Davao’s Cacao Farmers are going digital. PLDT and Smart have partnered with Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) and the Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Training Institute (DA-ATI) to assist in the digital boost.
Davao’s Cacao Farmers
80% of the Philippines’ cacao is produced in Davao. Davao cacao and Davao chocolates are considered as some of the best in the world.
The Digital Farmers Program provides training and tools to the farmers. The program started in 2024 and has trained over 300 farmers in local communities.
It covers all essential parts of the farming process such as mobile apps for crop monitoring and track weather conditions. There are also modules and tools to manage resources. Finally, farmers connect with more buyers via online marketplaces.
Meanwhile, partner organization MEDA provides training on sustainable farming techniques. This ensures that farmers maximize resources while protecting the environment.
Lizabeth Gabonada, a farmer and member of the MIEDECO cooperative shares “These apps help us monitor the weather properly. Now, we can decide the best time to plant and find the best areas for growing cacao. That makes a huge difference.”
Hi, Davao girls! Looking to spending the upcoming Valentine’s Day with your girl friends? We have the perfect spots and events for you to spend your Galentines in Davao. So gather your best gals and celebrate the season with good food, great coffee, and some interesting finds. Maybe a glass of wine or two, as well.
What is Galentines? It is an occasion to gather your favorite girl friends (single or otherwise) and celebrate friendship and each other’s successes. Most people celebrate it on February 13. We think you can celebrate it any day this February. Or the rest of the year. Why not?
Galentines in Davao
Here in Davao, we have a few spots which we think would be a great places for you and your gal pals to gather at.
Club’s Bakery North
Koop Cafe
Yesterdays Coffee + Bar
Plus, some events this February that you might be interested in:
Louis Mireille & Friends at Fika Cafe
The Love Club by Little Toast
Club’s Bakery North
One of our favorite food spots we discovered in 2024 is Club’s Bakery. And we are glad they have now expanded to a new branch.
We chose this as our first spot for Galentines because it is cozy and quiet. They have the perfect menu for a brunch date. Or an afternoon coffee date with your gal pals. We love their Sea Salt Cream Latte.
And of course, their various croissants.
Our Editor Ria picks their Double Cookie Croissant, the Lemon Cruffin, the Pain Au Chocolat, and the Strawberry Croissant as her personal picks.
Club’s Bakery North is located at Veloso Street in Obrero.
Koop Cafe
Next on our list is Koop Cafe.
Koop Cafe is another cozy cafe in the Obrero area. They are popular for their sweet crepes. But they also serve savory crepes, pasta and rice dishes. And of course, coffee.
Our favorites are the Tomato and Basil Pasta, the Blueberry and Cream Crepe, and the Mango Crunch Crepe. Their Spanish Latte is also really good.
Koop Cafe is located along Loyola Street in Obrero.
Hello, 2025! Here is another favorites list from 2024. Our December Favorites is here. Mostly, our favorites from the holiday events we attended. And it is longer than usual. Plus, three coffee drinks we love.
December 2024 Favorites
Our top recommendations for December are:
Tomato and Basil Soup by Made Simple,
Kare-Kare by Romualdo’s,
Beef Caldereta by Chippens,
Mango Passion Fruit Kakiguri by Shuga Beibi,
Paris Brest by Dulce Desserts,
Sea Salt Latte by Club’s Bakery,
Spanish Latte by Priore Cafe, and
Kori-Kohi by Beans and Berry.
List is longer than usual and we have 3 coffee drinks on it.
Tomato and Basil Soup by Made Simple
We went back to Made Simple and we tried the soup.
Tomato and Basil Soup by Made Simple
The Tomato and Basil Soup is rich and flavorful. Tangy, a bit salty and creamy. It goes well with their bread. It is a good starter to your meal or could be an entire light meal on its own.
Made Simple is located at CT Drive along Tulip Drive.
Kare-Kare by Romualdo’s
Our next two recommendations are by two of our favorite caterers in Davao.
The Kare-Kare by Romualdo’s is a winner. Tender beef and oxtail and vegetables in a tasty rich peanut sauce. It is apparent that it is cooked with care with homecooked quality to it. Superb.
