Kalami Cebu! - A Gastronomic Guide to Cebu

dessert places in Cebu, SnowVinz, Sno-Ball, Snoball, dessert, ice cream sundae,

I am not really into sweets but I recently tried SnowVinz Snoball and I was pretty much happy with my experience there. Going to a good dessert place like Snow Vinz is indeed one of best ways to bond with friends on a lazy weekend.

SnowVinz at SM Seaside City

Growing up, one of my favorite sweet concoctions is the halo-halo. I loved it when I have it in my dad's favorite painitan in Jagna Public Market while I was still living in Bohol. I always associate iced desserts to happy events. When I moved to Cebu, I feast on the halo-halo sold by our neighbor almost weekly. I just love the ice, the milk and I guess that delicious toppings that people put in it.

Even if I am not a sweet tooth, I also know how to enjoy desserts especially the cold ones. When my blog "gang" visited SnowVinz a couple of weeks ago, I know we are going to have so much fun. Thanks to +Richard Abad and to our friends from SM Seaside City, we were able to try the specialties of this new dessert stall.

Snowvinz specializes in snoball. This shaved ice dessert is a favorite in New Orleans, USA and it is like an American version of our favorite halo-halo. What makes this different is that they use flavored syrup and also foreign fruits like Kiwi. Just like our local halo-halo, the snoball is just plain joy in a cup. It is sweet, cold and full of different flavors and textures. The ice is so fine and the sundae is so creamy. I am pretty confident that any kid or sweet tooth would love it.

SnowVinz also offers ice cream sundae by the cup or cone. They have it in interesting flavors like Orchid Vanilla, Raspberry, Strawberry, and the personal favorite Kiwi.

Before we came to SM Seaside City to visit SnowVinz, the Kalami Cebu Food Wars gang were actually shooting our first episode of the ngohiong wars. We were then pitting Carlos Ngohiong and Ho Ngohiong. I was a bit full but I was really looking for something sweet to serve as a counter-balance to all the oily goodness that we just had. SnowVinz Snoball was a perfect foil for the "greasy" feeling that I have after stuffing myself with ngohiong, puso, and fried gizzard. I truly enjoyed the snoball and the ice cream sundae.

It was also great that I was to be able to spend a couple of hours talking with some of my dearest blogging friends. +Jullian Robin Sibi , +Ramzy Magbitang , +Katherine Anne Cutar and I meet often because of our Blogger Banters podcast and as leads of the Cebu Blogging Community but it has been a while that we saw Richard Abad of Bisaya Short Films. It was awesome to catch up with him over some ngohiong and snoball. Good food is definitely one of the greatest accomplices in history's most amazing plots and schemes. I would surely want to spend more time with this gang in the future... hopefully over more good food.

How about you? Have you been to SnowVinz? How do you find it?

Allegro Restaurant, Bluewater Maribago, Bluewater Resorts, Dinner Buffet, Hotel Restaurants in Cebu, seafood, Cebu street food , Eat all you can restaurants in Cebu, Cebu's Best Food Blog

Bluewater Maribago's Allegro Restaurant recently launched its themed dinners. They offer a different menu every dinner time and each one is guaranteed to make you experience the joy of food. I recently had a preview of what's in store for each night and I ended having a massive dose of #happytummy.

7 Paths to Food Haven at Allegro Restaurant

Skewered Mondays

A lot of people might feel being skewered every Monday. It being the first day of the work week. Hang on and just survive your day then cap it with the Skewered themed night at Bluewater Maribago. Monday means a feast of pork barbecue, kebab, beef sate, seafood skewers, and desserts served on skewers.

Lasa Tuesdays

Tuesday is curry night at Allegro Restaurant. You may like it Red, Green or Yellow and they have it along with Pomelo Turnip Salad, Crab Cake with Nuoc Cham, Oven-baked Snapper, Native Chocolate Pudding, and Fresh Mango Rice in Cashew Meringue Crust. It's healthy SouthEast Asian cooking at its best. This is the perfect day for veggie and curry lovers.

Cebuano Streetfest Wednesdays

Wednesday is one of my favorite days because the day's theme feature many Cebuano favorites. You can start your meal with some Kinamatisang Bulad (Dried Fish with Fresh Tomatoes and Onions) and Green Mango in salt vinegar. Then you can sip the Cebuano Beef Pochero. Afterward, you can grab a puso (hanging rice) or two then feast on Chicken Inasal and Lechon Belly. You can then cap your meal with native delicacies like Nilusak, Buko Pandan or Boiled Corn on Cob. This is the kind of Cebuano meal that I would love to experience every day.

Flavors of Asia Thursdays

On this day, you can go gaga over dimsum and other Asian favorites. The theme dinner will have shrimp and scallop siomai, cabbage rolls, and fried dumplings. These are served with stir fry beef, steamed shrimps, biko panna cotta, and Philippine rum cake with coco jam.

Palaisdaan Fridays

This is also another favorite day of mine. This is the day of fish, oysters, seaweeds, crabs, shrimps, and seashells. It is a Filipino clambake capped with some Turones de Leche and Dalandan Cheesecake. When I had my preview, this is the first station that I "pounced" on. ;)

Barrio Fiesta Saturdays

If you love Filipino food then come to Allegro Restaurant on a Saturday and be wowed. Lechon is the centerpiece for this night. To complement it, they will also serve Sinuglaw, Pineapple Macaroni Salad, Manago and Tomato Salad, Chargrilled Tanigue, and Ukoy. You can finish an enjoyable barrio fiesta with some binignit or tibok tibok with latik.

Big Bowl Sunday

On Sundays, you can summon your inner Genghis Khan and conquer the Mongolian Station. Enjoy your Mongolian bowl with some Samosa, Tempura, Squid Salad, Vanilla Almond Roulade, and Apple Pie in a Jar!

7 Days in One Meal

Our friends from Bluewater Resorts invited me along with local media and bloggers to try out the featured dishes of their themed nights. I made sure that I have a sneak peak of each themed buffet. It was a bit of a challenge but here is how I did it:

First Plate and 2nd Plates: Palaisdaan and Lasa

I decided to start my meal with some seafood. It has been a while since I have binged on seafood and the offerings at Allegro were really tempting. I got a piece of crab, oyster, saang, and shrimps. I also ordered a Mongolian plate with tempura. One reason why I started with seafood is that based on my experience, I do not get easily full if I eat seafood. There was one time that I finished like a kilo of shrimps by myself and still felt hungry.

3rd Plate: Flavors of Asia

I got a plate filled with assorted dumpling and stir-fry beef. Cebuanos love their dimsum and I have always been a fan of it since my elementary school days. Finishing the third plate was easy.

4th Plate: Skewered

Well, I have to pace myself so I just got a beef skewer to represent this day. I can practically eat barbecue every day but rarely beef barbecue.

5th Plate: Lasa

I made one of Allegro's chefs cook a green curry veggie dish to represent Lasa. I realized that Tuesdays are perfect for people who love vegetarian dishes. It really feels good to eat veggies because it is not so heavy on the tummy.

6th Plate: Cebu Streetfest

This is my favorite day so I had some pochero, chicken inasal, mangang hilaw, and dangit. I had a full plate for this day and I did not regret it. Tasting the flavors that you loved growing up while in one of Cebu's best resort hotel is such a luxury.

7th Plate: Barrio Fiesta

Finally, I am on the 7th day (plate) and I decided to get some lechon skin and sinuglaw. Lechon by the beach! It is actually that common for Cebuanos to that and definitely, the beach is one of the perfect spots to eat this Cebuano favorite!

8th Plate (Bonus): Dessert

I was really full but I still manage to finish a cone of their delicious Mango Ice Cream.

Kalami Cebu Recap

In the end, the experience was like going to food heaven 7 times in one hour. It was a Joy of Food experience and for sure, you will end happy and full in any of Allegro Restaurant's Themed Dinners. I have my favorites but for I am quite confident that you can find yours too.

Which theme makes you hungry the most? Hit me up with some comments. ;)

There has been a lot of new restaurant openings in Cebu lately that is making the local food scene more vibrant and competitive. A lot of restaurants in Cebu have been offering new items to entice Cebuanos while old favorites also innovate to try to keep up with the changing preferences of the market. When I eat at a new restaurant, I always look for something different and unique that each place has to offer. At Rustic Chef's Favorites, I found a couple things that I would love to eat again if ever end up in the Lapu-Lapu City area.

Rustic Chef's Favorites

I rarely go to Lapu-Lapu City. I probably to go to that island if family and friends decide to go to the beach or have an island hopping escapade. My other reasons to go to the island is to shop at The Outlets at Pueblo Verde or check out some real estate projects. When it comes to food, my favorites here would be goat dishes (from a favorite Kandingan), Asian dishes (Oriental Spice Gourmet), lechon manok (it's really cheap here), and maybe, Sutukil.

I have not fully explored all the gastronomic possibilities in this resort city. When the owner of Rustic Chef's Favorite invited me to eat at the newly opened eatery, I was a bit hesitant because the area is a bit notorious for its traffic situation. I checked their FB page and I saw some interesting dishes which made me a bit curious about the place.

So, I recruited a couple of blogger friends to sample some of their specialties. Three people said yes and we were off to Lapu-Lapu on one Saturday. Rustic Chef's Favorites is located at Maximo Patalinghug Avenue, Lapu-Lapu City. It is just a few hundred meters away from the Old Mactan Bridge.

