DAVAO FOODIE ONLINE

When dining out in Davao City, there's a shadow of undecided look and sneaking eyes roaming around the corner. Once you get past the overwhelming question of where to eat, you're still faced with the menu: WHAT TO ORDER?

VINES by Garden Cafe, is the new Thai restaurant in Davao—owned by Chef Rayhan William Teo.

College: Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship (ICHEF) Davao City

Course: Culinary Management (2010-2014)

Additional Studies: International Culinary Center (formerly: French Culinary Institute)Manhattan, New York City

Course: Professional Culinary Arts Program

Chef Rayhan started cooking way back High School, he cooked for his family and friends. Just a simple dishes that usually learn from the internet as nothing was accessible during that time, unless they would go out to eat as a family in local restaurants in Davao City. His knowledge of food was very limited but cooking was his go to thing on Sunday's. His parents noticed that he did fairly well with it and decided to let him choose what he wanted to do later on in life. He timidly answered "to be a chef". But of course he had already taken other entrance exams to different colleges. Some were for I.T. and one was for Biology, which was kind of funny since he was not the type of person who would sit down and read a books. Even so, his parents were very supportive and told him, he should go and do what he wanted to which he was to enroll in a culinary school. He was very lucky to have a supportive family who saw what he wanted and gave him the chance to do it. Every opportunity he had in life would not have been possible if it wasn't for his parents and family.

Vines offers family-style meals—provides an easy answer to both of these questions, where to eat and what to order.

There's a lot of Thai restaurants in Davao, but sad to say some didn't survive. One of the factors is the difficulty in finding some of the ingredients in the city. So, the decision of having a Thai restaurant was diverted to a cafe that is to cater students and their parents since the cafe is just fronting the school. Sadly, pandemic came and almost businesses were closed. And during the hard lock down and the lowering of the quarantine level, the cafe opened however sales were still low and customers are rarely to be seen.

The cafe suffered a lot that's why they started to sell and market online a few of their original Thai dishes that were supposed to be there from the beginning. And noticed that a larger portion of their sales was from PAD THAI and SATAY.

PAD THAI

PORK / CHICKEN SATAY
Photo Credit to Anna Alfafara

A sign that they need to change in order for their cafe to survive, so Garden Cafe become VINES—a Modern Thai Restaurant. There menu is small at the moment but slowly planning to add more item, made it more pleasing to the Filipino taste, while still trying to keep the Thai food essence.

It's a very Thai way to eat, a new experienced in Davao City. A modern style, but countryside Thai. Very homey and unmodifiable, served dishes that's good for two.

Even your Filipino palates will find solace with their Hot & Spicy TOM YUM SOUP (SHRIMP).

For those who seek spice without that heat, better try their THAI GREEN CURRY CHICKEN. A way different with turmeric curry chicken, this time a chicken meat in a rich coconut milk added with some veges.

One of my favorite, THAI BAGOONG RICE. What I like about this dish is that it may taste a little different because of the herbs and spices used for this recipe.

It taste like our owned home-made fried rice, but it cook different because of its ingredients. The taste of a shrimp paste, dried shrimp, green mango, chilli peppers, tomato, onion, dried minced garlic into one dish. You have to simply mixed it together on a plate, and the delightful aroma of different ingredients will surely hit your nose.

Every bite, you will feel the crunchy fried dried shrimp and the mixed combination of sweetness & sourness of the mango. For me, it's more than just a dish!

By the time you get to dessert, the choice is especially easy: as of now they serve simple menu, which will change eventually. Who can't resist MANGO STICKY RICE? The taste of this tropical rice pudding is irresistible—love to eat it again and again.

Order this! It taste heavenly and scrumptious

And for drinks, the famous THAI ICED TEA and FRUIT REFRESHER.

Fruit Refresher

THAI ICED TEA

Located at The Coral Quays Building, Ground floor. V.Mapa Street corner Panganiban Street in front of Davao Christian High School

FACEBOOK: VINES by Garden Cafe

INSTAGRAM: @vinesbygardencafe

For delivery, please call (082) 293 3392 or mobile number 0928 353 1845

Open from Monday-Saturday

10:30am - 7:00pm

The pandemic really change our lifestyle. And now, we've all had to adapt to a new way of living and working. We know that lockdown and the effects hinders people to go out and do their regular routines, they prefer to stay at home. That is why Jollibee launched their first-ever Cloud Kitchen at Tampines, Singapore.

Cloud kitchens are unmarked
food production and delivery hubs without any dine-in facility in discreet and lower rent urban locations. The opening of Jollibee Singapore’s inaugural cloud kitchen last August 10, 2020, comes as demand for its food delivery continues to grow significantly.

The Jollibee Tampines Cloud Kitchen employs the same heightened safety standards that can be seen in all Jollibee Singapore outlets. The crew wear masks at all times and follow physical distancing and stringent food safety protocols.

The business contribution of Jollibee Singapore’s Delivery has more than quadrupled compared to last year – from 10% in 2019 to 45% in 2020.

