October was a busy month for my tongue and tummy as I tried a lot of yummy dishes.   I visited tons of new places and also reconnected with some old favorites. It was indeed a great gastronomic month as Kalami Cebu's version of Octoberfest involved restaurants from up north, the capital and of course, beloved Cebu.  Check out my 50 memorable foods of October:

1. Calzone
I sometimes prefer Calzone over Pizza but at Ryan's Pizzarelli, you can have great choices for either. I even ate both the last time I was there.  Ryan's is one of my favorite "secret" food trip locations in Cebu.  It is located at Maria Christina Extension, Camputhaw, Cebu City.

2. Rock Lobster
When it comes to seafood, you will never go wrong with Isla Sugbu Seafood City.  They have the Paluto-All-You-Can promo and my favorite is the controversial Rock Lobster.  It is a bit controversial because when I posted about their new promo, I received many complaints that this seafood is not served.  Well, it is usually the first one to be out of stock because it really tastes good.  I can probably finish a couple of plates filled with rock lobster in one sitting.

3. Oysters
There are a hundred ways to prepare oyster and I would probably like them all.  We call this talaba and I last had an awesome meal with this at Isla Sugbu as well.  I think they have around 6 excellent ways to cook an oyster. 

4. Akel's Halang Manok Soup
I ordered this soup at Parilya because I got curious about its name.  We were totally surprised by how good the soup was.  It was full of flavor and has a really distinct "kick".  My wife and friends liked it so much.  This is one spicier alternative to the "boring" tinolang manok.

5. Lumpia ni Senyang
After a few years, I finally got to enjoy Lumpia ni Senyang near the Virgin of the Rule (Birhen sa Regla) Shrine in Mactan again.  It is one of the best cheap eats that you can find in Lapu-Lapu City. You will be stuffed while spending around 100 pesos for 2 people.

6. Tuna Bagaybay
Orange Karenderia has an amazing way of preparing tuna bagaybay (sperm, milt, male gonad). I would say that their bagaybay would be a perfect pairing to beer.  If you love offal or eating unusual part of animals, you should check out a nearby branch of Orange Karenderia. 

7. Three Cheese Fondue (Queso Fundido)
Love cheese? Meximama's Queso Fundido will surely satisfy your cheese craving and they do it with a Mexican twist. I really enjoyed this one when I visited their Mactan Newtown branch.

8. Chocolate Cake
Cherry Mobile recently launched its prepaid service at Cafe Georg.   The cafe has one of the best dessert line-ups in the city.  We feasted on their cakes and I am pretty confident that you will never go wrong with any of their sweet offerings.  Check out this restaurant along Banilad road.

9. Spicy Batchoy
When I was younger, Carlo's Batchoy has been a favorite of mine.  One of the reasons is that the place has my name and the other reason, is their delicious batchoy.  I visited their Capitol Site recently and I tried their spicy batchoy with some pan de sal.  It was a great idea for them to offer something different. I would probably get this again when I have acolds or a mean hangover.

10. Longannisa Breakfast
When I decide to eat breakfast outside the house, I would usually go Tazza Cafe and Patisserie.  Their set meals are really good.  I had an amazing longganisa breakfast while being able to blog because they have an excellent WiFi connection.  I love this place for some early morning work.

11. Tamales
I had a lunch buffet at Pino.  The season's theme is Kapampangan cuisine.   Chef Editha Singian and Sau del Rosario prepared their version of the best dishes of the country's culinary capital. They had a version of Tamales that was non-traditional and I liked it.  The buffet features Kapampangan favorites like Bringhe, Morcon, Buro, and Kare-Kare.

12. Duck
Pino also gave us a special duck adobo and it was the bomb.  I loved it and I could have finished half a duck if there weren't other people eating with me.

 13. Buro
Buro is also known as balao-balao in Pampanga.  This dish is basically fermented rice and shrimp. It is a great partner to steamed vegetables like okra and ampalaya. The flavors are intense and I would love some buro ironically with some rice.  I tried this Kapampangan specialty at the Pino lunch buffet.

14. Seared Tuna
Isidra Comfort Cantina has lots of mouth-watering offerings and one of them is their seared tuna. Please visit this restaurant at the Capitol Site area and be amazed by the creations of Chef Lor Torres.

 15. Michel's Cerbeso
Beer is food! I tried the new Cerbeso line by Michel's Bistro and I am pretty happy with it.  The beer goes so well with the sausages that they serve. 

16. Strudel
Ice Cream goes so well with anything.  It really makes strudel much more enjoyable.  This is my go-to dessert at Michel's Bistro.  By the way, Michel's Bistro has 50% off on food from 2-5pm. Check them  out! 

17. Karubi Ramen
I went out with my wife and we ate at 168 Ramen  House at Crossroads Banilad.  I had the Karubi Ramen because I love beef. It was alright.  

18. Crispy intestines
Last month, I met up with +Nezte Virtudazo  and we have our monthly #kalamicebuadventure at Kusina Uno.  We tried their Crispy Intestines and it was good.  It reminded me a lot of Isaw which I ate almost every day when I was still a college freshman.  This preparation of pork intestines was really crunchy and goes well with vinegar with some chilis.

 19. Pochero
When you eat at Kusina Uno, you have to get some Pochero.   It is really the best dish on rainy days or after a beer-drinking session.  Kusina Uno is located along F. Cabahug Street, Mandaue City. 

20. Roast Chicken with Brown Rice
If you decide to go for more "healthy" or nutritious food, I think one of the best restaurants here in Cebu would be Buzz Cafe at Robinsons Galleria Cebu. After eating there, I was reminded that the Department of Agriculture has a #Brown4Good Campaign and Buzz Cafe is one of the best places to start your brown rice journey.

21. Spicy Squid
I had an event at Circa 1900 Casa Uno but I was a bit early so I decided to check out Casa Dos and maybe grab a drink. Suddenly, a familiar face came out of the kitchen. It was Chef June Fernandez formerly of Shangri-La and Scape Skydeck.  He offered me some spicy squid and this tapa offering was insanely good.  I always expect great things from a Cebu #Foodporn Star.

22. Duck Encased Scotch Egg
The long description of this dish is Scotch Style Quail Egg encased in Ground Duck and Chia Seed with Warm Duck Breast and Tomato Hoisin Chutney. It was as scrumptious as it sounded. This was served at Circa 1900 Casa Uno when they had an exclusive tasting of the new items in their menu.  Circa 1900 is located at Sanjercas Ville Extension Road, Lahug, Cebu City.

23. Osso Bucco Kare-Kare
Chef June was a bit modest but this dish was actually listed as Slow Curry Peanut Braised Beef Osso Bucco with Charred Cabbage and Vegetables. The familiar flavors of this dish makes this a favorite of mine. 

24. Crispy Pata
When it comes to Crispy Pata, the best in Cebu is undoubtedly Alejandro's Crispy Pata.  This crunchy pork dish is now the highlight of St. Mark Hotel's Lunch Buffet. If you love to eat as much crispy pata as you want then just go to the second floor of this hotel in the vicinity of Redemptorist Church.

25. Skinless Longganisa by Virginia Foods
I was able to try the Longganisa by Virginia and it was perfect for breakfast.  I love Virginia Hotdog and now I love their longganisa too!  I have been a big fan of this Cebuano food company every since Typhoon Ruping when we had cans of Virginia beef that we eat almost every day.

26. Omelet
Another fantastic place for breakfast here in Cebu would be Yolk.  I went there last month and I had some omelet for brunch.  I even learned that this all-day breakfast joint in Mabolo has an all-you-can-eat brunch offering on certain days.  I might try it someday when I need a really BIG breakfast.

27. Bacon Wrapped Dynamite Rolls
Here is a shout out to the Fry Guys.  I discovered another exciting place in the legendary Tisa area. Fry Guys serve some of the best bacon dishes in town. On my first visit, I was with the CBC gang we had a grand time eating bacon-wrapped chicken, bacon-wrapped dynamite rolls, katsudog and chicken skin. Visit them inside Anise Bistro in Tisa.

28. Adobong Kanding
When it comes to goat, typically I would want it cooked as Caldereta but when I tasted the adobo at Mon's Kandingan in Lapu-Lapu City, I knew I found another instant favorite. The goat adobo was seasoned well and it reminds you of crispy tadyang. It was gamier than beef but I am pretty sure many Cebuanos would like it.

