Tagaytay Food & Wine Festival Series:
• Announcing… The Inaugural Tagaytay Food & Wine Festival!
• First Grand Tasting @ Tagaytay Food & Wine Festival Highlights (Photo Essay)
• The Fatted Calf X Pilgrim Davao Harvest Dinner (Photo Essay)
• Six Hands Luxe at 180 feat. Chef Sau, Chef Oliver Buenviaje and Chef John Buenaventura
The Fatted Calf by Chef Jayjay Sycip and Pilgrim Davao by Chef Jeramie Go collaborated for the Harvest Dinner at the First Tagaytay Food & Wine Festival, featuring produce from farmers in Cavite, the Cordillera, and the Slow Food Community. Both chef-driven restaurants share the philosophy of using seasonal, fresh harvests from farmers to showcase the flavors of the ingredients.
The Fatted Calf X Pilgrim Davao Experience
The Fatted Calf Harvest Dinner, held on Saturday, July 13, 2024, was a highlight of the Tagaytay Food & Wine Festival. It was well-attended by Tagaytay residents, food and wine enthusiasts, distinguished food media, and guests of Senator Loren Legarda.
I was impressed with Senator Loren Legarda’s full support for the food industry and her efforts in developing the gastronomy tourism potential of Manila, Tagaytay, and the Cordillera region. Galing!
It was awesome to see Chef Jeramie in action preparing the first dish of the night.
Buffalo Paneer by Chef Jeramie Go
Coconut Curry Broth | Bahay Kubo Vegetables | Kale Chips
This dish is Buffalo Paneer with Bahay Kubo vegetables in a creamy coconut curry broth.
Vina Casablanca Cefiro Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley, Chile offers crisp and refreshing tasting notes with vibrant acidity. It features flavors of citrus, green apple, and tropical fruits, complemented by subtle herbal undertones and a clean, mineral finish.
It’s always a pleasure dining with Chef Waya and hearing about her adventures in Baguio and the food industry.
Pan de Sal / Cheese by Chef Jayjay Sycip
Donburi Caramelized Onions | Benguet Cherry Tomatoes | Pan de Sal Crouton | Kesong Puti Foam | Tomato Powder | Kaluga Queen Caviar
Love the Kesong Puti foam with the Kaluga Queen Caviar
Taltarni T Series Sparkling Wine from South Australia offers vibrant tasting notes of green apple, citrus, and pear, with a lively effervescence. It has a crisp, clean finish with subtle hints of brioche and a refreshing acidity.
Thank you for the support Anya Executive Chef Chris Leaning with Pilgrim Davao’s Chef Jeramie Go and his son, Sous Chef Noah Go (middle).
Muffed Rabbit by Chef Jeramie Go
Spinach | Shiimeji Mushrooms | Dijon Cream | Sakurab | Onions | Potato Fondant
Rabbit dishes are one of Chef Jeramie’s specialties in Davao, but the rabbit available in Tagaytay was a bit old and tough. However, the flavor was quite good with spinach, mushroom, and Dijon cream. I enjoyed eating the sakurab between bites to cleanse the palate.
Piqueras White Label 2022 from Almansa, Spain, features bright and aromatic tasting notes of tropical fruits like pineapple and mango, complemented by citrus and floral undertones. It has a crisp acidity and a refreshing finish, making it an excellent choice for warm-weather sipping.
Chef couple Rhea Castro-Sycip of The Flour Pot and Chef Jayjay Sycip of The Fatted Calf with their landlord and supporter, Senator Loren Legarda, who made the Tagaytay Food & Wine Festival possible.
Arroz Meloso by Chef Jayjay Sycip
Chong-Ak Rice | Kiniing | Ranger’s Valley Black Tyde Ribeye | Bu-o Mushroom | Sorrel
My favorite dish of the night was the Ranger’s Valley Steak, featuring heirloom rice Chong-Ak with Bu-o mushrooms, which look like truffles when sliced.
Bodegas Faustino Crianza, Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain offers tasting notes of ripe red fruits, such as cherry and plum, with subtle hints of vanilla and spices from oak aging. The wine has a well-balanced acidity, smooth tannins, and a lingering finish.
Cheers to Kate Anzani, the brainchild behind the Cebu Food & Wine Festival, which inspired the Food & Wine Festival Movement in Manila and Tagaytay!
“Peach Melka“ by Chef Rhea Castro-Sycip
Wild Raspberries, Crumble, Almond Butter Cake, White Chocolate
This was surprisingly good, specially the white chocolate and wild raspberry sauce.
Taltarni T Series Sparkling Wine, South Australia, Australia
The coffee that night was also special, sourced from Single Origin Rainforest Coffee Barlig.
Hummus
66% Sikwate Chocolate Hummus | Tableya Chocolate Cake / Pistachios | Orange Blossom | Extra Virgin Olive Oil
I like this chocolate hummus with Chong-Ak chips, though some thought it resembled a glorified champorado.
The Path Merlot from California, USA, offers tasting notes of ripe blackberries and cherries, complemented by subtle hints of vanilla and oak. This wine has a smooth, medium-bodied texture with soft tannins and a balanced finish.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Congratulations to The Fatted Calf and Pilgrim Davao collaboration and to everyone who made this event possible. Special thanks to the DOT NCR Sharlene Batin team for helping make the Tagaytay Food & Wine Festival a success.
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: I wrote this article 100% by a human with my biases, opinions, and insights. We are co-organizers of the Tagaytay Food & Wine Festival.
P.S.This is the first time I met Chef Oli Buenaventura of Perth who was in town for the Six Hands Luxe at 180 feat. Chef Sau, Chef Oliver Buenviaje and Chef John Buenaventura.
