MANILA, Philippines - Touring the country is really a great investment if you are fortunate enough to have the time and that bit of extra money to invest. The discoveries that lie in the provinces outside Metro Manila are real treasures. One such gem is the Peacock Garden in Baclayon, Bohol.

The story behind the resort is classic. Hans Schoof, whom their website describes as ?German by birth yet Boholano at heart? fell in love with a Filipina, Lani, and together created this dream resort which exploits Schoof?s passion for travel, gourmet food, art and history. Indeed, this passion is reflected in the interiors of the resort, from the cigar room, which has his collection of photographs of Jose Rizal?s ladies, to the halls of the de luxe room areas, which have his framed collection of handwritten menus from around the world.

Bohol has a great reputation as a tourist spot. The tarsiers, the dolphins, the Chocolate Hills, the beaches with white sand. But even stripped of all these, if you don?t want to do the whole tourist-y tour and just want to escape and relax, the Peacock Garden is the place for you.

The resort is not by the beach; Panglao Island is a good 40 minutes away. Instead, its ten hectare sprawl is located on top of a hill. A long and (slightly) winding road leads you to the main entrance of the resort, where the restaurant and cigar rooms are located and which lead to the al fresco area and the infinity pool. Adjacent to this section is another wing where the ?de luxe? rooms are located.

Of course, what grabbed my attention was the dining area, called the Old Heidelberg Restaurant. More than anything, I was surprised to find such a luxurious setting just 20 minutes from Tagbilaran. On trips around the archipelago for work, I had gotten used to sampling the best native delicacies, usually a sampling of the province?s lechon and best seafoods (absolute heaven), in grillery-type restaurants. That a restaurant in Baclayon, Bohol, could have a setting that can compete and even beat those of Manila-based hotel restaurants amazed me.

I was so taken by the setting that I had to change out of my travel clothes and wear my emergency not-so-little black dress for dinner because it felt like sacrilege to me to dine in the Old Heidelberg Restaurant in ragged clothes! I remember thinking that the setting in this restaurant could compete with the likes of Old Manila at the Pen and even Antonio?s Fine Dining in Tagaytay in terms of luxury.

The food does not meet the expectations that the setting demands, i.e., cuisine that would blow your mind, but the dishes are pleasurable nonetheless. It?s comfort food with a European theme. The goulash (how European can you get?) has beef so tender it makes you smile and has a sauce (this goulash is not too soupy) that is very rich. The lamb is also an exercise in tenderness and is cooked well enough to erase that expected pungent aftertaste, especially with their side of mashed potatoes which they garnish with black olives. Contrarily, the garlic pasta is very light, with just a magic touch of garlic for definite flavoring. As is the strawberry mascarpone dessert, which is creamy (obviously) but in a very gentle way. Clearly their chef, Thomas Trump from Munich, believes that the main event of the meal must be the entree.

The service needs a little nudge in the direction of five star, given the ostentatious setting. They could use a little guide on the food and the chef for inquisitive customers. But more importantly, a little guide might be appropriate for the basics?they served my dessert even before my main course arrived. Guess it was easier to prepare!

Of course, you can?t get upset once they flash you their smiles. In terms of attentiveness and hospitality, the staff seems to have been trained by the Stepford Wives themselves, completing the ambience for what this resort aspires to be: a luxurious escape.

The Peacock Garden Luxury Resort. Upper Laya, Baclayon, Bohol. Landline: 038-539-9231; 038-416-0483. Website: www.thepeacockgarden.com. Email: info@thepeacockgarden.com.