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From my first time there and up to now, Picobello Ristorante Italiano has always been one of my most favored restaurants in Davao City. Their unfailingly delicious Italian dishes are a mainstay in the city’s culinary culture, and the restaurant now holds the distinction of being a gastronomic institution hereabouts. It was entirely unsurprising, therefore, [...]

“Kinilaw” is our word for food eaten fresh and raw, usually referring to seafood-based appetizers. There are probably hundreds of varieties of kinilaw — varying in preparation, ingredients, etc. — and these differences are usually influenced by geography. The basic kinilaw is made with raw fish and vinegar. But even that has its variations, in [...]

The first time I had the chance to taste Richie Ferrazzini‘s Paella Negra was way back in 2008, when his open-air restaurant was called “My Brother’s Kitchen”. It was superb! I didn’t blog about it then, since the friends who brought me there, Mandy Dinglasan and Maej Villanueva, told me it was a mostly by-invitation-only [...]

Tiny Kitchen started out as a small outlet for husband-and-wife team, Vincent & Donna Rodriguez, and their handful of choice delicacies. One of the first that they introduced was the Gourmet Tuyo — dried fish bottled in olive oil and garlic. They also started operating a modest bakery, since Vince is in fact a baker. My mom is a huge fan of their Ciabatta and the Rosemary Focaccia Bread.

Today, despite its small size, Tiny Kitchen is a gastronomic giant in the eyes of their patrons. The dining area can accommodate only about 16 people, but a lot of folks — like Christian (who took the photos here) and myself — often order out. So that means they’ve developed a separate niche clientèle of people who go there to order bring-home items. Another thing my mom often asks me to buy there is pesto cream, which they make without salt, so you can season your dishes to taste.

This mom-and-pop shop offers a mix of Italian, Spanish and Filipino cuisine. They have a fine selection of pastas, such as the Catalonia Penne (₱190), which Vince’s kitchen prepares by cooking the pasta and the sauce separately, then cooking them together once over. There are other pasta dishes that deserve two thumbs up: Chorizo Tomati (₱175); Gourmet Tuyo Pasta (₱140), which is a must-try; Paella Fideos (₱185), which Donna tells me is the pasta version of paella; Verdura (₱185), a vegetarian pasta dish.

Talking about paella, Tiny Kitchen’s Paella Valencia is absolutely delish! I’ve had it and the rice was perfectly steamed and cooked in their secret sauce (Vince has his own recipe). And it’s a complete meal in itself, with generous helpings of fish (malasugui), tangy shrimp, succulent squid, crab, and sweet-tasting red & green bell-peppers. The fish chunks I truly enjoyed because it was moist and tasty — malasugui (black or white marlin) tends to dry out if not cooked well. The small paellera (₱410) is good for 3 people (possibly 4 if you have other orders). They also have Paella Mariscos and Paella Negra.

Eating at Tiny Kitchen gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling that you get only from home-cooked food. Their waitstaff are well-versed in their wares and look like they’re part of a happy household. Many of their dishes do have homemade ingredients. Take their chorizos, for example: they make their own and it’s mouth-watering, I tell you!

Two of my favorites are their Caldereta Español (₱225) and the Salpicao en su Salsa (₱240). The beef caldereta is obviously simmered for hours, because I could even eat the bones they were so tender and crunchy. The salpicao is not as spicy as I normally like it, but its rich sauce offers an undertone of French cuisine — Vince reveals that he cooks it with white wine. The first time I had their delectable salpicao, I couldn’t help but eat more rice than I should have!

They have pizzas, too. What I want to try next time I’m back is their Ming’s Blush Special, because they prepare it with blue cheese from the Malagos Farmhouse.

Let’s hope that Vince & Donna decide to open a more spacious restaurant someday soon. In the meantime, with only 5 tables, I suggest you call ahead to reserve for lunch or dinner. Their landline number is 305-9232.

Tiny Kitchen is open Monday to Saturday, from 10:00am to around 9:00pm (last order at 8pm). On Sundays, the dining area is closed, but their takeout counter for frozen items, bread and pastries is open from 11:00am to 6:30pm.

It’s been too long that I’ve kept Davao Delicious wallowing in blog limbo — but that’s partly because of all the travels outside of Davao that I was doing in 2010. So, to get the cooking pot stewing again, I changed the site’s theme once more (with an excellent one called CityGuide by WooThemes) and called up a few friends for dinner out.

It was a Sunday and still in Christmas season (which is unfortunately not as festive as we’d like it to be here in Davao), so a lot of restaurants were closed. Good thing the people at Hola España decided to open its doors to the dining public that day!

Hola España – bodega de vinos y deli, as you might have guessed from the name, is a Spanish restaurant in the city’s north side. It’s been in Davao (originally from Cebu) for a couple of years now, and they’re known mostly for their hams and paella. So, my friends Rodney, Christian & Bhambee and I decided to have us some of their specialties: the Paella Valenciana and Paella Negra (each is about ₱500 for the small serving, good for 2-3 people). And we also had a plate of Croquettas as appetizer. It was very filling and a joy to eat — but it would’ve been much better if served piping hot. But, the star of the feast was the Pompano dish we had.