29. Tempura
Tokyo Tempura opened at Parkmall and they serve unlimited shrimp tempura as well as other fired goodies like chili tempura. Good price. Too bad, they do not serve rice.

30. Pho and Goicon
In one of our weekly dates, my wife and I decided to eat at Phat Pho and enjoy some of their Vietnamese specialties. I always go with pho and some Vietnamese spring rolls. It is a bit pricey but there are very few alternatives here in Cebu when it comes to this cuisine.  Phat Pho is located at Crossroads Banilad and Robinsons Cybergate.

31. Assorted Cold Cuts
Finally, I got to try the assorted cold cuts at Hap Chang. Hap Chang has been one of my top Chinese restaurants in Manila while I was still working at Volkswagen.  I was glad to see them at Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

32.Moroccan Braised Lamb Shank with Couscous
Cocina de la Casa opened last month just behind Harold's Hotel.  I like their menu and their lamb over couscous was pretty awesome.   I loved the Harissa with it.  They serve Cebuano comfort and other dishes that was crafted by its well-travelled owner.

 33. Magic
They call this Magic and indeed, it was magical in my mouth. This dessert is made of French Chocolate, Custard, Banana, Mango, and Whipped Cream. Try this amazing dessert at Cocina de la Casa.  One of the best places to take a woman for desserts in Cebu. ;)

34. Pancit Palabok
When my mom visits Cebu, she always asks me to take her to Cafe Laguna.  One of my favorite snacks there would be the Pancit Palabok. I always loved this Pinoy noodle dish since I was a kid.  What is your favorite snack item in Cafe Laguna?

 35. Poqui Poqui
I like the name but I like its flavor more.  This is one of the best vegetarian dishes that I have last month. It is different from the way we prepare ensaladang talong and I must say it is better.  I had this at Bistro Amarillo in Vigan.

 36. Dirty Ice Cream
I am glad to see Manong Sorbetero thriving in Calle Crisologo in Vigan. Dirty Ice cream is probably the 2nd best cold dessert in the country after the Halo-Halo. When was the last time you had these?

 37. Ilocos Empanada
When in Ilocos, the first thing that people recommend you to eat is definitely the empanada. I do not consider this as a snack (especially the big ones).  It is a meal on its own.  It has meat, papaya, and eggs inside. If I live in Vigan, I would probably eat empanada every day.

 38. Sinanglao
This is my soup discovery of the month.  The Sinanglao was so good that I have to put this on this list. I am not surprised why Ilocanos wake up so early just to have this.   This is definitely one of the best ways to start a day in Vigan.

 The Social recently opened their newest restaurant concept in Cebu at the SM Seaside City.  The new place is called Seaside Saloon Bar and Grill by The Social.  Just like their concept in Ayala Center Cebu, the new restaurant is another hybrid coz it is diner/sports bar/ music bar.  It's all about fun at Seaside Saloon by The Social.  The Kalaminions were there to check to preview what they are offering to Cebu.

  The Social always gives us that fun and hip vibe and the Seaside Saloon is no different.  The graffiti on the walls are painted by a popular Singaporean artist and the bar area has 4 TV screens showing the most popular sports events like NBA games, football, and even rugby.  This is a magnificent place for sports fans to hang out, chill, and cheer for their favorite teams over a bottle beer. 

Aside from the sports, this restaurant has a video game arcade area where you can play classic video games like Pacman, Galaga, Donkey Kong and other childhood favorites.  You get a free arcade token every time you order a drink. We had a blast playing games while we were there.

Food at Seaside Saloon Bar and Grill by The Social

The fun factor of the place is up there but the main reason that I that I would return here is definitely the food.  I have always been a big fan of Chef Rob Leonhardt and I know that this place will have good food. I was not wrong because my Kalaminions were really happy after our #meeteatrepeat session. Here are some of the dishes of the Seaside Saloon by The Social.

When I was growing up, I never heard of Rico's Lechon.  In the early 90's, my family would probably get lechon from Alejo's, Cang's, or Villalonga.   Well, in those times Rico Dionson was still a Kristo or Masiador in the cockpit.  I have a dad who loves to go to the cockpit on Sundays and I know that a Kristo's job is pretty tough.

A Kristo is a guy who shouts for someone to look for someone who bets against him. They are the ones shouting jargons like "10-7" or "inilog".  They make money if the boss wins the bet.   Well, Cebu's Lechon King started that way.  Then he realized that being a masiador will not be enough to support a growing family.  So, he had a brilliant idea. One day, he just decided to become a lechonero.

Even if he did not have the experience, he just thought that the idea of being a lechon maker would work.  Since he had a lot of rich connections from the cockpit, he believed he would not run out of clients.  It also helps that his mother in law was connected to a big TV Network.  The idea was great but it did not start very well.

His first client was a guy in the cockpit and he gave him a very salty roasted pig. The guy said that with just a few pinches of salt and the pig would have tasted like the sea.  The next day, he gave the client another lechon but this time it was too bland.  He did not give up.  After several tries, he finally found his secret formula.  Rico's resilience and confidence are what started the legend of Rico's Lechon. 

The Big Break

In 1998, Rico Dionson was juggling two jobs.  He was still a masiador and also a budding lechon maker.  He goes to the cockpit bringing calling cards and telling the rich sabongeros about his lechon venture.

On that year, the Philippines elected Joseph "Erap" Estrada as president. One of Rico's favorite patrons was a close friend of the president.  One day, he asked Rico to send 3 lechons to his house so that President Erap can taste it.  At first, he was a bit disappointed when he saw that his friend also ordered lechon from other suppliers. In a way, he felt a bit betrayed because he thought the guy only buys lechon from him. 

The next day, his friend called him up and told him that President Erap thought that his lechon is the best.  His elation turned into fear when his friend told him to pack his bags and bring 50 pigs to Malacanang Palace.  The humble Cebuano lechonero was going to the capital to cook for the head of state.  After buying all the pigs in Mandaue, he went to Malacanang and served Rico's Lechon to the president and his friends.

Ever since then, the president only gets lechon from Rico.  Rico Dionson is always proud to say that he is the first and probably the only lechon maker who had an opportunity to cook for a president. For him, Erap is one the best lechon eaters.  He intimated that the ex-President can finish a whole lechon all by himself.

Rico's Lechon as a brand

When Rico's Lechon emerged, my favorite is definitely their spicy lechon.  I think that they are the ones who started that trend and many brands followed by introducing their own spicy lechon variant.  In the last couple of years, Rico's Lechon has been one of the favorites of tourists.  Many travelers flock to Rico's Lechon just to buy some roast pig that they will take to their part of the world. I lived just 5 minutes from their Mabolo branch and I always see a lot of people buying lechon for take-out.  

Many lechon restaurants opened in the last few years.  It probably started with Zubuchon that opened a lechon restaurant with an upscale vibe.  When I was younger, most lechon restaurants were just like carenderias or barbecue stalls.  Rico's Mabolo was more of like that a couple of years ago.

T trend of having fine-dining restaurants built around lechon continued.  It prompted Rico's to finally join the fray early this year with the opening of its branch in Mactan.  The restaurant has helped elevate Rico's  Lechon's brand status.  Rico's also moved their Mabolo branch to a bigger spot in the same complex.  I still see Boss Rico often when I eat at the Mabolo branch. 

Boss Rico Dionson is very hands-on and he gets involve in the day to day operations of his restaurant group.  He serves as a waiter and he loves cracking up jokes with the costumers.  Rico's Lechon biggest brand ambassador is definitely its founder.

Rico's Lechon as a Family Business

The rapid expansion of Rico's Lechon would not have been possible without the help of the Dionson family.  Rico Dionson's daughters and in-laws are very involved in the operations.   The daughters of Rico has been instrumental in the rise of the brand in the age of social media.

Rico's tagline of #DaBestGyud has been well received by the public.   Among the lechon brands, Rico's Lechon has probably the best social media campaign.  The hashtag is perfect for the company and it is the type of phrase that Rico Dionson would say to his friends about his lechon.

The Rico's daughters Susan Claire and Melanie are directly involved with the company as well as their husbands Renz and Jeff.  2016 was a great year for the company as they opened new branches and upgraded their commissary.  This year, Rico's Lechon has also become pretty popular with hotels as the company supplies lechon to several hotel buffets like in Castle Peak and St. Mark Hotel.

