After the costume contest, a break was announced – time to eat! There was a great buffet spread put on that included mini pizza, different types of pasta, hot dogs, nachos, and more – but what really grabbed my attention was the desserts. Taal Vista Hotel had put on a stunning display of various treats that were decorated with true skill. I felt like a kid as I ogled the eyeball treats, worms and dirt cupcakes, and teeny tiny edible coffins. The bakers had really outdone themselves with these works of edible art!
After ample time for the guests to enjoy the buffet, it was time for another show – a magic show! You’re never too old to enjoy magic, I speak for both myself and my husband as we were delighted by the tricks that were showcased. We’re old enough now to guess at how they are done, but that was part of the fun for us, trying to figure out how the magician did what he did. The kids, though, just enjoyed the show with rapt attention. As the magician packed up his tricks, he had one last surprise for us – a puppet show! He brought out his duck friend Goldy and continued to delight kids right up to the end of the night. All of the children were audibly enjoying the show as they chimed in often with cheers and responses.
Lil’ Monster’s Mansion was a great place to spend Halloween – even for my husband and I who don’t have kids yet(however, this event really upped my baby fever so now my husband has to watch out). The food was spectacular, the venue was beautiful, and when we got a bit drained from the crowd, we were able to pop right outside where we were greeted with the most gorgeous and serene view of Taal Lake and Volcano.
After wandering around for a bit and working our appetite back up, we were very eager to try out Taal Vista Hotel’s newest restaurant, Taza Fresh Table. The restaurant’s Chef Jayme has created a unique menu of delicious items that you won’t find anywhere else. We’ve been hearing about Taza for quite some time and were excited to finally try it out. All the good things we heard about the restaurant were confirmed as we enjoyed what was easily the best meal we’d had in a long time.
We started with the Mezze served with flat bread. There are 10 different mezze dishes to choose from; you can order them either a la carte or a set of 4 for 700php. We chose the hummus, chorizo with garlic, sauteed chicken liver and garlic confit, and spinach with bacon jam dishes. Each item was super tasty, but my favorite was the hummus. Chef Jayme creates the hummus from scratch, even making his own tahini!
For our entree, we had the Tomahawk Pork Chop. Contrary to the usual tough pork chops that many places serve, this pork chop was so tender, you could cut it with a spoon. It was on a bed of mashed potatoes and paired with carmelized onions and bananas that gave it a perfect hint of sweetness. My husband, who normally can’t eat anything without rice, said “This pork chop is so good, I will not destroy it by pairing it with rice.” That’s a really big deal for him!
What makes Taza Fresh Table particularly great is that everything is created from scratch and 95% of the ingredients used are either grown by themselves or purchased from local farms. You could really taste how fresh each ingredient was. Taza is a beautifully high-end restaurant so it’s naturally a little on the pricey side, but not only are the portions huge(plenty for sharing, and we even had leftovers!), but you’re supporting your local Filipino farmers when you dine here. Make sure to cap off your night with the Olive Oil Ice Cream, a strange-sounding combination that tastes absolutely fantastic.
Even as childless adults, my husband and I fully enjoyed the Lil’ Monsters’ Mansion Halloween event put on by Taal Vista Hotel. Our decision to come was a bit last minute, but we’re so glad that we made the drive out here instead of just spending the night in. We’ll definitely look forward to returning – mark your calendars now so you won’t forget to reserve your tickets to next year’s surprise theme! If you can’t wait until next Halloween though, be sure to keep your eye out as Christmas approaches as Taal Vista Hotel has promised to host a special celebration here as well!
Taal Vista Hotel has been around for a long time(since 1939!) so many Filipinos have memories here, whether it was 50 years ago or 5 months ago that you last visited – perhaps it’s time to stop by, make a new memory, and bring your kids as well to create a lasting memory for them in a place that’s absolutely timeless and priceless.
Taal Vista Hotel
Kilometer 60, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City 4120, Philippines
Tel. +6329178225, +63464131000 or +639178091254