Tagaytay's Gourmet Café is worth visiting and
revisiting. The organic food it serves is always a pleasure.
An added attraction to the place is the
"Sanctuary", a serene place for contemplation at the back of the
restaurant and within the farm.
A group of senior citizens, daily mass goers
at the San Nicolas De Tolentino Parish in Quezon City decided to
treat their parish priest, Fr. Delfin Castillo, OAR, to a lunch
to celebrate his birthday.
It took us more than two hours from Quezon
City, notwithstanding EDSA's horrible traffic, to reach the
place.
Visitors need only exit at Sta. Rosa exit of
the South Luzon Expressway. Follow the road to Tagaytay, at the
junction, turn right to Aguinaldo Highway , it is on the right
side at kilometer 50.
That Wednesday, the café was full, aside from
our 13-member group, a group of Korean lady-tourists plus more
intimate groups of two to three each were enjoying the place.
The Koreans ordered the half a meter pizza
with beer plus salads. They obviously relished their choice, by
the sound of their oohs and ahhs.
The chef said the pizza not only looks good
but tastes good.
We ordered the garden salad. The aragula
leaves drizzled with olive oil were worth the two-hour trip.
The grilled seafood, which the waiter said
was good for three, was more than enough for four of us.
Their coffee partnered with apple pie were
perfect. Two shared on a slice, so it even tasted better.
We also bought pots of sweet basil and
rosemary , their coffee blend plus cookies in Café's roadside
store. The rosemary bush, when touched, gives off a most
pleasant smell.
The herb-laced cookies were delightful. No
they were not mj brownies.
A café staff member toured us at the
"sanctuary". The chapel was a sight to behold.
Statues of St. Joseph dot the garden and the
vicinity of the chapel. The garden, well manicured, was a
perfect place for contemplation. Ask for a guide, since you will
not be allowed to enter alone, considering that there is a
tabernacle at the chapel and the place's serenity needs to be
safeguarded.
Of course, we also went to Tagaytay market, bought meat and
fruits. Along the way, we also stopped at the roadside store
selling bird houses. Now the caimito tree in my garden has three
colorful birdhouses waiting for tenants.