Due to its popularity, I would definitely say that Rico Dionson is Cebu's Lechon King and his family as Lechon royalty.

Rico's Lechon's new branch

Rico's Lechon recently opened its new branch at Axis Entertainment Avenue. The new restaurant has a menu that features lechon and other dishes that compliment the Cebuano specialty.  Rico's Lechon - Axis will also serve as an ordering station for lechon.  The branch opens 8 am for lechon orders and the restaurant will start serving diners at 10 am.

Rico Dionson advises Cebuanos to order as early as possible during the holiday season.  He wants everyone to enjoy some lechon in the Noche Buena table and his workers are working 24/7 this month in order to meet the orders from Cebu and other places. 

Rico's Favorite part of the Lechon

For Boss Rico, the best part is the abaga or shoulder area. He recommends that part because the juices flow to that area and it is very meaty.  Since the shoulders do not contain bones unlike the ribs, it is also one of the most economical parts of the lechon if you buy it by the kilo.

I really learned a lot talking to the King Lechon Cebu and I am pretty inspired about his story.  Who would have thought that #DaBestGyud lechon is related to fighting cocks.  The possibilities in life are endless and it is never too late to start something.  Opportunities in life is just like your favorite part of the lechon, you will never go as long as you eat it fresh and hot of the lechon pit.

How about you? What is your favorite part of lechon?  I will reveal mine on my next post. ;)

Ikkousha means "one happy place".  This new ramen shop is positioning itself to be the happy place for Cebuano Ramen lovers.  Ikkousha Ramen comes from Hakata, Japan. Hakata is the home of Tonkotsu, the legendary broth that made ramen a worldwide phenomenon.  At Ikkousha Ramen Cebu, you can expect the best and most authentic Tonkotsu Ramen in town.  

Ramen Places in Cebu

In past couple of months, there have been several Ramen places that sprouted in the city.  This year alone we saw the opening of Tongara, Barikata, Yoshuken, Hamakaze, and Nobushi.  There were even stalls offering Ramen in the popular Sugbo Mercado.  While there may be cheap versions of Ramen, the best Ramen restaurants offer this Japanese specialty at premium prices.  Ramen is expensive but very delicious even bordering to addictive. 

I guess the owners of Ikkousha Ramen Cebu believe that there is still room for one more in the highly competitive Ramen scene in Cebu.   Ikkousha Ramen knows how to differentiate themselves. Ikkousha Ramen is known for their Tonkotsu and they have over 50 branches worldwide.  They are a proud ramen franchise from the town of Hakata in Fukuoka, Japan. 

First Impression of Ikkousha Ramen Cebu

When I got an invite from Japanese blogger Jun Saito to check out this new Ramen place, I immediately said yes.  I have been a big fan of ramen or in general, noodles and I did not want to miss the opportunity to be one of the first Cebuanos to taste the ramen of Ikkousha Ramen. 

At first, I was a bit surprised that they picked JY Square in Lahug because there are a lot of prime spots for restaurants in Cebu and JY Square will not probably rank in the top 10. Well, I realized the place is just perfect if you are confident with your product and I think they should be. This place gives Cebuanos one excellent reason to visit JY Square.

Ordering your Ramen is pretty straightforward because all you have to do is check what you want to eat.  You basically pick your preferred Ramen base then pick your noodles then the saltiness of your broth then the option of onions then extra toppings then side dishes and cap it with your choice of drinks. After filling out the form, you just hand it over to their friendly staff.  After a few minutes, your order will be right in front of you and ready to be enjoyed.

On that special night, I was able to taste the Special Tonkotsu Ramen, Karaage, Chasu-Mayo Don, and the God Fire Ramen Level 2. Aside from Jun, I was with one of Cebu's top bloggers Sinjin Pineda of http://www.libotero.com/ and a friend.  That is why we were able to order a lot. If I were alone, one Special Tonkotsu would have been enough since the order is really humongous. 

Kalami Cebu Food Review: Ikkousha Ramen Cebu

Tonkotsu Ramen - I ordered the Special Tonkotsu with Hard noodles, normal saltiness and with onions. The first thing that really noticed is that my order is pretty big and it has a generous amounts of toppings.  It has four slices of pork, some nori, flavored egg (Ajitsuke Tamago), menma (bamboo shoots), black fungus, and spring onions. I also saw a lot of bubble on the broth.  These bubbles are called "aburaawa" and these are considered signs of having a tasty soup.  

Indeed it was! 

The first time I sipped the broth, I immediately know that they really took special care of making it.   Unlike other Ramen places which gently simmers the broth, Hakata Ramen makers are known to cook the Tonkotsu broth at a rolling boil.   The method gives Ikkousa Ramen Cebu's ramen broth its unique body, texture, and appearance. It was milky, flavorful (full of umami), rich and it had the right amount of saltiness.  I loved it. I was able to finish my bowl easily. I also enjoyed the meat and of course, the flavored egg.  The different toppings gave my palate different textures and flavors.  The experience was amazing. 

Karaage - To be honest, I really enjoyed the ramen so much that the karaage was an afterthought.  Karaage is one of the best partners Ramen aside from Gyoza which was not available that night. The chicken was well seasoned and it was cooked perfectly. No complaints really.

Chasu-Mayo Don - This dish is made of minced pork mixed with mayo then placed on top of yummy Japanese rice.   It was mild like Tuna spread and I would probably order this again.  I am of those people who can eat ramen and rice at the same time. 

God Fire Ramen Level 2 - Among the four of us, nobody really dared to get the level 4.  Level 2 was a good start to measure my heat tolerance with their ramen.  It has a scary name. God Fire is like stuff for movies. Well, level 2 was EASY hahaha.  It has a good amount of zing but nothing overpowering. 

In the end, I had a great Ramen experience at Ikkousha Ramen Cebu.  I will definitely be back. I could probably try the God Fire Ramen Level 4 with some Gyoza the next time I will visit there. The Ramen place is going to be a major player in Cebu Ramen scene.  I am glad that the first Philippine branch of Ikkousha Ramen is in Cebu and I am honored to be one of the first to taste it. It is surely one happy place for a ramen lover like me.

Ikkousa Ramen Cebu is located on the ground floor of JY Square, Lahug.  If you love to enjoy some of the finest ramen in town, you better early because they close once they run out of broth and there is a long line right now.  Estimated damage per person is 400-900 pesos. 

One of my all-time favorite local fried chicken places is back in Ayala Center Cebu. Sunburst Fried Chicken has opened a branch at the Ayala Center Terraces after almost a year of absence.   If you are a big fan of their fried chicken, I am pretty sure that this news gives you a good reason to smile. I was there on their first day and I was glad to see that Sunburst Ayala Terraces was greeted with a full house at lunch time. 

Why We love Fried Chicken

In general, most of us love fried foods especially before doctors tell us to refrain from eating it.  Frying is probably the easiest way to cook things and the process releases a pleasant aroma that we can hardly resist. 

Chicken meat is one of the most common meats in the country.  Chicken is easy to breed and in just 45 days, you can have full grown chicken ready to be grilled, broiled, or fried.  Frying is definitely one of fastest and yummiest way to prepare chicken.  You basically just have to prepare some seasonings or batter then you just throw the chicken in hot oil. Voila! You will have an awesome meal in just a few minutes. 

Fried Chicken is a billion dollar industry worldwide and the Philippines has its share of Fried Chicken success stories.  Colonel Sanders made his millions with his KFC recipe.  In the Philippines, we have Max Fried Chicken,  Jollibee's Chickenjoy and in this part of the country, Sunburst Fried Chicken.  Most of us love fried chicken as early as three years old.  With the onset of fast food chains, the new generation gets their fried chicken education early.  I used to enjoy fried chicken only during special occasions or fiestas.

It is not hard to love fried chicken because it is crispy, delicious and very affordable. Not all fried chicken though are the same.  One of the best local brands is definitely Sunburst.  They have 7 branches all in all in Cebu and 14 in the Visayas and Mindanao region.  They have been a Cebuano favorite for decades. 

Sure Thing Chicken Wing is a place where you can enjoy delicious chicken wings at an affordable price.  It is not a fancy place but you are going love their wings here. I like it here because they did not make it complicated.  You basically have 4 choices of sauce and the other issue would just be how many wings you can finish in one meal.

