Red Trellis Seafood Garden

I have been warned and so I came armed. Not with guns but with anti-histamine.

After having coffee and cake at Coffee Dream, we drove (or rather our hosts drove) to Red Trellis, a charming Japanese inspired restaurant in Lagao, General Santos City. I was told that Red Trellis’ specialty is crabs in coconut milk and that these are really to die for. Unfortunately, I am allergic to crabs and prawns but I was willing to risk it, with the help of course of my anti-histamines.

Looking at the entrance I could not help but be charmed by Red Trellis. It’s a lovely piece of property, very Japanese inspired with splashes of red everywhere. And true to their name, red trellises can be found bordering the roofs of the dining area. Throw your wishes of dining in an airconditioned area out of the window. When at a place like Red Trellis, dining al fresco is the perfect way to enjoy the food and the place.

Our host, Mr. George Sandoval prepared a buffet dinner for us, with Red Trellis’ specialties, mostly seafood dishes.

I was excited to try the famous Crab in Coconut Milk and true enough, it was really good. The fresh crabs marries well with coconut cream with just that quick flash of spice, making this dish truly unforgettable. I was literally licking the coconut milk off my fingers. Sadly, the anti-histamine I took wasn’t strong enough to stop my allergy. After my third crab I was feeling itchy already and I knew I had to stop.
And since I couldn’t eat crabs anymore, I redirected my frustration to my all time favorite seafood that I’m not allergic to: squid. Squid in Red Trellis sauce to be exact. If not for the reddish sauce, the dish bears a close resemblance to squid in garlic and olive oil that I’ve tried at Angel’s Wish Dish in Boracay. Squid can be a little tricky to prepare, you either need to cook it really quickly or for a really long time or else it becomes very rubbery and hard to chew. The people behind Red Trellis knows this and the squid is tender, fully cooked, and full of flavor. Definitely a dish squid lovers will enjoy.

There were other dishes too but I mostly stuck to crabs and squid. Teehee. I tend to ignore other dishes in favor of squid, but I heard good reviews from the other bloggers so I’m sure the other dishes were great too.

Saranggani Governor Miguel Dominguez was also there to meet and dine with us. He was so nice and so pogi too!

I had a really great time at Red Trellis and wouldn’t hesitate to dine here again if ever I’m back in General Santos City. Oh, and we asked the owner what the Red Trellis sauce and he said it was a secret. Hehe. Maybe they should bottle the sauce and sell it. I’d definitely buy one and take it to Manila with me.