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Sharing a light moment
That's me( far right) with Explore Philippines members and Jay Herrera of KInabuhayan Cafe, where we spent a very relaxing and serene weekend in July. Thank God it wasn't raining that time. Enchanting, Enthralling Kinabuhayan Cafe
By: Amihan
It's not often that I find a place that speaks to my heart and soul. As a travel writer for a little more than two decades, I have been to and experienced several destinations here in the country, but I must admit that Kinabuhayan Cafe takes away the cake when it comes to "extraordinary" hideaways.
For one, Kinabuhayan Cafe Bed and Breakfast is more than your typical restaurant cum hostel. "It is a sanctuary that reflects the mystical beauty and natural powers of Mt. Banahaw. Designed by well-known production designer Jay Herrera, Kinabuhayan Cafe has two-story open-air huts and tree-dwellings offering a view of indigenous flora and natural flowing landscapes," thus goes the description in the cafe's website.
It is the open-air huts which intrigued me. I guess I've been used to resorts with enclosed rooms. The "kubos" here have no walls, the downstairs portion is the receiving area with a hammock, bamboo sofa, cushions with "banig" design, some impressive looking antiques and a television set, which delighted my son. "I thought we’re in a jungle Ma, with no electricity, but look, they have TV here", he enthused
Welcome folks!
The entrance to Kinabuhayan Cafe ushers guests to a different world. and promptly switched channels to his favorite cartoon network.
The upstairs part is a ceiling space/loft which is actually the sleeping quarters. The kubo's set-up makes it an ideal haven for families, groups and "barkadas". Seeking a refuge from their daily grind.
Winston Baltasar and his partner, production designer, Jay Herrera, managed to turn the place into an enchanting repository of art, an oasis of verdant greenery and a gourmet restaurant. Our group, composed of die-hard wanderlusts and avid photography enthusiasts immediately felt at home in the very relaxing ambiance of Kinabuhayan Cafe.
"It's so peaceful here," Jessica, one of the workshop's participants said.
Indeed, the cafe exudes a serene stillness. Here, time seems to stand still and we could all forget about work and pressing deadlines. We immersed ourselves in the pristine surroundings while intently listening to Ocs Alvarez's pointers on photography.
In the evening, I sat at the cafe's entrance lit by capiz paper lanterns and listened to the night sounds with my senses keenly alive.
Rarely do I experience such a peaceful interlude, a reprieve from my usual hectic pace as a working single mother. Coming here was a
JM in a relaxed mood
My cute son, JM relaxes inside a kubo amidst the enchanting antique decors. The television set in the background is the only concession to modernity. real treat which shall be part of my treasured memories forever.
Our compliments to the Chef
Jay, we discovered is not only a talented production designer but also a ,aster chef. He whiffs up a delectable array of dishes which he proudly dubs as “Pinoy Gourmet", read, Philippine food with a European flavor, like Risotto with black mushrooms topped with goat kaldereta sauce. Chesa samosas stuffed with ground pork with chili and oyster sauce. Jay proudly calls this dish 'chesmosa'. Bean sprout salad on the side together with white wine. Buko pandan ice cream with buli palm fruit topped with passion fruit liqueur for our dessert.
We were ravenous when we arrived at Kinabuhayan Café in the early afternoon of that glorious Saturday (no rains and the weather was perfect). Thus, it was no surprise that we practically devoured the sumptuous lunch prepared by jay and his assistants,
Pork Estofado thickly glazed in pineapple. Crispy fried squash fritters wedged on steamed rice. A salad of grilled capsicum, eggplant and tomatoes set in a coiled steamed stringbean, drizzled with fresh basil and cheese dressing. Dessert of sweet potato or yam cooked
Pinoy gourmet food
Kinabuhayan Cafe serves delicious and nutritious Filipino cuisine, such as 'pork estofado'. in pandan and syrup, served on crisp open fried springroll wrapper and topped with cream.
The cafe also serves grilled lamb chops, risotto topped with lamb stew, and papaya with pesto sauce on the side. Buli palm fruit with pineapple, lychees topped with mango rum liqueur for dessert.
Another winner is rice topped with black mushrooms and garlic, sautéed in olive oil, grilled tilapia fillet marinated in Japanese miso and white wine smothered with lily flowers in fresh tomato sauce seasoned with salted black geans and topped with fried tofu. Salad is fern ( pako ), bean sprouts, sayote and tomatoes, all fresh with shiitake mushroom and grilled capsicum, drizzled with special dressing. Dessert is sweet potato in syrup on a crisp wafer topped with cream and drizzled with passion fruit liqueur plus pandan coffee and pandan tea.
Not to be left out is the mouth-watering grilled duck with mango glaze, prawns with sticky rice, coconut, tomato, basil and saffron, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed, and our very own native dishes, such as Manok sa gata with alibangbang and other herbs, pinaupong manok sa asin and tortellini.
Contact details
Before coming to Kinabuhayan Cafe, please book with: Winston Baltasar
0917 327 1106
0917 524 1106
kina_cafe@yahoo.com
website is www.klar.us/kinabuhayan_cafe
Getting there:
To reach Kinabuhayan Cafe in Dolores Quezon, take the Batangas Lucena exit 41 km from the Shell Magallanes station. Follow the road to Sto. Tomas, Batangas.
After seven km, after the long islands on the road, take a left when the road forks where the Laurel statue with the raised clenched fist is. Around 3 km later, take a left at the large intersection with the isuzu bldg heading towards San Pablo, Quezon. 8km later is the town of Alaminos, Quezon.
Five km after Alaminos is San Pablo Welcome arch. Six km after is Brgy. San Ignacio arch. 1km after is Meralco Building on left side. Soon after, take road on the left with Bato Springs resort sign.
The road ends in a T intersection. Turn left to town of Dolores. Turn left on Dejarme St. Sign is Paaralan Central ng Dolores. Kinabuhayan Café is on the right side. The directions are +/- 1 km accurate. There are some forks in the national road where one turns into town propers. Do not enter the towns but follow the national road.
Note that Kinabuhayan cafe is named after Barangay Kinabuhayan which is the entrance to the mountain. We are in Dolores town and if you ask for Kinabuhayan Cafe, you might be directed to Barangay Kinabuhayan which is outside of the town.
Restaurant: set meals are 500 pesos per head, including main course, with salad, dessert, and bottomless coffee and tea. Kiddie meals are 250 pesos per head. Please tell us if you are vegetarian or have any special preferences.
Bed & Breakfast: Each hut can accomodate 2 to 8 people (10 people if mountaineers want to pack themselves in). Overnight stay + breakfast is 250 pesos per head for mountaineers (minimum six for a kubo) and 500 pesos per head for others (minimum two to a kubo).
The tree house can accomodate 4 people. Same rate as above (minimum four people for mountaineers and two people for others.
Seminar venue for 20 to 60 people
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