Things That you can Eat at Sure Thing Chicken Wing

 When I went to their opening, I was able to try it all.  I had countless of chicken wings and enjoyed  it with puso and iced tea.  Well, here are my thoughts of choices there at Sure Thing Chicken Wing.

 Pinoy - The Pinoy flavor stood out among my fellow diners.  They find the seasoning refreshing and different.  According to owner Carlo Borromeo, one of the "secret" ingredients of the sauce is patis or local fish sauce. It is an interesting choice of sauce but it worked.

 New Yorker - This is Sure Thing Chicken Wing's take on the classic Buffalo Wings.  It was not too spicy which is good for people who wants a moderate kick but it will come out underwhelming for people who love extremely spicy food. Flavor-wise, it starts sour then it will have a moderate explosion of spiciness at the finish.  Spicy rating will be around 2 out of 5.

 Gangnam - Sweet, Sour and Spicy just like how our Korean friends like it.  The sauce was complex and I personally enjoy it a lot with some puso or hanging rice.

Honey-Glazed - The sweetest sauce of them all. It is really sweet which gives it a distinct contrast to the other three flavors. 

Hakuna Patatas - If you love side dishes, at Sure Thing Chicken Wing you can order Hakuna Patatas.  The freshly fried potatoes are just fun to eat. It could be a good siding for chicken but actually better with some beer.

Sure Thing Chicken Wing: Initial Pricing

Chicken Wings
Quattro (4 pcs) - 99
Ocho (8 pcs) - 179
Doce (12 pcs) - 259

Combos
Chick N Chips (Chicken with Patatas) - 69
Pinoy Meal  ( 2 pcs. Wings + Rice + Iced Tea) - 69
Barkada Blowout (12 pcs. + 6 bottles of beers) - 499

Side Orders
Hakuna Patatas - 30
Extra Rice - 15

Sure Thing Chicken Wing is a solid no-frills chicken place. It is perfect for the students who study nearby as well as the office workers in F. Ramos Street.  For sure, they have a lot of options in that area but Sure Thing Chicken Wing is offering delicious fried chicken wings at super affordable prices.  The waiting time is not too long here and this place is just perfect for people who are looking for a quick bite so that they can go back to school to finish cramming.  

Next time I go back here, I would chicken the Pinoy and Gangman or I can bring my barkada have the barkada blowout.  Fried chicken and beer makes an awesome combo.  I would like to thank Carlo Borromeo and Jericho Limosnero fof the invite.

Check out Sure Thing Chicken Wing they are located at The New Ramos Center adjacent to Diplomat Hotel at F. Ramos Street, Cebu City.

Other Places for Chicken:
21 Dubs Wings

Sunburst 

Burrow Lounge

Bad Boys Wingz

Gibbs Hot Wings

Even if I am not Chinese, I can always feel the Chinese influence in our country especially here in Cebu.  This influence is so strong in me that I love watching dragon and lion dances, and the fireworks.  I even eat tikoy and wear red during Chinese New Year.  I also read my Chinese horoscope.  I am definitely not Chinese but I love celebrating the Lunar New Year with them.  This year, I will be celebrating the start of the Year of the Rooster at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.  I recently previewed the Chinese New Year Menu at the hotel's Tin Gow Palace that featured Yee Sang or Prosperity Toss and I learned something that might just make me luckier in 2017.

Tin Gow Chinese Set Menu with Yee Sang

You don't need to buy and prepare all those ingredients to have your 2017 filled with luck and prosperity. All you have to do is go to Tin Gow at the Cebu City Waterfront and Casino from January 23-31 and avail of their Chinese set menu.  The Chinese Set Menu is good for 10 people.  These sets are designed by Chinese Master Chef Jimmy Low.

• Chinese Yee Sang (Prawn)
• Chinese Tikoy and Mango Sago
• Golden Soup with Crabmeat
• Steamed Live Garoupa with Garlic Sauce
• Deep-Fried Spareribs with Salt and Pepper
• Deep-Fried Prawns with Tomato Sauce
• Steamed Beancurd with Minced Prok
• Yong Chow Fried Rice 

• Good Luck Yee Sang (Salmon)
• Spring Roll and Siomai
• Green Vegetable Beancurd Soup
• Deep-Fried Garoupa in Ginger Sauce
• Stir-Fried Malaysian Chicken
• Braised Beancurd with Shrimp
• Deep-Fried Pork in Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Egg Fried Rice with Chicken
• Ginseng and Longan with Radish
• Homemade Tikoy

• Chinese Yee Sang (Salmon)
• Siomai, Prawn Roll, Cumbi Chicken, Asparagus with Shrimp
• Double Boiled Fish maw and Scallop Soup
• Pork Knuckle with Sea Cucumber and Abalone in Oyster Sauce
• Steamed Live Crab with Garlic
• Stir-Fried Bamboo Shoot, Black Mushroom, and Taiwan Pechay
• Chicken Fried Rice with Asado in Hot Pot
• Chinese Tikoy with Fruit Platter

Kalami Cebu Review

I was one of the fortunate bloggers who was able to have a preview of Set Menu B.  I really enjoyed every dish that was served.  Here are my thoughts for each dish:

Yee Sang

The Prosperity Toss gives the dinner a festive and interactive vibe.  The Yee Sang allows you to greet all the diners and wish them an amazing Year of the Rooster. Tossing it makes everything a bit messy but the fun factor is really high.  The salad actually tastes good and since all ingredients have a meaning, you try as much as possible to eat everything.

Spring Rolls and Siomai

Tin Gow is an award winning restaurant and I expect a lot from them.  They did not disappoint as the dimsum offerings are just spot on.

Green Vegetable Beancurd Soup

It was rich and very balanced. It is the type of soup that you want to sip when you are having colds.  It is full of flavor and you know you can have as much because it is made from nutritious vegetables and beancurd.

Deep-Fried Garoupa in Ginger Sauce

The fish was cooked perfectly. It was crispy and I could have eaten more if I had it to myself.

Ginseng and Longan with Radish

It is an interesting concoction. I think this dessert is good for couples who want to have a baby in the coming year. :)

There was a social media firestorm yesterday when an article came out at the ABS-CBN website telling the public that Cebu Favorite Lechon Zubuchon is coming to Manila.  I know Cebuanos love lechon and as a Cebuano, I consider it as a heritage dish.  I did not expect, though, the extreme reactions that the article generated from my fellow Cebuanos. Are we going to destroy friendships over lechon?  Well, here is my take.

Kalami Cebu's Ultimate Guide to Lechon Cebu

What is Cebu's favorite lechon? I do not think we can have a unanimous answer for that question. There are so many excellent lechon makers on this tiny island in the Philippines. There are the branded ones.  There are the Sunday regulars.  There are even hometown favorites. Cebu is the home of the best lechon in the world and Cebuanos can eat lechon any day and any time of the day. By the way, in the vernacular, we call lechon, inasal.  Here is my personal classification of the best inasal or lechon Cebu:

I. The Lechon Restaurants

In the past couple of years, some entrepreneurs started restaurants revolving around this Cebuano specialty. These restaurants serve a good menu of Filipino dishes but their main purpose is to solve your lechon cravings.  These are the places we bring guests from out of town or balikbayans to let them try our island's most famous dish.  These places are also frequented by foreigners who put the quality of food handling as a priority in picking a good place to eat.

These restaurants look posh and classy.  These have good air-conditioning, nice interiors, and Instagram-worthy lighting.  The lechon restaurants, therefore, are the best places to eat lechon besides eating it at home. Price is not that expensive that is why many companies even hold their events in this type of restaurants.

Here are the most popular ones that belong to this category:

1. Zubuchon

I would give credit to Zubuchon for starting this trend.  They have a good tagline using a quote from celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain "The Best pig ever!".  The restaurant puts lechon front and center.  It actually worked and some restaurants soon followed suit.  Their lechon has the crispiest skin but the flavor and even how it looks is different from what Cebuanos have grown up eating.  A whole Zubuchon looks paler than the traditional lechon which has bright red or dark red skin.

No wonder, there was some furor about this brand being labeled as a "Cebu Favorite".  Well, they are branding their pig as Zubuchon.  They are not using the word lechon for it. Actually, "Zubu" is the old term for Cebu while "chon" is short for lechon.  Zubuchon uses special and non-traditional ingredients as well as some tweaks in the preparation like spraying the pig with coconut water before being roasted. So, if you wonder why it tastes different well it is because it is a Zubuchon and not your Dad's inasal.   For other things to try in the restaurant, you should get their Kamias shake and try the other Filipino dishes with a lechon twist. 