The team behind Romualdo’s recently opened their first restaurant, Recuerdo in Juna Subdivision.
Beef Caldereta by Chippens
Another favorite from the holiday events we attended is Beef Caldereta by Chippens.
Chippens is undoubtedly the most popular caterer in Davao. Oone of our favorites is their Beef Caldereta. The beef is tender and flavorful and the sauce is rich, savory, sour, and just a bit sweet and spicy. There is a perfect blend of flavors that make any occasion just a little bit more special.
Their Beef Caldereta is also available in their stores freshly cooked or frozen.
Special mention to their Lechon Baka which we also love.
Chippens is located at Roxas Avenue. You may also enjoy their Calderata at Salome’s Garden in Cabantian.
Continuing our monthly favorites series with our top picks from last month. Here are our November Favorites. It is a mix of old and new dishes to try.
November 2024 Favorites
Our top 5 recommendations for November are:
Shawarma by Dani’s Palace,
Piri-Piri Plate by Bairrada,
Combi A Lachi’s, and
Strawberry Cake by Alor’s.
Some are new. Some are old. Everything is a must-try.
Shawarma
We have had many shawarmas in our life but we think Dani’s Palace Shawarma is one of the best.
Chicken and Beef Shawarma by Dani’s Palace
Their Shawarma is filled with tasty and savory beef (or chicken) and fresh vegetables wrapped in a light pita bread. It is served with a spicy sauce and a garlic sauce. We recommend ordering the Single serving. It also comes with sides of fries and coleslaw.
The garlic sauce is sublime. Smooth. Full of umami flavor. The shawarma itself is undoubtedly good but the garlic sauce makes it over the top good. If you have a huge appetite, their Overloaded Shawarma is extra big and comes with your choice of three sauces.
Dani’s Palace recently opened their Maa Branch at Limaria right outside Le Jardin along Maa Road.
Our second recommendation is Frango Piri-Piri Plate by BairradaChurrasqueira.
Piri-Piri PlatePotatoes and Tomato Salad
The Piri-Piri Plate includes half of a chicken, potatoes, tomato salad, and rice. The chicken is wood-charcoal-grilled. It is spicy and salty. This is contrasted well by the tomato salad with its tangy dressing. Our favorite on the plate is the salty, umami-filled potatoes. It seems to be smashed and double-fried. It is crispy with a moist interior. There is a good mix and balance of flavors and textures in one plate. If you love spicy food, give the Piri-Piri plate a try.
Bairrada recently opened at The Compound along Tulip Drive.
Planning your holiday celebrations? Make each party sweeter with a cake from our favorite bakeries and pastry shops. Here is our list of Best Cakes in Davao.
Fortunately, there are now a good variety of bakeries and cake shops in Davao. When choosing or recommending a cake (or cakes) there are many things to consider: budget, occasion or theme, and preferred flavors.
10 Best Cakes in Davao List
For this list, we have selected 10 cakes that would be great to bring to a holiday party to be shared with family and friends. In no particular order.
Ribbonette Cake
Moist Chocolate Cake
Mocha Cake
Cookies and Cream Cake
Creme Brulee Cake
Fruit Fluff Cake
Purple Haze
Matcha Mille Crepe
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Nelusko Cake
This list is based purely on our taste and preferences, limited to cakes we have tried and will continue to order. We have, of course, taken into consideration flavors that might appeal to many people. And the list has cakes at various price points. There are cakes we love but are not easily accessible. We did not include those.
We are also excluding two types of cakes: Sans Rival and Cheesecake. Several shops around Davao serve excellent Sans Rivals and Cheesecakes and we will share our recommendations for those soon.
Ribbonette Cake by Bistro Rosario
Starting with a classic. You can never go wrong with a Bistro Rosario Ribbonette Cake.
Ribbonette Cake by Bistro Rosario
Fluffy, airy, sweet chiffon cake with generous servings of buttercream frosting on top and in between cake layers. The entire cake is also covered and adorned with classic buttercream frosting in your chosen color and design.
