A first-timer's tour of Davao

DAVAO — Noted as the Philippines’ fruit basket capital and Mindanao’s most visited city, Davao is ideal for travelers seeking a resort getaway, and looking to enjoy both local and international gourmet dishes.

I made my first impression of the city when I arrived at the Davao airport, which looks better than Manila airports with clean restrooms stocked with soap, tissue and paper towels. 

Getting around the city by taxi is very convenient. Drivers are knowledgeable and polite and will give your change exactly, up to the last centavo. 

I stayed at the Cabana View Deck of Marco Polo Davao with high-speed Internet connection. I also had privileged access to the Continental Lounge, where breakfast and afternoon snacks are served and private business meetings can be held.

Marco Polo Davao is known for its Lotus Court Chinese restaurant. Their Yin-Yang Garoupa (oversized lapu-lapu with two types of sauces), chocolate filled buchi, and salted-egg ice cream are some of the must-try dishes.

The newly reopened Café Marco serves lunch and dinner buffets featuring a sumptuous mix of Davao delicacies and continental cuisine.

During my three-day stay, these were the places I enjoyed and which showed Davao to be a sophisticated city:

Lazuli Spa

Sample works of students from Patternmaking class at Fashion Institute of Design and Arts.

Located at the fourth floor of the Marco Polo’s Deck, this bi-level space has four relaxing spacious rooms and one couple’s suite. I chose to pamper myself with the De-Stress Your Tresses hair treatment, Organic Rice and Ginger Rub body scrub and Aromatherapy massage.

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Bon Appétit La Boutique

This French boutique/restaurant, owned by Rosalie and Yves Monestier, has on its menu a majority of family recipes. Their apple tarte tatin topped with whipped cream is very similar to the ones I’ve tried in Paris. The walls are decorated with cute little baskets filled with French artisanal soaps, pillowed dried lavender, and traditionally jarred duck confit and foie gras — all imported from the South of France.

Plaza del Carmen, Loyola street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City

Tel. (082) 321-2579

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Swiss Deli And Restaurant

Ideal for wine and cheese lovers, with an old-style cellar that stocks a good collection of New and Old World wines. Locally made sausages, sandwiches, and pasta dishes are served at reasonable prices.

J.P. Laurel Avenue, Lanang, Davao City (across the street from the Damosa Building)

Tel. (082) 234-0271

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Yin Yang Garupa is a must-try dish at Lotus Court. The breaded fish fillets are cooked separately in tausi and honey sauces.

Binggoy’s Gourmet

Probably my favorite place to eat in Davao. The restaurant was named after the husband of Baby Montemayor, who said, “Everything in the menu is Binggoy-approved.”

Her tuna assortments are one-of-a-kind as she uses traditional ingredients to create gourmet dishes.

My top three dishes are salted egg kinilaw (without vinegar); seared tuna with pomelo, green mango, ubod and guava salad; and grilled tuna panga with light curry sauce and mango.

Villa Margarita Hotel. J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City

Tel. (082) 221-5674

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Kusina Selera

A perfect place to dine if you’re looking for traditional Filipino comfort food. Their best-selling dishes are crispy tadyang and crispy pata. For regional specialties, they serve imbao soup (mangrove clams in ginger broth), sizzling bagaybay (tuna male egg wrapped in bacon), and the famous signature dessert buchitaw — a unique fusion of Chinese buchi and palitaw.

Legaspi Suites Compound 115 P. Pelayo Street, Davao City

Tel. (082) 221-2695

Malagos’ artisanal cheeses and chocolate tableas are traditionally harvested and prepared at their farmhouse.

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Malagos Farmhouse

Owned and managed by Olive Puentespina, the only artisanal cheese maker in the Philippines as far as we know. At present, she has developed 22 kinds of cheese ranging from different types of feta, rustico, chevre, goat cheese, and even kesong puti. Her cheeses are very much in-demand in deli stores and hotels in Manila.

Bolcan Street, Agdao, Davao City

Tel. (082) 226-4446

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Center For Asian Culinary Studies

Operated by Mindanao’s prime mover in tourism industry, Gene Bangayan and celebrity gourmet chef Gene Gonzalez, this Davao branch was established to highlight the city’s local ingredients and distinctive traditional cooking techniques.

The school offers full- and short-course programs in cooking, baking and pastry, wine, health nutrition, chocolate artistry, and food business management. 

Holiday Gym and Spa Complex, F. Torres Street, Davao City

Tel. (082) 300-2992

http://www.cacsche.com

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Bon Appetit’s jarred foie gras is imported from South of France. 

Fashion Institute Of Design And Arts

Established in 2009, it’s the first fashion school in Mindanao that offers a full fashion curriculum — from design, merchandising, clothing technology, photography, and makeup artistry.

544 Ricardo Street (corner Manga Street) Juna Subdivision Matina, Davao City

Tel. (082) 304-3007

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Special thanks to Meghann Sta. Ines and Patty Basa of Marco Polo Davao; Harold Geronimo and Ginny Guanco of Strategic Works, Inc.