Picture me – a young professional in my early 20s just trying to make it in a big city far from home. Trying to build a career that is completely different from the tertiary education I pursued. Hunched over my office chair like auditioning to be a shrimp, forever ruining my posture. It’s already 10PM, and I feel the overwhelming pressure of beating the clock to meet a deadline.

My workmate is smarter.

That morning, he brought in with him a plastic bag of eggs, two packs of pancit canton, a bag of rice, and his rice cooker. It’s true what they say: victory loves preparation. He even brought his pillow and blanket.

For months, this has been our routine. If not for the overwhelming deadlines, it’s the exhausting work trips that challenge you both physically, mentally, and emotionally. My other workmate would add – spiritually.
Our only reprieve from this chaotic routine is when all of us are at the office, and we decide to go on food trips. We call this ‘Spend, spend, spend’ agenda. A funny nod to Duterte’s Build, Build, Build project at the time.

I remember the first place we went to when we declared the ‘Spend Spend Spend’ agenda. It was a dumpling bar along the Circumferential Road in Marfori. By then, social media wasn’t as big as it is now, but somehow we discovered this place and recommended it to the team to eat there.

And ever since, we have loved it. Their dumplings weren’t as expensive, but it was big and generous in portion, and overall delicious. Their noodle soup was so heartwarming, like a good embrace when you feel like crying. And we all needed a good embrace that time, but not everyone can afford an actual embrace, so we just sadly settle for noodle soups.

We’d order towers of bamboo steamers filled with dumplings and steamed buns, paired with their delicious fried rice, and end the meal with their multi-flavored buchi. This gives us some semblance of happiness while we try to ignore the towers of documents we need to sign and file for the next day, and compartmentalize the gripping pressure of unpaid bills and upcoming due dates.

I remember it was the first time I tried vegan dumplings as they offered them. It was filled with mushrooms and other herbs and aromatics that make it less vegan and more like meat. It was green and beautifully wrapped. It felt like a healthier option paired with two cups of fried rice and two glasses of ice-cold Coke.

Since then, it has been my comfort food and a guilty pleasure, despite sometimes the oiliness of my favorite dish – their fried wings- would cause me heartburn and a bad case of acid reflux.

Although my work friends and I have gone in different directions pursuing our own careers, that night has given me two things I cherish in life. One, I have forged a friendship that lasts a lifetime, bonded by our shared experiences and hardship (and maybe some minor grudges over the same people, I jest or am I?). And two, my forever love for Caitlyn’s Dumplings.

From a struggling broke foodie to where I am now (still struggling and broke), I still just can’t get enough of Caitlyn’s dumplings. After trying a lot of food places in Davao City in all matters of dining – fine, casual, fast food, etc, Caitlyn’s dumpling has been my 10/10.

During the pandemic, I would wait 45minutes to an hour in the queue just to have a taste of their noodles, beef brisket, chicken wings and dumplings. And yes, those are in just one sitting. I’ve tried almost 100% of the dishes on their menu, have eaten there more than 10-15 times in my life, not including online orders, and I would say it is one of the best food places Davao can offer. It is also not expensive, and everyone from all walks of life can enjoy it.

I would bring family and friends from Gensan to enjoy Caitlyn’s. I remember before we went on a Bohol trip, we ate there, and my family would rave about how good the food was and how inexpensive the bill was. If I remember it correctly, we only paid for less than P2,000 for all the dishes on the table.

To this day, when asked what is the best restaurant I would 100% recommend, I would proudly say Caitlyn’s Dumpling would be one on the list. Price-wise, affordable. Food, 100% delicious. It’s not pretentious with its restaurant decor. Nostalgia is strong as well, bringing me back to memories of when I was 10-kilograms lighter.

I just really can’t get enough of them that I even have an entire album of photos dedicated to Caitlyn’s food, which I have accumulated over the years. Here are a few, enjoy (and I hope you crave)!