My Country House in Tagaytay Can Be Yours for a Leisurely Sunday-Brunch Style Dining Experience

When the Raintree Group opened The Farmer’s Table in 2021, the neighbors living in the country house next door were intrigued. The new restaurant concept located inside the Nurture Wellness Village in Tagaytay brought in a steady stream of diners looking to sample healthy and filling eats from a stalwart in the local F&B scene—the same group behind places like Jones All Day, Stella Wood-Fired Pizza, Providore, Motto Motto, The Coconut Club, Chotto Matte, Izakaya Senzu, Saboten, M Cafe at the Ayala Museum, and Chelsea. 

Dining area of My Country House Tagaytay

Photo by My Country House.

The house used to be the venue for weekend gatherings and Sunday lunches; it was an elegant space with sturdy wooden furniture and a spacious porch that looked out to an open garden framed by trees and shrubs. Post-pandemic the house was barely used, and so the owners thought of reaching out to the Raintree proprietors to see if they’d be interested in expanding their Farmer’s Table concept. The group saw the potential and, just a few months later, My Country House was open.

ALSO READ

Farmer's Table Tagaytay Is What the South's Been Waiting For

An Influencer Tried to Get a Free Stay at a Luxury Tagaytay Hotel. It Did Not Go as Planned

The new restaurant is both a natural extension and a slightly more upscale alternative to Farmer’s Table. The main dining area is in the porch so diners can enjoy a relaxing view of the garden. There is a well-stocked bar to the left and a small retail spot near the entrance for sundry items like hats, scarves, essential oils and fragrances, and cakes and pastries. There’s also a separate Terrace area ideal for pre-meal cocktails.

My Country House Tagaytay is an actual house-turned-restaurant

Photo by My Country House.

And the space informed the concept for the menu: a house that was used as a venue for large or intimate gatherings for family or close friends would naturally serve “country cuisine” and an elevated version of heirloom dishes. The Raintree group enlisted the services of Arnold Gozon to develop the menu in collaboration with the Wisniewskis of the Raintree Group, marrying classic Western dishes with unquestionably Filipino favorites.

Chef's Famous Melting Salmon

Photo by My Country House.

There’s the Sunday Pochero—a tantalizing stew made with fall-off-the-bone beef shank and oxtail, Spanish chorizo, chicken, chickpeas, carrots, plantains, cabbage, and choi sum all cooked and served in a rich bone broth. What makes the dish different is that it’s served with three different condiments, each coming from their family members: Tomato Sofrito from family members, Charred Eggplant Salad Relish from Chef Arnold’s family, and Squash Compote from the Wisniewskis. 

There’s also a Lengua Estofado dish with wild mushrooms, Spanish chorizo, Spanish green olives, and served with potatoes with crispy Jamon Serrano.

Truffled Mushroom & Cheese Cappelletti

Photo by My Country House.

Chef Arnold also put his own twist to other classic Filipino favorites, like the crispy pata (here known as Crispy Pork Knuckle Confit), which he makes using French techniques and served with sweet apple calvados relish, whole grain mustard, and horseradish. There’s also a Country Chicken Relleno, which is a boneless half chicken stuffed with local sausages, seasoned ground pork, olives, pimento, and various herbs and spices, before being sliced and served with au jus made from the chicken’s own juices.

Chef Arnold also looked to other places in the world for menu items, such as a steak dish (bone-in U.S. Angus Ribeye dry-aged for 21 days and served with garlic confit, roasted tomato topped with Maldon Salt); Paella Negra (Arborio rice cooked in squid ink with bonito flakes, aioli, squid, and pimento) and Seafood Paella (closer to the traditional paella with prawns, squid, mussels, Toscana peppers, and whole roasted garlic); and Italian-inspired Handmade Pappardelle with Slow-braised Oxtail Ragu topped with gremolata, rosemary, and freshly grated Parmesan. And if you absolutely must have an American burger, they have that, too: a Beef Cheeseburger with house-smoked bacon, onion jam, arugula, and English cheddar in a buttered brioche bun and served with hand-cut fries and house-made pickles. 

The house's botanical garden

Photo by My Country House.

Dessert favorites include Sticky Date Pudding with warm brandy and muscovado sauce; Canonigo (a light and fluffy pastry) with dulce de leche; and Fresh Fruit Pavolva calamansi curd and fresh seasonal fruits.

Proprietors say My Country House is already attracting visitors not just from nighboring towns and cities in and around Cavite and Laguna, but even from as far away as Batangas and, of course, daytrippers from Metro Manila. It’s a destination restaurant for anybody looking to spend an easy and tasty afternoon or evening, whether they’re in the company of a special someone, or with the entire family.

The restaurant's resident mascots are a trio of American Silky chickens: Ike, Tina and Gonzo

Photo by My Country House.

My Country House is located at #115 Pulong Sagingan Street, Brgy. Maitim, 2nd West, Tagaytay City. The restaurant is open daily, Monday to Sunday, from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. Reservations are highly encouraged via 0917 875 1154 (Viber) or call/SMS 0960 456 6873.. For regular updates, follow My Country House on Facebook and Instagram.