An organic picnic at Orchard Valley Farm in Pavia, Iloilo

It was a perfect Saturday morning - the sun was shining bright, a steady warm breeze blowing, birds are chirping their sweetest songs, the countryside emits a fresh aroma.

And the day couldn't have started much better than a picnic under a mango tree at Orchard Valley Farm in Pavia, Iloilo.

I have been to this organic farm twice and this third time, so to speak, is a charm.

And nothing's more charming and welcoming than a breakfast in the shade of a mango tree with all of Orchard Valley Farm's organic produce.

That Saturday breakfast was a gathering of foodies which includes well known chefs and restaurateurs - Claude Tayag, Jessie Sincioco and Jill Sandique.

They flew in to Iloilo as guests of the Department of Tourism Region 6 headed Atty. Helen Catalbas.

A picture perfect morning
Photo courtesy of Ms. Junel Ann

They were to take part in the culminating activity of the International Cuisine training which was part of the “Destination Marketing Project” aimed to strengthen the capacity and standards of Iloilo City for meetings, events, conventions or conferences and exhibitions or events (MICE) and make it at par with international tourism destinations.

The project was formed through the memorandum of agreement signed between the Iloilo Business Club (IBC), the Local Government Support Project - Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED), and other stakeholders to strategically market Metro Iloilo and Guimaras (MIG) as a premier MICE tourism destination.

With chilled fresh buko juice as welcome drinks, Mr. Johnny Que, who owns Orchard Valley Inc., toured the guests throughout his organic farm which had herbs and vegetable plantation, milk production facility, vermicompost, orchards, seeding nursery, bee farm and cows-goats and lambs among others.

Breakfast turned out to be a showcase of the best organic produce Orchard Valley has to offer.

Meticulously prepared and arranged beautifully by Chef Con, that the guests from Manila likened it a picnic "under the Tuscan sun".

We had a basket of different variants of sweet potato - golden, white and the tapul which at first glance looks like ube or purple yam

On the other side were glasses of yogurt usually served at Nothing but Desserts. We had fun concocting our own blend from the fresh strawberries (from their farm in Bucari, Leon), raspberries and honey.

All organic. All fresh. My own yogurt mix. Yum-yum

Mulberries!

We meet again, Bucari-grown strawberries!

One of the more popular items were the kesong puti - all natural, all organic. They came in variants like pimiento, pepper and a lot more. One can just pop them in or bathe them in olive oil.

There's also this plate of mozzarella cheese balls with cherry tomato and basil leaves.

Fresh fruits came in droves - guava, star apple and Indian mangoes ...

Boiled sab-a, that we topped with latik ...

Red lady variety papaya

There was also a sample of labog or roselle, which is mainly used a souring ingredient in some Ilonggo dishes.

Aside from the fresh buko juice, we also had mint-passion fruit coolers and Orchard Valley fresh milk.

With all these delicious food, the ambient setting, the good company - it was indeed a morning affair to remember. And you too can also have this kind of moment as Orchard Valley will be open to tours and brunch star this month.

Just check out these posters or drop them a message on the farms Facebook Page.

Orchard Valley Inc. is located in Brgys. Tigum and Pagsanga-an, Pavia, Iloilo. It is accessible via the C1 road from Leganes/Tagbak area or Ungka or through the poblacion of the municipality of Pavia. You can also contact them through 033-337-3510 local 104, 033-335-0935, 0932-876-6673 or 0922-892-3415.

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FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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