Dining In The Clouds

Constructed by a housing developer with a flair for the dramatic, the Twin Lakes area is composed of a series of restaurants, bars, and food stops with scenic views over looking Taal Lake. It lies on the Tagaytay-Nasugbu road leading toward the beaches of Nasugbu and is presently the last pit stop on the crater rim before one heads downward into the farms and fields of Batangas. The developer envisions it to be the future town center for a series of neighboring villages stretching from the lake up to the precarious cliffs.

My wife and I first ventured there when we were exploring the area outside our village, which is only a kilometer or so away. We were surprised to learn that Twin Lakes also has a supermarket with modern amenities like a drugstore, atm and a small craft brewery. When compared with the tourist atmosphere of Tagaytay, Twin Lakes appears forlorn, with hardly anyone except for the occasional realty agent to disturb one's view of the surrounding countryside, farms, golf courses and villages. At that time, it reminded me of a modern ghost town .

Since then, we have seen Twin Lakes rapidly change overnight, from a seemingly deserted town center into an overcrowded, overparked and noisy tourist pit stop. Over the weekend, thousands of motorcycle riders ascend the long twisted road from Batangas to Twin Lakes, to enjoy the view and the coolness of the scene while taking selfies incessantly. Together with the sunburnt families leaving the nearby beaches for Manila in overcrowded vans and buses, the scene in Twin Lakes reminds one of the chaos caused in Manila during the Christmas holidays.

One of our favorite places among the Tagaytay restaurants, Buon Giorno (Book Mark A in the map) has always stood out for its attention to value and consistency. When we first visited the restaurant, we were pleasantly surprised to view its wide selection of recipes. Being a bit more adventurous and far more hungry, than my wife, I opted for a full course meal .Starting with a home made pizza for appetizers, I made my way through a sliced salmon salad, a minestrone soup, and a lamb chop before finishing up with the resto's own version of tarragon tea. The meal's dining experience was made even more memorable by the fog which chose that time to make its entrance, announcing to everyone the end of a fabulous dining experience. Dining in the clouds was never so much fun, and the cold only served to keep us alert as we made our way back home.

Since then, my wife and I have gone to Buon Giorno several times and at different hours of the day. We have always enjoyed eating at the restaurant, and we have learned to avoid the crowds every weekend. Buon Giorno is another one of those gems we have learned to treasure and enjoy when ever we get the urge to see more of Tagaytay.