Experiencing SM Lanang Premier's Davao Gourmet Collective

The celebration of Kadayawan Festival in Davao for this year is filled with equal amount of anticipation and caution. Indeed, the looming threats of terrorism almost prompted the city mayor to postpone this year's activities for the biggest festival in the city in fear that innocent Davaoenos might be put in danger due to terror threats. Thankfully, the mayor opted to push through with the events and instead tightened security to ensure the safety of all locals and tourists joining in the fun festivities!

Personally, I am a fan of the Kadayawan Festival and the festive atmosphere it brings to the entire city. Indeed, there are several activities lined up for the entire month, whether you are seeking out food, music, live entertainment, and other showcases. I've mentioned before that I am looking forward to the food festivals because it is a great opportunity to see what foodie finds are in store for Davaoenos and to introduce the artisan food purveyors to the rest of us who did not know they even exist! Thus, I rushed to SM Lanang Premier on the last day of Kadayawan Festival to catch The Davao Gourmet Collective and sample some of the foodie treats in store.

I've previously been to the Kapuso Food Festival and indulged in gastronomic delights. But I was more impressed with the lineup at The Davao Gourmet Collective that I knew I can't afford to miss it. Here are a few of the items we sampled during our mini food trip:

Morisco's Italian Ristorante

 

Morisco's booth at the Davao Gourmet Collective caught our attention because of this unique pizza. I forgot to take note of the name but the topping consists of slices of mango, prosciutto, and some drizzle of chocolate syrup. It's got a curious taste to it - not salty or sweet. It comes with a subtle flavor that teases your palate. Hence, it was only fitting that we got to taste this first before trying out the other food items at the event! If you're so curious, you can order this pizza at either Morisco's or Don Beppe.


Cellar de Boca

The Sun-Made Steak Rice from Cellar de Boca is clearly E's favorite. This brown rice dish is a meal in and of itself. It comes with slices of pork steak, green peas, and packed with other seasonings. Every bite is a celebration for your taste buds!


Villa Margarita

This lasagna is creamy and cheesy while the pasta is soft enough without losing that al dente quality. This was one of my favorite dishes that I have tried during the event.

Malagos Farms

I bought one bar of the Malagos Chocolate bar as a treat for myself. It is made up of 65% dark chocolate, so it can't be that bad for you, right? We were also able to sample a few of the cheeses featured on the event! Truly one of Davao's pride!

Jonathan's Cupcakery

Jonathan's Cupcakery is best known for their cupcakes and had the pleasure of sampling their delicious cupcakes in the past. However, this will be the first time that I get to taste their tarts and to say that I was excited is an understatement. The tart cost P120 each and we opted for the ones with mango, blueberry, and kiwi. Love the base and cream filling of this tart because it was rich without being too sweet.

Were you able to sample the artisan and gourmet choices at the first Davao Gourmet Collective?

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The Davao Gourmet Collective at SM Lanang

As I had mentioned in a previous post, food festivals are among my most anticipated events at the ongoing Kadayawan Festival 2013. Last weekend, I had already witnessed a glimpse of the Kapuso Food Festival and sampled some of the treats that was showcased in the event. This coming weekend, another big foodie event is in store in The Davao Gourmet Collective to be held at SM Lanang Premier atrium from August 16 to 18, 2013.

SM Lanang has branded itself as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Davao. Thus, it is only fitting that they play host to the first-ever gourmet collective experience wherein the top chefs and restaurateurs join together in one place. Davaoenos can therefore sample their favorite tasty treats from the following purveyors when they visit the said exhibit:

Blugre

Villa Margarita

Malagos Farms

Cellar de Boca

Morisco Ristorante Italiano

Crazy Cook

Bangkok Wok

Osvaldo's

Hog's Breath Cafe

Jonathan's Cupcakery

Beko's Biik

Are you joining The Davao Gourmet Collective? It is scheduled on August 16-18, 2013! Don't miss it at the SM Lanang Premier atrium.

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Krispy Kreme Christmas Treats

It's no secret that I have a sweet tooth. I always blame that for my constant craving for sweets like chocolates and donuts. Hence, I am one of many excited folks in Davao when Krispy Kreme finally brought their donut goodness into the city. And that means no more asking for pasalubong for every time anyone in the family visits Manila because there are, in fact, three branches of it in the city.

Recently, I had the chance to drop by their SM Annex branch before going on a movie date for The Hobbit. During that visit, we sampled one of their Christmas Treats - the Snowflakes donut. It features the same donut goodness that you would expect from Krispy Kreme, which is a dream for anyone with a sweet tooth. I believe their Snowflakes donuts have options for fillings but I went with the kreme filling and I suggest you do, too. It's heavenly!

In addition to their special edition Christmas donuts at KK, I also munched on their New York Cheesecake (one of my faves!) and had their Chilled Caramel Latte. What a fantastic pre-movie meal!

I'm not sure if the Christmas Treats donuts are still available. But if you want to give the other donut flavors a try, make sure to pay one of their branches a visit on either SM Annex, SM Lanang, or Abreeza! 

 

Army Navy at SM Lanang Premier

On the day of my birthday, I went to SM Lanang Premier with my nephew and boyf to do some errands and a little bit of shopping. When we got tired and hungry, we decided to scour the entire mall to find a place we can grab a quick bite. Since it was merienda time, we decided to skip restaurants offering main course meals but opted for a burger joint, which is why the idea of dining at Army Navy struck me. I haven't tried this place before and so it might be a good time to sample them.

