Some road trips are planned around a destination. Others are remembered because of everything that happens in between. Our Batangas road trip was definitely the latter—a day of good food, plenty of laughs, long stretches of road, and the kind of spontaneous moments that make a simple food trip feel like a real adventure.
With the new Ford Territory Hybrid as our ride, we set out with a packed itinerary that combined restaurants we found on social media and some recommended local favorites.
First Stop: A Boodle Fight
Our itinerary was pretty packed, so we knew from the start it would be a busy day. First up was Don Juan, a family restaurant in Taal filled with provincial charm. The boodle feasts that they’re known for are truly a meal to remember.
We got the Taal Boodle, an outstanding spread with copious servings of Batangas specialties like Pork Adobo sa Dilaw, Tapang Taal, Longganisang Taal, and Fried Tawilis, served with various sides like steamed kangkong, salted eggs, chopped aromatics, and cucumber, all over long beds of steaming white rice.
Market Finds
As foodies, we felt it was imperative to visit the local market to buy native pasalubong and delicacies. Beyond the fresh produce and ingredients, it was a thrill to taste and bring home some local Longganisang Taal and Tapang Taal.
Local Fare with a View
Next was the scenic, sustainably designed Bahay Baluk-Baluk in Mataas na Kahoy. It’s an unmissable culinary site with a unique location: perched on a mountainside overlooking Taal Lake, it offers visitors a relaxing ambiance as they enjoy delectable fare.
We got the Tapang Taal, Kinulo, and Kinaykay (pulled pork) made with the prized meat of the babuy Tagalog, or native black pig. Most of their produce and vegetables are also locally sourced or grown in-house, guaranteeing freshness with every bite.
Last, But Not Least: Lomi
No Batangas road trip is without a stop at a lomihan, and LBN Lomi House, a neighborhood-style family joint in Lipa, was our last stop. It’s known for its soul-soothing, ingredient-laden, signature lomi. The founder, Lucia Olan, even shared with us how she prepares a loaded bowl, which we happily devoured.
Every dish we tried was mouthwatering and filling, making the packed schedule worthwhile. The weather was also particularly hot and pretty humid, but that didn’t really dampen the mood. If anything, it made getting back into the car after every stop even more satisfying.
A Batangas Food Trip Needs a Good Ride
Any food trip sounds exciting until you realize you’re spending hours getting from one place to another, eating in between, and dealing with the heat and limited movement. That’s when having a comfortable ride makes a huge difference.
Inside the Ford Territory Hybrid, there was plenty of space for everyone to settle in comfortably. The interior felt premium, and the seats were soft and supportive enough to make longer stretches of the journey easy.
And then there was the air-conditioning. Batangas was hot, so getting into a car with an air-conditioning system that got ice-cold almost instantly was a small luxury we appreciated all day. Every time we returned to the car, it felt like stepping into our own little cool-down zone before heading off again.
The car also gave us the kind of everyday comfort that suited the trip perfectly. It felt refined enough for a longer drive but wasn’t overly complicated or intimidating to use. More importantly, it kept the journey comfortable even when our schedule was moving at full speed.
The Territory Hybrid also made those transitions easy. The ride was incredibly smooth, and there was plenty of power whenever we needed it. What surprised us most was how light it was on gas, especially for a day that involved a lot of driving. We used only ¼ of the full tank we pumped! It gave us one less thing to worry about as we moved from one part of Batangas to another.
Sometimes, It’s the Journey You Remember
Looking back, some of the most memorable moments of this Batangas food trip didn’t just happen at restaurants, but inside the car. Our random conversations between stops, the inside jokes we made, and even the debates over routes: that’s what makes Batangas such a great road-trip destination – it’s not too far away, but far enough to let you disconnect and enjoy the journey at your own pace. And with a comfortable, efficient ride like the Ford Territory Hybrid, the distance feels less like something you have to endure and more like part of the adventure.
By the end of the day, I realized our ride had become more than just a way to get from restaurant to restaurant. It was our little space between destinations: a place to relax, talk, laugh, cool down, and regroup before the next adventure.
We may have long finished our Batangas Road Trip, but we came home remembering the road, the laughs, the conversations, the scenery, and all the little moments in between. Because sometimes, the best experience on a food trip isn’t just the destination–it’s everything that happens before you get there.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for foodie finds, re-imagined recipes, and easy eats that will take Pinoy bellies on an adventure!
Leave a Reply