Lian Rodriguez
Plum Restaurant in Malvar, Batangas
A recent trip to Batangas affirmed our well-established impression of the province as a great foodie place for locals and foreigners alike.
Lima Park Hotel, renowned in the south as one of the poshest hotel in the region, recently relaunched their in-house restaurant, now known as Plum Restaurant.
Media guests were invited to try out their new resto, and of course, your fellow OOTB journalists were more than happy to attend.
The hotel is situated inside the LIMA Technology Center, a mix-use development located inside the borders of Lipa and Malvar, hence the name Lima. In the industrial park, we were impressed with the modern looking warehouses and manufacturing facilities scattered all over the 549-hectare development.
Notably, we saw the facade of Bandai Philippines, Inc., a name known to Filipino fans of Japanese anime Gundam, Godzilla, Tamagotchi, Digimon, and others. It was good to know that our provinces, especially Batangas, now play host to such big multinational companies; a hug boost to the local economy, to be sure.
After a short tour of the park, we arrive in Lima Park Hotel. The hotel’s facade is thoroughly modern, with its whitewashed colors and modern aesthetics. The hotel is touted as the only 4-star hotel in Batangas and has recently received TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence.
The hotel is now on its ninth year and is the go-to for business travelers and tourists alike. Lima Park Hotel has 136 rooms, a huge swimming pool inside its enclave, seven function rooms, two ballrooms, and, of course, the new Plum Restaurant.
First though, we settled in our room for the night. We were given a deluxe room, which had a queen size double bed, an inverter air conditioning system (good for the environment), a whopping 32 inch LED TV, a bathtub, and speed wi-fi internet, a must nowadays, of course.
After settling in, we now went to the serious business of eating.
Plum Restaurant
The restaurant is located below the ground floor level of the hotel, which is located on an elevated plane. The restaurant is beside the patio and garden, which also overlooks the swimming pool and ballroom.
The newly revised restaurant is just one of the three food outlets in the hotel. There’s also The Patio Bar and La Terraza. Plum features “Pan-Asian” cuisine, which encompasses east and southeast Asian fares.
The restaurant’s interiors are also suitably Asian inspired, with minimalist, zen-like designs, wooden finishings, and monochromatic tones. Filipiñana design elements are also seen because of course, Filipino food is also served at Plum.
At the exclusive media tasting, we tried their Homemade Pot Stickers – handcrafted purple yam dumplings with shrimp, minced pork shoulder, pork back fat, and Asian-style seasonings. The dumplings are plum colored, in honor of the resto’s name. It’s served with ginger chips, green scallion dip, and sweet chili. (Php 310)
Next was the Plum Style Cua Pao. There’s a choice of pork or chicken. The dish is stuffed with meat in fluffy and freshly steamed handcrafted Cua Pao Buns. Greens and house pickled vegetables are also served. (PHP 260)
We also tried their Thai Beef Salad – Grilled Beef Tenderloin, cooked to medium perfection over a bed of market fresh greens, enoki mushrooms, baby tomatoes, cashews, carrots, cucumber and fried shallots. (PHP 360)
The Tom Yum Goong was particularly good. Plum’s version is lighter variant of the Thai classic – prawns, shallots, mushrooms and tomatoes, finished off with a light broth made from tamarind, lime leaves and Asian aromatics. (PHP 690)
Pancit Palabok Japchae was also a popular dish in the tasting – Dashi infused shrimp and aligue sauce, with japchae noodles. It’s topped with shrimp, tinapa flakes, chicharon, leeks and fresh sliced kamias fruit. (PHP 390)
The Beef Rendang was also well received – Stewed beef and oxtail in a symphony of South East Asian spices and coconut milk reduced to a flavorful think consistency. (PHP 580)
When in Batangas, one must have Bulalo, so we also tried Plum’s Batangas Bulalo – fork tender beef shank, bone marrow, bok choi, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and green beans. (PHP 690).
After the feast, we went on a boat ride using Lima Park Hotel’s exclusive catamaran. We toured the beautiful environs of Taal Lake and even docked at the new Lake Point Manakah, a hilltop property located in the lake itself. The al fresco property has a tree house and tables perfect for sunset watching and appreciating the enchanting views of Mt. Maculot and Volcano Island.
After the tour, we went home to Lima Park Hotel (hotel info). We left Batangas with full tummies and great memories. We can’t wait for the next Batangas tour.
Also see:
- Fortune Island Travel Guide
- Top 12 Things to do and Places to Visit in Taal, Batangas
- List of Best Batangas Beach Resorts, Hotels and Water Parks
- 14 Amazing Beaches in Batangas to Visit for Summertime
- Best Beach and Dive Resorts in Anilao, Batangas
