Taza Fresh Table: Recommended Entree, Appetizer, Pasta, and Dessert!

Taza Fresh Table

Newly harvested, freshly cooked. Taza (or Taaza) is an Arabic word for "fresh". True to its name, they offer a wide selection of dishes using fresh ingredients, 95% of which are directly sourced from local suppliers.

ambiance

Even the restaurant has this comfortable, bright, and invigorating ambiance. This made me more excited on the line up of dishes we're going to try. I had my little man, Rhyme, with me and so I'll let you know his choices as well.

Mezzes (starter set choice of 4 items, served with flat bread - 700Php)

Hummus, Babaganush, Brandade, Boquerones

Mezzes with flat bread

Hummus was a usual choice, but Babaganush was my favorite with its a-bit-minty sour flavor. Boquerones was interesting and was a surprisingly good pairing with the flat bread. Brandade was very light and subtle. Rhyme enjoyed the homemade Pita (flat bread) without any mezze, which means the bread was enjoyable on its own.

Mushroom Soup (285Php)

Trio of Tagaytay mushrooms (oyster, shiitake, and button mushrooms)

Mushroom Soup

Cream of Kale and Spinach Soup (250Php)

Tagaytay spinach, kale, leeks, potatoes, and creme fraiche

Cream of Kale and Spinach Soup

I prefer the Mushroom Soup as it was screaming "mushroom" and was well-flavored. Though my little Rhyme loved the Cream of Kale and Spinach Soup... for real! I'm not a veggie lover but it's the kind of kale and spinach that I'll get to eat without realizing it. If I can get the recipe for this, then feeding my son greens would never be a problem.

Goat Cheese Caesar Salad (350Php)

Farm-fresh romaine wedges with Malagos Farm pepato goat cheese, homemade pancetta; Caesar Salad dressing

Goat Cheese Caesar Salad

Alugbati Salad (290Php)

Alugbati (vine spinach), wild arugula, jicama, red onion, cherry tomatoes, Naga pili nuts; Salted egg-citrus vinaigrette

Alugbati Salad

Taza Salad (375Php)

Quinoa, cherry tomatoes, wild arugula, farm-fresh romaine, microgreens, Cebu dried mangoes, radish, beets; a la minute tarragon-white wine vinaigrette

Taza Salad

Ranking the 3 salads, it would be [1] Goat Cheese Caesar Salad, [2] Taza Salad, [3] Alugbati Salad. Goat Cheese Caesar Salad was my personal favorite for its surprise factor. It looks like your usual caesar salad with homemade pancetta, but then you get to taste the goat cheese, and smoked fish bits (?) out of nowhere, which kept my interest on the salad. Taza Salad was a perfect choice as well. It carries the name Taza as it embodies it in every form: vibrant, fresh, organic. There are a lot of ingredients and flavors that went well together, and the dried mango bits added to the "wow" factor. Salad on its own is healthy, but having Alugbati Salad made it even healthier. I like that it has pili nuts, but as I'm not into slimy veggies, this might not be for me.

Pizza Sampler

Margherita (tomatoes, Laguna mozzarella, basil, olive oil)
Salsa Verde with Pancetta (homemade pancetta, Laguna mozzarella cheese)
Grilled Vegetable Pizza (eggplant, zucchini, roasted peppers, Laguna mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, truffle oil, and balsamic glace)
Four Cheese (tomato sauce, Laguna kesong puti, Pato quezo de bola, Laguna mozzarella, homemade ricotta, olive oil)

Pizza sampler

Among Margherita, Salsa Verde with Pancetta, Grilled Vegetable, and Four Cheese, my favorites are the second and third. Salsa Verde with Pancetta was like pesto on a pizza.. and I love pesto! The pancetta was very thin but enough to make me long for another bite. I usually love meats on my pizza as I find it more filling, but the Grilled Vegetable Pizza made all the difference. Not only was I able to eat vegetables, but it was also filling and satisfying that I never mind not having the meat. One thing though, this pizza has balsamic glace making it on the sour spectrum. Having it on the sampler was good to add variety of taste, but not sure if it will be equally enjoyable when ordered in full. Margherita was good but usual, while for the Four Cheese, I wish it was more cheesy and creamy.

Papardelle Caccio e Pepe (380Php)

Thyme, parmesan cheese, trio of peppercorns

Papardelle Caccio e Pepe

Pork Cheeks Ravioli (390Php)

Braised organic pork cheeks, mirepoix, parmesan cheese

Pork Cheeks Ravioli

Mushroom and Spinach Matagliati (390Php)

Trio of Tagaytay mushrooms (oyster, shiitake, and button mushrooms), creme fraiche, truffle oil

Mushroom and Spinach Matagliati

Papardelle Caccio e Pepe was both Rhyme's and I's choice. Amazing how a simple dish made of cheese, butter, and pepper can be like-able for a toddler, and equally enjoyable for adults. I love the subtle flavor yet not boring. Mushroom and Spinach Matagliati is also recommended. It was creamy and cheesy, and the mushroom and spinach were very evident. My least favorite was the Pork Cheeks Ravioli as for some reason, it made me feel eating dumplings rather than ravioli pasta.

Braised Oxtail (750Php)

Seared and braised oxtail in red wine, onions, and rosemary; sauteed Tagaytay kale

Braised Oxtail

Moroccan Chicken (Solo - 525Php, Sharing - 875Php)

Braised probiotic chicken with spices; served with couscous

Moroccan Chicken

Tomahawk Pork Chop (790Php)

Caramelized onions and bananas, pork jus

Tomahawk Pork Chop

Seafood Stew

Seafood Stew

I was looking forward to the Braised Oxtail but, unfortunately, it was not how I imagined it. The dish was good in general, but I wish it had softer meat and more flavor overall. I initially thought it was paired with mashed potato, but surprisingly, it was cauliflower, which was good and very interesting at the same time as I haven't tried that before. The Seafood Stew was loaded with seafood and had this very yummy stew. Moroccan Chicken is another Rhyme's favorite. This dish has noticeable spices but not overpowering. The chicken itself is well-flavored even for the breast part. Tomahawk Pork Chop was the highlight among the entrees. It was all how I wanted my pork chop to be: grilled, tender meat, and well-marinated that the flavor really seeps into the meat.

Olive Oil Ice Cream (215Php)

With glazed Tagaytay pineapple

Olive Oil Ice Cream

Cannoli with Ube Ricotta and Langka Cream (275Php)

Puff pastry cylinders stuffed with purple yam and jackfruit pastry cream

Cannoli with Ube Ricotta and Langka Cream

Peanut Butter and Jelly Tart

Peanut Butter and Jelly Tart

Olive Oil Ice Cream was something Rhyme enjoyed a lot. Though for me, I didn't really notice the olive oil taste nor the glazed pineapple. It was like a creamy delicious vanilla ice cream. Cannoli with Ube Ricotta and Langka Cream was new to the eyes and taste buds. I loved how the shells were crispy complementing the soft fillings. It would be better, though, if the ube yam/langka cream fills the whole cylinder and not just the other ends. Peanut Butter and Jelly Tart was very nostalgic and recreated the peanut butter and jelly combination. I almost didn't get to taste it but good thing I did, else I'll regret it. Peanut butter lovers will surely crave for this!

Pandan Iced Tea

This was my first foodie meetup with Zomato and it was a great-great experience for me, Allen, and our little foodie, Rhyme. The staff were all friendly and accommodating. Meeting Chef Jayme Natividad and knowing the stories behind the dishes was a privilege and made the dining experience more memorable.