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Bakeries, Destinations and Stopovers, Food, Restaurants, Travel
Tagaytay’s not-so-secret Sonya’s Garden
I have a certain fetish for going to different places by myself. Whether it’s to a restaurant or a museum, here or abroad, I find it exciting to explore and discover something to share with my friends. That’s why I’m glad I was introduced to Southbound. Suddenly, my camera has become a fixture in my bag. I just have to make sure the battery is always loaded, for surprise outings to a hole in the wall are always possible, and it pays to be able to capture the moment. Just like my unexpected visit to Sonya’s Garden.
It wasn’t my first time there, but after my ecstatic sojourn at Unique Finds, also in Tagaytay, my gastronomic faculty started to churn. I started craving the bread at Sonya’s Panaderia. So driving along the main road, I realized what an opportune time this was to go there; I could get my food and check out possible places to bring my balikbayan relatives who are coming for a visit this February.
Once at Sonya’s, I couldn’t help wandering around and taking pictures of the beautiful place. It was so idyllic in its splendor, with the soft yellow light that comes at around three in the afternoon. I took photos of the cottages with their charming furnishings and romantic bathrooms, where I felt like Maria Clara sitting down at the dressers with the three-way mirrors.
Strolling down the path towards the main dining for walk ins, I felt like Snow White on her way to the little cottage of the seven dwarves. (Yes, I can get carried away at times… but that’s the last of the fictional heroine references, I promise.) The whole place is really a sight to behold! I think the word is fantastic! (I beg your indulgence… this is how I am when I come face to face with Mother Earth, after the concrete jungles that are our cities.)
Anyway, they have a set menu for everyone (P560 per person; there are also Filipino and breakfast sets) starting with a hearty serving of greens with nuts, fruit, shredded papaya, singkamas (turnip), and pipino (cucumber), chopped hard boiled eggs, and sliced ripe mangoes which you can mix yourself then top off with you favorite Sonya’s salad dressing.
I had a hard time finishing my salad so I asked for the next course—a big loaf of wheat bread sliced into several pieces. It came with a choice of liver paté, anchovies, pesto with parmesan, feta cheese, and sun dried tomato paste. I combined the anchovy and feta cheese, much to my delight.
Don’t think this is food to peck at—after two small slices of bread, I felt the need to go out and smoke to help my digestion (as my best friend likes to say, “I am soooo fed up! I’m a full!”). All the while I thought that I could bring home whatever was left, but the waiter informed me that the food had to be consumed in the dining hall (such a waste…what will they do with all the leftovers?).
I was left with no choice but to have a little bit of the pasta and the dessert. In fairness, the chocolate cake was just the right proportion. The sweet potato could have been better if it were chewy. But, oh my! The tarragon tea is the best! It has the aroma of vanilla and the soothing taste of soft mint.
Getting ready for the long drive home, I made a quick stop at the comfort room inside the dining hall and was fascinated by the design. The ante room has a wooden bench where one can sit while waiting for a turn at the cubicle. An exotic looking brass lady crouched like a cat under the bench, getting ready to pounce onto something (or is she doing yoga instead? I can’t tell…).
Inside the cubicle, you get mixed feelings—do you do your business or just sit there, admiring the view (the wall fronting the toilet bowl is really just a screen—I wonder if you can be seen from below?) of the pathways leading to the different cabanas.
Finally, I went to the Panaderia and bought my favorite Cheese Leeks Hopia (P70) and Peanut Butter Cookies (that taste like Chocnut! P70). If only for those darlings, I never get tired of going back to Sonya’s.
Sonya’s Garden
Barangay Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite,
(0917) 532-9097, (0917) 533-5140
info@sonyasgarden.com
www.sonyasgarden.com
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10 comments for “Tagaytay’s not-so-secret Sonya’s Garden”
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Ooh, I love Sonya’s! I never get tired of the place and i find myself craving for the salad!
well, our massimo’s trip ended up in sonya’s instead (no chicken and fish set meals at massimo’s, aw…), and we enjoyed every minute of it! of all the courses, pinakasulit talaga ang tinapay! i enjoyed all the spread options, and even tried the fresh peppercorns with the mushroom paste. yum!
we went without reservations, but since they now have a lot of new dining areas, walk-ins are welcome too… the new area was bright and airy, and the walls on one side had mirrors alternating with capiz window panels, which made the place look even larger than it was. anlamig lamig pa!!!
I’ve read several reviews of Sonya’s pero bakit pag writers southbound and sumulat parang transported ka talaga! What’s your magic huh? Really…I’m getting addicted to this site. Hope you can write naman about the beaches in the south. Johanna you seem like a very profound person…Betty your articles are so witty…haven’t had the chance to read the other articles but I’m getting there.babasahin ko talaga lahat…hats off to southbound.ph!
I LOVE everything in Sonya’s Garden!!!I visited the place twice pero parang ang sarap balik-balikan don’t knw y…hey, hope u cn feature our hotspring resort in pansol, laguna?thanks and more power!!!
bum,
thanks! enjoy reading through the archives! :D
jane,
thanks for visiting! definitely sa summer dadalaw kami sa resort. :) thanks!
can we go at sonya’s after lunch and still avail of P560-set menu?
cheri,
yes, you can have the set menu any time. what i would really love is a “merienda menu,” say half the price for just the bread or the salad or the pasta!
mmm… parang gusto ko bigla mag sonya’s!
enjoy your trip!
how can we get there ba??we dont have wheels kc…well be going there by commuting only…help me…
chiki,
hmmm… oo nga, that may be a bit difficult, kasi sonya’s is a bit far from the main highway. i haven’t tried commuting there yet.
however, i do recall that there are tricycles that wait at the corner going into barangay buck estates. the street going to sonya’s is right after sunrise mansions, along the national highway.
you can take a bus (those marked nasugbu, alfonso, or mendez) from manila (i think there are terminals in pasay and baclaran) or you can take a jeep if you’re already in the tagaytay / cavite area. then ask to be dropped off at the corner of the road going to sonya’s and wait for a tricyle.
pahabol… more detailed info re bus trips (got this from a friend… thanks aj!): one option is crow bus going to nasugbu, the terminal is right next to the mrt taft station. the fare used to be P70 (not sure how much it is now), route passes through coastal road and aguinaldo highway. another option is via van, the terminal is at the basement of metropoint mall, also next to the mrt taft station. it costs double and they wait for the van to fill up, but the route passes through south luzon expressway and the sta rosa road to tagaytay. other sources say there are buses at the metropolis mall in alabang as well.
have fun!
grabe! after reading all your comments, parang gusto ko bumalik sa sonya’s. i stayed there for 3 days,just last wknd. and i really loved & enjoyed the place. the borage room,fireflies,foods & the staff & crew of sonya’s. they are all sooo ma babait talaga! for sure im going back there as soon as i have my free time here in manila. again, i like to spend my wknd there, even though im alone.hehehe