Spent a few days at Coron, Palawan with my fam for a short R&R. It's been a while since I've been there and I've been ecstatic to have my family with me. We stayed at Club Paradise, it's in Dimakya Island in Coron which I've had the pleasure of going to a few years back. I saw it was fit for my senior Mom to go to so boat transfers and accommodations would be all accessible as the Discovery property arranges all of that.
I brought along the Samsung A73 5G (in Amazing White color) with me to keep memories. It's a beastly phone that takes 108MP photos that has OIS and a set of quad cameras. It's also got a Snapdragon 778G processor, fits in the hand at 6.7 inch Full HD+ with an SAMOLED screen. I was able to test the 5G connection in Manila and by any standards, VERY fast.It also takes amazing videos, but I reckon be of good quality at 4x zoom. I may have a lot of processing needs, but it bore the brunt of several video editing apps, photo editing apps and socials that I use almost everyday. I really didn't need the 4K video capability and opted to have lesser resolution so I can have more space on the phone. It's got 256GB space though, and I wasn't able to fill it all up with vacation photos in that 5 day retreat. You can opt for the 1TB microSD space as it can accommodate external memory too.
Photo quality is good, it won't make you look like you have plastic skin. I also took advantage of the zoom taking videos for a real wedding proposal that happened at the beach. The photos and videos in daytime, plus several food shots I took was crisp too. I'd be crazy if I didn't think this was something that was made for content creators.
Here's a glimpse of the trip we had plus the special dinner arranged by Club Paradise in the evening. They called it a Moonlight Dinner, perfect for special occasions or if you plan to propose to someone. Ours was for fun so they also prepared a Boodle Fight, a seafood lover's dream, even those who want surf and turf. I used a different Android phone in the beginning, see how the shots changed dramatically at the 2:08 mark. If you see the proposal video at the 6:08 mark, I was super far and hiding among the trees when I took videos. Imagine, a phone that can take videos with low light and that distance?
Here are some shots from the phone I used, I edited colors and a watermark (to keep it safe) through Photoshop. It's a lot to take, but I guess it's all worth it!
You may order a day before to make sure you've got a Boodle Fight you'll love. Just inform the staff if you'd want to make changes and they're very nice people, they can accommodate.
The Sunset Cruise (which you should also request for in advanced) was a perfect way to end the day with. This was done before we had dinner. Needless to say, they really took good care of us while we were there. I'd like to take this bit to thank the good people of Club Paradise in Palawan, we're thinking of making this an annual thing. Who knows?! I'm glad though I got memories saved. Samsung did something good with that phone. It's a tool, and you can do wonders with it!
A small banca signifying our culinary journey of Cavite, a rich food haven located an hour or so away at the outskirts, south of Manila.
I think I've been here, perhaps when I was a kid. Though I couldn't remember specifically when so in a nutshell this is a trip down south that I've been raring to go to because I've been hearing a lot about Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park the past few months. Photos alone had me wondering, why haven't I gone there when it looked so good on photos, and people I know who go there actually had so much fun. The place is picturesque, have stunning views of the Cavite coastline. It's situated along Covelandia Road in Kawit, Cavite and can be accessed through the new line along the Cavite Expressway (CavitEx). You can drive and get there in an hour or so from Manila, perhaps ride to SM Bacoor and ride another van to Island Cove if you want to commute there. All along, I thought Island Cove was a membership only resort as it had some similarities to Fontana in Pampanga. I was wrong, because they're very much open to the public.
Anyway, we were there for good reason. It's about the FOOD. The people at Island Cove find it a little unnerving why they haven't really featured much of the community to the people going there. They've got a mix of locals, foreigners, balik bayans and just about everyone who enjoys food go to their spot called the Fishing Village to have a meal with family and friends, but never solely to showcase what Cavite cooking is all about. Well, they've done the legwork for you and researched the dishes, even had recipes exhumed from long gone restaurants and use it to demystify what Cavite cooking is all about. Chef Vill Purificacion had us sample dishes of this place he calls home, let's just say I didn't know Cavite ever tasted this good!
Lawlaw is a crispy, deep fried local fish dredged in flour/light batter mostly found in Cavite City.
Tahong Chips is originally from Bacoor. It's now one of the city's best exports. They also served it with local spiced vinegar, perfect for groups or beer pairing.
This is the Mutya ng Cavite Soup by Sabater. A thick creamy soup with a huge serving of local sea mollusks, crabs, shrimp, clams caught locally. The original restaurant closed down but they were able to get the recipe from the family. This was a hit among the crowd.
They call this Calandracas. It's got the ingredients of summer, a bit refreshing, but has chorizo so you get those bits of smoky pork flavor in each slice.
This is Bacalao, but they use Labahita fish as the former is a little too expensive. It's salted fish, and is perhaps a good thing to have with just hot, steamed white rice.
This is Adobong Imus which hails from the town of the same name. It's made of the usual, but use annatto oil in lieu of soy sauce. Surprisingly, it was good!
