Splendido Taal Golf Clubhouse
There are culinary destinations that stand out to become a favorite among gourmands or those who simply enjoy a good meal. One such destination that is easily accessible from Metro Manila is the stretch of Aguinaldo Highway near the boundary of Batangas and Cavite known among old-timers away from the metropolis, one is transported to a place that offers most any dish that you may crave for. Aside from the first class amenities that golfers would expect from an exclusive facility, Splendido offers a choice of two restaurants — La Esquina Spanish Restaurant and the Ladera Golfers Lounge — both with specially created menus by Consultant Chefs Ed Quimson and Heny Sison.
La Esquina Spanish Restaurant
La Esquina is Spanish for “the corner”. The restaurant took its name from its strategic location in one corner of the golf clubhouse that provides patrons with a scenic view of the 9th green that stretches in the distance.
The restaurant comfortably seats 60 diners at a time in air-conditioned comfort, with an unparalleled view of the outlying golf course through panoramic floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
The restaurant’s menu is an enticing selection of traditional Spanish dishes. For appetizers, La Esquina recommends the Tigres, fresh mussels stuffed with sauteed Spanish chorizo, aligue and shrimps topped with cheese and baked with a dash of paprika to give it that distinctive Spanish flavor; the Batido de Sardinas or whipped cream and sardines blended into a pate and creatively served on an upturned globlet with melba toast; and the Alchachofas Infanta Leonor — heart of artichokes sauteed in butter with garlic and Spanish chorizo.
No self-respecting Spanish restaurant will be without its paella, and La Esquina boasts of three: the Paella a la Christina named after JAKA Chairperson Madame Cristina Ponce Enrile, the spicy Paella Negra made with squid and squid ink, nd the Paella de Mariscos or seafood paella. The paellas at La Esquina follows the traditional recipes from Valencia that requires the paella to be cooked slowly over low heat to produce a glutinous rice dish. The perfect accompaniment to any paella dish would be the Pollo Iberico, whole chicken, roasted with caramelized garlic and potatoes.
Ladera Golfer’s Lounge
The Ladera Golfer’s Lounge has a relaxed atmosphere suites for golfers winding down after a round of play. Even here, the Spanish-Mediterranean character of the clubhouse is apparent with its high wooden ceilings and wrought iron chandeliers. Ladera, which is “hillside” in Spanish, is lcoated atop a small hill, hence its name.
The door panels surrounding Ladera are left opened in good weather to allow the cool Tagaytay breeze to waft through the dining area. Patrons can take a stroll outside the restaurant to the adjoining veranda for dessert and coffee al fresco. The restaurant seats 120 persons inside its main dining area, and up to 150 persons including the veranda area.
The menu offerings at Ladera is internation in scope — Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, or a fusion between east and west, modern and traditional. One may partake of Tagaytay’s signature dish Bulalo, which is a pot of braised bone-in beef shanks served with vegetables, or some fusion dish such as Peking Duck Mami, Chorizo Carbonara or Philly Steak Pizza.
Desserts at Splendido Taal
Among the desserts created for Splendido, one favorite is the Tropical Splendido, which is essentially meringue generously filled with pastry cream and topped with a delicious combination of tropical fruits and native suman, macerated in calamansi juice and brown sugar. Chocoholics will love the Decadent Chocolate and the Chocolate Pizza. Citrus lovers will appreciate the subtle flavors of the Tarta de Limon and Biscocho de Naranja.
Le Esquina Spanish Restaurant is open from 10:30AM to 9:00PM, an the Ladera Golfer’s Lounge from 6:00AM to 9:00PM.
La Esquina Spanish Restaurant, Laderas Golfer's Lounge, Splendido Taal, Splendido
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