The Food at Rustic Chef's Favorites

The restaurant is a few meters before you reach The Outlets by Pueblo Verde when you are coming from mainland Cebu. It was a good thing that there was a parking space available right in front of Rustic Chef's Favorites when we went there. I think parking could be an issue if more people discover this place especially at lunch time. We were served with many of their featured dishes. Here are the dishes that we tried:

Mermaid N' Mango (Fish Fillet with Mango Bits)

This is their version of McDo's Fish and Fries but they have a sweet twist. They put mango bits on the fried Parrot fish fillet. To be honest, it was a refreshing twist to breaded fish fillet. The mangoes give the fish some sweetness and acidity. It was a pretty balanced dish and it is perfect for the lenten season. It is also my recommendation for weight watchers who eat here because this place has a lot of tempting pork dishes.

Pork Lauya

For soup, we had their Pork Lauya. It was my first time to encounter such dish. The staff said that it is an Illongo favorite. My companions like Sean and Ramzy said that they have tried Lauya before in their provinces. I love the soup. For 78 pesos, Rustic Chef's Favorites serves a mini-"caldero" of their glorious Pork Lauya. This dish is definitely a winner for me.

Muddy Earthling's Roasted Pork Belly

I find their dish names funny but I totally get it. Rustic Chef's Favorites' Roasted Pork Belly is sold at 250 per half a kilo. The one in the picture is a whole kilo. Their lechon is well-seasoned and I recommend this dish for groups. Kath and the other bloggers loved the atsara (papaya salad) that was served with it.

Dungeon Bamboo Spit Fowl Roasted Chicken

They say that their chicken undergoes "laming" before it is roasted. Laming is the traditional way of preparing chicken, where the fowl undergoes some kind of fasting before it is slaughtered. Locals say that it is a way of making chicken more delicious. Well at 185 pesos, I think they priced it right. Roast Chicken is a good alternative to the lechon but I will probably pick the lechon over this 4 out of 5 times.

Rustic Grilled Pork Ribs

The staff said that this is their best seller. I am not surprised especially when I found that it was sold at 95 pesos. A lot of people love grilled ribs and many order those that are being sold around twice the price and end up not finishing it all. Having a smaller serving of ribs could allow people to order other dishes like their lauya which would perfectly complement this all-time favorite.

Rustic Atay Diablo Spicy Stir-Fried Pork Liver

I really looked forward to eating this dish. It reminded a lot of my mom because she used to love pork liver so much. Some say my birthmark near my right eye is pork liver. Even if I was kinda full already after eating a lot of viands, I still managed to finish a couple of slices of this offal dish. When I go back to Rustic Chef's Favorites, most likely, I will just order this and the Pork Lauya plus extra rice. I really want to give this dish more attention next time.

Mango Crepe with Ube Ice Cream

We really had a belly-busting meal and eating something sweet was a great ending. We each had a mango crepe with ice cream. It was a good ending to a feast.

Rustic Chef's Favorites Menu

This new restaurant in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu has a lot of interesting food to offer. Their pricing is perfectly slotted in between karenderias and fancy restaurants. They are actually an excellent alternative to fast food. You could have a grilled rib meal here instead of getting a one piece chicken in a fast food outlet. They are definitely offering something different, hopefully, people living or working nearby will at least give this place a try.

If you have eaten here, what do you think about it? What's your take on their food? Hit me up with your comments and let's talk about comfort food.

Name of Restaurant: Rustic Chef's Favorite

Contact Number: +63 32 4935139

Website: www.rustic-chefs.com

Instagram: @rusticchefs

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/rusticchefsfavorites

Puso Bistro and Bar, Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu, Quest Hotel, Hotel Buffets in Cebu, Eat All you can cebu, Mia Singson-Leon, Spanish Night, Cochnillo, Lengua, Fabada, Callos, Cebu Food Blog

Puso Bistro and Bar at Quest Hotel is taking their dinner buffet up a notch by bringing in some of the most beloved Spanish dishes to the buffet table. The Spanish dinner buffet dubbed as "Conquistadores Explore the Taste of Spain" is served every Tuesday and Friday of March 2017. You can enjoy Spanish favorites like Paella, Cochinillo, Callos, and Lengua along with other Puso Bistro and Bar buffet favorites like sashimi, flavored puso, yema, halo-halo, and barbecue for 850 net per person.

Conquistadores Explore the Taste of Spain

I am an Olano. Most probably someone among my ancestors came from the Basque region of Spain. Maybe it is my ancestry that is causing me to love Spanish dishes especially the offal ones. I like eating dishes that feature animal innards like local dishes paklay and dinuguan. Well, the Spaniards also love to cook these weird parts. My favorite Callos is made of ox tripe and Lengua Estofado is made of ox tongue. When Quest Hotel announced that they have a Spanish Dinner Buffet at Puso Bistro and Bar, my inner conquistador got so excited.

Aside from usual favorites, here some of the other dishes that one can taste during the Spanish nights at Puso Bistro and Bar:

Cochinillo or Suckling Pig

This is basically like our lechon but they used a suckling pig instead of a full-grown pig. This is actually also called lechon in other Spanish colonies. Lechon is derived from the word leche which means mother's milk. In the Philippines though, lechon refers to all kinds of roasted pig. The meat of the cochinillo is really tender and the skin is crispy. If you enjoy lechon, most likely, you will love this one as well.

Paella

From the Spanish colonies, we now go to Valencia and have some Paella. Paella comes from the Old French word paelle which means pan. This delicious and colorful rice dish is cooked and served in a paellera. It is a meal on its own because it has meat ingredients and the most popular paella feature different kinds of seafood. Puso Bistro and Bar has a big paellera during their Spanish nights. Dine there on Tuesdays or Fridays of this month to feast on paella with other Spanish offerings.

Cabrales Roast Beef A La Pobre

This is basically a Roasted Whole Chuck Eye with Cabrales (Blue Cheese) and smothered onions. When I go to an all-you-can-eat buffet, I usually check the carving station to judge the whole spread. I always give a lot of plus points to any restaurant that offers a high-quality roast beef. Quest Hotel definitely had me at Roast Beef!

Fabada

This soup reminded me of Mayor Tommy Osmena of Cebu. He served us Fabada a couple of years ago when we had dinner at his house. Check out this blog post. It is a stew made of white beans or frijolis blancos (Hi +Hannah Frej !), pork, chorizo, and saffron. It is a great starter although you have to take it slow because this soup can you make you feel full easily.

Other Dishes at Quest Hotel's Tuesday and Friday Spanish Buffet

Aside from these special dishes they also serve tapas and other Spanish favorites. The nice thing about their Tuesday/Friday buffet is that Puso Bistro and Bar also serves many of their regular favorites. Check out my video to see the other dishes and stations.

For appetizers, the Japanese station offers some delicious sushi and sashimi. They also have cheese and cold cuts. For the Spanish night, they also serve some special cheeses from Europe like Idiazabal (From Basque made from unpasteurized sheep's milk), Asiago (From Italy made from aged cow's milk), and Roquefort (Blue cheese from South France).

For additional main courses, they have a wide array of Filipino dishes as well as their signature flavored puso (hanging rice). They also have a noodle station, grilling station, and teppanyaki station.

To cap a fine meal, they have a well-stocked dessert station featuring assorted cakes and desserts including Spanish-inspired ones like Churros. They also have a halo-halo station and an area serving Filipino delicacies like my favorite yema.

Kalami Cebu's Conquistadores Experience

Plato Uno: Spanish Favorites

My first plate is filled with Spanish dishes. You might ask why I went for the main course first. Well, I went there for the Spanish night. I wanted to have the first crack of their Spanish specialties. If it sucked then the other dishes would not matter. Well, it did not suck. In fact, it was superb. I have a plate filled with paella, lengua, callos, cochnillo, and the roast beef plus a serving of fabada. It was a heavy first plate but it was one big party in my mouth. I easily finished this first plate with my appetite intact.

Plato Dos: Japanese

Normally this plate would have been my appetizer. +Ramzy Magbitang and I shared this plate. We took a lot of pictures of this one so that we can PM it to our sushi-loving friends especially +Katherine Anne Cutar. It was also an easy plate to finish.

Plato Tres: European Appetizers

I took some tapas like the almondigas (meatballs) and bruschetta. I also got some of the special cheeses for the night and some cold cuts. I started heavy then I went light which is kind of weird but I was really enjoying my dinner.

Plato Cuatro: Pinoy Barbecue

I have to pay homage to my Filipino roots. I got some barbecue. I had pork, gizzard, and liver. I was amazed that they have offal offerings in their barbecue station. These are my street food favorites and I am enjoying it at the comforts of Quest Hotel's Puso Bistro and Bar. For this alone, I can say Hail to the Chef! It is just pure genius.

Plato Cinco: Desserts

I tasted a lot of flavorful dishes that night and I have to balance everything with something sweet. I took small bowl then I got a scoop of strawberry and mango ice cream then took 3 yemas then topped it with a marshmallow dipped in chocolate. Burp!

I ate five platefuls in two hours. It was spectacular and I would love my readers to try it. If you have an appetite like a Spanish Conquistador, I am pretty sure that your 850 pesos will feel like a bargain. The selection is excellent and the quality of dishes is outstanding.

Before I conclude this mouthwatering post, I would like to congratulate Miss Mia Singson-Leon on her appointment as the new General Manager of Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu. All I can say is that I Came, I Ate, and I Conquered!!! Viva Espana!!!!

