The best way to enjoy Davao aside from its spectacular sceneries and bustling metropolis is to be at the far flung areas where it is tranquil and peaceful. It is at Calinan where you will find this place. It is full of plantation and it is also the place going to the mountain ranges of Bukidnon.

Durian and Red Horse

As part of my itinerary every time I travel, I always search for the best food there is. Here in Davao, I found a place for ginataan and crispy hito (cat fish).  It is very unusual in Davao to have cat fish since the place is so blessed with salt water fishes. I was brought my friend Tyron to a restaurant named Santander and he let me try their specialty,” Ginataang Hito”. But first, we had our durian while waiting for the hito and a couple of beer as we call it “pampaganda” (appetizer).  

Ginataang Hito

Then came the main dish of the event. That is ginataan and crispy Hito.  The Ginataan hito was so delicious.  They used luyang dilaw (turmeric) with coconut milk and long chilis. It was served hot and on a banana leaf. The meat was so soft and the combination of the gata and luyang dilaw really made a wonderful taste.

Gata Rice

As a matter of fact, I even mixed the sauce to my rice and created my own version of gata rice. Hehe.

Crispy Hito

Eating my gata rice was a perfect with the cripy hito. It was a very good food adventure that I highly recommend.

Santander, Kainan ng Bayan

The name of the restaurant is “Santander, Kainan ng Bayan, Inato Lang Ihaw Ihaw” or simply, “SANTANDER”.  I guess the secret of the wonderful Hito dishes is the freshness. They have an aquarium where all the live cat fishes are stored.  Once you order, they will get it live and will cook it. This style of food handling makes a big difference when it comes to the taste plus their way of cooking with plenty of spices has created a culinary masterpiece.

Live Catfish

SANTANDER is located along the highway of Calinan, Davao City. As a matter of fact, they have a place at the back of the restaurant where you can have a much more relaxed ambiance.

Kainan sa Bukid

To my fellow food lovers, this is a must when you go to Davao. SANTANDER is highly recommended and I will surely go back to this place when I visit Davao once again.

Santander

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This is one of my favorite that I don’t eat that often.  First, I want to eat it at a place where this is their specialty. Second, I am also concern with my health. Eating too much delicious food is also not good. Everything must be taken in moderation. I have tasted a number of Humba from the Visayas with different version. I tasted a version that was cooked in clay pot. It was also good. There is also the one that was cooked with its own oil and made it dried and crispy.

For this, I tasted it in one of my favorite restaurant in Davao. It is the Humba of Blue Carabao.  Their version has a black beans and long green peppers. It does taste great with a little twist of spiciness. What I like with it is using the oil as your sauce to your rice. Take note, the oil is already tasty. This humba ritual is not good specially if you do it everyday and of course, eating at Blue Carabao will not be complete without  Hinalang. That is another favorite that will surely make your day. This is a very spicy carabao soup that can give your appetite a boost.

Eating at Blue Carabao

My first experience to eat at Blue Carabao has kept me going back again and again.  Everytime I go back, they still maintain the same standard and that is taste consistence and excellent customer service. The staffs are always happy to serve and can answer your query and attends to your request.  

Where to Find

Blue Carabao is located at Dr. 4-7 Sobrecarey st, Obrero, Davao City. You may also reach them at (082)305-6696 or to 0915-3637739.  I want to thank the owners Francis and Sherry Scott who as continuously supported my blog entries.  Till next time for another sumptuous meal at Blue Carabao.

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The first time I saw space burger was a couple of years ago in one of the issue of entrepreneur magazine. I went back to Davao a couple of times but I was not able to drop by and have a taste of it. This year, when I went back to Davao, my curiosity brought me to their branch at Damosa.  At first I was wondering if it is really that good since no one was inside the shop. To my surprise and observation, people just come, place there order, go back again and bring out their burgers. Since I am not from that place, I took the chance to wait and stayed there to eat.

When I tasted their Space Burger, it was a real outerspace experience. The burger was not greasy. It was charcoal broiled and the patty was very tender and juicy.  They gave me two sauces. One was a barbeque sauce and the other one was ketchup.  This made my experience even delightful since I have the choice to taste a little bit sweet and sour.

To complete this wonderful experience, I ordered for Nachos and beer at S Avenue. That is the restaurant beside their shop. This wonderful Burger will never be forgotten. I will go back to Space Burger  and combined it with Nachos of S Avenue. 

Space Burger is located inside Damosa Compound, Lanang, Davao City.  I know they have other branches in Davao and surely I will add it here once I found the exact location. 

My dear fellow burgerlovers, never miss Space Burger when you are in Davao for an intergalactic food experience.

Happy Valentines to all!!!