The paellas, I’m afraid, were not up to par. The Valenciana was OK, not bad… but not exactly something that I’d eagerly recommend. The rice was cooked just right, but the shrimp wasn’t, and I couldn’t detect that wonderful explosion of flavors that I always enjoy in paella. The Negra didn’t impress any of us either. It did taste palatable after being sprinkled with lemon, though. (They gave us a side of aglio e olio for the paella, but that didn’t help. It was just mayonnaise with a little garlic…)

The dish that saved the night was Hola España’s Pompano (about ₱400+). For those who don’t know, the pompano is a marine fish that’s prized for its delicate meat. At Hola España, they serve it steamed and in a tomato-paste- and white-wine-based sauce with flavorful spices that titillated my palate to no end! I almost couldn’t stop myself from drinking the sauce right from the serving dish. This one is most certainly highly recommended.

The restaurant fashions itself as a deli, and they do sell hams and cold cuts. It was where we saw an incredibly humongous leg of ham last Christmas. The Spanish are indeed known for cured meats, so I doubt you could go wrong with Hola España’s delicacies.

They also have a wine cellar — you can see it right in the dining area, a glassed-in set of wine racks in a controlled environment. There is also a bar connected to the restaurant, called La Taverna. If you go for foreign beers (Hoegaarden, Oettinger, etc.), Hola España / La Taverna is the place to go.

The service at Hola España is better than in many other restaurants in Davao, I’m happy to say. The waiters are attentive and very helpful. In fact, it was our waiter who suggested we have the pompano together with the paella. All in all, it was a pleasant dining experience for us, especially because the place is warm and comfortable.

It is always very pleasing when you discover a restaurant that gives you that warm, homey feeling as soon as you walk in. That’s how it is at Grub Resto•Café. There is in this place a delightful mix of cozy ambiance and good, hearty food.

Grub Resto•Café used to be located in another part of town, but has now transferred to Gov. Duterte St., across the street from Shakeys, in downtown Davao City. This area has always been known as a food district, and is showing no signs of slowing down.

You will surely love their large portions and the tastiness of their dishes. The Dino Chops (₱185 for the regular; ₱110 – Junior; ₱300 – Senior, which is served with two slabs) that I had was humongous! But more than that, it was prepared lovingly with finely-chopped parsley and golden garlic. It comes with brown rice, but I think you can order a side of mashed potatoes instead. Oh and the apple sauce thats served with this is a total taste match (but there’s no stopping you from asking for the good ol’ Filipino-style dip of soy sauce, calamansi and siling labuyo).

The appetizers that we had were winners — Cheese Loaf (₱140) and Buff Wings (₱128). The Cheese Loaf is a basket of sliced french bread, sprinkled with herbs, with two types of cheese melted over, slice of ham, and a dash of Tabasco.

The buffalo wings were promised to be very hot spicy, but, for me, it was just normal fare (well, I do eat chili for breakfast, so…). Still, it was finger-lickin’ good!

Weekends, they have special items not on the menu, and currently it’s Seafood Chowder, which has baby clam, fish, abalone. I still have to try it, but knowing that they prepare it from scratch, I will certainly be back very soon! Their coffee brews are also on my to-do list.

Proprietors Elisa and Dotty have created a comfortable setting for intimate gastronomic gatherings, one that will not fail to please both eyes and palates. The service is personalized, especially when the two ladies are in attendance. Do give Grub Resto•Café a try soon! They’re open everyday except Sunday, from 11:00 AM to 10:30 PM.

This restaurant has been around for a long time now, and it’s one of those that I enjoy each time I visit. The food — Filipino cuisine — is simply delicious. Yellow Fin Seafood & Restaurant is on its way to becoming a culinary institution in Davao City.

Typical of early Davao dining places was the turo-turo, or buffet spread. But it’s not the type where you eat all you can — you choose what you want and you pay for what you eat. Yellow Fin still has that, as well as à la carte servings. Their huge selection of Filipino dishes, from superb soups to grilled goodies, is something to look forward to, and the place is perfect for big or small gatherings.

It is a seafood restaurant, but curiously enough, Yellow Fin is quite well-known for their fried chicken meal. They could actually give restaurants that specialize in fried chicken a run for their money! For less than ₱200 per plate, you get half a chicken, a side of salad, and perfectly cooked steaming rice. You’d appreciate it, too, that they serve huge portions.

Like all Davao seafood joints worth their salt, Yellow Fin has tuna and other types of fish on the menu (as well as on the turo-turo spread). And those dishes are always worth the trip to their place. But what really makes my mouth water just thinking about it is the Tinolang Imbao at Yellow Fin. When I was there with fellow foodie bloggers last weekend, I was so happy they didn’t care much for clam soup — more for me!

You could tell that they pick only the choicest clams, fresh and lusciously delicious. For the thin soup, they put just the right amount of leeks and garlic and other spices to complement that tangy taste of the clam. My father also knows how to prepare clam, and I’ll let you in on a secret he shared with me, in case you find yourself in a wet market looking for imbao. Buy only female clams, and look for those that are fat and whose shells are not too smooth. Don’t ask me why, but it’s always worked for us.

Yellow Fin has grown from a small, open-air affair to what it is now. Today they even have function rooms, as well as an enclosed restaurant space for those who’d rather order off the menu. Marco, whose family owns Yellow Fin, is also experimenting with coffee. So they now also have a coffee shop in the al fresco dining area.

Ask Dabawenyos who know about good food, and they will always recommend Yellow Fin.

Yellow Fin Seafood & Restaurant
Sandawa Plaza, Quimpo Boulevard
Ecoland, Davao City
Tel. 297-8777, 298-0299
Operating Hours: from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, daily

Copyright © 2009, Oliver Robillo.
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