This one's called Valenciana. This version is from General Trias and uses coconut milk as base so it's quite different from the one I'm used to at home (the Bacolod version). It's different, I like how it's become a bit Asian rather than Spanish inspired. I was staying away from rice but this one got me skip a day for that rule.
This is their Pansit Pusit. It reminds me of Black Ink Pasta dishes but they use local rice noodles, seasonal vegetables, seafood and strips of green mangoes, scallions and garlic. I thought it wouldn't work but it did. It tastes like the sea, in a good way. Something totally off beat from the usual Pansit, but would be really good for seafood lovers.
Hot weather calls for Fresh Buco! It was sweet and refreshing!
This one is Afritadang Gulay na may Baboy. Which I think is the usual afritada ingredients but uses pork for the meat. It's soft, would be good for hot white rice. I love anything with tomato sauce on it!
This is the Pansit with Puso ng Saging. It's a little tangy, much like that banana heart dish Mom used to make but made into a rice noodle dish. Don't laugh but I could imagine people eating this with rice too, with this as a viand.
This is their Pansit Malabon. For those who don't know, parts of Cavite was actually called Malabon in Spanish times even before the actual Malabon in Metro Manila was established. This wreaks of shrimp goodness as it probably was made of shrimp head sauce, quite lovely with those bits of pork crackling, egg, spring onions, squid, and more pork.
For dessert, we had Kutsinta from nearby towns. They actually buy these rice cakes from locals the morning before they serve it.
This is the Kalamay, similar to the ones I get from Bacolod but this is flattened and served in individual plastic sheets. A bit modernized I think! This tastes like coconut spread, with coconut strips on it.
This is their Sapin Sapin which literally means layers in English. With different rice cakes, mixed with coconut milk, purple yam, it was totally something to look forward to in a trip to Cavite! Oh wait there's more!
My personal favorite among the things served that day was this! This is called Tamales. Made of corn meal, rice, pork fat, pork meat, paprika (I think because it was a bit smoky) and chili powder (as it felt a little spicy). I could have this for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It's a bit heavy, as it was designed to be a one dish meal that farmers would usually have after tolling the fields back in the days. I would totally go back for this!
If you haven't had enough of your cheese dreams come true, they've got a platter of Kesong Puti probably from cow's milk. I would love to have this with bread or on top of pizza. Or just about anything during breakfast.
To get you a little excited about what to expect at Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park, I made a short video of our trip that afternoon and uploaded it on Youtube. If you haven't seen it yet, please subscribe to my channel or just check this one below. Check out our interview with the Chef and Gilbert Remulla who handles the property.
TIP: You can get a spot overlooking the shore for Php 4,500 consumable (3 hours, like a private cottage) which I think is good for 30 persons (although if you invite that much people chances are you're gonna need to spend a bit more for your birthdays/occasions). You may call them at 8107878 or 8105351 or email them at inquiry@islandcovephil.com if you want to have it arranged, if you expect guests coming to the Philippines or just about any reason to go there. They also have fishing areas, perfect for Father and Son bonding moments, aside from the good food of course!
The “Taste Cavite” menu featured on this article is now available at the Fishing Village on Fridays, Saturday and Sunday. starting November 18 and will be served daily starting December 22, 2016. I hope to get to see you there when I come and visit!
There are real gems in Quezon City, and you don't really have to go out to get some of it. We visited the Banawe district and found Tra Vinh Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant along NS Amoranto in the same city. Now we do like Vietnamese cuisine, but have seen how bastardized it has become (pardon the word) with some restaurants trying to mimic legitimate dishes - and come out just half short of what it's supposed to be like. For me, any attempt to half heartedly prepare something that you would call authentic should be taboo because that word is exact.
Tra Vinh presents itself quite simple. The restaurant that Mr. Van Chien Ho put up in Western Australia was made to remind him of his home country Vietnam. They've been able to do authentic Vietnamese cuisine and it has been loved down under for over 20 years. Now what's great news is that they're here in the Philippines and have been loved by the local community as well. We knew we were in for a great meal. So if you're planning to go here, you better be ready for food coma because that's what I got after this. First off, we're going to have Vietnamese Coffee!
I love coffee in general, but their Vietnamese Coffee was a whole other story. They have this in three different intensities. I chose something in the middle, and it had a caramel like consistency.
I had the iced version too and they serve it in a cup, and get a glass
full of ice. They also have the condensed milk on the cup so you don't
get that lumpy coffee later on.
It was really good, I wanted another one but it'll probably make me stay awake til the next day. For caffeine lovers, I would highly suggest the stronger brew.
Their version of the Fresh Spring Roll was lovely. It was plump, wrapped in rice paper, had fresh ingredients and a gnarly peanut sauce on the side. They also have a Vegetarian version for those who would want it more healthy, or perhaps like me who wants to shy away from shrimp.
Speaking of shrimp love, this is their Prawn Pomelo Salad. They use the freshest ingredients and attest they probably go to market every day to make sure they only get it, otherwise they won't serve it at all. This dish is like a party in the mouth. The crunchy, the savory, the peanuts and tangy notes from the dressing just meld together. I would love to have this a little spicy too.