Puso Bistro and Bar is located at the ground floor of Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu. For inquiries and reservations, please call 032-4025999 0r 032-230-5888.

Kalaminions, #MeetEatRepeat, Manggahan, Johanna Frejoles, Sean Soliven, Glenn Abucay, Emelie Anggoy, Romeo Bonsocan, Cebu Blogging Community, #hibsters,

I finally got to meet Bisaya Youtuber Glenn Abucay. Apparently, blogger friend +Hannah Frej is a big fan of his and they collaborated to make a video a week before with the trekkers of NCR. This time the young Cebuano Youtube sensation shared a meal with the Kalaminions at Manggahan.

Kalaminions of the Week

No. I was not third-wheeling on this #MeetEatRepeat episode. There were actually six of us and we just came off of a food tasting event next door. The ladies (including +Rome Nicolas ) were still hungry so we decided to have another dinner at Manggahan. So, it looked like more of a triple date.

Johanna Frejoles of Bean in Transit was paired with Glenn (Check out his Youtube Channel). Sean Soliven of His Hidden Letters was also with us with his "date" Emelie Anggoy of Emelie Empire. My partner for this triple date then was Romeo Nicolas of Basta Bisaya. It was a bit awkward but it was a fun night as I remembered. As always, the Kalaminions were the noisiest bunch in the restaurant.

Here is a brief background about each one of them:

Hannah just renamed her blog to Bean in Transit to reflect her aspirations to go global. She is an accomplished travel blogger and one of the best and cutest Virtual Assistants that you can have.

Glenn is an up and coming Youtube content creator. I am a big fan of his humor but I think Hannah is the biggest fan of his among the #Hibsters. He is a graduating student at the University of San Carlos taking up Marketing.

Sean is a new member of the Cebu Blogging Community. He works in an IT company. He is single and ready to mingle.

Emelie is also a new member of the Cebu Blogging Community. She works in an IT company as well and she is active with GDG Cebu. She is also single but she is a bit picky when it comes to guys.

Romeo is a Bisaya pride advocate. He is one of the best Bisaya language writers of his generation. He is dating someone right now and he loves to join organizations.

Check out and subscribe to their blogs, vlogs, and social media pages to see what these good-looking Kalaminions are up to.

Manggahan Dinner

Since we were partially full, we did not order much. I think that second dinner was just a ploy by Hannah, Sean, and even Romeo to hang out a bit more with Glenn, Emelie and me. So, here are the dishes that we had at Manggahan:

Nilarang

This Hot and Sour soup is really popular in Cebu. It is like our version of sinigang but with a little kick. Larang is a fish soup and Manggahan has a good version of it.

Dinuguan

Dinuguan is a blood stew made of pig's or chicken's blood. It is usually my favorite 2nd dish when I eat lechon. It's typically sour and spicy. It also has meat and innards in it. I have been eating this dish since childhood and I will always eat this offal dish when I get the chance.

Pinakbet

Glenn actually is a vegetarian so we ordered Pinakbet. I love vegetable dishes and I am glad that we ordered this. I always feel that I am not eating enough veggies when I moved back here in Cebu. I actually love to encourage more restaurants to have a decent vegetable dish in their menu.

Pork Barbecue

The nice thing about the barbecue here at Manggahasn is that it is really cheap. You can actually have a filling meal here for less than 100 pesos.

It was an enjoyable night with this bunch and I am looking forward to more food trips with them in the future. I hope you can join us next time.

Manggahan is located at Wilson Street Lahug, Cebu City. They also have a branch in The Outlets at Pueblo Verde in Mactan.

Cebu Favorite Filipino restaurant brand Golden Cowrie opens an Ayala Center Cebu branch of its newest brand, the Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen. At the Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen, diners can enjoy many of their classic dishes as well as the new favorites like Pocherong Bungkag and Pinaupong Manok.

Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen

Deeply rooted in the heart and culture of every Cebuano, Golden Cowrie has become an institution for bringing generations of diners together for 35 years. With already 30 branches nationwide, it adds Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen at the Garden Area of Ayala Center Cebu to its growing family.

The premium brand under the Cebu Golden Restaurant Inc. portfolio, the restaurant celebrates culinary creativity and highlights dishes that are made in the heart of the home. Its menu features classic recipes to pay homage to the heritage of Philippine cuisine and new flavors to explore its potential.

“At Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen, one savors both traditional and refreshingly Filipino flavors. It offers the same taste of tradition that families keep coming back for while offering a glimpse of where and how far local cuisine can go in terms of modern execution and play of flavors,” director for product development Kristine De La Riva-Kokseng explains.

Bringing Cebuano and Filipino Cuisine to another level

At the launch of the new restaurant, I tasted many of their featured dishes and I was impressed. I tasted familiar dishes and flavors but with an added twist or two. Here are the dishes that I tried and my thoughts about each one of them:

Pomelo Salad
Pomelo and singkamas tossed in calamansi dressing topped with crunchy dried squid

We started our meal with a pomelo salad that had singkamas and dried squid. This was an excellent starter. It was mouthwatering because of the pomelo and calamansi dressing. The variety of textures were a joy in the mouth. The singkamas was crunchy and the fried squid added another dimension to it. Flavors were great.

Cab-Cab with Bangus Pate
Crispy fried cassava cracker with smoked bangus pate on the side

This was an interesting combination. When I was a kid growing up in Bohol, I enjoy eating cab-cab with latik or black sugar sauce. It was usually eaten as a snack or dessert. Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen went bold by making this an appetizer and pairing with a smoky bangus pate. To be honest, I would love the cab-cab with something like ice cream. I even quipped that this cassava goodie would make a perfect cone for an ice cream. But using it as a cracker for a pate was also a genius idea and I liked it too. I almost cannot stop eating the cab-cab with the smoky milkfish pate when it was served.

Cucumber and Green Mango Agua Fresca
Refreshingly detoxifying blend of cucumber and green mango drink

Cucumber and green mango makes an awesome juice/shake combo. It was refreshing and truly perfect for summer.

Sizzling Chicharon and Red Egg
A crunchy and savory combination of chicharon and salty egg (itlog maalat) with a bit of spice

This dish would remind me of sisig but with a crazy twist. I really thought it was sisig. This dish was made of chicharon (crispy pork skin) and salted egg. Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen once again played with contrasting different textures. The salted egg was creamy while the chicharon was crunchy. Flavor-wise it had a great spicy kick. This dish would be great with beer and/or garlic rice.

Pinaugang Balbacua
Oxtail braised in aromatics and served in thick flavorful sauce - not the soupy balbacua you know

If I make a list of my top 5 Cebuano dishes, I would definitely put balbacua in there. The calorie-packed soup made of oxtail is just sinfully good. Well, Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen made an interesting version of it. Instead of soup, they served a balbacua with a super reduced sauce. For me, it was closer to kare-kare than the balbacua that I have grown up eating. The meat, fat, and skin were tender and the usual flavors were there but I still associate more with the tagalog kare-kare than the proud bisaya balbacua.

Zarzuela de Mariscos
Seafood cooked in light tomato sauce, olive oil, tomatoes and coco wine

I love seafood. The zarzuela de mariscos is solid. I really enjoyed eating the octopus tentacles. It was perfectly cooked and I wanted it all for myself.

Tahong in Coconut Milk
Imported mussels cooked in coconut milk

I enjoyed this one as well especially the sauce. It was the type of sauce that I would pour over hot white rice. It was rich and its spiciness was distinct.

Vegetarian Humba
A vegetarian version of the classic pork dish

It so happened that I was seated with a pescatarian friend and she was really happy that Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen has a lot of options for those who do not eat meat. This version of the Cebuano dish has the sweet-salty sauce of the humba. It had eggs, tofu, and mushrooms. It's another interesting invention by the Golden Cowrie group. It reminded me of their vegetarian Dinuguan that made me a big fan of their non-meat inventions.

Pinaupong Manok
Bathed in hot oil, cooked in salt, and other secret spices

This was my "Dish of the Day!". Not only it was photogenic, the fried chicken was awesome. The meat was juicy and the skin was crispy. The pinaupong manok was savory and it reminded me of celebrations in the past when fried chicken was a big treat to us. Fried Chicken has been fairly common nowadays and this generation can practically eat every day. When I was growing up, it was a special dish. This dish reminded me of that time when fried chicken was your favorite because it was what you eat on joyous occasions. I would definitely be ordering this one when I go back here.

Halo-Halomazing
A classic Filipino dessert with mixtures of shaved ice, milk, fruits, gulaman, and sago. Perfect for the summer heat

A meal will not be complete without something sweet. We started with sour then we had something salty, spicy, and savory. To cap everything is the sweet and cold Halo-Halomazing. The ice was so fine and the serving size was perfect.

All in all, it was a great meal. I tasted a lot of new dishes which made me curious about what else is on their menu. I will be back maybe even several times this summer since my mom and many relatives are coming home from abroad. Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen is definitely one of the best Filipino Restaurants in Cebu. Check it out and let me know what you think about their dishes but giving us a comment.

Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen is located at the Garden Area of the 4th Level of Ayala Center Cebu New Wing. It is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Visit www.alwaysafeast.ph for more information and contact 0995-4292561 for reservations. Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen is operated by the Cebu Golden Restaurant group. In Cebu, Golden Cowrie is located at Salinas Drive Lahug, Marina Mall and along A.S. Fortuna. Hukad sa Golden Cowrie, its mall-based brand, has branches in SM City Cebu, Robinson’s Cybergate, The Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu, Parkmall, South Town Centre, and SM Seaside City. Nationwide, Golden Cowrie and Hukad branches are found in Bacolod, Bacoor, Butuan City, Bohol, Boracay, Cotabato, Davao, Digos, Dumaguete, General Santos City, Ilo-ilo, Pagadian, Ozamiz City, Tacloban, Tagum and Zamboanga with a Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen at S Maison, MOA Complex.

#RefreshinglyFilipino #AlwaysaFeast

Tim Ho Wan, Tim Ho Wan Cebu, Chinese Restaurant in Cebu, Dim Sum, Baked Bun with BBQ Pork, Beancurd Skin with Pork and Shrimp, Hong Kong cuisine, Restaurants in SM Seaside City, Cebu Food Blog, Cebu Food Blogger

Today is March 25, 2017, and if you are a Cebuano foodie then the most important event today would be the opening of Tim Ho Wan at the Upper Ground Level, Mountain Wing of SM Seaside City Cebu. It is the restaurant's 7th branch in the Philippines and the first ever outside Metro Manila. Cebuanos can now enjoy the famous Baked Bun with BBQ Pork that helped Tim Ho Wan (Mongkok, Hong Kong) earn the coveted star in the 2010 HK and Macau Michelin Guide.

What to expect at Tim Ho Wan Cebu

They call it an affordable luxury because Tim Ho Wan is considered to be "the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant in the world". Tim Ho Wan means "additional good luck" in Cantonese. The restaurant's brand philosophy is anchored on dim sum perfection in every detail. So, you can expect dim sum dishes at its best in terms of taste, quality, and value.

The mother company is so strict with their recipes that this branch has 2 Hong Kong chefs leading the kitchen. Most of their carefully selected ingredients are imported. They make sure that every order must pass Tim Ho Wan's high standards.

Must-Try Dishes at Tim Ho Wan Cebu

If you look at their menu, there are some many items that you will probably want to eat. You can never go wrong with any one of them but let us start with their specialties that they call the Four Heavenly Kings:

Baked Bun with BBQ Pork

For Cebuanos, we might associate this famous dish with meat roll. It is a baked bread bun with a succulent sweet-salty BBQ Pork filling. Their filling is very yummy and moist. The baked bun can beat any siopao or meat roll out there. It is sold at 145 pesos for an order of 3 pieces. The Baked Bun with BBQ Pork is one phenomenal dish. This is definitely the type of dish that can build a restaurant empire.

Beancurd Skin with Pork and Shrimp

This one looks like a soggy version of spring roll or lumpia shanghai but once you taste it, you will realize this is a more flavorful version of lumpia. I really enjoyed eating this and I think I finished at least 3 pieces during the press launch. This is an instant favorite for me aside from the baked buns.

Pan Fried Radish Cake

This one is a popular dish in dim sum restaurants and Tim Ho Wan Cebu has one solid version of this.

Steamed Egg Cake

This is like a brown colored mamon that is easy and enjoyable to eat.

The restaurant has around 30 other dishes and they have no dish that is priced above 200 pesos which make Tim Ho Wan very competitive with local Chinese and dim sum establishments. Here are some of the other dishes that I tried.

Pork Dumpling with Shrimp

Their siomai is packed and meaty. It will probably do a #siomaiwar involving this against the siomai of local dim sum places.

Prawn Dumpling

The hakao is well-made. The skin does not break off easily when using a chopstick and it does stick to the bottom of the serving dish which normally happens in other dim sum places. Probably the best prawn dumplings that I have ever encountered.

Wasabi Salad and Prawn Dumpling

Interesting flavors and I loved it. I could munch on these any time of the day.

Vermicelli Roll with Shrimp

It is like a bigger version of the hakao. You can also have a vermicelli roll with BBQ Pork and with Sweet and Sesame Sauce.

Braised Soup HK Style with Shredded Chicken and Mushroom

I would say this is a feel good soup. This is the soup that I would sip if I feel under the weather. Pretty refreshing and if you add enough black vinegar it will surely wake up your palate. This is a good soup to start a meal here.

Rice with Chicken, Sausage, and Mushroom

This is a good rice topping dish. It would not beat the steamed rice that Cebuanos are used to but the rice topping line-up at Tim Ho Wan will surely give you filling a lunch option especially when you order a dim sum specialty with it.

Glutinous Rice with Lotus Leaves

This is locally known as Machang and this is the heaviest among their items. I normally cannot finish one serving of this and this is good to share. I think they use their signature BBQ Pork as filling with some mushrooms. The lotus leaf gives this dish a unique aroma. I like it but I do not usually order this one because it makes me full very easily.

Kalami Cebu Verdict

Definitely, the meal was a two thumbs up for me. I will be back to taste their other dishes. I will also try to go back this week (March 25-31, 2017) because I want to avail of their opening promo where you get free Baked Buns with BBQ Pork with a minimum purchase of 500 pesos. This reward is only for the first 100 guests daily. See yah at the lines!!!!

Have you tried Tim Ho Wan Cebu? If yes, hit me up with a comment and tell us what you think about this newly opened Chinese restaurant in Cebu.

The Abalone Restaurant, JPark Island Resort and Waterpark, The Abalone at Jpark Island, Eat all you can restaurants in Cebu, Hotel Buffets in Cebu, Cebu Resorts, Cebu Food Blogger, Cebu Food Blog, Cebu Food Guide

Last weekend, our friends from JPark Island Resort and Waterpark invited several bloggers to check out their world-class amenities and food and beverage outlets. JPark Island Resort and Waterpark is a pretty impressive resort hotel and for me, the highlight of the activity was definitely the lunch at The Abalone Restaurant. The lunch buffet reminded me that the resort hotel has one of the best eat-all-you-can buffets in Cebu.

Lunch at The Abalone at JPark Island Resort and Waterpark

I am a food blogger and when I visit a resort or a hotel, I always look forward to their food offerings. For me, resort hotels serve as the gateway to a fantastic vacation in any locality. If these hotels would not give a visitor a fantastic experience, most likely the experience outside the hotel will not be good as well. I always check the food because if the food makes you happy then most likely you are going to have a grand time in the resort.

First Impressions

It was not my first time to eat at The Abalone and based on my past dining experience there, I always enjoy the buffet here. I checked out their lunch selection and it was amazing. I was sure that I will not be able to visit all stations because they were preparing so many dishes from different cuisines.

After scouting what they have, I picked my favorite spots. For sure, I wanted to get some sushi and sashimi. I also wanted to have some noodles. Their grilled station was so tempting and if you ever eat here, you better be prepared for a grilled meat and seafood party. I basically knew what to do already. So here is what I ate for lunch there.

Kalami Cebu Lunch Buffet at The Abalone

My objective was to try as much dishes but not overstuff myself. You cannot be too full because JPark is for the active people. There are so many things that you can do here. You can go swimming, ride the go-cart, play mini-golf, test your chess-playing ability, go tubing or challenge yourself with their waterslides and watersports facilities. In the end, I had platefuls of some of their best dishes and I had a massive dose of #happytummy.

1st Set: Handmade Noodle Soup with Assorted Dumplings

I started my meal with a classic combination of noodles and dumplings. I had no intentions of eating rice so I went for noodles. The nicest thing about their noodle station is that you can decide what noodles and what toppings will you put (see video above) on your noodle soup. I picked some handmade noodles then I put bean sprouts, chicken meat, shrimps, onions, and mushrooms on it. When it was ready, I topped it with some kimchi, sprinkled it with toasted garlic and green onions, and then finished it Japanese chili. For the dumplings, I had a sampler. I basically got one of each kind.

How did it taste? I really loved it. Next time I will go here I will probably do a spicy noodle challenge and post it on Youtube. Indeed, it was a classic combo and it was a perfect start for a long meal. It was not too filling and the spicy soup was effective in opening up my palate.

2nd Set: Pizza vs. Sushi

Weeks ago, my friends from the Cebu Blogging Community had a debate over pizza or sushi. Since a couple of my #TeamSushi friends were there, I made sure that my second plate will be an homage to two of the most iconic dishes in the world. At The Abalone at JPark Island Resort and Waterpark, you can have both sushi and pizza on the same plate.

I enjoyed this plate a lot and I finished it easily. The pizza was great and the size of the slices was just right for a buffet. The Japanese rice rolls were pretty spot on as well. Good thing that the pizza did not have pineapples because it would have been another food debate with my buddies.

3rd Set: Surf and Turf

When I went inside The Abalone, I knew right there and then that my favorite station would be the grilled station. I made sure that I allocate one of my plates to this magical station. The smell of freshly grilled meat and seafood was just too hard to resist. I ended up getting several slices of beef tenderloin and then paired it with some seafood. I call this plate Kalami Cebu's Surf and Turf.

If you are going to eat here at The Abalone at JPark Island Resort and Waterpark, then you should make your own version of Surf and Turf like what I did. It was my best plate for the day and I could probably just spend the whole two hours on that station if I were there just to eat.

4th Set: Ice Cream with Cashew and Marshmallows

After 3 heavy plates, it was time for me to ease up and eat some desserts. I decided to just get 3 scoops of Ice Cream: strawberry, vanilla, and mango. I then topped it with some marshmallows and cashew nuts.

