I've always known Antipolo to be the pilgrimage capital of the Philippines, or the place where one would bring his new vehicle for priests to bless. As a child, my family would visit the place once a year to pay homage to the Shrine of Good Voyage and attend the 7AM Mass. Afterwards, we would go around the food booths selling various suman, "kalamay" (sticky brown flat rice cakes) and roasted cashew nuts to bring home as pasalubongs.
Admittedly, I didn't expect much from this Kulinarya Antipolo tour. I pretty much depended on the recommendations of our food and travel guide Anton Diaz for the sites to visit. While this tour had more stops compared to our previous tours, it was a wonderfully balanced tour of food and art appreciation.
Rizal Dairy Farms
First stop was Rizal Dairy Farms of Jackie Hassig Alleje. Her organic farming methods and artisan style of production sets her milk, yoghurt and cheese products apart from the rest. Her products are mainly for the food service market though due to public demand, she has decided to offer her regular products in a few retail establishments such as Salcedo Market in Makati and Market, Market! at Fort Bonifacio.
Vieux Chalet
Next stop was Vieux Chalet which is found at Taktak Road, Antipolo City and is a small quaint place that is perfect for quiet dinners.
The place is right beside a bed and breakfast complete with Spa services which you may avail of. Chef Florence, a rather young chef and charming at that, served us her Swiss specialties, among them, my favorite which is the Osso Buco and their Homestyle Smoked Ham.
Casa Santa
After a rich and bountiful brunch, next stop was Casa Santa. Here, almost 3000 pieces of various Santa inspired items are on display. The house was converted to a sort of Santa Museum and is open to the public for a minimal entrance fee. Take all the pictures that you want while there.
Crescent Moon Cafe
Grab all the ceramics plates, pots and vases) you want at the Crescent Moon Cafe where you will also find Lanelle Abueva's Pottery. They sell ceramic creations by the kilo. I was able to get a couple of teapots for the price of one!
Benji Reyes' Home
For wood furniture aficionados, Benji Reyes' home is a showcase of sorts. His house is a fantastic representation of the Filipino artists' version of the finest wood furnitures and functional Pinoy architecture.
Dumalaon Bakery
Antipolo is also known for the Dumalaon Bakery. This is your not-so-typical neighborhood bakery as it sells sweet dough breads shaped into crabs, turtles, alligators and the famous Lechon. At Php10 per, one would think twice about eating the bread since it is just too pretty to be consumed.
Laya Private Dining
The final leg of our trip was a 5-course dinner at the Laya Private dining place run by young couple Irene and Ricky. This place boasts of a fantastic view of city lights and the cuisine is a mix of modern Pinoy and Asian fusion.
Find the time to visit Antipolo sometime. There is truly more that this place has to offer.
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