanese Sweet Corn variety.

Kumori Japanese Bakery counters are located in SM Makati and Landark Makati, while Café Kumori is located at the ground floor of the Block at SM North Edsa.

It will open a branch at UP Town Center this July.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Zomato acquires Urbanspoon for undisclosed fee

MANILA - Restaurant search services provider Zomato acquired U.S.-based rival Urbanspoon for an undisclosed fee in an all-cash deal, the company announced on Tuesday.

This marks Zomato's entry into the United States, Canada and Australia, and will result in the company's presence in 22 countries.

"Urbanspoon has a huge following, and is home to legions of people who are as passionate about food as we are," said Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal in a statement.

"We will soon be integrating the two products to bring the best of both products to our users in the United States as well as the rest of the world," he added.

The latest move, according to Zomato, will increase its restaurant coverage from around 300,000 to more than one million. It is also expected to more than double the service's traffic, from about 35 million visits per month to more than 80 million visits per month.

"Zomato's significant investments in people and technology will bring Urbanspoon customers, restaurant owners, and food bloggers a number of new capabilities and features. We’re excited to combine our strengths to accelerate growth," said Urbanspoon CEO Keela Robison.

This is Zomato's sixth acquisition in the last six months. Zomato has recently acquired local dominant restaurant search players in New Zealand, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Italy.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Zomato brings tagging, timeline to mobile app

MANILA -- India-based restaurant search service Zomato wants the dining experience to become more social, as the service's mobile app undergoes the iOS-8 facelift.

The free-to-download app now allows users to check-in at a restaurant, tag friends in reviews and photos, and bookmark one's favorite restaurant, among others.

All of those activities will then be detailed in a chronological timeline -- a sort of virtual diary -- highlighting all their food moments right from the day they signed up for the service to their latest meal.

"Given that people are now viewing information on-the-go more than ever before, mobile has become the focal point. Our iPhone app, built to include iOS8 features, will bring to our users a whole new and efficient way of deciding where to go and what to eat," said Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal.

Other improvements to the mobile app include a revamped search bar for a "quicker" browsing experience, and an offline feature which allows users to store and access contact details of their favorite restaurants without the need for data or Wi-Fi.

"We're constantly looking for ways to enrich the restaurant experience for our users by providing, quite simply, an all-round dining experience – right from discovering a great place in the neighborhood, to checking-in along with friends, uploading pictures during a meal, and signing off with a review, which eventually helps people make the right dining choice," added Deepinder.

The updates, according to Zomato, will soon be available for Android, Windows, and the company's website.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com