The dessert was heavenly. It has been a while since I had ice cream and what I made was a joy to eat. The cashew is one of my favorite nuts and the mallows added a different kind of texture. I would surely love to replicate this one when I go to other dessert stations in the future.

5th Set: Coffee and Cookies

To end my meal, I took 3 kinds of cookies and brewed coffee. I just felt the need to end my buffet adventure with something hot like coffee. The cookies were just a perfect match to it. It was such a mild ending for such a sublime experience.

In the end, I will always associate JPark Island Resort and Waterpark with one of the best buffets in Mactan. We always boast that the Philippines is paradise but your paradise experience will never be complete without wonderful food. The Abalone breakfast, lunch, or dinner buffet will surely round out your memorable stay at JPark Island Resort and Waterpark. They truly deserve this Kalami Cebu seal of approval.

For bookings and inquiries, you may call +63-32-4945000. Rates: Breakfast - Php 1250 nett, Lunch - Php 1530 and Dinner - Php 1950.

isaw, isaw babol, tol!, offal, pork intestines, Mang Larry's Isawan, UP Diliman, Kalayaan Residence Hall

I was looking at my old videos and I stumbled upon this song by Baihana titled "Isawan". Listening to the song took me back to my freshman year in college when I first discovered isaw. One of the most popular isawan in UP Diliman then was just a few steps away from the Freshman Dorm (Kalayaan Residence Hall). I fell in love with isaw ever since my early days of college. When I moved to Cebu, I cannot seem to find a barbecue stall selling this sinfully good offal dish. Recently, I discovered that there is a restaurant near our house that is selling isaw.

For the Love of Isaw

isaw, isaw babol, tol!, offal, pork intestines, Mang Larry's Isawan, UP Diliman, Kalayaan Residence Hall, Kalami Cebu, Carlo Andrew Olano, Cebu Food Blogger

Isaw is a street food made with pork and chicken intestines. While the chicken version is fairly common in Cebu, I cannot seem to find the pork version being sold in the streets. I do not why nobody sells it here but I think one reason is that Cebuanos might have better ways of cooking the pig's intestines. Still, there are times that I craved for isaw baboy.

The year was 1993 when I first encountered this dish. Even way back when I was a little boy, I have always been adventurous with food. When my newfound friends invited me for isaw, I immediately said yes even if I do not know what it meant.

Just a few steps away from Kalayaan Residence Hall, there was Mang Larry's Isawan that opens around 5:30 pm every day. They were selling isaw baboy, isaw manok, tenga (ears), balun-balunan (gizzard), atay (liver) and other interesting animal parts. I liked it immediately the first time I tasted it but coming from Cebu, I was puzzled why they do not offer puso (hanging rice). The people were treating it like it was fishball. Once the barbecue is cooked we either dip it in a spicy vinegar jar or the sweet sauce jar or both. It was fun but I would have wanted it with rice.

Over the months and years, I got accustomed to eating isaw without rice. Even after college, I still visit Mang Larry's from time to time.

The Search for Isaw

I moved back to Cebu a decade ago. I am really happy with the food here. In fact, I have become a food blogger. Isaw is actually far from my mind until somebody reminds me of college. Once food intersects with college memories then I remember isaw. Isaw is definitely on the top of my lift of that food I missed from school. Another one would probably be the Tapsilog from Rodic's.

I tried looking for isaw in Cebu and I cannot seem to find some stall with pork intestines barbecue. The closest thing that I've got was when we ate last year at Yakimix where they have pork intestines in their Yakiniku selection. I practically cooked isaw in their grill.

I normally sneak a trip to UP just to eat my old time favorites when I visit Manila. The last time I ate at Mang Larry's was December last year when I went to Manila with my fellow Bisaya Youtubers. I did not know the Mang Larry's have moved to the Parish/International Center area. I went to the old spot but it was gone good thing Google told where it relocated. After having my fill, I thought that it will take me another year to eat isaw. Good thing, I was wrong.

Quest Complete

Last weekend, my blogger friends from The Lifeaholics invited me to sample the food of Tol!. I said yes because the restaurant was just a 3-minute drive from our house. Well, Tol! specializes in goat dishes but they have so many offal dishes and pulutan. When I checked their barbecue line-up, I was pleasantly surprised to see an all-time favorite there. They have Isaw Baboy!

I immediately ordered for our group. It was served with vinegar and is sold at 25 pesos a piece. It is a bit expensive but it is cheap to satisfy a craving. I am happy that I have the place to go to cure all those isaw cravings. I now can enjoy it with some ice cold beer and most of all with RICE.

Tol! is located at F. Cabahug Street, Cebu City beside Rainforest Park. It is open 24 hours a day.

Is there a food that you are looking for in Cebu? Hit me up with a comment and maybe I can help you find it. ;)

Zomato, Zomato Cebu, Zomato Review, Top Reviewer in Zomato Cebu, Cebu Top Food Blog, Kalami Cebu, Cebu Food Blogger

I have been doing reviews at Zomato.Com in the past year. I was surprised that last week I became the top reviewer for Cebu on this restaurant review app. Kalami Cebu has been active at Zomato and for me, this app is very helpful in helping you find out the best places to eat here in Cebu, in Manila and other key cities in the world. I hope you download the app and check it out.

Why Download Zomato?

Zomato is defined as a restaurant search and discovery service. It helps people find the best restaurants nearby. In Cebu, it has listed most of the restaurants with their numbers, locations, and other details. If you are a foodie or food blogger, this app will really help you locate old and new food establishments.

Once you have the Zomato app on your phones, you can now put your own restaurant ratings and reviews. The more reviews you make, the better your reputation on the app will be. Your ratings are collected to help others decide where to eat on their next dining adventure.

How Can Zomato Help Restaurants?

The app is not only for diners. Zomato can help food entrepreneurs several ways.

First, the app will help to raise awareness about a restaurant's existence. It is a directory and businesses should make sure that they are in every relevant directory. If you own a restaurant, you have to be in Zomato.

The second way that Zomato can help is in the promotion. Zomato collates lists like they make a listicle on what is newly opened. Many members would like to check out what are the best new places and if you are on the list then there is a big chance that people will check your place out. There are many members who are from out of town and when they land in a new city, they would check Zomato for dining suggestions. Zomato also works with bloggers who can help promote your establishment and food.

Third, Zomato helps in customer feedback. The app allows reviews and comments which are essential for restaurant owners who seek to improve what they offer.

These are just 3 benefits for restaurants and there could better reasons to list your business with Zomato.

Zomato, Zomato Cebu, Zomato Review, Top Reviewer in Zomato Cebu, Cebu Top Food Blog, Kalami Cebu, Cebu Food Blogger, kalami cebu

Kalami Cebu as Top Reviewer for Cebu

Well, I started doing reviews at Zomato just for fun. I eat out a lot and I usually take a lot of time before I publish a blog post. As one of my short cuts, I write a review in Zomato. It is also one way for me to be reminded of my recent dining experience in a restaurant.

I also make reviews to help out the industry that has been so good to me. I have met a lot of people with the local restaurant industry and had tons of free food. Making a Zomato review is way paying them back with their generosity. I would also love to encourage more people to patronize the industry.

The food and beverage industry has provided a lot of jobs to people and it is an integral part of a successful tourism program. I really hope that Cebu's restaurant scene will continue to vibrant and I really want to encourage more people to do reviews in sites like Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, and Facebook. A little review and feedback could really go a long long way in helping people in the industry.

Suroy Surigao, Surigao City, Kalami Surigao, Surigao City Tourism Office, Sea Grapes, Roselyn Merlin, Sayongsong, Spider Shells, Bibingka, Le Chard Place, Philippine Food Blog

A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be one of the travel bloggers and writers to be invited to visit Surigao City. To be honest, I do not know much about this city in Mindanao. In fact, it was my first time to visit Mindanao. Well, after three days, I found out that I have been missing a lot all these years. I "tasted" Surigao and I would love to go back there very soon. Here are some of the best dishes that I have tried during the Suroy Surigao Tour:

Kalami Cebu's Best Dishes of Suroy Surigao

I already knew that this trip will not just be about the best tourist destinations in the city, the moment we arrived in Surigao. The first thing we did was eat. In my 3 days there, I would say that I was never ever hungry. The people from the Surigao City Tourism Office prepared an awesome itinerary that never took our bellies for granted. It was such an amazing culinary journey that I have to make this list of favorite food memories of Suroy Surigao.

No. 17 Nilung-ag na Saba na Saging (Boiled Bananas)

The saba has been a staple when I go to the beach with my family in Bohol. I like dipping it into "una^" or the sauce from the ginamos (fermented fish). It was a pleasant surprise seeing and eating some boiled bananas during our lunch at Pagkawasan Beach in Hikdop Island.

No.16 Boiled Camote (Sweet Potato)

While we were having dinner at Mt. Bagarabon, they served us boiled sweet potatoes for dinner. It was perfectly cooked and it was already peeled. Camote is such a great substitute for rice.

No.15 Biko

This classic sticky rice cake is solid as a dessert or snacks. I had this at Mt. Bagarabon Resort and also upon our arrival in Barangay Buenavista in Hikdop Island. The biko gave me enough energy to survive my first ever cave exploration (more on that in a future post).

No. 14 Korean Beef (Kalbi Jjim)

On Day 2, we had dinner at Almont Resort and I really enjoyed their Kalbi Jjim. The Korean Beef Short Ribs is a complete main dish that I truly recommend should you visit this beautiful resort in Surigao City.

