country style Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

August 20, 2010 by Janey

Last weekend, I was back again in Tagaytay to pick-up a console table I had custom-made at Queen Bee Furniture. I was pretty happy with the outcome and only had to shell out barely 4 grand for it. Since my schedule and plans were pretty erratic last week, I wasn’t able to call in and reserve at Marcia Adam’s Tuscany, although I was really bent on visiting again, only 2 weeks after the initial one.

Our quartet –my mom, Joyce, Bubba and I chanced upon Chateau Hestia’s wine and deli shop. Moms purchased a strawberry jam and some biscuits while Bubba asked for directions to their restaurant. Some minutes later, we’re walking along a pathway that leads to the restaurant. We entered the garden restaurant surrounded by lush greens and were welcomed by warm greetings despite not having a reservation that Sunday lunch. Good thing, there was a table available for four.

It has that sophisticated but country-style atmosphere that makes you feel at ease, like right at home. The restaurant started out as a rest house of Chateu Hestia owner, Johannes Zehethofer, an Austrian who loves to cook. Fresh flowers adorn the dining area while the bar and other interesting décor give a hip vibe. The air is filled with freshness and energy.

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On the Table

Hestia’s Onion Soup PHP 120

A classic caramelized onion soup deglazed with dry vermouth topped with gratinated crostini

Warm broth laden with sweetened onions

Alt Wiener Erdapfel Suppe PHP 125

Rich potato soup enhanced with caraway and fennel seeds done in the traditional Viennese way

I like the potato soup better than the onion soup since the soup is close to a puree but smoother and silkier with jumps of sweet and aromatic taste from the fennel seeds.

Con Salmone PHP 260

Crusty Foccacia with dill-marinated salmon slices served with sauce greviche

My mom loved the thin fresh-tasting salmon slices coupled with crunchy and leafy lettuce.

Kimmelbraten PHP 390

Over-roasted pork belly with caraway garlic and served in its own pork jus accompanied with servietten knodel and sauerkraut

Exquisitely slim cut of pork belly, oven-roasted that makes it tenderly cooked and still packed in its own natural juice. It’s laced with caraway garlic and fennel seeds which slightly peppery and anise-like. Servietten knodel is German bread dumpling but the texture consistency seems more of a pudding to me -very very soft dough almost creamy in texture.

For the less inclined, sauerkraut is finely shredded cabbage that has been fermented, acidic but slightly sweet. Sauerkrauts usually accompany sausages. I like Chateu Hestia’s sauerkraut because it’s very tasty with a distinctive sour flavor but not overly sour and on the piquant side. All the elements on the plate harmonize into one light delicate dish.

Pizza, Half Greek and Half Margherita PHP 590

For most (my family and friends), they don’t get why I love Margherita pizzas. They find it a bit plain. I love the simple flavors of tomato, cheese and basil –nothing complicated. During the visit to Chateau Hestia, the half part of the pizza that’s Margherita flavor was wiped out very quickly. Their version though has a bit of pesto splotches on the pizza adding a minty bite to it.

I also enjoyed the half greek pizza with the soft eggplant logs and feta cheese. With a hefty tag price of almost PHP 600, I did find it a bit expensive though.

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Calamansi PHP 65

Buko Juice PHP 65

One of the must-order drinks is the Buko Juice, might be more economical to order their unlimited Buko Juice.

Mango Juice PHP 90

Hestia’s Special Iced Tea PHP 65

Limoncello PHP 750

Bubba had a free taste of their aperitif limoncello and ended up buying a bottle because he liked it so much. It’s a pretty strong hit with the concentrated quantity of liquor but favorable is the citrus lemony flavor.

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Service by the whole wait staff team of Chateau Hestia was quite adequate and very friendly. When in Tagaytay/Cavite, Chateau Hestia is well worth the visit for authentic European cuisine. Perfectly prepared items demonstrate a great deal of skill for a homey, comfortable experience with a certain European flair.