2. Rico's Lechon

Rico's Lechon has been one of the most popular lechon suppliers in Cebu in the past decade.  Their signature lechon is their spicy lechon.  Rico's Lechon is the favorite of ex-President Joseph "Erap " Estrada. If Zubuchon has Bourdain, Rico's has Erap.  Rico Dionson's family partnered with the Pages family to open a classy Filipino restaurant featuring Lechon.  When the partnership broke down, the Pages family retained the restaurant while Rico's Lechon decided to put up its own brand of Lechon Restaurants.

Rico's Lechon has been aggressively marketing and expanding in the past couple of years and they use the tagline "DaBestGyud".  They opened restaurants in Mactan Promenade and in Vibo Place.  They also have a smaller place in F. Cabahug Street. In the restaurant, they serve items like dugo-dugo, pancit, kinilaw, and their version of tinolang manok.   Their inasal is featured in a couple of hotel buffets in Cebu City.

3. House of Lechon

When the Pages and Dionson families broke up the partnership for their original lechon restaurant venture, the Pages family retained the old restaurant and rebranded it last year as the House of Lechon. What makes them different is that they also offer Carcar lechon here. Carcar lechon is a type of lechon that is served with a sauce made from the drippings and oil of the lechon.  The salty sauce makes you eat more rice.

The House of Lechon has a good location making it a favorite also of working people.  Their main branch is just a walking distance from Ayala Center Cebu and the nearby offices and hotels.  I have brought several guests here and they were so happy with their dining experience.

II. Eatery Type and Food Stalls

Before the rise of the branded lechon restaurants, Cebuanos were happy eating at eatery-type lechon places.  Some are stand-alone establishments while others are situated in malls.  These restaurants serve some of the best lechon especially if it is newly delivered.   One good example for this category is CNT.  CNT used to be king of retail lechon.   They are trying to join in the fray in the first category by opening a new branch at SM Seaside but I still prefer their branch in Guadalupe, near SM and even their Ayala food court branch because it reminds how spartan or "bugoy" were the lechon restaurants.

III. Street Stalls

If you happen to be early on these stalls, you can pick which part of the lechon will you bring home.  Watching a freshly cooked lechon being chopped right in front of you while you're jockeying for position with other buyers is something you need to experience to fully appreciate why lechon is such a big part of the Cebuano culture.  You actually know that an inasal or lechon is good when people try to cheat their way to get to the front of the line so they can bring home their preferred part of the lechon.  Some will even wait for the next lechon just to get their favorite parts.  Lining up is so crazy sometimes because you are competing against all sorts of folks, like dudes with body odor, grandmothers, and women with children.  And what is the prize? A half kilo of piping hot roasted pig. At lunchtime, you will always say it was worth all the trouble.

IV. Out of Town

When I go for a Southern Cebu road trip.  I always eat lunch at Carcar Public Market.  You can actually solve your lechon craving by sampling all the lechon skin that is being offered to you there.   I like their lechon oil because it makes the lechon more flavorful. The best part though is the price. You might say that they are just 80-90% as good as the ones in the city but when you realized that the lechon is just half the price you will probably declare it as the peso for peso champion among lechons.

V. Specialists

Alejo's in Labangon
Really great traditional flavors. It is a favorite in the Guadalupe, Banawa, and Labangon area.  They are really busy during Christmas.

Cang's in Lahug
Strong hints of star anise.  I am just a bit confused sometimes because there are more than one Cang lechon brand in Cebu and their offices are situated in the same compound.

VI. Lechon Belly

1. Cebu's Original Lechon Belly 
They started it all and their spicy lechon belly is a favorite of mine.  Some people say that the flavors are in the bones but the lechon belly is as tasty or even better than the average lechon.  I once had visitors from Luzon and I let them taste several lechon brands while they were here.  When they were about to leave for Manila, they made sure to drop by Cebu's Original Lechon Belly and they bought a couple of kilos for their families as pasalubong.

2. Tatang's
If you love it spicier, I suggest you head to Tatang's.  Super crispy skin plus super spicy meat, it is perfect for fans who love spicy food. 

3. Kusina ni Nasing
This brand has become more popular lately and they are a regular fixture at Sugbo Mercado.

4. Zubuchon
The Lechon restaurant also has a great version of the dish.  In fact, some people prefer the boneless version over the traditional one when they eat at Zubuchon branches.

Kalami Cebu's Lechon Choices:

Best Skin: Zubuchon and Tatang's
If you happen to get a Tatang's or a Zubuchon that just came off the lechon pit, you should eat some of its skin. It is super crunchy. It is almost like your favorite chicharon. Even by just looking at it, you know it's going to make a loud crackling sound in your mouth.

Best Spicy Lechon: Rico's and Cebu's Original Lechon Belly
Rico's has mastered the Spicy whole lechon.  That was the trademark of Rico's back when they were just content in taking whole lechon orders.  Cebu's Original Lechon Belly is spicy but not overpowering. It is definitely one of the tastiest lechon that you will ever have.

Best Regular Lechon: Alejo's and CNT
These two were the traditional lechon superpowers before Lechon restaurants became the trend.  They still have a great following, especially during the holiday season.  Their names are always mentioned on surveys about the best lechon in Cebu.

Best Restaurant: Rico's Lechon at Axis and House of Lechon
Great locations and very nice interiors. These two brands have elevated the quality of lechon eateries. Who would have thought that a restaurant built around lechon would work out? I would also give Zubuchon some credit for showing the entrepreneurs that it can be done.

Best Budget Restaurant: Cebu's Original Lechon Belly and CNT
I love eating at Cebu's Original Lechon Belly in Parkmall. It's air-conditioned and it has some interesting dishes that complements their lechon like their creamy beef soup. Another plus is that they are open 24 hours a day. When I am in Guadalupe and SM area, CNT is also a good choice for a no-frills lechon meal. It has the excellent CNT lechon plus some carenderia type dishes. You have to time your arrival well at CNT because sometimes they run out of lechon.

Best Meal Deal: Tatang's Eat All You Can
Love lechon so much? Tatang's has a great Eat All You Can deal in their branch in Wilson Street, Lahug I think every Mondays. 

Best Bargain: Carcar Lechon
People in Carcar are lucky because the delicious lechon is very affordable in that city in the Southern part of Cebu.  I usually eat it in one of the carinderias inside the Carcar Public Market.  I prefer to eat Carcar lechon immediately than taking it home.

Where I Buy on a Sunday: Lechon Stall near the Capitol
Ask a Cebuano and they probably have a different favorite lechon stall.  I grew up in Guadalupe and we usually get our lechon by the kilo here.  The stall can be crowded as early as 10 in the morning and even earlier sometimes.

Where to buy on your way to Mactan: AC Cortez
If you happen to forget to buy lechon while on your way to beaches of Mactan, better pass by A.C. Cortez (the one going to the old bridge) and you will see a lot of lechon places that tempts you to bring some to your outing.

Where to buy before flying out: Rico's at Mactan Promenade, Zubuchon, and Ayers
There are now several lechon stations that are near the airport.  They are like reminding all visitors of Cebu to bring some home.  If I were to choose, I would pick the one with the fresher lechon because I would be able to pick my favorite parts plus the skin won't degrade as fast.

Best Buffets with Lechon: St. Mark's Hotel
If you love buffets, well St. Mark's Hotel has a buffet featuring Rico's Lechon at less than 500 pesos per person.  That is basically less than the price of 1 kilo of lechon in retail. If you have such an appetite for this pork dish, you know where to go.

Kalami Cebu's Final Note:

It's a fact that there are very many good lechon places in Cebu.  I actually admire the passion of Cebuanos in bashing or defending his or her favorite lechon brand.  I felt, though, that there was some sort of overreaction about the Cebu Favorite tag. To be honest, there is no clear favorite.  Some people might do surveys and declare a brand as the best but in reality, we have a robust local lechon industry meaning a lot of entrepreneurs are making money.  That is actually good.

If a particular brand is really that bad then it could have closed down years ago. When I asked the lunch people at a mall in Fuente yesterday, nobody actually knew about the #LechonWar or #LechonWars.  It made me think that indeed, the social media firestorm could actually be much ado about nothing.