No.13 Camote Cue

Right before we left for Cebu, Ms. Roselyn Merlin from the Surigao City Tourism Office made sure that we go home with a full stomach. I ended up eating some camote cue. Have you ever enjoyed Camote Cue at the airport? I surely did!

No.12 Silog Breakfast at Le Chard Place

I stayed in Le Chard Place Bed and Breakfast during the Suroy Surigao Tour. My stay there included a free Breakfast. I really did not mind waking up early just to enjoy their silog meals. I had the corned beef on Day 2 then on Day 3, they told me that I can order two so I added a longganisa meal. I always start my Suroy Surigao day with a heavy breakfast thanks to my friends from Le Chard Place.

No.11 Budbud

On Day 3, I enjoyed some budbud or suman while cruising on a raft going to Tinago Island in Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte. The budbud was a perfect pair for the instant coffee because it was raining on our way the beautiful island of Tinago.

No.10 Balanghoy

It has been years since I ate boiled Balanghoy or Cassava. It was a staple in our Suroy Surigao trip. I love eating this root crop while at the beach.

No.9 Kinilaw

Just like any coastal town in the Philippines, Surigao has a lot of seafood dishes. When it comes to fish, one of our favorite types of preparations would definitely be kinilaw. I was served several versions of kinilaw while I was there and they all got a thumbs up from me.

No.8 Dried Squid

The Surigao City Tourism Office (CTO) sent Le Chard Place some dried pusit (squid) that they cook for me for breakfast. It was so fragrant that the other hotel guests wanted to order one. It was fun to eat and I ended up finishing a plateful in Day 2 and 3.

No.7 Lechon

Another dish that was present in our island hopping tours in Day 2 and 3 is the lechon or inasal. For me, inasal or lechon is definitely on top of my list of the best food to bring to the beach. It was perfect with the balanghoy and the seafood dishes of Surigao.

No.6 Escabeche

Surigao has a lot of fish and another good way to prepare fish is to cook escabeche. This saucy fish dish will make you eat a lot of rice. Normally, we use smaller fishes for this dish but their version uses larger ones. Lami Karadjaw!

No. 5 Sinugba (Grilled Fish)

Because of the abundance of fish like Mol-Mol or Parrot Fish, I knew that they will be serving a lot of grilled fish. Grilled fresh fish is simply the best. Our friends from Buenavesta and Tagana-an can prepare some for you if you call them beforehand.

No.4 Bibingka

Another delicacy that I love eating is bibingka. I ate one at the Pebble Beach in Mabua and I ate another on my way to Tinago Island. I always prefer the cupcake-style bibingka. It is same as the bibingka that I have grown up eating in Jagna, Bohol. I normally chose the ones with a burnt crust.

No.3 Saang (Spider Shells)

For me, one of the culinary highlights of the Suroy Surigao trip was the saang or spider shells. Our group had an unlimited saang while we were having lunch at Pagkawasan Beach. The adobo version is a must try. How many spider shells can you finish in one meal?

No.2 Sayongsong

This sticky rice delicacy is a Surigao original. It reminds me of the calamay of Bohol but it is served in banana leaves formed like a cone. Eating it is pure pleasure. When I go back to Surigao, I will definitely buy some for pasalubong.

No.1 Lato (Sea Grapes)

No.1 on my list is lato or sea grapes. This seaweed is often overlooked but it is packed with nutrients and flavor. I find the sea grapes in Surigao as healthier and bigger that what I am used to in Cebu. It has a lighter color as well. When you come to Surigao, you have to try this one.

Honorable Mention: Lobster

While we were in Day-asan Floating Villages, we checked out a lobster farm. Surigao is probably the biggest supplier of fresh lobsters in the country. We were not able to taste it but I am pretty sure that Surigao lobster can make me forget about lechon if served side by side.

I know that Surigao has more dishes to offer. I just had a glimpse and I am pretty excited to come back for more. If you are foodie, I am sure that your tongue and tummy will have a great experience there. It was a Kalami Surigao experience that makes me want to shout "Maradjaw Karadjaw!". Thank you so much for inviting me and I shall return very soon!

Related Posts

batchoy, batchoy cebu, cebu's best batchoy, noodles, #batchoyhouse328, Nezte Virtudazo, Halo Halo, pan de sal, Cebu Food Blogger, Kalami Cebu, Cebu Best Blogs

One of my favorite food trip buddies is Nezte Virtudazo. We have been to countless of food trips in the past couple of years and recently we checked out BatchoyHouse328 and tried out their batchoy with bone marrow and also their halo-halo.

Search for Cebu's Best Batchoy

I am a big fan of batchoy. One of my favorites in Cebu was Carlo's Batchoy in Capitol Site area. Unfortunately, the place closed down recently and I have been looking for a good place to eat batchoy in the Capitol site area.

Batchoy is a noodle soup that has pork innards and pork cracklings. This dish came from Ilo-Ilo specifically in La Paz. It became popular all over the country to the point that a national noodle brand makes an instant version of this Illongo dish.

Aside from the noodles and innards, one of my favorite components of batchoy is its broth. I love sipping the broth, especially after a beer-drinking session. I normally eat batchoy with pan de sal and with egg.

#Batchoyhouse328

A couple friends of mine told me to check out #Batchoyhouse328. This new batchoy place is owned by Vance Borja, the man behind some of the best places to eat in Cebu. I was a big fan of his Uncle Noodles shop in Mango Square.

I wanted to eat there for weeks but it always gets postponed until one day, Nezte picked me up in my house because he wanted to go to a Kalami Cebu Food Trip. Thanks to Google, we were able to locate BatchoyHouse328 easily.

We both ordered Batchoy with BMW or Bone Marrow. The special batchoy is at 65 pesos and you add 15 pesos for a scoop of bone marrow. I also bought some pan de sal.

After our meal, we were able to sample their delicious halo-halo.

Kalami Cebu Review

The batchoy was spot on. The bone marrow made it an instant favorite since I am into offal. I love sipping the broth and the servings were just right. I wanted to have another bowl but their broth was not ready then. I will definitely go back here when I crave for batchoy. The halo-halo was an excellent meal ender. It rounds everything out. The contrast between hot and cold, and savory and sweet, makes it an awesome rollercoaster ride towards a #happytummy.

Nezte and I really had an amazing time. We plan to do more Kalami Cebu Adventures this summer so watch for our future adventures. If you want to come with us, just hit me up with a comment and maybe we can do a food trip together.

#Batchoyhouse328 is open from 3-10 pm and you can call them 032-5149310.

Related Posts:

CNT Lechon, Lechon, Jullian Sibi, Fat Bastard Wines, Cebu Blogging Community, #hibsters, Kalaminions, Cebu food blog,

It has been a while since the #Hibsters leads had a get-together . We finally found a good reason to meet up when Jullian Sibi's family moved in to their new house in Guadalupe. I also wanted to celebrate landing a new job. Here is what we did in our latest Kalaminions #MeetEatRepeat session.

#MeetEatRepeat: New Beginnings

Life is like a book that we moved from one chapter to another. Moving to a new house or a new job brings about new possibilities. Indeed, it is good reason to celebrate. So, what do you want to eat to celebrate a milestone?

In Cebu, it is a no-brainer that we will buy some lechon or inasal during happy times. That weekend was no different. We bought lechon from CNT which moved to a new location in V. Rama Avenue. Their new restaurant looks way better than the previous location and it looks like that they want to be serious contender in the next #LechonWar. We bought a kilo of lechon and some dinuguan (blood stew).

Aside from the meat, we also bought some seafood from a roadside eatery in Andres Abellana. This eatery is where taxi drivers normally flock for lunch or dinner.

I also bought some ngohiong from Carlos Ngohiong.

For drinks, I brought some Fat Bastard Wines and Jullian brought some Ice Tea.

Kalaminions of the Week

There were 7 of us lead by Jullian Sibi of http://www.utterlyrandomtechie.com/. His family just moved in to a beautiful home in Guadalupe. Best buds Kath of http://www.nestedthoughts.com/ and Ramzy of http://ramzyrizzle.blogspot.com/ were there along with fellow CBC leads Rome Bonsocan of http://bastabisaya.com/ and Johannah Frejoles of http://beanintransit.com/. We were joined by Sean Soliven of http://hishiddenletters.com/.

The Meal

It was a feast. The lechon and dinuguan combo was unbeatable. We also had grilled squid and fish along with the ngohiong. I think we will be doing more of these house meet-ups very soon because Jullian was an excellent host and he said we are always welcome to his house.

The Cebu Blogging Community Leads were missing Rea because she was in JPark claiming her prize in the blog contest. Congratulations by the way to Rea, Kath, Ram, Herbert, Shanky, and Emelie for winning great prizes from JPark Island Resort.

Before we parted ways, we all went to Ice Giants to devour a Giant Halo-Halo for our dessert.

It was another amazing #MeetEatRepeat session and I am looking forward to more of these in the future. Here's to new beginnings and continuous growth! Happy Easter!!!

Uke Hub Cafe, Ukulele, Susing's Guitara, Cubano Cebuano, Cafes in Cebu, Cafes in Lapu-Lapu, Kiddie Rodaje, Caloy Juapo, ukulele lessons, ukulele painting, Cebu Food Blog

One of my biggest frustrations as a child was not learning how to play a musical instrument. I never had a chance to have lessons until recently when I got an invite to Uke Hub Kafe. I spent a whole afternoon there painting and learning how to play the ukulele while eating and drinking the cafe's specialties. Uke Hub Kafe is definitely one of my favorite cafes in Cebu.

