Just after New Years, I was fortunate enough to be taken to The Moon Garden in Tagaytay for a photo shoot.

When I first heard “Moon Garden”, though, I thought it was a Chinese restaurant! Haha. The Moon Garden is a beautifully landscaped garden and restaurant, owned by a Belgian man named Peter Geerts. It is being run by his two friends, Tita Bibette and Tita Nieves. My photos don’t do the garden justice, but the minute you enter the garden, you know you’re headed for something special.

 

 

According to Tita Nieves, The Moon Garden first opened its doors to the public as a Wedding venue last May 2007. They didn’t serve meals at that time. Then as more people would visit, they started to develop their menus. Right now, they serve breakfast daily for walk-ins, between 7am until 2pm. See Menu 1.

 

For lunch and dinner menus, a 24-hour prior reservation is required. Basically, they offer set meals consisting of an appetizer, four salads, coffee, and dessert, all for P500/person. All the salads are developed by Peter himself, with the help of Tita Bibette and Tita Nieves, all of whom share a passion for good food. Each salad has a unique ingredient, served in large portions.

 

Their signature Fresh Mint Tea, served with an appetizer to welcome you.

 

Clockwise from top: Steamed rice with bell peppers, Tomato/pako/basil salad with olive oil and rock salt, Oriental rocketta salad with crispy noodle and breaded tokwa, 3-Lettuce salad bowl with fruit, nuts and capsicum garnish, served with Tropical Dressing.

If one were a vegetarian, the set is more than sufficient. But if you’re a meat eater, then you have the choice to add main dishes such as Pochero (P300/person), Grilled Oriental Beef Rissole (250/person), etc. See menu 2.

 

Each main dish comes with rice. But their house specialty is the Cochinillo Asado, or baby roast pig, P4,000/order, good for 10-20 persons. The Cochinillo is amazing. The meat is extra tender, almost no visible fat, and the skin is super crisp. Truly worth the trip. This also comes with home-made pickles, a must-try!

This is the main dining area. But you are also free to have coffee and dessert at the huts. There are also beautiful large paintings displayed all around the garden, all for sale.

 The washroom is as lovely as they come.

 

Tita Nieves (left) and Tita Bibette, two hip women, both retired teachers from the International School Manila.

SPECIALS:
For February, The Moon Garden has prepared a Special Menu for the Lunar New Year.
Enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine with special activities on February 9, 2008, Saturday, 2 days into the new year. The fun starts at 5pm onwards.
The menu is priced at Php 980 per person inclusive of the aperitif. Reservation required!
You may also start booking for Valentine’s Day. Menu still in the works.

For more information, contact:
Nieves at 0920 947 8960, or Bibette 0920 298 8097
email moongardentag@gmail.com
Or visit http://www.moongardentagaytay.com

HOW TO GET THERE:
The Moon Garden is located just off the main road of Tagaytay, across Discovery Country Suites. Coming from the Sta. Rosa exit, make a right heading towards the Rotonda. Before you reach the Rotonda, you will see Discovery Country Suites on your left. Enter the small road to your right. The Moon Garden will be on your left.

Hello Everyone! ShopCrazy will go on hiatus for an indefinite period. In the meantime, please visit me here. I’ll be seeing you!

–Cherry Pacheco-Uy a.k.a. Cherry the Manic Shopper

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 10:38 am and is filed under Food and Drink, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.