WHERE CULINARY MEETS HISTORY Enjoy authentic Filipino dishes with a story at Dekada in Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay
Here, classic and contemporary tastes merge well: the
restaurant’s interior features traditional and modern elements – wood and capiz
create a nostalgic atmosphere while industrial finishes and pop artworks of
Filipino heroes give it a touch of the present. The distinctive dining ambience
is even more endearing because of the tranquil vibe of its location inside
Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay.
Aside from ambience, its location also plays a role in its
offerings. As Tagaytay is known for its abundance of local produce, guests can
expect to feast on freshly prepared dishes made with ingredients that came
straight from the local market.
Dekada’s walk down Philippine history
starts with ‘Lumpiang Palabok’ – bite-sized palabok wrapped in rice paper with
grilled mahi-mahi. This is inspired by Antonio Pigafetta’s first account of the
Spaniards’ visit to the Philippines when they were served roast mahi-mahi with
rice wrapped in leaves.
There’s also the ‘Duweto ng Kinilaw’ – a serving of tanigue
ceviche in coconut milk and a serving of shrimp in vinegar with mango. Ceviche
or kinilaw was a pre-colonial way of cooking, especially popular in the Visayan
region.
Fresh greens are also abundant in the highland city – and Dekada
makes use of these through their ‘Ensaladas de Alianza’ or Salads of Alliance,
which refer to the first alliances of the Filipinos and Spaniards, inspired by
the best regional flavors. The ‘Legazpi’ (Sinuglaw Salad), for example, hails
from Cebu and Davao with its tanigue and smoked liempo, finished off with
Davao’s pomelo and sinamak vinaigrette, a famous spiced vinegar from
Iloilo.
Tourists, especially balikbayans, troop to Tagaytay not only to
savor the cool weather but also to enjoy a comforting bowl of soup. They
will surely find comfort in ‘Melchora’, Dekada’s version of chicken binakol
named after the “grand woman of the revolution.” Guests can also enjoy a hearty
bulalo named “La Solidaridad.'
Aligue Rice |
Homenajes Arroz or Rice Tributes refer to
the practice of offering rice to God as a token of gratitude for a good harvest
– and Dekada’s rice options go beyond the usual with ‘Benedictino’ (Aligue and
Alimasag fried rice), ‘Dominicano’ (Adobo Rice), ‘Franciscano’ (Dilis Rice) and
‘Agustino’ (Bagoong Rice).
Dekada’s main dishes involve a short history lesson on the ‘Sons
of the Revolution’, which includes ‘Del Pilar’ (chicken inasal), ‘Aguinaldo’
(twice-cooked adobo), and Pinoy-style oven-roasted chicken named ‘Ponce’.
Chicken Inasal |
The piece-de-resistance is named after National Hero Jose Rizal:
Sizzling bulalo steak made with Tagaytay’s freshest beef.
If you are in a celebratory mood, go ahead and indulge in the
‘Dekada Crispy Pata’ or choose its garlic version called the ‘Malvar’ for more
flavor.
Seafood items are also aplenty – and Dekada named them after
personalities and historical milestones during the American colonization
period. There’s the ‘Roosevelt’ – garlic and butter prawns and the ‘Murphy’ –
crispy plapla with eggplant.
Meanwhile, vegetable dishes refer to the Japanese invasion
period. The ‘Peralta’ (gising gising), the ‘Taruc’ (laing) and the ‘Hukbalahap’
(pinakbet) all make use of Tagaytay’s fresh greens. It can also be seen
in soup dishes such as ‘Abcede’ (sinigang na sugpo), the ‘Ingeniero’ (sinigang
na spareribs), and the ‘Gumbang Piang’ (sinigang na salmon head).
After history, Dekada moves into pop
culture territory with its Crazy Rich Asian Bowls. These are decadent rice
bowls that will surely be a hit with its sumptuous servings and delectable
Asian-inspired flavors: Angus Beef Tapa, Chicken Inasal Satay, Gourmet Spicy
Tuyo, Muscovado Beef Pares, and more!
Of course, all gastronomic journeys must
have a sweet ending. Choose from ‘Sweet Nostalgia’, a medley of chocolate cake,
vanilla ice cream, and banana Q. There's also the creative ‘Suman at
Mangga Pandan Crepe Rolls’, ‘Choknut Turon ala Mode’ and the ‘Taho at Kesong
Puti Cheesecake’ – truly divine and Filipino!
For drinks, Dekada offers its ‘Thirst for
Freedom’ lineup: fresh juice and shake flavors like dalandan, calamansi, and
watermelon as well as dessert drinks like Ube Shake and Mango Sago.
All-day merienda fares like Pancit Palabok, Pancit Bihon,
tokwa’t baboy, okoy, and palitaw are also available.
Lastly, don’t leave Dekada without taking home its very own
version of buko pie. The Buko Crumble Pie is filled with soft coconut meat with
a warm pie crust topped with delectable crumble that is perfect with coffee or
tea.
Want to experience authentic Filipino dining that goes beyond
the plate? Visit Dekada where you can learn the stories of our nation as you
share the goodness of Philippine cuisine.
Dekada is located in Royale Parc Hotel Tagaytay, Emilio
Aguinaldo Highway, Silang Junction West, Tagaytay City. It is open daily,
from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call 0923-0889055, 0915-6959588,
(02) 984-1297 or (046) 402-1980, or send email to:
sales.royaleparctagaytay@gmail.com. Visit Facebook (Royale Parc Hotel
Tagaytay) or IG (@royaleparc.tagaytay).
No comments