Qiwellness Living Tea and Bath House

Nino and I don’t mind driving a bit further to enjoy a good meal. In fact, we really like it. I love the quiet time with my man in the car. We use the time to catch up on things that aren’t so important…

What I mean to say is, we go thru our days expressing our needs or the needs of the children and it’s kind of like talking “business.” It usually means family “business,” like if the one of the kids’ has an activity we need to attend or there is a behavior that I think we need to address or correct. So, we do talk and communicate through out the day…it’s just a different kind of “talk” or catching up when we are both relaxed and not stressed with the responsibilities of house, home, and work. This is why DATE NIGHTS are so important to us, and why we don’t mind driving a bit further for those date nights…

So when my friend Patty invited us to a dinner in Tagaytay, we both were excited to see what this new place was all about. I knew that we were in for a treat, because besides trying out a new place, we were also excited for the alone time we would have in the car on the way there.

Photo Credit: Qiwellness Living Facebook Page

From the simple exterior, it was hard to tell what was behind the big red doors. Once we entered, I could feel that Nino really liked the vibe and what he was seeing. The interiors were modern and Asian. The combination of concrete and Ming Dynasty inspired dining set we saw when we walked in through the doors complimented the elegance of what a Teahouse and Spa should encompass. They even rang the Gong to announce our arrival!

Because it was already late in the evening, we couldn’t see the view of Taal Lake and the volcano, but just knowing it was there, as we were enjoying this multiple story oasis set the tone for the night.

This Guy. I love that he enjoys spending time with me. Date Nights are a must for us 🙂 It reminds us how it was before the kids…when it was just the two of us.

Who doesn’t love DATE NIGHT!?

It’s always more fun eating out with friends, so I was equally excited to be with my Alabang girls. Mostly everyone was from the south, so traveling to Tagaytay wouldn’t be such a chore for any of us.

I've been spending a lot more time with these girls and we are having so much fun! It's very relaxed when we are together...it's easy...

I’ve been spending a lot more time with these girls and we are having so much fun! It’s very relaxed when we are together…it’s so easy…

Our hosts Ken Tuason and Rita Sanson toured us around the place, and there couldn’t have been more oohs and ahhs as we were exploring the multiple levels. With the Yin and Yang Jacuzzis, to the massage rooms styled after early 1900’s Opium Dens, and the cantilevered deck that overlooks Taal Lake, there were many details to the Bath and Tea House that allow the visitor to relax in what is a seamless union of being one with nature while also being luxurious.

With my back to Taal Lake, I was able to snap this shot of the multilevel Tea and Bath House with its dramatic lighting.

I had read up a little bit about the place that we were visiting and saw that they had set menus for fine dining as well as a great selection of teas and they served other items a la carte. But on this evening we were going to be treated to their Summer Set Menu. I love how the menu was even thoughtfully planned out in scroll form!

I knew that the portions would be just the perfect size for me because when you have this many courses you just need a tasting of each one. I think if you were a really big eater, you might be a little hungry…but for me… it was perfect. I’m always game for trying new things in situations like this so I was really excited to see what we were going to be served.

We started with what I think was Fried Mantou Bread served with Herbed Butter. Simple. Lovely. (I love my carbs-but you knew that.)

Money Bag of Foie Gras and Green Apple with Chestnut Puree

Picture taking with all this mood lighting and candlelight, doesn’t always make for great pics of the food. Good thing my hubby is so quick on his feet. He was using his iPhone to give me lighting for my food shots. THANKS BABE!

Tuna Tartare with Pineapple and Pickled Shallots

This was lovely…not just in presentation, but also in how light and fresh it was.

Roasted Tomato Soup with Capsicum with a Poached Egg Dumpling

The soup became even creamier once you popped the poached egg into it.

Endive, Roquefort, Walnut, Roasted Pear Salad, Pomegranate Vinaigrette

I loved that there is such a thing as edible flowers in this world. It’s just all sorts of pretty to me.

Pan Seared Sake-Marinated Scallops, Avocado Purée Radish Ebiko

I really enjoy scallops. The only thing I would have liked better for this dish, was if the scallops were not so well done.

Mahi Mahi on Buckwheat Noodles, Orange Teriyaki Glaze

Strip loin of Beef, Sichuan pepper, spatzle, snow peas, truffle beef jus

Strip loin of Beef, Sichuan Pepper, Spatzle, Snow Seas, Truffle Beef au Jus

By this time, I was already really full. I asked Nino to finish off my plate of striploin after I had a taste of everything at least once. He happily obliged because the steak was cooked just the way he liked it.

Cardamom Custard, Strawberry Sorbet Crumble and Soil

To experience the Summer Set Menu ( or any of the set menus) you must make arrangements in advance.

Owner, Kenneth Tuason also shared with us that one could take advantage of the facilities by scheduling partner massages, and availing of the steam showers and Yin & Yang Jacuzzis. By making your reservations in advance you will be sure to get the very best service as the staff can prepare for your arrival.

There are a variety of different spa services you can check out on their website.

Or you can even schedule an overnight and wake up to a traditional congee breakfast with dimsum. This overnight package comes complete with welcome drinks and spa services for two!

And who wouldn’t want to spend an overnight in a place like this?