Showing posts with label Davao. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Davao. Show all posts

Scent, Music and Colours of Davao

Candy Tree Dessert Durian Waffle TowerSummertime is icy treat time, I usually go for my halo-halo, or grab myself some bubble tea, but that time I decided to go to Candy Tree Desserta dessert place just a few steps from my place. 

Based on what I've heard, the Durian waffle tower is one of their main attraction, which was also recommended by the lady behind the till, trusting the positive reviews, her advice, and my guts, I said yes to the scrumptious tower of powerful aroma; the description fits my order perfectly as the scent approached my nose first, as my order being delivered on my table, the aroma sent my mind somewhere...

Our brief visit to Davao city has left me and my fiancé with lots of great memories, there are so many of them that I think it deserves a Part 2 in WEGO.

Back In Davao....

Our Davao trip started beautifully on the first night, right after we arrived. Both tired and needing a light meal, we checked the hotel's quiet bistro in the pool lounge hoping to grab a quick bite, as soon after we placed our order, live music started playing to serenade the patrons, being the only couple in the lounge this experience reminded me of the famous Lady and the Tramp spaghetti scene.

Marco Polo Davao  Kinilaw
A serenade and kilawin  
My dear 🐻 ordered a burger and fries, that was his "light" meal --- me, curious about what Marco Polo has to show off with their version, I ordered kinilaw - the Philippine style ceviche.
I could picture it in my mind: raw tuna cubes, marinated in vinegar, lightly flavored with aromatic vegetables, and choice of other various ingredients---depends on the cook. This is my first kinilaw in my Philippine vacation, and Davao is the right place to have them since tuna is one of the city's main products. With a watering mouth, I waited patiently as I enjoyed live music. My kinilaw that night was crowned with fried dried squid - adding crunch to the flavourful tuna.


Marco Polo Davao Breakfast
My breakfast in Café Marco
Marco Polo is located in downtown Davao, we happened to be there during the ASEAN summit and security was strict, but the presence of the military and police force didn’t deter the locals and tourists to go to Davao’s night market, located just stone throw away from the hotel. Every night Roxas Avenue gets alive with lines of food vendors, diners, and tourists. Unfortunately, we were full when we happen to check this very popular local foodie stop. There were plenty of dishes to choose from grilled meats and kinds of seafood, chicharron, refreshments, and desserts.

Philippine street foods / refreshments
Philippine street foods / refreshments

Yema Cakes Stand Davao City

Street food Bbq Davao City

Chicharron on sticks, Philippines

One thing that I also make sure that I would not miss when visiting a new place is to check for any great souvenir places. Good thing that Aldevinco is just adjacent to Marco Polo. 

Aldevinco Shopping Center carries pretty much everything Mindanao souvenirs. Like any other market, one has to use their bargaining skills to get the best deals. Be ready to be greeted with lots of attention from the merchants upon entering Aldevinco. Indulge in the colourful displays from clusters of tight boutiques...doors will be opened as you approach their shops and you will be greeted by their vibrant displays; enter the world of colors:


Bags in Aldevinco


Malong

Necklaces display in Aldevinco


If we are not stopping by Palawan at that time, my luggage would be full of shawls as they are my favorite accessories... gotta travel light. 
On the first visit to Aldevinco, I grabbed myself two lovely table clothes and I have been using them regularly whenever I entertain in my home in Canada.

Table cloth from Aldevinco
Table cloth that i bought from Aldevinco
A fruit with a powerful aroma can evoke such pleasant memories; back in Burnaby while savoring the durian waffle I am grateful that have plenty of memories to cherish from my Davao holiday; a place that I once called home.

*Update: Candy Tree Dessert has permanently closed. (∩︵∩)


Davao: Getting to know you through your food Pt. 1

ASEAN 2017 Marco Polo lobby

"If my tummy could extend three times the limit and I was blessed with a laser fast metabolism..."


After staying in Manila for a few days; 🐻 and I flew to Davao city to visit a city where I spent the first few years of my life. I can remember myself speaking the local dialect fluently, being a little girl living a carefree life, enjoying Davao's local fruits, and my first school---L.C.A (now Ford Academy Of the Arts).

Visiting home after more than 20 years of being M.I.A brought a lot of nostalgic feelings now that I have my 🐻 with me in this trip, he gets to see a glimpse of my forgotten past; me rediscovering the old me that I left behind.

Our stay in Marco Polo Davao was fab and action-packed, being the official venue for the 2017 ASEAN Summit, and its delegates, We were caught up in the center of diplomatic buzz!


Marco Polo front ASEAN 2017
Marco Polo front entrance (above) and the lobby (top) displaying the hashtag for the 2017 ASEAN summit

Reintroducing Myself to Davao's Gastronomic Delights!


The highlight of my 3-day Davao homecoming was when we signed up for Mel's Davao Food Tour, iI figured that most of my fond memories of Davao are food-related, so going in for a food tour with my 🐻 would reunite me with good old times!
Mel davao food tour souvenir
Bayong from Mel's

Bahay ni Tuding (Tuding's Inn), was the meeting point for the tour; We were greeted by Mel Pangan, the Proprietor of the inn, and also our tour guide. Being a local of Davao city, Mel knows all the best of authentic Davao.

two variety of banana bankerohan market
Lakatan and Latundan varieties

The first stop of our tour was the Bankerohan Public Market - A big public market where she showcased the "Pineapple Samurais" --- pineapple vendors who can cut the pineapple in less than a minute without touching the flesh inside! The pineapple was served to us as our breakfast.


pineapples in bankerohan market davao citysweet potatoes bankerohan market
Pineapples (top right) Sweet potatoes and local cookware for sale (top left)











mixing the chocolate using batirol
Using batirol to prepare the chocolate drink









Del Mar Painitan (Painitan from the root word 'init'---means hot/heat.) where the real culinary adventure starts

This place seems to be known for its puto maya and the kinutil - a beverage made of coconut toddy, native chicken egg, tablea (chocolate tablet), and evaporated milk. This is my first time having a puto maya, a rice cake made of purple glutinous rice, cooked in coconut milk, with a hint of ginger. It went well with kinutil that I miss so much.

I remembered my father making us kinutil when we're sick, we believe it has healing properties by sweating out the toxins out of the body, locals also claimed this yummy drink as an aphrodisiac! 
purple glutinous rice
Purple glutinous rice 




Del Mar Painitan puto maya and kinutil
Puto Maya and Kinutil