Eat lechon moderately and keep supporting local businesses. #eatlocal #supportlocal 

Lechon Directory

Rico's Lechon
Rico’s Lechon – Mactan Promenade
Unit 3 & 4 Mactan Promenade, Airport Road, Ibo, Lapu-Lapu City
(032) 231-5580
+63995-618-9363

Rico’s Lechon – Mabolo Branch
The Ridges Commercial Bldg. F. Cabahug Street, Panagdait, Cebu City
(032) 260-2443
+63927-352-2078

Rico’s Lechon – Axis Escario Branch
Unit E15 and E16 Axis Entertainment Avenue, Vibo Place N. Escario St. Cebu City, 6000
(032) 233-4144
+63995-361-6360

Rico’s Lechon – Corporate Office
One Paseo, Maria Luisa Road, Banilad, Mandaue City
(032) 344-0119 | (032) 239-2830
(032) 344-1343
+63915-703-3964

Rico’s Lechon – Commissary
Highway 77, Talamban Cebu City, 6000 Cebu City, Philippines
(032) 344-0119 | (032) 239-2830
(032) 344-0119
+63915-703-3964

Zubuchon:

THE OUTLETS AT PUEBLO VERDE
Unit 28 Bldg. The Outlets at Pueblo Verde Basak, Lapu-Lapu City
Operating Hours
Monday-Sunday
10:00 a.m. -10:00 p.m.

CITY SOHO MALL
City Soho Mall, B. Rodriguez St. 
Operating Hours
Monday-Sunday
10:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m

HEAD OFFICE
2651 Villalon Drive, Cebu City
(032) 2547342
Office hours:
Monday- Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

MACTAN CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Domestic Pre-Departure Area, Mactan Cebu International Airport
(032) 511-0005
Operating hours:
Monday-Sunday
Open 24-Hours

MACTAN MARINA MALL
Block A, Ground Floor, Mactan Marina Mall, MEZ 1, Lapu-Lapu City
(032) 2661310
Operating hours:
Monday - Sunday
Open 24 hours

ZUBUCHON : THE WALK, IT PARK
Lahug, Cebu City
(032) 236-8253
Operating hours:
Monday - Sunday
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

ZUBUCHON : ONE MANGO AVENUE
Gen. Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City
(032) 239-5697
Operating hours:
Monday - Saturday 
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sunday 
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

House of LechonAcacia Street, Cebu City(032) 2310958

CNT Lechon

SM Seaside SkyPark(032) 5138047

V. Rama Avenue
(032) 2546641

North Reclamation
(032) 2335339

Alejo's LechonKatipunan Street, Cebu City(032) 2611086(032) 2618575(0923) 2319683(0906) 5430711

Cang's LechonLahug, Cebu City(032) 2328899

Cebu's Original Lechon Belly
CEBU OUTLETS:

Parkmall Branch Al Fresco Dine-in(Dine-in & Take-out) located @ Al-Fresco 3 beside E-Games    Tel. (32)511-8803

Parkmall Brach Dine-in Extension - OPEN 24 HOURS! (Dine-in & Take-out) located @ Parkmall 2nd Floor, Al Fresco 4, Mantawe Avenue, Mandaue City.   Tel. (32)5200931.

Parkmall Branch Take Out(Take-out only) located @ Al-Fresco 1 beside Coffee Dream    Tel. (32)5146788.

One Pavilion Mall (Dine-in & Take-out) located in Banawa, Cebu City     Tel. 253-0291

The Maxwell Hotel - OPEN 24 HOURS!(Pasalubong, Dine-in & Take-out) located in N Escario St., Capitol, Cebu City    Tel. (32)254-0033.

SaveMore Market - Elizabeth Mall (Dine-in & Take-out) located in Eliabeth Mall, Cebu City   Tel.(32)514-6689.

SaveMore Market - Maribago (Semi Dine-in & Take-out) located in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City   Cell. 0943-706-4489.  

SM Hypermarket - J Centre Mall (Semi Dine-in & Take-out) located in A S Fortuna, Mandaue City   

Rustan's Shopwise-Cebu  Branch: Supermarket Food Court Area(Semi Dine-in & Take-out) in Mambaling, Cebu City   Cell. 0933-198-6575.

Gene's Lechon (Dine-in & Take) located in the 2nd level, Robinson's Cybergate Food Court, Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City

Super Metro - Lapu Lapu City (Dine-in & Take-out) located in the Super Metro Food Court - Ground Floor in Lapu-lapu City.   Cell. 0932-327-8597.

Savemore Market - Mactan Marina - Lapu-Lapu City (Semi Dine-in & Take-out) located nearthe Mactan International Airport.   Cell. 0923-277-1181.

City Time Square - Mandaue City (Dine-in & Take-out) located right across Parkmall. Fully airconditioned w/ more seating capacity. Al Fresco dining is also available.   Cell. 0942-488-1200.

SM Consolacion  - Consolacion (Dine-in & Take-out) located @ the 2nd Level near the SM Cinemas, Consolacion, Cebu.   cell. 0923-613-8752.

Gaisano Grand - Talamban (Semi Dine-in & Take-out) located @ the Supermarket Food Area of Gaisano Talamban, Talamban, Cebu City.   Cell. 0932-111-5987.

Gaisano Fiesta Tabunok (Semi Dine-in & Take-Out) located in the supermarket Food area of Gaisano Grand Fiesta Tabunok, Cebu City.   Cell. 0932-507-5935.

Pacific Mall (Semi Dine-in & Take-Out) located in the G/F Food Area of Pacific Mall, Mandaue City, Cebu.                   0923-411-6525.

Mactan Newtown AL Fresco (Semi Dine-in & Take-out) located @ Mactan Newton(Megaworld), Lapu-Lapu City. 

G/F SM Hypermarket Lapu-Lapu (Dine-in & Takeout) located @ SM Hypermarket Building(Pueblo Verde), Lapu-Lapu City.

Super Metro Colon (Dine-in & Take-out) located @ Colon St.,(the Old Gazini Plaza), Downtown Cebu City.

Prince City Hall (Dine-in & Take-out) located @ Prince Warehouse, P Burgos St., Cebu City.

Capitol Square (Dine-in & Take-out) located @ Capitol Square building, N. Escario St., Capitol, Cebu City.

SM City Cebu (Dine-in & Take-out) located @ the 2nd Level, SM City Cebu, NRA, Cebu City.

SM Seaside (Semi Dine-in & Take-out) located @ the SM Supermarket Food Area, SRP, Cebu City.

Gaisano Liloan (Semi Dine-in & Take-out) located @ the Supermarket food area, Liloan, Cebu City.

VCMC - Jones (Dine-in & Take-out) located @ Sunergia Building, VCMC, Jones Avenue, Cebu City.
 
Fooda - Mabolo (Dine-in & Take-out) located @ Fooda(Kasambagan-Mabolo), Cebu City. 

Tatang's Boneless LechonWilson corner Pasteur Streets, Lahug, Cebu City(032) 3164719

Kusina ni NasingV. Rama Avenue, Cebu City(0925) 8627464

Ayer's Lechon(032)2680327

Chinese New Year festivities were at a full swing last week with Cebu hotels.  After sampling the Yee Sang sets at Tin Gow, I was able to listen to Feng Shui Expert Marites Allen courtesy of Montebello Villa Hotel.  Everyone wants to be lucky and the famed Cebuano feng shui expert has some great tips for everyone.

Check out the video for more tips from our very own Feng Shui expert.

Kalami Cebu's 2017 Outlook

I really think that the food industry will thrive in 2017.  Cebu will probably see many excellent restaurants open in the next 12 months. It will definitely be a good year in the restaurant industry but it will also be very challenging.  Cebu is one of the hardest to please in the country and having too many choices could dilute income from many businesses.  The Year of the Rooster is not going to be a good year for imitation.  This is a great year for the innovative ones.  Each restaurant is advised to improve the quality of their dishes and make sure they have a specialty. 

It is going to be a year full of food trips but most probably healthier ones at the later part of the year. I am betting on companies helping people make healthier choices.  It is time for companies and blogs to spread a message on healthier and better food.

Kalami Cebu Food Wars #LechonWars debuted last week and the first match-up ended in a rout as Rico's Lechon handily beat Zubuchon, 10-3.  Many Cebuano foodies in social media said it was going to be a mismatch and they were right.   Most tasters preferred the saltier flavor of Rico's Lechon while Zubuchon got some points from their skin and the meat quality.  Check out our video for what transpired in this episode.

