On the food trail

BY DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ / Manila Standard Today

There are many reasons why I love Boracay Regency Hotel. It is the first hotel in the island where I brought my daughter during her first trip to Boracay when she was only about eight years old. It is one of the hotels that is close to D’Mall (yes, I would choose shopping over the beach anytime). 

The rooms are well appointed and service is excellent plus they have one of the best breakfast buffet set-ups in Boracay. Oh, did I mention that the breakfast buffet has a great congee that one must really try?

Thus, an invitation to try Boracay Regency’s restaurants is not to be turned down. 

The day we arrived in Boracay, we had breakfast at Christina’s. Breakfast at this air-conditioned café by the beach (there is al fresco seating as well) is simple but filling. 

The hotel’s VIP guests and those who are staying in the executive suites get to have breakfast at Christina’s, which was named after Boracay Regency owner Henry Chusuey’s daughter.

For breakfast, the café lays out an assortment of bread and pastries, cheese and fruits, then you get to choose from different platters. 

Pick the Filipino platter with daing na bangus and tapa if you go for a heavy breakfast. The bangus is really well-seasoned and flavorful. A specialty of the house is Crispchon, delicious and perfectly roasted suckling pig, which may be ordered whole, halved, one-fourth or one-eighth.

Everyone in the group skipped lunch and opted to swim, spend time in our rooms or have a massage at the hotel’s Kai Regency Spa.

For dinner, we went to Mesa Moderne Filipino, also along the beachfront, and enjoyed Filipino delicacies served with a twist. Chicken Binakol is very similar to tinola, except that the Ilonggos add buko juice and meat to the broth to give it a sweetish flavor. The Hito Flakes in oil are placed on small spoons, topped with strips of green mango and chili sauce.The Tinapa Roll is tinapa chunks mixed with diced onion and tomato, wrapped in lumpia wrapper and placed on top of small spoons.

Breakfast the bext day was at Sea Breeze Cafe’s breakfast buffet, where you can find Boracay Regency’s famous congee. The pancakes, breads and pastries and waffles are also must-tries. We opted for something light because lunch would be at the Chinese restaurant Hap Chang.