You may say, “Shug, this ain’t my first rodeo!” because you’ve been to Huckleberry on its soft opening during the holiday season. But on the grand opening of the newest dining and watering hole in Davao, everyone who came, drank and feasted had “Well, if that ain’t just the bee’s knees!” written on their faces. Yep, there’s something more spectacular that was unveiled on that night.
 |
| Huckleberry owner Chris Pamintuan preps the Huevos Rancheros- chili con carne topped with fried egg, & enjoyed with fried wanton chips. |
Offering modern Americana cuisine, Huckleberry Southern Kitchen and Bar is the newest food joint to open in the city. Tucked in the lower level of the Oboza heritage house (replacing Cellar de Boca) and furbished in old world scheme— distressed brick walls, Edison pendants with filament bulbs, old Southern US clippings and concerts on the walls, and mural art by renowned illustrator Macky Pamintuan-- the new restaurant and watering hole informally opened in December last year.
 |
| New bar with an old world vibe in an old heritage house. |
In such a short time, it gained quite a following with a menu offering something new to the city’s taste buds and well-stocked bar boasting of rums infused with local fruit flavors (mangosteen, mango, etc.) and spices (ginger, sili), signature cocktails crafted by mixologist and owner of Maharlika and Jeepney in New York, Enzo Lim, the best spirits in the world only found in this joint— Monkey 47 Dry Gin, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, etc, and handcrafted beers.
 |
| Bartender preps up a house specialty cocktail. |
Coming out of the kitchen run by multi-awarded Executive Chef Kenneth Villaluz (owner and chef of Tiago, a progressive Filipino restaurant in Quezon City included in Philippine Tatler's Best Restaurants Guide 2014), is the contemporary taste of the American South, comfort food whipped from time-honored recipes from the Carolinas to the Creoles, with a little bit of Mexican and Soul food— the Slow-roasted Beef Belly, Huevos Rancheros, and Southern Fried Chicken with house-made Corn Muffins, all of which you may want to have another go at. Go ahead, please. But expect something more than the delicious dishes that tickled your taste buds on your next visit.
 |
| The Huevos Rancheros is Huckleberry’s version of nachos with ground beef. |
 |
| Soul food. Southern Fried Chicken with house-made Corn Muffins |
 |
| Tender & juicy. The Slow-roasted Beef Belly |
You may have been wowed by Huckleberry’s flavorful and filling specialties, but there are more delectable reasons why you will be a regular patron of this restobar. The chef has expanded the menu with new, exciting dishes, which includes the Nashville Hot Chicken Wings, Pork Belly with Apple Salad and Mashed Potatoes, the Popcorn Shrimp, Cream Cheese Wonton Crisps with Salsa, Pork Cracklings, Pimiento Dip with Fried Flour Tortillas, among other bar bites.
 |
| New on the menu- the Nashville Hot Chicken Wings |
 |
| New on the menu- Popcorn Shrimp |
 |
| New on the menu- the Cream Cheese Wonton Crisps with Salsa |
I won’t be surprised if Huckleberry will be short-listed as one of the best bars and restaurants in the city. Five experienced and discriminating partners behind the business will make sure they land on the top ranks. On the forefront and the brains behind Huckleberry are cousins Chris Pamintuan and Kim Pamintuan, Chef Kenneth Villaluz, joined by seasoned restaurateurs and owners of Cellar de Boca, Vince and Tricie Arcenas. Together, they created something spectacular that’ll make every visitor utter, “Well, if that ain’t just the bee’s knees!”
 |
| Not your ordinary quesadillas. Huckleberry’s Chicken Quesadillas is loaded! |
 |
Already a bestseller, the Bacalao Croquettes
|
Huckleberry Southern Kitchen and Bar is located in the Oboza Compound on JP Rizal Street corner Bangoy Street, Davao City. It is open daily for lunch from 11am to 2pm, and for dinner and drinks from 5:30pm to 2am. For more information, call (082) 2852586 or 0927 685 4195. You can also find them on facebook.com/HuckleberrySouthernKitchen, on Twitter: huckleberry_dvo and Instagram with the handle @huckleberry_davao. *****
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on February 1, 2015.
.jpg)