One of the reasons why I  was really curious to try Army Navy is due to its ambiance. It reminds you of a military base pantry with a small window in the center working as the main cashier wherein you can place your orders. It is very simplistic and straight-forward, definitely none of the over-the-top design concepts. 

The food is also equally good. We ordered the Chicken Burrito, which is a flour tortilla filled with several ingredients such as Spanish rice, chicken meat, beans, onion, lettuce, and cilantro. I love Mexican food so this was just right up my alley. The serving is pretty humongous, too! It comes served with a slice of lime and I tell you, squeezing some juice off of that lime to the burrito can make a whole lot of difference as it kicks up the flavor! An order will set you back at PhP 165.

Soft taco when rolled

Aside from burrito, I also am a big fan of taco. Since their crunchy taco is not available, we went for the soft taco carnitas. Priced at PhP 175, you get three small soft flour tortillas that are topped with meat, onions, and cilantro. Again, I squeezed some juice from the slice of lime provided with each serving to cut the strong flavor a bit. However, I was not too excited to find the pork cuts included in my soft taco were mostly the bony parts. Hence, only about half of the pork cutlets included in my taco were actually edible as I had to set the rest aside as they are made up of bones.

Lastly, we had the Tortilla Chips (PhP 35) that is served with its own freshly made tomato salsa. I love salsa! Hence, I was excited to give it a try when I saw it on the menu. And it fell nothing short of my expectation - the tangy flavor from the salsa helped to add a rich texture to the tortilla chips, which in itself is not that rich in flavor. 

Tomato Salsa

Overall, I enjoyed dining at Army Navy at SM Lanang Premier. My only qualm about this dining spot is that it can be a bit on the expensive side. For a small snack, we billed nearly PhP 500. I am not one to complain about paying for good food, but I think that it is not the best value for money. I can get an equally good taco from Taco Boy and they can go for half the price! But if you don't mind the cost and simply want to be treated to good food, give Army Navy a try! I'm looking forward to my next visit to try new items off the menu, esp their Double Burger (though it might be too big for my appetite!).

Army Navy has two branches in Davao: Abreeza and SM Lanang Premier.  

SM Lanang Premier Davao: More Foodie Updates

In an earlier post, I have listed some of the restaurants that had been reported to launch along with the SM Lanang Davao opening. As the scheduled opening, which according to my sources will be on September 28, is drawing near, more restaurants and food spots had been confirmed to have a branch at the mall as well.

To learn more about new SM Lanang Davao restaurants, make sure to read more after the jump...

Hog’s Breath Café

This is the first time I’ve heard about Hog’s Breath Café, which isn’t surprising knowing that it is not only the first time to open in Davao (at SM Premier Davao) but also the first time in the Philippines. Its website dubs itself as an “Aussie Steakhouse with lots of grunt”. Interesting!

Dairy Queen

Honestly, I’m devastated that this has not opened in Abreeza yet, when I thought they would. But thankfully, one thing is for sure – SM Lanang is going to have a branch opened soon. Just seeing photos of the blizzard cake makes my mouth water.

Krazy Garlik

Ooh, for garlic lovers out there, here’s something to whet your appetite (am I talking to myself?). This new restaurant that is reportedly opening its doors to all clients of SM Lanang Davao offers the best garlic recipes from all over the world. As early as now, I predict it’s going to be a dining experience like no other.

Mesa

If you are looking for grilled goodness, this home-grown restaurant promises to satisfy your appetite. The restaurant offers a wide range of choices on the menu including appetizers, soups, grilled items, choice meat cuts, and many more. On top of that, they are known to offer a relaxing ambiance to help make your dining experience more satisfying. This is personally something that I can’t wait to try at SM Lanang Premier soon.

Which of these restaurants are you excited to try? 

Note: All images on this post are taken from Skyscrapercity forums and I do not claim ownership to them.

SM Lanang Premier Davao: What's In Store for Foodies?

From Abreeza to SM Annex, here comes a brand new mall to look forward to for all the Davaoenos out there who can't get enough of their dining and shopping pleasure – the SM Lanang Premier. The mall is built right where Lanang Golf & Country Club once stood and in its place is where the second SM mall in the city is going to emerge.

Just like when Abreeza was about to open, much of the buzz centered on the shops and restaurants that will be opening along with this new mall. And I also heard that SM Lanang Davao City will have a Skygarden similar to that of SM North Edsa in Quezon City wherein you can dine al fresco on a garden with a row of restaurant choices.

I, myself, had been doing lots of research on the new shops and restaurants that will be available upon the SM Lanang Premier opening. I've heard that Forever 21 will have a branch there. So, all fashionistas and avid shoppers, rejoice! I join you in that sentiment.

But I am also equally excited about the new restos that are set to open in SM Lanang Davao. Here are just a few of the restaurants confirmed to open in SM Lanang Premier, according to the Skyscraper City forum posters:

Toast Box

Image courtesy of SkyscaperCity Forums

Viking's

Image courtesy of SkyscaperCity Forums

Clawdaddy Crabhouse & American Grill

Image courtesy of Skyscrapercity Forums

Mr. Kurosawa

Image courtesy of Skyscrapercity Forums

These are just a few from many, or so I heard, that will be serving Davao city with their delicious cuisines for the first time. I bet you can't wait until it opens! SM Lanang Premier opening is targeted for August 2012, just in time for the city's Kadayawan festivities!