Paradise! That’s what Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort is—a paradise. This 18-hectare resort is truly magnificent and we are absolutely in awe of how beautiful Mother Nature really is as Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort continues to protect and celebrate it. 

In their mission to protect and celebrate what the island is rich with, Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort recently launched a new addition to their diverse dining options. Mangrove is a casual dining experience that embraces not only Filipino cuisine, art, and culture, but also education as their menu is not only filled with dishes inspired from regions in the country with abundant mangrove trees, but also it includes facts about Mangroves, the environmental saving trees and their benefits. 

As that is the case Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort’s Mangrove promises a sensory experience highlighted with their creative and unique take on delicious Filipino dishes that can be enjoyed in a spacious al fresco set-up, boasting a seating capacity of 200. Truly, there is something for everyone here! 

More onto their wide selection of tasty and filling dishes that are a hundred percent Filipino, we were fortunate to have tried a few of them as Mangrove had their Grand Opening last June 12, 2022, in celebration of our country’s Independence Day as well. With more fifty traditional and regional Filipino dishes to offer, we zeroed in on four of their Mains. 

Their Pyanggang Manok (Php 545) was the first we got to sink our teeth into. This is a generous serving of spicy braised chicken cooked in ground burnt coconut and other herbs and spices. Indeed, starting our night with this was a great decision since this one was like a promise that we were onto a splendid food journey. 

Following that one with yet another delicately flavored dish. Mangrove’s Sinaing na Talakitok (Php 420) is a plateful of fresh talakitok fish wrapped in banana leaves and stewed with vegetables in sour broth. This was what we ordered, but what we got was Tanigue since unfortunately, they ran out of Talakitok that day. That just means that their Sinaing na Talakitok was a hit as many others were able to delight in it. 

Although, we have to commend Mangrove as well for being able to still bring something yummy to our table, and so yes, we did enjoy their Sinaing na Tanigue, nonetheless. 

Next to that was a classic Filipino dish that is our favorite! Their Beef Kaldereta (Php 585) was consisted of shredded beef stewed in tomato sauce and baked on potato halves. Not gonna lie, we definitely loved every bit of this dish, as expected. The meat was tender and the sauce was rich, thick, and undeniably flavorful! 

Speaking of a dish by Mangrove that was oozing with flavor, their Beef Kurma (Php 545) was hands down our ultimate favorite. This is Mangrove’s take on Zamboanga’s own version of curry which has braised beef stewed in coconut milk and cooked with a variance of spices alongside vegetables. We are telling you, this dish was one saucy and heavenly food that still has us drooling over it up to this day! 

Aside from a sumptuous meal, Mangrove also has a luscious and delectable line of beverages ranging from juices to liquors. Out of all their refreshments, we were able to sip and slurp two. Their Tres Leches Shake (Php 380) was a tall milky drink made with milk, evaporated milk, and condensed milk, while their Tatay’s Scramble (Php 470) was a colorful alcoholic shake inspired from the classic Filipino snack and is made extra special with Gayuma Liquor, banana, and evaporated milk. 

Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort really put in all the work, all their efforts, and all their love in conceptualizing and finally launching Mangrove, and for us to see all this come to life, first hand, was an unforgettable experience. That said, if you want to catch more of these dishes and drinks, book your stay at Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort. Check out their Facebook, Instagram, and Website for more information.