An epic Davao food trip with Sooo Pinoy Day 2

Good morning Davao! After waking up early on the second day and finishing my rituals, I was still among the last ones to arrive at the assembly area – Microtel’s lobby. I was glued to the television waiting for the Sooo Pinoy feature of the local GMA station on its morning show UNA KA BAI.

We saw ourselves from a different perspective and good thing we didn’t come out a “gluttons” on TV. Little did I know that the angle of my face specifically my jaw would start what would be a PANGAstronomic journey.

Buffets form part a large of the Davao gastronomic scene and I had my first at Probinsya serving Balbacua (a gingery version of the Ilonggo pata), Kare-kare, Lechon Liempo, Laing and assorted kakanin.

Lucky is the restaurant that is featured during breakfast as everything they serve will become delicious – we’re all hungry. But in fairness to Probinsya they really did serve good food – especially the lechon liempo. Read more about Probinsya.

Just a few meters (and minutes) away was lunch in one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in town – Ahfat Seafood Plaza. Mind you, there were three Ahfat restos next to each other at the Victoria Carpark Complex and we almost lost our way.

I liked the open kitchen concept as diners can watch how their orders are being prepared and cooked. There we had our first galore of tuna - Grilled Panga (jaw), Belly and Buntot (tail) plus grilled Bihod (sac of fish roe) and Bagaybay (the male equivalent) and the Pineapple Rice - both a visual and palate treat. Even if we just had breakfast, hunger set in as we saw what the restaurant had prepared for us. And the PANGA adventure started. Read More about Ahfat Seafoods Plaza.

And we really got lost as we trooped to our next food destination – D’ Leonor Hotel. But travelled far and wide almost reaching the hillsides as we went to D Leonor Resort, I have no idea where. At long last, we found the right place, which was actually just right across the street outside the carpark – just a walking distance!

Anyway, D’ Leonor Hotel gave samplers of their Special Roasted Chicken with Napoli Sauce, Fiesta Lapu-lapu and Leche Flan. Finally dessert and their leche flan with lemon zest was quite good – or maybe it was the fact it was of different taste. Nonetheless, it was it made up for our “lost gastronomy”.

We were at the right place but seeing all the trees and greeneries around The Ritz Hotel justified the “Garden Oases” part of its name. Actually, it was our second time there that day, as we entered it during our “lost hours”. Nonetheless, The Ritz was among the most prepared as aside from the food, a sort of conference room was set up just for the event.

There we had tasting portions of Bulalo ala Nilaga, Kinilaw na Tanigue and Pinakbet ala Bicol Express with Lechon Kawali. I gorged on the Pinakbet for I need a lot of fiber intake (aside from my C-Lium of course) for that day.

We, again, got lost in gastronomic translation as we found ourselves in another branch of E.Y.s Tuna Restaurant. At least I got a clear shot of the restaurant logo and the Sooo Pinoy banner that I forgot when arrived at the real one.

It was another feast with Adobong Bagaybay, Crispy Tuna Buntot, Tuna PANGA, Crispy Crablets, Grilled Pacol (looked like a very large tilapia) and Chicken ala Mode (chicken adobo with chocolate), among others. Yup adobo with chocolate, which at first I thought to be quail eggs. Actually they were just “garnishing”, as the chicken adobo tasted well, just like chicken adobo. And the rice had rice noodle garnishing too!

Not lost this time and capping our second night was dinner or I would say a fiesta at Flyover Ihaw-Ihaw. There we met old friends - Sizzling Bagaybay, Chicken, Pork and Liver Barbecue, Bulalo, Grilled Tuna, Kare-kare, and Grilled Bihod. But we also met new acquaintances like Chopsuey, Sizzling Sisig, Sizzling Seafood, Pancit Canton and big, I mean large bananas.

They also had an open kitchen concept with all the smoke and sizzles reaching out to the guests. They also had fresh displays of food and we all finally saw what a raw bagaybay looked like.

And we had our first “night out” in Davao! Believe or not, not even SIX restaurants could fill us up and we directly headed to Café Firenzo just outside our hotel. We just wanted to get some hot tea so “clean the excesses out” but seeing “gelato” and “yoghurt” together gave us no reason to think twice and ordered a large cup.

It was a welcome break from the usual taste of grilled, fried, barbecue, kinilaw, soup, and yes PANGA.

So Day 2 of our epic Davao food trip with Sooo Pinoy has just ended and the word “beach” made us all excited for our third day as our eatinery promised some “sand, sea and surf”. SEA you “tomorrow” …

Filipinos are encouraged to join and support the Sooo Pinoy movement, a partnership between Unilever Food Solutions and the Department of Tourism, and go on a gastronomic adventure that both fills the stomach and enriches our awareness of our own identity. To know more about the campaign, food lovers are invited to like the Sooo Pinoy page on Facebook and follow @SoooPinoy on Twitter

Sooo Pinoy Epic DAVAO Food Trip: June 25-29, 2012

DAY 1: Round up | Dencio's Kamayan | Grand Regal Hotel | Barbeque Boss

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