Uke Hub Kafe

I have been to the Airport Road a lot of times and I have eaten at many of the restaurants there. I did not know that a beautiful cafe existed in that area. What makes Uke Hub different is that when you enter the cafe, you will immediately see all the ukuleles on the walls and think that you are in ukulele store. Well, the cafe actually started as a pasalubong center where you can buy guitars and ukuleles. It is owned by the owners of Susing's Guitars, one of Mactan's best guitar makers. It is a ukulele store and a cafe in one.

What makes this cafe so unique is that you can actually play the house ukuleles while waiting for your orders. It is actually a genius idea. We Cebuanos are proud of our musical abilities and Mactan is the home of the best guitar makers in the country. Why not promote these in the cafe, right?

Ukulele Painting

In that afternoon, I learned a lot about this cute instrument. I basically learned how to pronounce its name properly and the different variants of the ukulele. We were given a basic ukulele that we can personalize. We were given brushes and paints with the idea of designing your personal ukulele.

Well, I am not an artsy guy. Art is probably my worst subject back in elementary school. I love drawing and painting but I just do not have the gift. In that afternoon, I was confronted with a problem with what to do with my unpainted ukulele.

The instructors were arts and craft enthusiasts and some of my fellow guests are into painting as well. They were stunned when I just got some paint and started coloring the sides of my ukulele with some green paint. They were like asking me what am I doing and why I am not using pencils to make a draft.

I worked fast and Kiddie Rodaje of Juzkding was bothered with my uneven shades of green. He even helped me balance everything out. Little did they know that I had a plan already. After painting the sides with green, I painted the face with pink and I outlined the edges with white. My companions started to realize that I was making a Watermelon Ukulele. I finished my design by painting "black seeds".

Meet my Watermelon Ukulele.

Ukulele Lessons

After the uber fun painting session, we had a quick ukulele lesson with Mr. Frank Cane. I was not expecting anything because I really do not know how to play this string instrument. For sure, I have seen a lot of young kids doing this but I did not really expect much with 1-hour lessons.

We started our lessons with Sir Frank tuning our instruments. Then, I learned my first ever note which is C then I learned my first song which is "Watermelon". My psychic vibes must have been so strong that my newly painted ukulele has a perfect song for it. The Watermelon Song is the easiest to learn since it only uses one note which is C. Try it out!!!

After our first song, we learned to play "I'm Yours", "Grow Old With You" and "Huling El Bimbo". I was really surprised with what we can learn in an hour. Playing the ukulele is not easy but you can actually make a lot of progress after spending an hour with a good teacher like Sir Frank.

Caloy Juapo

After learning several songs, we were able to listen to a guy who is adept at playing guitars. Caloy Juapo, a Swede who is now based in Cebu, sang for us his version of Hahahasula and Atik Ra. The guy is pretty good and I hope that he will do more Vispop covers in the future.

The Food at Uke Hub

I really had a grand time at Uke Hub Kafe but I never forgot that I am a food blogger. Well, this place has a lot of yummy offerings you should try. Here are some of the items that you can order here.

Coffee

Whether you like hot or cold they have. Their barista is adept in latter art.

Sandwiches

A good pairing for their drinks is their sandwiches. You will surely enjoy learning how to play the ukuleles while munching on some delicious tuna sandwich.

Lasagna

If you want something heavier, they have pasta too like the one above. It actually distracted me from playing more songs because it was so good.

Cubano Cebuano

This is their signature sandwich. It's big and packed. You are going to be full if you get this one. It is hard to resist the combination of flavored meat and cheese. The banana chips are sublime.

Kalami Cebu Recap

In the end, I would definitely recommend a similar activity to kids and even grown ups. I love the ukulele-centric activities and who knows this cafe will be the place where many of the future Cebuano rockstars got introduced playing a musical instrument.

As a cafe, Uke Hub Kafe is perfect for people who are waiting for friends and family who are going to arrive in Cebu via plane. They have parking spaces here and Uke Hub has a lot of good food and drinks. They also have air-con and Wi-Fi. I am pretty sure you won't be bored here. What are you waiting for? Check them out and tag me on Instagram if you took a selfie there.

Uke Hub Kafe is located at the Airport Road, Lapu-Lapu City.

Le Chard Place Bed and Breakfast, Mount Bagarabon Resort, Surigao City, Suroy Surigao, Kalamni Cebu, Day-asan Floating Village, Surigao Tour

It has been almost a month and my memories of my trip to Surigao City is still as vivid as ever thanks of course to the power of YouTube. Looking back, I could say that it was an amazing start of Summer 2017 for me. I was only there for 3 days but it was filled with fun activities that it was worth the over 64GBs of videos that I took. This is a recap of the Day 1 of the Suroy sa Surigao Tour.

Arrival at Surigao City

Our flight was delayed. It is an unusually rainy summer day and I was even worried that the whole trip will be canceled. I had lunch at Jollibee at the airport because I really expecting the fight to be delayed. I love the recent upgrades at Mactan-Cebu International Airport especially when it comes to food. They now have outlets like Jollibee and Bo's Coffee near the departure gates.

After an hour of delay, we arrived in Surigao City past 2 pm. The Surigao Tourism Office prepared a grand welcome for us. They put some welcome leis on us and we then arrived at their City Hall with children doing the Bonok-Bonok Maradjaw Karadjaw Festival's signature choreography.

We had a lunch with the city officials and tourism council. My highlight of the lunch was the lato and sayongsong. Lato is a seaweed that it now called sea grapes or green caviar. Sayongsong is one of Surigao's unique delicacy made of rice flour.

Day-asan Floating Village

After lunch, we headed to Day-Asan Floating Village. Day-asan is known for its mangroves and lobster farms. I had a close encounter with lobsters and they say that they supply China with this delicious bounty from the sea. I was looking forward to tasting this expensive sea creature but we are actually there just to "play" with them. I may not have tried the lobster but at least I learned where to buy the best lobsters in the country.

Aside from visiting a lobster farm, Day-Asan is perfect for non-motorized watersports activities. If it were not pressed for time I would have gone stand-up paddling or kayaking. The attendant also said that the place is also great for snorkeling.

Off to Mabua

After the quick tour at Day-asan we went to Mabua. This barangay is known for its pebble beaches. The place is also perfect for watching the sunset like their own version of Manila Bay. We had snacks there featuring local delicacies like bibingka, biko and cassava cake. We then headed to Mt. Bagarabon Resort in the same barangay for our dinner.

The dinner featured several dishes but what stood out for me was the boiled root crops because it has been a while sine I last feasted on this. I had my fill of balanghoy (cassava), kamote (sweet potato), and saba (unripe banana).

Le Chard Place

Each participant was assigned to a different hotel. I was assigned to Le Chard Place Bed and Breakfast near Saint Paul University. I arrived there past 9 pm and I was greeted by their friendly staff. I picked my breakfast offering and asked for a 5:30 A.M. wake up call before I headed to my room.

My room was nice. I like the color and it is really good 1-2 persons. It has a hot and cold shower and they provide some toothpaste and toothbrush. Wi-Fi was not so strong in my room but my Globe signal and Smart Bro compensated for it. I slept around 11 am and I was looking forward to an amazing Day 2.

Check out my Day 2 adventures coming out after a few days. ;)

L'Artisan, L'Artisan French Mediterranean Cuisine, French Restaurants in Cebu, Wine Places in Cebu, Jeffrey Boutin, Slow Roasted Pork Belly, Cebu Food Blogger, Kalami Cebu

I always received inquiries from friends and strangers about where to take their wife or girlfriend for their anniversaries and special occasions. I have my usual recommendations. Recently, I added L'Artisan French Mediterranean Cuisine on this list. This new restaurant at the Oakridge Business Park in Mandaue has the food, ambiance, and service that will be perfect for romantic dates or intimate business meetings.

I really did not know much about this restaurant until someone messaged @kalamicebu in Instagram and told me to try this one. Well, it took me a couple of months before I found the time and opportunity to eat here. My cousin-in-law EJ went home from Australia and he said he was going treat me somewhere I never tried. To be honest, I had a hard time answering that query. Then I remembered L'Artisan.

L'Artisan French Mediterranean Cuisine is pretty close to my house. They are actually awarded as the "2016 Restaurant of the Year" by Sunstar's Best of Cebu awards. After learning about the award, I was pretty hyped to go there.

The Food at L'Artisan

It was just the two of us so we did not order much but we had one full meal. Here is what I tried on my first visit there:

Pritchon Arancini

We started off with an appetizer called "Pritchon Arancini". It is a rice ball made of risotto that is stuffed with crispy pritchon and it served with red bell pepper sauce. I never had arancini before and
I found it fun to eat and red bell pepper was pretty interesting.

Slow Roasted Pork Belly

L'Artisan's SlowRoasted Pork Belly is like the classy version of the Filipino-favorite lechon kawali. It has super crispy skin with succulent meat that is seasoned perfectly. The presentation is great which is perfect for Instagram while the servings were generous which makes it perfect for sharing.

L'Artisan Grass Fed Angus Beef Burger

I had a burger but I did not have the "normal" version because on that day the chef said that the beets were not that good. This is a burger that has juicy patty with a lot of veggies with it. I love the touch of mango with this one. The mango gave a pleasant acidity and it made the burger unique to Cebu which is also known for its mangoes.