“As cloud kitchens roll out, we will be able to reach more consumers and fulfill more
orders. The Jollibee Group is able to expand more quickly and cost-efficiently through this innovative store model, while maintaining the same safety and quality standards of our
food,” said Ernesto Tanmantiong, Chief Executive Officer of the Jollibee Group.

The cloud kitchen in Singapore is the third cloud kitchen to open in the Jollibee Group, with more slated to open soon. Cloud kitchens are part of the Jollibee Group’s overall transformation strategy to adapt to new customer habits and meet the continued strong demand for delivery amid the pandemic.

Customers may order from the Jollibee Tampines Cloud Kitchen via FoodPanda, GrabFood, and Deliveroo. Delivery riders employ contactless procedures to help ensure food safety.

Jollibee Group opened its very first cloud kitchen in the UAE last March, which continues
to outperform targets.

In the US, its recently opened cloud kitchen in Chicago’s bustling River North neighborhood was also well-received.

Tampines is a residential area in the region of Tanah Merah located in the East Region
of Singapore. The Jollibee cloud kitchen in Singapore is open from 10 am to 8 pm.

***

JOLLIBEE IDEA IS GREAT!

We face all these challenges, we shift and evolve to the new norms and not to forget to ensure that they will continue to provide great customer service needed during this challenging and unpredictable time.

Congratulations Jollibee Singapore! 👌😉❤

Davaoeños are always in search of something new just to satisfy their cravings. Alas! There's a new restaurant that offers good food and good ambiance as well, we stumbled upon TWIN HERB BISTRO + CAFE, located along Bajada St., fronting Davao Water District.

The place is so simple looking at the outside, but when you get inside it's amazingly instagrammable. The green plants are eye catching, you feel that you're like in a garden having a great day in a place far away from the city.

TWIN HERB BISTRO+CAFE is owned by Attorney Tating Cabañero — who also behind the kitchen as a Chef. She told us that the name of the store came from an idea, that her mom has a TWIN and they used HERB in most of their dishes. With her love and passion in cooking food, and the likes of her families and friends to see her cooking make her more inspired in making good cuisines and everyone loves her food indeed, that's why, TWIN HERB was born.

Twin Herb is the new bistro + cafe at the Northern side of Davao City that serves local and international cuisines and what I like more about it, the way they prepare the food — very presentable. They do fusion food, but still emphasize the original taste of the dish, very delicious in my palate that you can't resist to come back again.

Here are my chosen favorite dishes at Twin Herb, though they give us more on this to taste, but I prefer these on my list:

If you're going to visit the North side of the city, please do come and dine at TWIN HERB Bistro + Cafe. I highly recommend these foods & drinks, because it really satisfies my cravings.

Price is reasonable, suited a budget meal good for 2 and more meals palate.

Not just a big place right now, but soon to open their second floor to cater to big crowds, like meetings, birthdays, etc., Incredible menu and excellent dishes are served and we couldn't say which was the best; all are so good!

The location is easy to find, fronting DCWD Bajada and parking area is right outside the restaurant.

Staff were very friendly and helpful. Love the family atmosphere.

Operating hours: Monday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm.

Congratulations TWIN HERB BISTRO + CAFE, wish you success and love to visit your place again and again. Thank you!

Watch video here: Twin Herb Bistro + Cafe

A lovely surprise at Duterte Street, I live here in Davao City and lately I discovered that there are so many places in this area that offer good services and great food — one of this is the newest lounge that open 24 hours from Monday to Sunday.

DAVAO LOUNGE CAFE RESTAURANT & BUSINESS CENTER, a newly refurbished building in a corporate style lounge has been designed with warm and contemporary feel. Carefully styled in a hotel ambiance offering great food & good service for their clients.

Their menu is based on high quality local raw ingredients, along with the best imported ingredients from around the world. But take note, the price is super reasonable. There is a wide selection to choose from, including fresh salads, St. Peters fish, etc, they also have a Millenial Combo, their budget menu meal, great for students and office workers.

Again, they are OPEN 24 hours from Monday to Sunday.

The restaurant is Muslim friendly, they don't serve pork at all!

They also have a good WiFi Connectivity.

Here are some of their menu:

APPETIZER

TUNA KINILAW

SOUP

BOULABAISE

PASTA

SEAFOOD PASTA

RICE - Asian Rice Platter

MAIN COURSE:

ARDIENTE BULALO

ORANGE - PINEAPPLE WITH HONEY GLAZE

DEEP FRIED ST. PETER FISH

BEEF SALPICAO

DESSERTS

BROWNIE SUNDAE for Valentine's Day Celebration. A must try dessert, so chewy, smooth and yummy! 😋

And for my drinks, I choose BANANA MILKSHAKE.

They also have a subdivided venue for good business discussions or a small party or event — the DAVAO VIP LOUNGE. It can accommodate small or big corporate meetings, and served buffet with a wide choice of local and international dishes.