Pares the way you like it
It is human nature to get used to things, and that means we can sometimes take some things for granted. I have to admit I’ve been to Tagaytay so many times that I didn’t put it in my priority list when I started to make travel plans again.
Drive up, have some bulalo and tawilis, visit a coffee shop with a view of Taal, take pictures and maybe splurge on dinner in the cool night air. That is the traditional and usual itinerary for a Tagaytay trip.
And while that is still a perfectly beautiful and enjoyable plan, I’ve gotten to try other things, hidden in plain sight, that may spice up your next trip there.
‘Hidden’ eats
I love bulalo as much as the next person, but it isn’t the only delicious Filipino dish available in Tagaytay. Gorio’s Roadside Restaurant may not easily be seen while driving along the ridge, but it’s worth the find. While its menu isn’t completely Filipino, I got to order two of my favorites: beef pares and a Filipino breakfast.
The pares is stewed beautifully with the beef chunks absolutely tender and the braising liquid has a nice balance of sweet and salty. It also comes with all the fix-ins on the side—from fried garlic to green onions to calamansi, so you can enjoy it the way you like it. Their breakfast platter was a feast with tapa, longganisa and biya, or the local salted fish, fried perfectly crisp.
The people at Gorio’s were nice enough to ask how I wanted the eggs done and they cooked the soft scrambled eggs competently. The kaong vinegar that came with the platter was nice as well.
Speaking of nice, their service was on point as well. Attentive without being obtrusive, the crew anticipates your needs—from aluminum foil to cover the portable stoves to keep the flames burning, or providing a blanket when the Tagaytay winds get too cold.
Outdoor seating with the wind in your hair as well as delicious Filipino food and attentive service? I’m in.
Coffee shops in Tagaytay are a dime a dozen, and why not? The views are spectacular, the weather is cool, and Amadeo—the coffee capital of Cavite—is just minutes away.
Tagaytay veterans have probably tried all the coffee shops along the ridge, but there’s one that may not be in everyone’s radar. Lula Cafe is actually inside of Monte Vista village, but even non-residents can visit.
Located at the clubhouse, they may not have a view of Taal, but the lush, green mountainside and the clubhouse pool below offer the same relaxing effect.
Apart from Lula’s delicious coffee, it has some pretty great food as well. I particularly liked the truffle poutine. The fries were done well, the gravy was flavorful, and the truffle cream aroma was not too overpowering. I guess I just miss a cheesy element to it but, still, it was enjoyable. The French toast with strawberries was another high point, with the sweetness levels just right, and the toast itself executed well.
If the point is to have a relaxing merienda and coffee, enjoying nature in Tagaytay while avoiding crowds, Lula Cafe might be the answer.
‘Hidden’ attractions
While it is well-known that one visits Taal Vista Hotel to get the best unencumbered view of Taal and Taal Lake, even a well-established institution like this can offer some surprises. Weather permitting, you can rent one of the white domes adorning the garden and then ask the hotel to set up a romantic dinner under the night sky.
The dome offers not only a little privacy for an intimate dinner, it also allows for the appreciation of the cool Tagaytay night air. The icing on the top is a lovely five-course dinner.
On my visit there, I had a lovely mushroom soup, a refreshingly bright salad, a delightfully spicy seafood pasta, a giant Black Angus steak cooked perfectly medium rare and a perfectly executed molten chocolate cake.
The staff members tell me that you can customize the menu to your liking and you can rest assured that just like my meal, most of their menu will utilize the freshest local ingredients, including fruits and vegetables grown in the hotel’s own garden.
If travelling with family, the domes can also be rented for afternoon picnics. Just inform the hotel, and the staff will set up the mats, pillows, tables and, of course, the food for you.
The picnic-for-four spread includes some of their lovely pizzas, baked fresh from their oven, as well as a cheese and charcuterie board and dessert petit fours.
The absolute highlight is that as you partake of the delicious picnic spread, you can easily step out to enjoy the beautiful sunset and gaze at the orange and sometimes pink hues that reveal a majestic view of the volcano.
One can’t live on a view alone, no matter how nice it is. If you’re looking for something interesting to do, Tagaytay is actually home to the largest jigsaw puzzle in the world.
The Puzzle Museum is just a few minutes away from most Tagaytay hotels, and for a modest fee, you can take a tour inside the museum, taking in the owner’s gigantic collection of jigsaw puzzles, large and small.
On the second floor, the top five largest ones—each easily containing thousands of pieces—are set up for photo-ops. Even non-museum fans won’t have a problem finding something interesting, and touring the whole museum will only take 30 minutes to an hour.
Fun in the open
Getting used to something doesn’t always mean the excitement is gone. It just means it deserves a second look. Even in familiar Tagaytay, new experiences can be had if one knows where to look.
