The last leg of the Davao Food Appreciation Tour (DFAT) was done at the Italian Restaurant, Spirale, in Damosa. It would be my 5th or 6th time to eat here. In a word, Spirale food is excellent. Our group of bloggers was in high spirits when we were served a wonderful sampling of their menu, instead of the usual complete meals. But I don’t mind. After the gluttony that went on for 3 days, I didn’t mind a break at all!

When you visit Spirale, don’t forget to check out their more elaborate overhead blackboard menu. It shows their current specials and more popular dishes. I highly recommend the Roasted Garlic Chicken.

Spirale Ristorante
Cuisine: Italian
Entree Price Range: P200-P500
Address: Damosa Complex, Lanang, Davao City
For Reservations: (082) 234-6298

Ah, Caffe Vivere! One of my favorite pasta places. Gracious owner Mawie whips up all the dishes here, so you’re sure of getting the bang for your buck. To start our lunch, we were served the Buttered Garlic Bread served with Salsa Verde (pictured above). What a perfect preview for things to come!

Since I was the resident photographer, I got the last dish that no one picked, the Braised Short Ribs. It takes two full hours to cook it and that alone speaks for the dish itself. Perfectly seasoned and melt-in-your-mouth goodness right there.

Not to be outdone, my friends had these:

For dessert, we had the heavenly Ferrero Dome Cake and Decadent Chocolate Cake.

Caffe Vivere
Cuisine: Italian and American
Entree Price Range: Php150.00 – Php200.00
Notes: Nice, cozy ambiance. Try their brewed iced teas and the ultra spicy Shrimp Diavolo. Smoking not allowed inside.
Hours: Open Mon-Sat
Address: Caffe Vivere at AnnRey Building along Mt. Apo Street, Davao City

I enjoyed a late lunch with some bloggers from Mindanao last Saturday, January 19, 2008. We were treated by Tricie Arcenas, the owner of a new Italian restaurant, Salutti. Salutti is a welcome addition to the Casa Habana compound on Rizal Street, which itself is becoming Davao’s own version of Malate due to its growing array of bars and bistros.

Tricie graciously served us all of their house specialties.

Our meal started off with three kinds of appetizers: Chicken Fingers with Honey Mustard Dip, Spinach Dip with Crostini and Kani Salad with Japanese Dressing. The Chicken Fingers were crisp and quite nice. Coupled with the dip, it makes a pleasant afternoon snack. The highlight for me was the Spinach Dip, which is absolutely my favorite appetizer. I have tried a few spinach dips in Manila, and I dare say that Salutti’s is one of the best so far, even better than that of Cibo’s. The Kani Salad had fresh vegetables topped with kani (or crabsticks) deep-fried in wanton wrappers and tossed in wasabi dressing. It’s an interesting item that you shouldn’t miss.

Right after came the paninis served in ciabatta bread. We had the Asian Beef Panini and a side salad with Balsamic Dressing, and Vegetarian Panini and a side salad with Raspberry Dressing. The beef panini was good but I found the teriyaki sauce a bit too sweet. The vegetarian panini (unfortunately not pictured) was filled with grilled veggies including egpplant, tomatoes and cucumbers. It’s healthy and surprisingly crunchy.

I have been to Salutti before and I’m glad that I got another chance to taste their awe-inspiring pastas such as the Creamy Alfredo with Shitake Mushrooms and Roasted Garlic and the Tomato, Garlic and Basil pasta. I love it that Salutti splurges on their recipes. The alfredo is a testament to that — what with the mushrooms in every bite plus the roasted garlic and cream sauce. It’s to die for. The Tomato, Garlic and Basil pasta is suited for simpler palates, but delicious nonetheless. It’s a straightforward marinara with a just-right tanginess and flavor.

Another highlight of my meal came in the form of the Beef Salpicao (pictured topmost). I see Salpicao in almost every Filipino restaurant menu and I can’t lie that most of the time I end up disappointed. This Salpicao was different. It’s actually tender and the toasted garlic and drippings made me want to take the whole dish to myself. For someone with a big appetite like me, I found the serving too small. Others worth mentioning are the Chicken in Mushroom Cream Sauce which was succulent to the last bite and the devilishly spicy shrimp Gambas.

To complete our gastronomical experience, we had the Moist Chocolate Cake and Strawberry Cheesecake for dessert. Sweet tooth that I am, I could not resist either. Both were simply out of this world. You have to try them to believe it.

Kudos to Tricie Arcenas for a wonderful meal.