WITH a city as big as Davao City, good restaurants and other gastronomic adventures are almost always expected to be in every corner of the city. Sometimes, this becomes a problem when it’s difficult to decide where to dine out or to take your girlfriend on a date this time because of the many choices that you have.
If you live in the northern part of the city, specifically along Lanang, Sasa, and the northern part of R. Castillo, you would be happy to know that the variety of food that you are craving for can be found in just one location. On crazy days, we might crave for sweets, Japanese food, or Filipino merienda all at the same time. We don’t even know what it is that we really want.
Azuela Cove is just the place for you. With so many restaurants of different specialties, a gastronomic adventure is just waiting to happen.
Bless Okiniiri is the only Japanese restaurant in the area. They boast of dishes carefully made with some of the ingredients coming from Japan while the others are meticulously chosen from great suppliers to ensure the quality. My personal favourite is their Seafood Ramen, the taste of which is perfect for ramen-lovers with the soup’s flavour complementing that of the noodles and the meat. Their Kani Mango Salad is also a surprise with the playful taste of cucumber and ripe mango together. Other dishes that they have are Garlic Ramen, Pita Salad, Omu Rice, and Combo Maki to name a few.
If you’re in the mood for laidback and straightforward Filipino food that would remind you of the simplicity of the province, Café Laguna is the answer. They serve hot kakanin and other Filipino delicacies that the younger generation might no longer be familiar with. However, with the effort they put to cooking and preparing it, the young kids will really enjoy as well. I’ve had the puto bumbong and the SMT (Suman, Mangga, and Tsokolate). I was told to dip the suman to the tsokolate before eating it. It was perfect! They also have Beef Kare-kare, Fresh lumpia, and Crispy Tuna Buntot.
After filling the tummy with all these good food, it’s time to cap the adventure with dessert. One can’t leave Azuela Cove without first tasting the cakes at Dulce Vida. Square Indulgence, is by no doubt, my personal favourite now. The chocolate is not too sweet and yet firm enough to bite into but just as soft that it melts in your mouth causing some mild choco oozing over the tongue. I’ve had the chance to taste their Tiramisu, Frozen Ube Brazo, and Classic Sans Rival. They all taste delicious and are respectively perfect for different occasions or celebrations.
Food adventures in the city don’t just happen in the downtown area anymore. It is already well-distributed to different parts of the city to cater to more Dabawenyos. This time, try a foodie adventure up north.