This one's called Prawn Sugarcane. As the name suggests, it's like ground prawn meat spun around a sugarcane stick. It's both savory and sweet. It's a great appetizer, but who doesn't want piping hot white rice right?
For those who would love something festive, this one's called the Vietnamese Pancake. I've seen this in the streets of Hanoi and it's like a representation of harvest, of spring, the freshest ingredients. The way to eat this "legit" is to wrap the actual pancake with the greens. I think they've got shrimp, ground pork, scallions and eggs on that pan cake. The savory pancake slices, wrapped in the sprigs of mint, mustard and iceberg lettuce. Then you have to dip it in a mixed sweet vinegar. Don't fret for those who are new to this, because the service of making the wraps is included. They're going to prepare it for you so you don't have to worry.
Now this one is not on the menu, so ask nicely if they could serve it to you. It's called Crab and Seafood Soup, and they use mud crabs or soft shell crabs for the broth. We smelled intense sea flavors, and the broth was a little thick. It was comforting and it would fit nicely during those rainy afternoons if you want something that would make you warm and fuzzy inside.
This one is called Beef Combination Noodle Soup. You basically have a broth made from 16 herbs and spices (we saw it but I don't know half of the spices used as it's a secret), plus beef shoulder slices, New Zealand rib eye, beef balls and tripe. It's also got a serving of vegetables on the side and high grade Hoisin and hot sauce. The broth was clear, a notch away from the usual murky broth that most restaurants do here because they only do it fresh and keep the flavor profile simple and clean. Those over boiled counterparts probably have residue in them, they prefer a light, not so intense, just so you could taste the herbs and spices they put in them. I like this because it's not oily or too over powering. It's done right.
My mom would love this. It's called Stuffed Chicken Wings. It contains seasoned ground pork, some veggies and a crispy coating that I love. It's a little eggy and I love that kind. This is one of their entrees and you've got lots of choices.
For those who might think the bowls of Pho might be too big, you can always have the Dry Noodles. This one is the Barbecue Pork Noodle. It's got that tasty barbecued pork, fresh and pickled veggies and your choice of noodle. I would probably have had the flat ones but any rice based noodle is fine with me. This is served with their very own Tra Vinh special dressing and a vegetarian fried spring roll. You MUST mix this thoroughly so you get every bit accounted for. Again, this is like a party in your mouth and I love it.
I liked this too. This is their Fried Salt and Pepper Fish. It's fried crispy on the outside, still soft and meaty on the inside. As mentioned earlier they go to the market every day in search for fish this good. The onions and veggies on top can be used together with the fish. I could have this on it's own when I'm on a diet. It's a good thing to have though with your whole family.
For those who still crave for more shrimp dishes, this one was consumed fast. It's called Vietnamese Salt and Pepper Prawns. If my hunch is right, they've probably got the same kind of breading as with the fish earlier. This however made it crispy that you can eat it all. I would probably do that and just leave the tail on the plate. This would be good for kids who want fried stuff too.
They really did save the best for last. This is the Special Vietnamese Fish Soup. I've never had anything like this at all. I thought it was going to be a little close to Tom Yum soup but it really wasn't. It tasted like a fish in a very tangy and fruity broth. We couldn't even feel any fishiness at all. I tried it with and without chili, and boy it was so good with it! Again, it is PERFECT with CHILI. They also use Chinese Kangkong so you're getting your money's worth. I like how the fruity notes end with hot stings, you MUST experience that. I would suggest you bring someone with you to have this with rice. This is a LOT but I'd have this for a family meal anytime!
For dessert, we had this one which is not on the menu. It's called Vietnamese Coffee Jelly. It's topped with a scoop of ice cream and if you love coffee, this is the perfect way to end your meal.
Now I love this one they call Special Mixed Beans. It's basically much like our local halo halo or iced cacang of Malaysia, but it's got it's own charm. They use coconut milk for this so it's totally different. They also have garbanzo beans in the mix (which I love) and some black beans, brown ones and white ones. It's earthy and has got just the right amount of sweetness. I love this a lot! Plus, it's not that expensive either.
For those who want something new to eat or if you're really adventurous about what you want to eat, come and experience Tra Vinh Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant in Quezon City. You can view the map here so you won't get lost.
In a nutshell, they're one of the most affordable restaurants in the district and according to the owner "We're not really known yet and we're here in this location for a trial basis and see if the Chinese community in Quezon City would accept the food we serve, and we feel it is. It's in our plans to open more branches in the next few years, probably from here going south." so if you're a little too far from the current location, be ready as they are planing to expand. For those who want real authentic Vietnamese food now, just head on to NS Amoranto street and find Tra Vinh Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant. It's very near Mc Donalds, right by the PARES joint. You can also just search the name of the restaurant on Google Maps and it'll take you there. Trust me on the Special Vietnamese Fish Soup.
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