You get into a car and expect the ride of your life, not something I haven’t seen or experienced but be ready. The highway out of Manila can be insanely busy and we tried a short cut that cost us 1 hour of travel time. After we moved 500 meters we reached the entrance to the highway and we were cruising. It wasn’t until we reached the “short cut” that the roads were hectic, it was dark and we were dogging people, pigs, dogs, pedestrians, and motorbikes.

It felt like a video game as I sat in the front seat, we crossed the solid line and peered at lights coming straight on. This lasted for a solid 1h and 40 minutes until we finally came to a turning. It all seemed as if it was a movie and my family was wondering why.

Tagaytay is in the province of Cavite and sits atop the Tagaytay ridge overlooking a spectacular view of Taal Lake and the volcano within it. Due to its higher altitude, Tagaytay is a refreshingly cool escape from the oppressive heat of Manila.

The gates of Antonio speak for themselves as they set the stage. The setting is a miracle, and the owner and chef is a very talented designer, he has style and knows what he’s doing. The interiors and gardens are superb, impressive and you feel like you’ve walked into a magical place in the middle of somewhere.

Greeted by Antonio we were offered an arugula drink, mashed up greens, syrup and some premium vodka. The one thing about Antonio is he knows how to live and he knows how to entertain. He is a cool guy, a very hospitable and his staff are very well trained. /amazing/

The garden had been reserved exclusively for us, a small group of women, our host (driver) Antonio and his wife. A surreal night, I found myself faced by an armed guard hidden amongst the bushes several times but was soothed by the charm of the owner and his guests. A night I’ll always remember and never forget.

Thank you very much to Alex – without his inspiration, instance and driving we would have the best night of our trip.

http://antoniosrestaurant.ph/