Antonio’s at Tagaytay

Numerous people have written about Antonio’s. Even more have been there. And almost all who go end up falling in love with the place. Such at least, was the case for me.

Sent out on the road again to do a travel segment on Camarines Sur and then Bicol, the former a water sports, namely wakeboarding, wonderland, the latter a region known for the massive, majestic whale sharks who migrate there between February to May, I’d invited some friends to join me for the weekend. Work and pleasure, it’s the balance to life right?

So up and early we were on Friday morning, off to the airport and on time we arrived (unusual for Filipinos; more so for Manilenos, where traffic is unpredictable and snail paced at best).  Yes, all was looking good! We were on the plane and after an hour of flight time the curve of Cam Sur’s coastline could be seen ahead. Then, the announcement came:

“We will be returning to Manila due to rain. Our apologies for any conveniences.”

What? What rain?! Meteorological expert I am not, but eyes, I most certainly do have. And as for an inconvenience, your apology ain’t going to cut it, sir! In the past, I have been known to handle such situations — the big fat wastes of time — poorly. I once accidentally frightened a Chilean travel desk assistant into comping me a room at a 5-star hotel due to a plane delay for fear of her life; and in Spanish nonetheless.

But at this moment in time, my friend Jean seemed the most unnerved, so I thought I’d step back and let her take it for the team. Watching someone else fume is surprisingly tranquillising, I discovered! Thankfully, our other two companions threw in a dose of extra calm plus a fantabulous plan into the mix and by that evening we were already en route out of town for an Adventure Plan B.

At just one to two hours drive out of town, Tagaytay is a popular day trip for foreigners or a weekend getaway for Manila locals seeking to escape the chaos of the capital. With its backdrop of Taal Volcano and Lake Taal which surrounds it, it’s spectacularly beautiful too.

There was much debate between my friends — brother-sister combo and fierce Filipino foodies — about where we would be eating lunch the next day, but it was clear there was only two true contenders for Tagatay: Antonio’s and Sonia’s.  As lunch swung round, and cravings for a certain Antonio this, oh oh and a particular that! grew stronger, the winner was named in a decisive knockout: Antonio’s it was.

Antonio’s food is not in the blow you away category, but it is very good. The ingredients — some grown in the garden outside, others imported — were top class and you could taste it. The vegetables in particular were fresh, crisp and flavoursome — a welcomed respite from the meat-laden, heavy dishes that dominate most Filipino menus. Indeed the menu here is not Filipino; a collection rather from chef Antonio’s travels around the world, with a range scaling the Reuben sandwich to truffle oil infused duck breast with foie gras and braised red cabbage (highly recommended). In fact, I’m told he blew off dentistry to study culinary arts in Adelaide, Australia, such was his passion for food.

This is my kind of man.

The experience however at Antonio’s is Filipino, and it’s the experience at this stunning venue — tall ceilinged, white walled and open planned — that truly defines it. Nestled on a tropical mountaintop and cooled with a pleasant palm tree breeze, Antonio’s is a place that takes your breath away, a place that you think ‘this is how my (future) place will be (*keep dreaming*),  the big wooden doors with their dark brass handles at the entry a portal to another world.

If being a popular location for high profile Filipino weddings isn’t testament enough, the table opposite us just so happened to be filled with a group of Manila’s top chefs who, like us, seemed to be equally enjoying the laid back vibe and colonial Spanish décor that Antonio has so skillfully put together.

Or maybe I’m in love and simply bias.

Tagged as: Antonio's, Eating in Tagaytay, Lake Taal, Taal Volcano, Tagaytay