Flavors of Davao: Davao Gourmet Collective

Local flavors, the region's very best, all in one place. I had a rare chance of sampling Davao's best in one amazing afternoon, and delicious things are definitely happening in the City of Blooms. 

Long known for its bountiful local fruits and rich marine resources with its iconic durian and fresh tuna,  there's a new breed of food entrepreneurs  who are about to change Davao's culinary landscape. These are interesting times, and for Davao, tastier times too.

The Davao Gourmet Collective showcases the very best culinary products and ideas from the region, and a good indicator on the emergence of a dynamic home-grown food industry driven by equally dynamic food entrepreneurs. Here are some of Davao's very best...

Bluegre Coffee, a local Davao coffee chain credited with jumpstarting Davao's hip coffee culture, Bluegre is known for its fusion of local flavors for a distinct taste of Davao in a cup. Bluegre's Durian Gatchppuccino, a cappuccino blend with the iconic durian fruit is a must-try.

And who knows, we'll probably see a Bluegre branch pop up in Manila very soon...for more on Bluegre Coffee and their line of unique blends and signature desserts, check out my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2013/08/flavors-of-davao-bluegre-coffee-davaos.html.

Beko's Biik, and their boneless cochinillo, slow-roasted for that perfect blend of crisp cracklings and tender juicy meat. With prices and sizes ranging from P 1,600 (small, good for 6 persons) to P 3,500 (XXLarge, good for 25 persons), Beko's Biik has the right cochinillo for you. And here's the cool part, you can have your order shipped airport-to-airport, covering Iloilo, CDO, Cebu, Zamboanga, Dipolog and Manila by simply calling (082) 227-2445 and (082) 286-3445. 

Empanadas from Carmina Mapa del Rosario's The Crazy Cook, fresh off the fryer. Crisp and savory, with a mild and cooling spice that builds up slowly in each bite. The Crazy Cook offers an extensive range of local and Asian comfort food, all made from scratch.

Then, there's Malagos Farmhouse with its line of farm to kitchen artisanal products. I remember the first time I tried some of the artisan cheeses from Malagos Farmhouse and I knew then that this was something special (see more here on my first encounter with Malagos Farmhouse and their extensive line of artisan cheeses here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2013/06/simply-awesome-luzviminda-filipino.html). The Blue Goat Cheese, just one of the artisanal cheeses from Malagos Farmhouse, made from fresh goat's milk and mildly aged.

The popular Chevre artisanal cheese from Malagos Farmhouse, a French style cheese drizzled with honey, another bestseller. Passion, dedication and perseverance best describes Olive P. Puentespina of Malagos Farmhouse, and this is evident in every product that proudly bears the name of Malagos Farmhouse. An inspiring story, what started as a home project for the family has blossomed into a growing business, with her now famous feta cheese making it to the prestigious Cheese Club of the Philippines along the way. But you don't have to fly to Davao to taste the artisan cheeses from Malagos Farmhouse, a wide variety of Olive's signature cheeses can be found at Le Gourmet Rustans in Rockwell and Ayala Avenue stores.

Malagos Farmhouse now grows its own cacao, adding fermented cacao beans and native tableya chocolate to its growing artisanal product line, including this all-natural single origin 65% Dark Chocolate bar. Bold and rich flavors, not too sweet, just pure chocolate bliss in every bite. Malagos Farmhouse continues to surprise, as more good things seem to come out from their farms...

A sampling of cheeses from Malagos Farmhouse, including a unique Chevre cheese blended with sweet mangoes. a pesto infused chevre, and the popular feta cheese. Traditional, yet innovative, made from the very best all natural ingredients in true farm-to-kitchen freshness.

Olive P. Puentespina, artisan cheesemaker and creative force behind Malagos Farmhouse and its extensive line of artisan products. And you just know that Olive has more surprises up her sleeve...you can visit their website at http://www.malagosfarmhouse.com/ for more information.

The Davao Gourmet Collective offers a unique glimpse and a taste of of Davao's evolving culinary landscape, and you'll definitely hear more from Davao's food entrepreneurs. Special thanks to The Marco Polo for a memorable taste of Davao. For more on the The Marco Polo, check out my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2013/08/four-amazing-days-at-marco-polo.html.

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