2016 has been an exciting whirlwind of a year with Durianburg’s food scene exploding with ever more restaurants, food events, and even the arrival of much awaited fast food chains. Looking forward to 2017 I expect more Dabawenyos to have ever more options to wine, dine, and unwind as urbanites look for better food experiences both locally and abroad.
To celebrate the year that was, here is a list of some of the best eats I experienced in the past 12 months based on my own personal preference. Advanced apologies for friends who are on a diet as these dishes are guilty of keeping my diet perpetually on the back burner.
Best coffee
Starbucks and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf may be popular for the mall-going crowd but real gold can be found in the many new third wave coffee places that dot the metro. Some pride themselves with locally sourced and roasted beans while some blend the best beans sourced from around the world and roast in-house to get the perfect blend they want.
My personal favourite go-to coffee place is Coffee Grounds which serves some of the best espresso-based concoctions in Durianburg. Their espresso is potent with notes of nuts, citrus, chocolate and a hint of spice.
Frog Kaffee is a deserving runner-up with their smooth drip coffee also made with their own coffee bean blend that is also roasted in-house.
Best ala carte entree
2016 was a year of tasting many creative dishes as well as new culinary adventures beyond Durianburg which lead me to my choice for the best ala carte entree.
Cucina at The Marco Polo Hong Kong’s Slow Cooked Wagyu Beef Cheeks is my top pick for 2016. Not only was the dish a delight for the eyes on the dining table but it was heaven to eat. The braising of the beef cheek was perfect, creating a tender and juicy dish that literally melts in the mouth. It also helped that I had a spectacular 180 degree view of Hong Kong Harbour while dining.
If you find Hong Kong to be too far for good eats, then try to visit Damosa complex for my runner-up, Open Table’s Seared Tuna with Soy Ginger sauce. Although simple to prepare, the fish was cooked perfectly and the soy ginger sauce really brightened up the dish. The sides of brown rice and sitr-fried vegetables ensured that the dish was a healthy experience.
Best buffet entree
With the rise of many buffet restaurants in Durianburg, it was really hard to pick just one entree out of the many thousands of dishes served. In the end I had to choose Seda Abreeza’s Slow-cooked Angus beef short plate as the best buffet entree.
Although there are many other dishes that piqued my interest throughout the year, it was the Slow-cooked Angus beef short plate that I consistently gravitate to. Its meat is tender and juicy and packed with flavour. Honestly, I would be happy to just eat the dish on its own for the entire duration of the buffet.
Best food event
With the boom in Davao’s love for food, events for foodies are also taking root in Durianburg with malls such as SM Lanang Premier, SM City Davao, and Abreeza Mall holding seasonal food festivals featuring unique eats from local food artisans.
My pick for the food event of 2016 is Crazy Cook’s Bar Pintxos pop-up event. Organised by certified food curator and caterer Carmina del Rosario, the Bar Pintxos event featured various dishes masterfully prepared by chef Miguel Vecin such as Gulas, Salmon Pintxos, Boquerones, Pulpo A La Gallega, and the Bar Pintxos’ famous home-made chorizo.
Best savoury snack
I have always been into savoury snacks, be it potato chips, chicharon, or even boiled and dried peanuts, but the best savoury snack for 2016 for me is Fat Boy’s Kitchen’s Philly Cheesesteak Empanada. With its light and flaky crust and decadent beef steak and cheese filling, each juicy bite bursts with flavour in the mouth.
Best sweet snack
I love chocolate and I get more excited when that chocolate bar comes from Kai Artisan Chocolate. Playful and creative, Kai produces some of the most exciting chocolate bars in Durianburg. Some of her flavours include White Chocolate Cranberry, Piña Kasuy, and my personal request, sweet and savory Bacon.
The Marco Polo Hong Kong’s egg tart is a honourable mention. I cannot help but have two to three of these delicious, flaky, and rich egg tarts every time I visited the breakfast buffet at the Hong Kong Hotel’s Cafe Marco or at the Executive Lounge. Here is to hoping that the Marco Polo Davao will bring the recipe here soon.
So that is it for 2016, cheers to more food adventures and discoveries this 2017!
Follow me on Instagram or on Twitter at @kennethkingong for more foodie finds around and beyond Durianburg.