When it comes to food, Lechon is synonymous to Cebu.  Cebuanos love their lechon and when an ABS-CBN article came out about a "Cebu Favorite" was coming to Manila, a lot of Cebuanos made their opinion known in social media. So, we decided to do a run and gun taste test between 2 lechon restaurant brands.

The Contenders:

Zubuchon

Because the controversial article was talking about this particular lechon restaurant, Zubuchon is the default contender No.1.   This brand is relatively young but they somehow revolutionized the industry. From just a Sunday Lechon stall at the Banilad Town Center, they have opened several Lechon restaurants in the city.  They are the first lechon brand that opened air-conditioned restaurants that feature lechon along with some lechon-inspired Filipino dishes. 

Zubuchon's biggest endorsement was from world famous chef Anthony Bourdain who declared it as the best pig ever.  Zubuchon's owner has tweaked the way local's normally cook lechon.  They do not use MSG and the pigs are backyard raised. They also put coconut water on the skin before it gets cooked.  Their restaurants are doing well enough that they can afford to open a branch in Manila. 

Rico's Lechon

Because of the close proximity of their Escario branches, we decided to pit Rico's Lechon against Zubuchon. Rico's Lechon recently opened a branch at the Axis in Vibo Place Escario which is just walk-distance from Zubuchon's Escario Central branch. Rico's Lechon entered the restaurant business two years ago and they have become on the most popular lechon restaurants in Cebu.  Their branches in Axis and Mactan Promenade are two of the most good-looking places to eat lechon. 

Rico's is famous for their Spicy Lechon.  They are the favorite lechon brand of Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. Their lechon is more of the traditional Cebuano lechon.  It has reddish skin and they use a lot of salt to season the pork. How will their original lechon fare against Zubuchon?

The Taste Test:

I always associate eating at hotels with special occasions.  It could be a birthday, anniversary, or to celebrate milestones and achievements. Looking back, I would probably say that Cebu City Marriott Hotel is one of the hotels that has witnessed some of the best of moments of my life.  My wedding reception was actually held at this hotel several years ago. When I got an invite to try out their Sunday International Buffet, my heart definitely skipped a bit.  The international buffet at the hotel has always been a favorite for decades and it is a big privilege to be asked to eat it for free. The privilege is not limited to me as you will find something to cheer about if you read up until the end of this post.

Kalami Cebu's Ultimate Guide to the International Buffet at Garden Cafe

There are so many new All-You-Can-Eat buffets that opened in Cebu in the past year.  Many tout themselves as having a selection that rivals hotel buffets.  They may be right but the hotels are also fighting back.  Hotels still give a different vibe when it comes to celebrations.  The menu could be copied but the ambiance of places like Garden Cafe cannot easily be matched. 

Hotel buffets might be more expensive but I still prefer eating at hotels especially when it is an intimate celebration. The Garden Cafe at Cebu City Marriott is just perfect for conversations.  The atmosphere is perfect for an anniversary lunch or an important business meeting.  For me, this is one of the most important advantages of hotel dining.

Here is my walkthrough of the  Cebu City Marriott Garden Cafe Buffet:

Soups, Salads, and Appetizers

The hardest part of a buffet is actually in choosing where to start.  There are so many good ways to begin and each one has its own merits.

Salad Station

 Many people like to start off with a salad and the Garden Cafe has a lof of choices.  The greens are so fresh and appetizing. If you are not careful, you might have a half-full stomach right after your first plate.

Fruits Station

Some people say that we must eat fruits at the beginning of the meal. You can also do that here because they have a decent selection of local fruits to start or end a meal.  

Japanese Station

 One of my usual ways to start a buffet is going to the Japanese station.  Sushi and Sashimi has a way of preparing my palate for a long meal that is fit for a Sumo wrestler.  I was easily drawn to those octopus tentacles when I was there.

Cold Cuts, Grilled  Vegetables, and Bread

 If you do not like to start by going Japanese, you can go European by having some bread, grilled vegetables, and cold cuts.  You can make some awesome sandwich with the spread that Cebu City Marriott is preparing for its diners. 

Pizza

If you do not like assembling a sandwich, then just pick a pizza slice or two.

Cheese, Crackers, Nuts, and Vegetable Sticks

Special Stations

Pasta/Noodle/Mongolian Station

If you like curry then you better make friends with the chef in their curry station who can prepare one that you will be raving about for days.

Desserts and Beverages

By now, you would need something sweet to balance all the flavors that you have tasted at the International Lunch Buffet at the Garden Cafe of the Cebu City Marriott Hotel.  You can quench your thirst with some juice then enjoy several pieces of their bite-sized desserts.

Sunday Special

If you are going eat Sunday lunch here then you can enjoy as much as Prime Rib as you want. The friendly chefs can grill this premium cut of beef to your desired doneness. 

Kalami Cebu's International Lunch Buffet Experience

It was a Sunday and I just had a week filled with food trips and restaurant visits.  Even if it was a busy week for me, I was actually excited to eat again at Marriott.  The last time I was here was in November to celebrate my mother-in-laws birthday. So it has been a while. 

I was with my fellow bloggers Brennan Mercado of Baktin Corporation and Rome Nicolas of Basta Bisaya.  Our host for the day was Cebu City Marriott's dashing PR officer Nico Velasquez.  After taking some photos of the food, I decided to start my meal with some crackers, cheese, peanuts, and grilled vegetables.  I wanted to pace myself because I know I am going to eat lots.

Special Pinoy Fusion Dishes by Garden Cafe Chefs

After I finished my first plate, Chef Nestor served some Chicken Adobo Tortilla Wraps. I would say that Mexican restaurants should try making their own version of this dish because my friends and I enjoyed eating it.

Chef Paolo made us some Lechon Pasta.  This pasta dish uses lechon kawali instead of bacon and it worked.  I was supposed to get some curry but I ended up finishing a whole plate of Chef Paolo's creation.

To cap our meal Chef Aisha made us a special dessert called Deep-Fried Mixed Fruits.  She sliced some apples, bananas, mangos, and watermelon into unique shapes then she breaded it with toasted wheat bread then deep fried it in olive oil. The apples were like calamari or onion rings while the other fruits looked like different shapes of tempura.  She prepared two sauces: Latik with Pink Salt and Belgian Chocolate with Tablea.  She also prepared some marshmallows, nuts, rice crispies and raisins.

To fully enjoy this DIY dessert, all you have to do is get a deep fried fruit then dip it with your choice of sauce then finish it by dipping it to the prepared toppings. It was an instant favorite for all of us including Nico.  We were like kids playing in a chocolate factory but with a fruity twist. It is definitely a good cheat day compromise dessert for those who are trying to lose weight.  It is also a good way to make children eat more servings of fruit in one meal. 

My Final Dish

We had our dessert but I did not want to leave Marriott without having some Prime Rib.  So I had a big slice to cap an amazing international lunch buffet. If you love Prime Rib, have lunch at Garden Cafe on a Sunday and have as many slices as you want.

All in all, it was a superb meal.  One of the best Kalami Cebu lunches for the year so far.  It was not just the food but also the company and the interesting conversations that we had.  There were so many genius ideas that came out while being feed by the wonderful chefs of the hotel.  It was one for the books and I would not mind eating again with the same group, at the same place and on the same day. ;)

Treat for Kalaminions

Thank you so much for reading this pretty long post. Because you are quite a sport, Cebu City Marriott Hotel would love you to try their International Lunch Buffet at the Garden Cafe on a Special Blogger Rate. 

Special Rates for Kalaminions are as follows:

International Lunch Buffet
Monday – Friday
12:00 – 2:30 PM
PHP 499 net per person only (regular rate PHP 850)

Flavors or Asia – International Dinner Buffet
Monday – Thursdays and Sunday
6:00 – 10:30 PM
PHP 649 net per person only (regular rate PHP 1,200)

*This rate may be enjoyed by the entire group dining with your follower or reader
Mechanics:

1. Make sure create reservations ahead and announce the “blogger rate” privilege for our associate to take note of this special arrangement. Please call (032) 411-5800 for assistance. Walk-ins are also welcome.
2. On the day of their visit have them show our waiters the actual blog where they found out about the special rate for verification before they ask for the billing. Until March 31, 2017, you can just show this blog post to get your special rate.

