Bon Appetit

Disclaimer: I apologise for the quality of the pictures – my Samsung WB150F doesn’t do very well in low-light settings. Perhaps it’s time to invest in another camera? Haha.

Hi, everyone!

Whew, what a busy week. I’ve done a couple of overtime work this week – good thing I actually enjoy doing my job – and there were a handful of power interruptions. The longest one happened last Thursday, where we had a 3-hour brownout. Coincidentally, that was also the evening when a Payoneer event I was invited to attend was scheduled.

It wasn’t technically a blogger event, but this was the first event I attended ever since I started blogging here in A Joyful Mess. Also, I think I was the only one there who wasn’t technically a freelancer and didn’t have a Payoneer account yet… Hehe. The guys from Payoneer hosted the dinner as a way to give thanks and/or introduce themselves to the online workers and freelancers (more on freelancers) in Davao City. As it wasn’t really a blogger event, let me just tell you about the restaurant where we had dinner: Bon Appétit La Boutique.

A quick research about this restaurant reveals that it’s Davao City’s number 1 restaurant, according to Trip Advisor. I was super thrilled to go to that dinner and discover why it’s #1.

Owned by a French man and his wife, Bon Appetit La Boutique is a really tiny, tiny place tucked into the inner corner of a restaurant compound in the heart of Davao City. When they said it’s a hidden gem, they really weren’t kidding. It actually reminds me of Belito’s Vineyard, another secret gem tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Anyway, back to Bon Appetit.  It looks unassuming when you see it from the outside, but wait until you get a taste of their dishes.

Here are the dishes served in our dinner:

Complimentary Side Dish

Freshly-baked bread with Black Olive spread

This picture was taken when the power was still out. This explains the candle hehe. It was my first time to eat black olive spread, and I liked it!

Appetizer

Quiche au Thon (Savory Pie with Tuna & Gruyère Cheese)

I’m super duper frustrated with this picture! I just took a picture, thought it was good, and started digging into the dish. It wasn’t until I was transferring the pictures to my laptop when I noticed that the dish was out of focus! Huhu. But the precise reason why I wasn’t able to notice it the first time was because the quiche was oh so delicious. It was really creamy and there was a generous heap of tuna inside the pie. You really have to try it when you find yourself at Bon Appetit.

And don’t get me started with the salad! I cleaned off my plate because the salad was also sooo good. It was really simple – I think the dressing was just balsamic vinegar and olive oil – but it was done so nicely. I will recreate it at home.

Main Course

Fricassée de Poulet (Chicken Fricassée with Cream & Musheroom)

This was really delicious, too, although I loved the quiche more! On second thought, I love everything with cheese, so that may be bias on my part. The fricassee went really well with the sticky rice (the boys at my table argued whether it was biko or putomaya hahaha), but the rice was really tasty, too. I think it was cooked in chicken broth. It’s a pity I was already full from my appetizer and I didn’t get to finish this dish. Otherwise, I would have asked for a second serving of it.

Dessert

Tarte Fine et Glace Vanille (Apple Tart with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream)

We were given the choice between homemade vanilla ice cream or homemade durian ice cream to top the pastry. Normally, since I’m averse to durian, I would have chosen vanilla ice cream. However, I read in a lot of reviews that their durian ice cream is really good, so I gave it a try. And I did not regret doing so! Their ice cream tasted so fresh, and while the taste of durian is evident, it was not very overpowering. I really enjoyed the dessert!

Takeaway Dessert

Pot de Crème au Chocolat (Chocolate Pot Cream)

I did not resist from buying a pot of chocolate cream. Well, when it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. I’m glad to report that it is 70% chocolate and that we’re enjoying the last few spoonfuls of it as of this moment.

MY VERDICT OF BON APPETIT LA BOUTIQUE

Food

Food is absolutely awesome! I now understand why it’s #1 in Davao. What I love about their dishes are the generous servings (even the quiche is satisfying enough to be your main course), and virtually everything is homemade. I also love that they don’t scrimp on ingredients at all. You’re getting the value of your money – maybe a lot more value than what you paid for.

If you’re looking for authentic French cuisine in Davao City, Bon Appetit La Boutique is worth a visit.

Service

Service in Bon Appetit is superb. You’ll probably be able to read about that in Trip Advisor reviews, but I personally experienced the kind of service they offer. They cater to your every need without you needing to call their attention, even before you know you need something. That’s how intuitive their staff is. Everyone is approachable, and the French owner himself, Yves, goes from table to table to make sure patrons are enjoying their meal.

Price

Surprisingly, the dishes they serve, generous servings and homemade ingredients and all, and the superb service come at an affordable price. The quiche, for example, is just priced at P225, while the chicken fricassee is P275. Almost all of their desserts are priced at just P150. If you take a look at their menu, you’ll see that almost all of their dishes are priced within the same range.

If you ask me, they’re almost too cheap for authentic French meals.

Location

Bon Appetit is tucked into the inner corner of Plaza del Carmen in Obrero. It’s really nice J.P. Laurel highway, but some drivers are not familiar with the place. The nearest landmark is PNB Bajada. Plaza del Carmen is just few metres from the bank, and you can ask the guard for Bon Appetit. The trip is worth it – I promise.

 This is not a sponsored post.

For Bon Appetit’s complete menu, head over to this link.