Feasting at Balay Indang
[Originally published on May 6, 2009 in Manila Standard Today; please see previous articles here and here.]
My family was in Balay Indang again early this month and it was a total gastronomic experience as usual. If you haven’t heard of the place, it’s the subject of a feature article (“Peace and tranquility at Balay Indang,” May 17, 2007) that was published in this paper. In a nutshell, Balay Indang is an inn and getaway to soothe city-weary nerves – guesthouses, pavilion and cabanas scattered over huge Zen gardens…
We arrived on Saturday, May 2, in time for a late afternoon snack. There was homemade suman, some stuffed with chocolate, others with mango strips. Then, there was turon covered with sesame seeds, traditional ingredients for halo-halo like red beans and macapuno hidden inside the bananas.
We were shown to our room and after setting down our bags, we were off to explore the Zen gardens that we missed so much. Armed with four cameras, an assortment of lenses and a video camera, we made the most of the remaining daylight to capture images of the grounds. It was the perfect opportunity too to digest the merienda we just had so we wouldn’t feel too full by dinnertime. Dinner, we knew from experience, is always the highlight of a Balay Indang weekend.
Dinner was unforgettable. Served al fresco under multi-colored canopies and soft warm light, the food parade began with a delectable consomme and fresh garden salad. Then the main courses arrived and I got flustered not knowing what to do first – take photos of the food or start eating. There was a dish with tuna seasoned subtly like teriyaki but with a hint of wasabe too. The very light sauce of the pasta with clams was a mixture of clam broth and wine. The shrimp kabobs were topped with mango salsa. And, the most memorable dish of all, hickory-flavored pork spare ribs so tender that the meat was falling off the bones. But the feast didn’t end with the main courses. Dessert was chocolate fondue with mini-marshmallows, diced pineapples, apples and bananas. After-dinner tea was a wonderfully surprising pot of fresh mint leaves steeped in hot water.
After shower and a game of Scrabble where we all lost miserably to our 15-year-old daughter Alex, we slept in our well-appointed bedroom that echoed the overall theme of Balay Indang – casual shabby chic that never intimidated but, rather, imparted an aura of restfulness.
[Click the link to page 2 below]
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Connie, those shots made my mouth water. Can you post the rates at Balay Indang and the type of accomodations they offer?
Thanks.
Ms. Connie, how much po and accomodations? inclusive na po ba ang food sa price?? another nice place around the tagaytay area. More power to you Ms Connie
What a wonderful place! I remember the garden,makopa tree,Buddha,unique flowers,etc
from the previous posts.
I love your photo of your family enjoying the dessert.It seems like everyone is having fun.
Also,it captured the reflection of light
from the fondue.
What kind of camera did you use? Great shot.
The dinner pics (including the fondue pic) were taken with the Canon G10; the rest with the EOS 40D but with different lenses.
wow, sound and looks like a really nice place! can you just pop in for lunch? or do you have to book and stay in?
Alma and Gigi, package include the room, 3 meals and 2 snacks — all you can eat. Standard rate is P1500/px although this changes especially for groups. They can customize packages to better suit your budget. They prefer that guests make reservations. Day trips turn out to be more expensive than overnight packages.
Hi Connie! We’ve been there last February 2009 with my family to celebrate the Valentine’s Day! It was such a nice experience. The place is so quiet, a haven for relaxation.
I went back in March with my officemates naman and they enjoyed our stay there, too. Sarap ng mga food, eat all you can talaga! We paid P2000/pax, inclusive of overnight accommodation, 3 full meals, and 2 snacks. If you want an aircon room, they will charge you additional 1000 per room.
Ms. Connie?flustered? The food must have been that good.
Ayyyyy, very. One of the few places where my kids don’t miss my cooking. LOL
dear connie,
i log on to your websites just to keep abreast of what’s going on in the old country.
you make me want to go home again, go to all these places that you write about and eat all the food that you photograph.
i’m glad you’re “everywhere”.your love of life is infectious.