If ever you are coming to Marriott to avail this special rate hit me up with a comment or a PM because who knows, we will be seeing each other there. 

If I am asked to declare a favorite restaurant in the past 8 weeks then I would say it is the Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar.   I have been to this new grilled chicken place four times already in that period. This new dining place is making Meerea High Street one of the up and coming dining hot spots in Cebu City and Mandaue City.

How I Discovered Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar

Way back in the Christmas season, I was finding ways to avoid the Christmas Rush traffic and I ended up in Ouano Avenue.  I passed by the Meerea Hight Street Complex and I got pretty curious with Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar.  I was pretty excited because I really liked Portuguese-style Chicken. My wife and I have been craving for that kind of flavor ever since we tasted Oporto's Chicken in Sydney.  It has been 7 years since we last visited Australia and the chicken at Oporto is still on top our favorite grilled chicken list.

First Visit

I wanted to eat there immediately but it was the Christmas season and the food options then are just limitless. Plus, I hated the traffic.  Peri-Peri Chicken Cebu had their soft opening on December 23, 2016.  Five days later, I ate my first meal there with my friends whom I consider more of nieces and nephews.  There were four of us so I ordered the Rio that included a whole chicken plus some sidings. We also had some Nachos and drinks as well. 

It was not so crowded then that I even made the Peri Peri Chicken Cebu crew do a #mannequinchallenge with us. We enjoyed our lunch and our meal looked wonderful on Instagram. My favorite sauce then was the Sheik Chic's Harissa Exotica because I liked it spiciness.  My companions liked the Tokyo Tori's Sweet and the Apachee'kn Mesquite Barbecue.  Ka Tuka's Honey Pinakurat also made an impression because of the fact that the Peri-Peri Chicken included a Pinoy-inspired sauce in their line-up.

2nd Visit

Apparently, I had a former officemate who was working with the group behind Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar.  She asked if I am interested in bringing some bloggers to check the restaurant out. I immediately said yes. So I recruited BCBA 2015 Top Food Blogger +Brennan Mercado , BCBA 2016 Top Tech Blogger +Jullian Robin Sibi, Cebu Blogging Community's +Rome Nicolas and fellow Adober +Kiddie Rodaje to join me for dinner. So, here is a video of what transpired that night:

3rd Visit

I got invited by +Rei Niñal of Bigseed PR to join the grand opening of Peri-Peri Chicken Cebu.  By the way, Peri-Peri Chicken got its name from the African Bird's Eye Chili that was discovered by Portuguese explorers centuries ago.   The first restaurant opened in Greenhills, San Juan in 2006 and now the brand is bringing the spicy chili-flavored chicken to Cebu.

During the grand launch, I was able to try more dishes like their tortilla wrap, pasta, and pizza.  I got to appreciate the chicken more since I ate it hot. I did not waste time taking food photos since I have too many Peri-Peri Chicken pictures already.  The organizers also put a display of the food so that photographers can take pictures.  I realized that the chicken is best eaten right after it was served.  

#PeriPeriChicken Cebu Eating Tip: Do not take too much time taking pictures so that you can taste the spit-fire chicken at its best.

Here are some of the photos I took during the launch:

4th Visit

I was ready to write a blog post about this new chicken place weeks ago but I felt that my blog post will not be complete if I never dined at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar with my wife. It was the weekend after Valentines and I thought it was perfect to have dinner with her there.  It was my 4th visit and her second but it was our first visit together.

I made her try the meal with Chicken and ribs while I had the one with battered shrimps. My wife loved the chicken so much that she practically gave away the ribs to me.  In turn, I gave her some shrimps and some of my chicken.  She loved the sauces.  Her favorites were the Poulet Vous Cajun Remoulade, and the Foul-Mouthed Chili Peppa.  The other sauces are Count Cluckula's Garlic Brew and Hen Dynasty's Hoisin Sesame.  You can actually buy their 8 signature sauces by the bottle.

Kalami Cebu Recap

I am quite happy that there is another unique dining place in Cebu.  This is not your same old chicken restaurant.  The menu here is pretty unique and there is no grilled meat place in the island that offers 8 signature sauces. Meerea High Street might be out of the way for most of the Cebuanos but this place will be very busy this year as the management team is bent on opening more unique dining concepts. Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar is just a start and as a foodie, I am very excited to check out the upcoming restaurants here.

Better check this restaurant out and try their chicken and their other awesome dishes.  If you have dined here, my only question is "What is your favorite sauce?". Hit us up with a comment and let the #SauceWar begin. ;)

The first food all foodies loved is most likely breast milk.  For babies, there is no substitute for human breast milk.  Unfortunately, there are some mothers who are not capable of giving milk to their children or their milk production is not enough resulting to problems like malnutrition.  A couple of days ago, I had a chit chat with some ladies from Aboitiz Land over delicious Italian food at Pigafetta.  They told me about "Dagan Para sa Gatas ni Nanay" and the foodie in me was really compelled to support the event.

Dagan Para sa Gatas ni Nanay (Run for Mother's Milk)

Dagan Para sa Gatas ni Nanay is a fun run organized by L.A.T.C.H. (Lactation, Attachment, Training, Counselling, and Help), a non-profit organization of trained peer counselors, breastfeeding educators, and mothers who have exclusively breastfed or are exclusively breastfeeding.  The group offers quality lactation education and peer-counseling services to mothers who wish to breastfeed.  They are also actively campaigning for breastfeeding.

The organization partnered with leading real estate developer Aboitiz Land which operates the Mactan Economic Zone 2 and The Outlets at Pueblo Verde.  This initiative is part of the company's observance of Women's Month. The promotion of health and well-being is among AboitizLand’s key advocacies as part of its brand promise of nurturing communities.

Dagan para sa Gatas ni Nanay features one-, five- and ten-kilometer races.  While the 5K and 10K distances are open to all, the 1K competition is exclusively designed for mothers who will be carrying their babies in harnesses or body carriers.  The 1k category is probably one of the cutest run categories ever. 

Registration is at P300 for all categories.  This entitles the runner to a race kit with sun visor exclusive of a singlet. Participants are encouraged to wear white or pink running outfit. Registration opens on February 27 at designated registration hubs –The Persimmon Plus Office at Mabolo, iMEZ Building at Pueblo Verde, AboitizLand Administration Offices in its residential communities and at Runnr at the Ayala Center Cebu on Saturdays and Sundays until race day.

The proceeds of the Dagan Para sa Gatas ni Nanay will be used to fund the completion of the human milk bank at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC). The fun run for a cause will be on March 19, 2017, at the Outlets at Pueblo Verde at 4 pm.

For more information, visit http://www.aboitizland.com and The Outlets at Pueblo Verde official facebook page (www.facebook.com/TheOutletsatPV).

Benefits of Breast Feeding

There are so many benefits of breastfeeding. This practice has been attributed to helping infants grow healthier.  It is not only the babies but the mothers also get a lot of health benefits.  Breastfeeding is also practical for families especially if you compute the cost of milk formulas over one year.

Not all mothers are blessed with milk and this is where the milk bank can help. According to Wikipedia, a human milk bank is a service which collects, screens, processes, and dispenses by prescription human milk donated by nursing mothers who are not biologically related to the recipient infant.  The milk from the milk bank can help premature babies grow and thrive.

The milk bank at VSMMC is actually the first one outside Metro Manila.  If you were a premature baby or a parent who had one, I think it's a no-brainer that you need to support this event.

Italian Dishes at Pigafetta

I really had an interesting discussion about the run with the Aboitiz Land ladies and Ms. Jing Farrarons over the delicious pasta and pizza at Pigafetta.  It has been a while since I last visited the restaurant and I would say that they are still one of best places to eat if you love Italian food.

I had the Pizza al Pigafetta and the Pesto pasta.  Both dishes were awesome.  My blogger friends +Bjornson Bernales and +Miong Pelimon had a great time as well.  I can conclude that Pigafetta is a good place for an intimate press conference or an afternoon meeting.  

Check out Pigafetta at the Axis at Vibo Place.  They also have a branch at The Outlets at Pueblo Verde.

In the end, it was an afternoon well spent and I would hope that many people would support the event.  Please tell your friends about this. Three Hundred pesos can go a long way and save thousands of lives. Come on, let us "Dagan Para sa Gatas ni Nanay!".