Le Don’s Garden, Silang

Dining in a (not so) secret garden oasis is always a good idea.

                                     

Le Don’s Garden is a homey and sunny space nestled in a 600-square meter garden in Silang, Cavite, just a short distance from Tagaytay. The place reminds me of nostalgic summer days and quiet weekends in the province. It was established in 2014 by the family of Jenni Asuncion Foronda right after their mother was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. They started their own vegetable garden, planted a variety of them, to ensure that their mother gets only the healthiest and organic produce from their very own land. Sadly, their mother succumb to the disease and passed away in 2015. But the family still continued maintaining the garden in memory of their mother, and eventually opened a restaurant, they lovingly named after their father Celedonio.

Caramel frappauchino

Chef vegetable salad

Chicken salsa verde

Carbonara pasta

Beef gyudon

Blueberry panna cotta

Mango crepe

Magic ternate tea (turns from blue to violet when mixed with calamansi juice)  

They practice the garden-to-table approach, where diners are served with healthy and sumptuous dishes with main ingredients that are freshly picked, pesticide-free vegetables from the garden. They want to educate the people on the importance of growing their own food and preparing them at home. They regularly conduct seminars on organic gardening, mushroom production, and growing indoor herbs. They also have yoga classes during weekends.  They advocate healthy and holistic living by connecting people with the food they eat.

From Manila, take Tagaytay bound bus from Lawton, Buendia or South Terminal in Pasay. Get off in Asuncion Subd. in Biga (near La Salette Shrine). From the highway, it is a short walking distance to the restaurant.

Le Don’s Garden

Asuncion Subd., Biga 1

Emilio Aguinaldo Highway

Silang, Cavite

Tel. Nos.:  (046) 414-3235, 0916-5561409

Mi Abuela Tagaytay

“You get old and you realize there are no answers, just stories.”

- Garrison Keillor

There are many types of grandmothers – old fashioned, hands-on, sporty, reservoir of family wisdom, quiet and resigned, granny from hell, or supergran. The latter fittingly describes Elo Estepa, loving mother of four, doting grandmother to more, and owner of a beautiful Tagaytay weekend home she fondly calls Mi Abuela (a Spanish term for “My Grandmother”).

                                                                                                                                       

Elo defies stereotypes. She is still busy as a bee tending to her succulent garden, being a development consultant for environment, and as reservist officer of the Philippine Air Force. She is a living example that even at old age, life can be disturbingly meaningful and wonderful. Her home, which is located in a hilly private subdivision of Monte Vista, was originally built as a vacation place for her children (and eventually grandchildren). But it is now listed in AirBnb (managed by her son Chino) for those needing a break from the hustle and bustle of city life.

For those without a car, it is a bit of a downhill hike from the main entrance of the subdivision to Mi Abuela.

I was welcomed by Kuya Marcial, Elo’s trusted caretaker and gardener.

I like how lush and green the surroundings. With the cool Tagaytay weather, Mi Abuela is a perfect staycation place, a second home for vacationers, not too far from the city.

The main house was personally conceptualized by Elo in collaboration with her former classmate who was a contractor for roads and bridges, way back in 2000. Initially, her children’s bedroom could be accessed from the main house but when her daughter got married in 2012, she decided to close off the access points to the rooms for privacy and move the entrances to each of the two bedrooms now named after her children – the Unica Hija and Tres Hermanos. These rooms are good for two persons. 

The El Atico, the low attic bedroom was also converted into a homey accommodation ideal for small groups, both families and barkadas. The cozy room was the hang-out place of Elo’s older grandchildren.

While I find the rooms of the main house simply lovely, the guest house El Jardin, where I was booked is breathtakingly gorgeous and romantic. It was already featured and showcased as a modern Filipino house in Real Living Magazine. The air-conditioned room is spacious, painted daffodil yellow on the outside and refreshing lime green inside, and accentuated with wood.

Elo got help from her son’s interior designer friends who customized some of the wooden furniture pieces that include the bed with dome ceiling net, antique aparador, daybed with cushions, duyan, and capiz accents on doors and windows. All the design elements of the house are environmentally-friendly, and the details were well thought of. The room also welcomes natural light with its several screened windows. The bed, comforter and pillows are of high quality.

The bathroom has an exquisite Moroccan-tile bathtub and solar-powered heater with Human Nature essentials to soak away stress, and state of the art Japanese toilet with built-in bidet (this was a surprise!). The first aid kit box also has this amusing cover note that says “Big boys and girls and true heroes don’t cry, not for me, not for Argentina…”      

The room is equipped with mini kitchen, where guests are allowed light cooking. Elo and Chino are very thoughtful in providing guests complimentary coffee, purified water and fresh fruits. The latter I used as an ingredient in making garden salad.

The sliding back doors open to a sun deck with wooden bench, where guests can enjoy their morning coffee, the ridge view and a breath of fresh air. I did.

There are gazebos scattered within the property, as well as a zen garden, that guests could access.

  

Elo’s Succulents Tagaytay is also located within the property. Her succulents and cacti come in different varieties planted in terracotta, glazed and plastic pots, and glass terrariums, and make good alternative for small indoor gardens. They are for sale and are usually given as souvenirs in weddings or other intimate occasions.    

By sundown, it is best to head to the rooftop and enjoy the view of nature.

Mi Abuela is a green, serene and relaxing place. It is a great escape from urban living, best suited for people who want to destress, do nothing, soul searching, recharge, or catch up on reading. I spent some time reading George Vaillant’s “Aging Well” and got some golden nuggets of wisdom like “Aging actually begins at birth. Young people should learn how to live so that they will be ‘happy-well’, rather than ‘sad-sick’ or ‘prematurely dead’ and “The past may predict but never determines old age.”

Elo actually encourages guests to revel in simple pleasures - bond with family and friends and create unforgettable memories.

From Manila, take Tagaytay bound bus from Lawton, Buendia or South Terminal in Pasay. Get off in Olivares. From the highway, ride a tricycle going to Monte Vista Subdivision. Tricycles are allowed to get inside the subdivision (use Waze and search Succulents Tagaytay as the destination). Or it is a 5-minute downhill walk from the entrance of subdivision to Mi Abuela.

Mi Abuela

Block 3, Lot 4 John Hay St.

Tagaytay Monte Vista

Brgy. Sungay West, Tagaytay City

Tel. No.: 0965-3468003