Legend says that when the galleon trade was at its peak, a ship from the Middle East sailed the Seven Seas, laden with exotic herbs, spices, tobacco and textiles. The ship was named Huma, captained by a flamboyant sailor named Ibrahim.
Well known for his penchant for adventure, and his collection of rare and exquisite treasures from his travels, he was the most popular ship captain in the routes connecting Asia to the Middle East.
On a dangerous voyage from India, the ship and its captain disappeared in the stormy seas, and down went all the luxurious goods, vintage wines, rare spices and herbs. Some said the storm sank the ship, while others said pirates captured the ship and killed everyone on board.
Yet, there was also talk that a shipwrecked traveler lived alone on an uninhabited islet in Palawan and tribesman from the neighboring islands enjoyed visiting him because he would share with them the valuable treasures and luxurious items he had. They knew him as “a man of great means.” Because of his generosity, his islet was always a center for celebrations, until he died. The man’s identity was never established, but what is interesting is that the tribesmen who befriended him have been calling the islet, Huma, the name of the once mighty ship.
The present-day Huma Island Resort and Spa is a 5-star de luxe property on a remote islet in Busuanga, Palawan. Offering breathtaking views, a luxurious lifestyle and an unspoiled underwater marine life, this private island resort prides itself with being able to offer 64 over-water villas and 17 beach villas, each with individual bathtubs and jacuzzis.
The property is an unparalleled holiday destination because of its powdery white sand beaches and lush rainforest landscape. The dozen sunken Japanese warships and planes within the area have made it one of the best diving sites in the world.
The best way to get there is via a private seaplane, which passengers can take from Manila Bay direct to the resort. If they prefer to spend less on transportation, there are commercial flights to Busuanga, from where they travel by land for 1.5 hour to Sagrada Port, followed by a 30-minute boat ride to the resort.
The husband-and-wife team who owns Huma Island Resort and Spa, Dr. Hamad Al Tuwaijri and Louisa Al Chaer, decided to expand the reach of their prized resort’s hospitality by being able to offer simple, fresh and natural dishes to the local clientele. This prompted them to invest in and open a chain of Lebanese and Mediterranean restaurants in the country.
After the success of their first culinary venture, the Al Fairuz Lebanese Cuisine in SM City Clark, they opened recently their first fine dining restaurant in the country, the Huma Mediterranean Cuisine in S Maison at Conrad Manila.
The new restaurant serves healthy Mediterranean cuisine, using authentic and fresh spices prepared according to age-old tradition by its culinary team of Lebanese chefs headed by Executive Chef Elias Al Chaer, who is also the owner’s son. Chef Elias has had 35 years of solid culinary experience in various restaurants in the Middle East and Scandinavia, after graduating from a culinary school in Lebanon.
On opening day, the restaurant served us, guests, a sample of their wide selection of delectable items on their menu—Hummus (chickpeas, tahini, lemon and olive oil), Moutabal (grilled eggplant, sesame seeds paste, tahini, lemon and olive oil), Batata Harra (potatoes, red pepper, coriander, chili and garlic fried in olive oil), WarahInab (rice mixed with vegetables, rolled, wrapped in vine leaves boiled in water, salt spices, lemon and olive oil), and Musakhan Chicken (mixture of minced chicken meat in tomato sauce and béchamel sauce).
I also enjoyed the main course of Ouzi Dajaj (baked chicken, basmati rice, pine nuts, Mediterranean spices) and Fish Trabulsiye (grilled fish with Mediterranean spices).
With the newly opened restaurant gaining ground and on its way to another success story, the owners have finalized plans for more of their Lebanese and Mediterranean restaurants to open in SM Dasmarinas, SM Manila, SM BF Paranaque and SM Cebu.
From the looks of it, Huma, the galleon in the legend, never got lost. It just veered away temporarily from its usual route but is now back on track, ready to share with us its exotic brand of hospitality and cuisine.
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com
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YOUR SATURDAY CHUCKLE
While playing in the backyard, Little Johnny kills a honeybee. His father sees him killing the honeybee and angrily says, “No honey for you for one month!” Later that afternoon, Johnny’s dad catches him tearing the wings off a butterfly. “That’s it! No butter for you for one month!” says his dad. Later that evening, as Johnny’s mother cooks dinner, a cockroach run across the kitchen floor. She jumps and stomps on it, and then looks up to find Little Johnny and her husband watching her. Little Johnny looks at his father and says, “Are you going to tell her, Dad, or do you want me to?”