This is a cake that many Davaoenos have grown up with. It is usually served on birthdays, but we think this is perfect during the holidays. The Ribbonnette cake is simple done excellently. And it is sure to delight kids and adults alike.
If you’re going for a classic birthday cake, try Bistro Rosario’s Ribbonette Cake. It’s the og Davao Rainbow Cake before Rainbow cake was trendy. Layers of light chiffon cake with boiled icing in between and on top. Nostalgic.
We must also mention another Bistro Rosario classic, Mango Charlotte.
If you are born and raised in Davao, you have probably seen and tasted this at least once. This is a superb mango cake. Soft, pillowy cake with mango frosting in between the two layers and on top. Fresh wedges of mangoes and whipped cream adorn the top of this cake.
Bistro Rosario’s cakes are deceivingly simple. Some people might prefer these for sentimental reasons. But we dare say when it comes to consistency in taste and quality, these are the best cakes for every occasion. And they come in different sizes so you can get one based on your budget and the size of your event.
Moist Chocolate Cake by Joniel’s
And for chocolate lovers, the most popular and often recommended chocolate cake in Davao is Joniel’s.
Moist chocolate cake with a sweet fudgy frosting. Joniel’s Moist Chocolate Cake has been the go-to cake shop for many Davaoenos. Their Moist Chocolate Cakes now come in various sizes at affordable prices. Joniel’s Chocolate Cake is affordable and accessible. Great basic chocolate cake for any occasion.
Another Chocolate Cake that deserve a mention is the Cookie Monster by Margie’s Bakeshop.
Mocha Cake by Cecil’s
Another classic is Mocha Cake by Cecil’s.
Another simple cake that is worth every peso. Cecil’s Mocha Cake is a fluffy mocha chiffon cake with sweet, creamy mocha buttercream. Simply decorated the same way for decades now. Nostalgia aside, this is objectively one of the best cakes in the city. They make it simple yet perfectly sweet every time.
We love eating out and we love sharing with you our recommendations. This month, we are starting a new series where we share our favorites from the past month. Here are our October Favorites.
October 2024 Favorites
We will keep our lists simple and recommend just 3 to five dishes per month. Maybe a bit more at times. The past month, our top 5 recommendations are:
CHEESE TTEOKBOKKI by Chung’s Kimchi,
KATSU CURRY by Nonki Japanese Restaurant,
SALMON HEAD ARANI by Nonki Japanese Restaurant,
MATCHA MILLE CREPE by andMatcha Cafe, and
MILO DINOSAUR by Kopi lah Roti.
Everything on our list this month are intentionally all Asian cuisine dishes.
Cheese Tteokbokki
First on our list is Cheese Ttteokbokki by Chung’s Kimchi.
Cheese Tteokbokki by Chung’s KimchiCheese Tteokbokki by Chung’s Kimchi
Most of the Tteokbokki dishes we have tried are one note, just spicy. The Cheese Tteokbokki by Chung’s Kimchi is savory and spicy, a little bit sour and sweet. It is super cheesy. There is a good balance of flavors. It also has a generous amount of odeng (fish cakes) and of course, melted cheese.
This is the perfect starter for a meal at our favorite Korean restaurant. It will delight diners who already love Korean cuisine and those who have not tried Korean food yet.
Chung’s Kimchi is located along Sobrecarey Street in Obrero.
Next on our list are two dishes by our favorite Japanese Restaurant, Nonki.
Pork Katsu CurrySalmon Head Arani
We love Nonki but this is the first time our Editor Ria has tried their Katsu Curry. You may choose pork or chicken. We tried the Pork Katsu Curry. The pork is exquisitely breaded and fried. It’s is crunchy and not greasy at all. The Katsu is well-seasoned. The curry sauce has the right balance of umami, spicy, salty, and sweet. The potatoes and carrots are nicely cooked, not mushy. It comes with rice and a side salad.
We also got to try their Salmon Head Arani. It was the owner’s birthday and he gave this complementary dish to every table that night. We all love it. The salmon is perfectly cooked and the sauce is salty and sweet. This is a good dish to be shared on the table.
Nonki Japanese Restaurant in Davao is located at Autoville Compound along Torres Street, in Poblacion.