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I was surprised when I tasted the crab meat at Conchings when I went to Davao since this is a dish that I grew up and is only serve in the house. The Crab Meat at Conchings is truly is very delectable. At first, I was more focused on their specialty that is inihaw na native na manok but to my surprise, they also make crab meat (relleno style) similar to the taste my parents were cooking for us. It was like reminiscing my childhood days when this is one of my favorite request to my mom. We use to eat it with Nilagang Baka. 

Where to Find  

Conching’s Native Chicken may be found at Araullo st. barangay Obrero, Davao City.  Eating at Conchings is one of my best gastronomic experience in Davao. Its not only the food that they serve, but they also have a very receptive staff that are there to attend to your needs just to make sure “ na hindi ka mabibitin.”  The crab meat and inihaw na native na manok were truly amazing. I enjoyed it eating with my friends who were also captured by the flavor. Hehe. Sarap kumain dito. When in Davao, never miss this restaurant. Solve ka dito men!!!

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Durian is the fruit that I always associate with Davao. When I am in Davao, this wonderful gift from God is always present as my favorite dessert and sometimes in between meals. October is fruit season and this wonderful fruit can be found everywhere in the city as well as to other places in Mindanao.   For this durian experience, I tasted the Arancillo variety. It has a sight bitter taste aside from the sweetness it has.  Some people doesn’t like it because of the smell. It has a strong smell that either attracts or repels people. For me, I am attracted to it.   

Durian has its spell to those who taste it. For the first timer, I suggest you try the Puyat or Chanee variety. It is much sweeter less the bitterness. It has a distinct taste that you attract you. Just like when I first tasted it, I swore that I will not eat again. However, sworn statements are meant to be broken. Hehehe.  I cannot resist it taste and up to now, I an a loyal durian fan.  No wonder, it is called the King of all Fruits.

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always, when I go to Davao, there never was a time that I did not eat in this famous restaurant of Penong’s  Barbeque Seafood and Grill. I received a comment that their Chopsuey is one reason why they go back to Penongs. I tasted it and I am willing to testify that what they said was true. It was indeed a very delicious Chopsuey.   

 It blended well with their famous chicken barbeque.  We started eating around 11:00am. By the time it was almost 12:00 noon, the place was already full. Certainly it will be like that because not only do they serve delicious food, their service is great as well as their price.  

Where to Find 

According to my friend, they already have 6 branches in Davao and still growing. Not only that, their satisfied customers are growing as well. For  this entry, we had our Chopsuey experience at their Matina Branch, in front of NCCC Mall, Davao.  One of the nice thing about Penongs is that they serve unlimited rice and soup.  Before you finish your rice, they have a staff that will ask you if you want some more. Walang Bitin sa kain dito.

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Yes Fellow Foodies!!! This is one price dish that you don’t want to neglect. It is Calderetang Kambing.  During my recent travel in Davao, I was able to experience this one that is so delicious and generously sauced.  In Luzon, kalderetang kambing is usually served with the usual kaldereta sauce.  In my experience in Davao, it is literally swimming in sauce. I even taught that it was a soup dish similar to my favorite Balbacua. The taste was simply delicious. It was more enhance because it was served to us steamingly hot.  

Where to Find 

This Calderetang Kambing is the creation if Eva Custodio. Who’s restaurant is along km6, Diversion Road, Buhangin, Davao City. It is very near Orange Grove Hotel. Eva also serves other dishes like Balbacua and Tuna adobo, but this dish really caught my attention and pacified my craving for a morning food trip as soon as I arrived in Davao.  It was a new experience for me to eat Caldereta with soup and I bet you, once to taste it, you will be coming back for more.  

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There has been a phenomenon when it comes to chicken that the native chicken has been more inviting to us Filipinos. Why, because it is tastier, and the native chicken is far from chemical feeds. That is the reason this priced fowl has always delighted the Filipino taste buds.  

In my visit to Davao, I was lead to this fantastic Chicken house that specializes in Inihaw na Native na Manok (charcoal grilled Native Chicken).  There Native Na Manok is very scrumptious!!!  As a matter of fact, I started up with my spoon and fork and I did not notice that I was already eating with my bare hands.   

 My wonderful food trip experience was even more aggravated because they also serve a very good and hot puso’ (hanging rice).  In all of my experience when it comes to barbeques and hanging rice, it was my fist time to eat a hot puso’. It was a perfect combination that truly made my day complete. 

Where to Find 

Conching’s Native Chicken can be found at Araullo st. barangay Obrero, Davao City. When I was invited to drop by Conching’s by Edwin Biliran a couple of months ago through his comment in one of my blog entry, I made it a point that I will really drop by to experience what Conching’s has to offer. A promise is a promise.  

 It was a very pleasant experience. Even the staffs were very polite and accommodating. Not to mention, there were known personalities who already visited the place. This is a resto that I will firmly recommend to my friends here in Davao as well as to my friends who will visit the place.  Thank you to Conching’s for my wonderful food experience and for their Inihaw na Native na Manok that added to my food tripping and personal craving.  Lami kayo Bai ang Native na Manok!!!

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