Chocolate Fondant

For dessert, we were served their Chocolate Fondant. It was very sweet but I always love desserts with contrasting temperatures and textures. This is one of them and it was a perfect meal ender.

All in all, I love the food. The presentation is superb and the quality of ingredients can definitely rival the best restaurants in the city. I would not hesitate to recommend L'Artisan French Mediterranean Cuisine to my friends and followers even for their food alone.

The Ambiance

It's classy, private, and romantic. It is just a place perfect for some intimate conversations. It could even be a great place to "pop the question". L'Artisdan is perfect for people who do not want to eat in crowded places. This is also a fantastic place for wines. (Yes, you must have wines here!)

The Service

The owners are so hands on. Ms. Herley was so passionate in explaining the food to us while Chef Jeffrey Boutin gamely answered some of my questions. They are now my favorite culinary husband and wife tandem after #TeamCarnivore left Cebu.

Kalami Cebu Recap:

I give the Boutin couple a massive Kalami Cebu two thumbs up for this restaurant. If you are looking for a serious wine and dine restaurant then you have to visit this place. L'Artisan French Mediterranean Cuisine will surely give you a memorable dining experience. Check them out at Oakridge Business Park, A.S. Fortuna, Mandaue City.

Jomie Hospital, Youtuber, Bisaya Youtuber, Youtube sensation, Sumo Sam, Adober Studios, Cebu Food Blog, Kalami Cebu, #MeetEatRepeat, Japanese Food, Ramen, Chahan, TenDon,

A year ago I have been introduced to a different kind of social media animals called Youtubers or Vloggers. I have been blogging for quite a while but I rarely encountered Youtubers in Cebu in events that I have attended. Thanks to ABS-CBN's Chicken Pork Adobo (now Adobers Studios), I have met some of the best Youtubers in the region. One of the best is definitely Jomie Hospital of Gingoog. He relocated to Cebu recently and I am one first people who shared a meal with the newest Cebu-based YouTube sensation.

Jomie Hospital in Cebu

Jomie aka Belinda moved to Cebu last month. I drove him around and ate with him on his first ever meal after relocating to Cebu. Well, if you do not know how big Jomie Hospital here in our region well, here some facts about him. Jomie Hosptial has around 59,000 subscribers on YouTube and he has over 500,000 likers on his FaceBook page. He is known for his Cebuano comedic skits. Among my favorite skits are "Ang Imong Mama!" and "Mga Klase sa Bayot!".

I really believe that he can succeed here in Cebu and he can also help inspire the local content creators. I think all bloggers, vloggers, and other content creators can learn a lot from him. He has been doing a lot of collaborations with Cebuano Youtubers and I have even appeared on some of his videos.

Jomie Hospital and Kalami Cebu at Sumo Sam

The first thing Jomie did when he first came here last month was to buy a new cam at Macy's. We finished his gear shopping at around 2 pm and we were so hungry. He told me that he also needed to buy some things in Ayala so we went there. Luckily, I still had a Sumo Sam coupon from Zomato and I told him we can eat there. Here is what we ordered:

Tendon

I ordered Tendon since I love Tempura. Tendon is short for Tempura Donburi. Basically, it is rice that is topped with tempura. I always order a donburi (rice bowl) when I am in a Japanese restaurant and I want a quick fix. Sometimes, it is so hard to order in a Japanese restaurant because their menu is usually very long and it is filled with hard to pronounce dishes.

Kalami Cebu Tip:As a quick fix, order a donburi.

Ramen

I did not know that Jomie Hospital loves Ramen. He ordered a bowl of Ramen and the servings here at Sumo Sam were quite humongous. When the Ramen was served, I already knew that Jomie will not be able to finish it. He actually ended up sharing some with me.

Chahan

I was really surprised that my Youtube sensation buddy ordered some Japanese Fried rice. I thought he was really that hungry. While the fried was good on its own, it was just so hard to finish it especially if you order a ramen and a donburi with it.

In the end, we both ended up very full and we did not finish the chahan. The servings at Sumo Sam were for sharing and the prices were reasonable. Jomie was really surprised with their serving sizes and prices.

This is my first Cebu Food Trip with Jomie Hospital. Expect him to appear here at Kalami Cebu regularly since we normally end up at a restaurant when we hang out or do a shoot. If you have not subscribed to Jomie Hospital then click this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/PoweredByJomie.

While at it please also subscribe to Kalami Cebu's Youtube Channel: http://bit.ly/KalamiCebu. Thanks for reading and hit us up with your comments and suggestions for future blog posts or vlog episodes.

In Day 2 of my Surigao escapade, I visited some of the islands under Surigao City. The first one was Hikdop Island which had two popular tourist destinations. The first one is the Buenavista Cave and the second one is the Pagkawasan Beach. After our adventures at Hikdop Island, our Suroy sa Surigao tour took us to Basul Island before going back to the mainland.

Suroy sa Surigao Day 2

I was really excited for Day 2 of the Suroy sa Surigao because it involved island-hopping which is my favorite things to do every summer. I woke up early and had an early breakfast at Le Chard Place Bed and Breakfast. For breakfast, I had some corned beef, egg, and dried squid. I ate a lot because I knew that I need a lot of energy for that day.

It was raining so hard outside and I did not check my messages. I actually got a text that our Day 2 activities were suspended due to the rains. I headed back to my room and I stayed on the bed waiting for the next text from the Surigao City Tourism office. At 9 AM, our trip pushed through.

Off to Hikdop Island

We went to the port and boarded our boat to Hikdop Island which is 30 minutes from the mainland. The sea was a bit rough but it was not that bad. We arrived at Barangay Buenavista in Hikdop and we were greeted by their friendly residents led by their barangay captain.

The first thing we did was to eat our snacks. We were offered budbud, sayongsong, biko, and empanada along with some fresh buko juice. Afterward, we had a briefing on caving. We then headed to Buenavista Cave.

Buenavista Cave

I have never been to a big cave before except in Hinagdanan in Bohol but this is different. We climbed a hill for a few minutes before we reach the mouth of the cave. I was grasping for air already but it was not really that hard. We spend around 1 hour exploring the cave. It was pretty deep. I saw bats, snakes, crabs, and lizards. There were several interesting rock formations. The floor is a bit slippery and I would really suggest to you wear shoes that are appropriate for the terrain should you ever go here.

The activity was fun. It was a bit tiring but I think an average person can easily complete the cave exploration. It will cost you around 300 pesos for this activity that includes boat fare, gears, and guide fees.

Pagkawasan Beach

After exploring the cave, we rode a bangka to the nearby Pagkawasan Beach which belongs to the same barangay. It took us less than 10 minutes to reach the beach.

For lunch, we were served a feast. One of the first food items that we were eating was the saang or spider shells. This is fairly common in the islands but it was a "foreign" dish for the Manila peeps. It was unli-saang all afternoon and I think I ate more than 10 pieces including the delicious adobong saang.

We also had lechon, root crops, escabeche, and kinilaw. Food really tastes doubly delicious when eaten by the beach. When we got full, we decided to take a dip at the beach. After spending an hour swimming, we were that we are off to our next destination.

Basul Island

If the original schedule were to be followed, our fist island of the day would have been Basul Island. Due to the bad weather, we went directly to Hikdop. When we arrived at Basul in the afternoon, there were no people there. There were like a dozen dogs lying around the beach and the cottages. The city tourism office did not want us to disembark because the dogs might bite us. We just took pictures of the island and headed back to Surigao City.

Mt. Bagarabon Pebble Beach

In Day 1, we were supposed to have dinner by the beach at Mt. Bagarabon Resort. But since we arrived late, we had dinner inside the hotel instead. So on Day 2, we visited the pebble beach there. I wanted to take a dip again because it was so tempting. Our guides that many people go there in the afternoon to watch the Sunset.

Quick Visit to Battle of Surigao Strait Museum

The Battle of Surigao Strait was one of the most important sea battles in World War 2. It had a major impact in turning the tide of the war. The Japanese lost 7 good ships that were outnumbered by the combined fleet American and Australian forces. At the museum, you can a lot of memorabilia and scale models of the ships and planes involved in that WW2 event.

Dinner ar Almont Resort

After sightseeing at Mabua and the quick visit to the city, we were brought to our respective hotels to change for dinner. We had dinner at Almont Resort. It was a rainy night and I really enjoyed the meal at Bluewaters Maribago's sister hotel especially Galbichim.

Day 2 was eventful and I was really forward to what was in store for Day 3.

The Suroy Surigao Trip was sponsored by the City of Surigao through Surigao City Tourism Office.

There has been a lot of new restaurants that has opened at Parkmall in the past couple of weeks. One of the newest that really piqued my interest is Slate District in Parkmall. After my first taste, this new restaurant has become one of my top places for baby back ribs and chicken wings.

Slate District

This new place opened last week and my blogger friends and I had a preview of what is in store for Cebuanos on their first day of operations. We were served a few of their specialties like the Baby Back Ribs, Jack Slate Chicken, and the Herbed Pork Chops.

I am a big meat lover and I surely had an awesome time there. I really think that their ribs can match the best of Cebu. The meat was succulent and full of flavor. The best thing about it is the price. I can truly say that peso for peso, they arguably have the best back ribs in Cebu.

For their opening, they have a 299-peso All-You-Can-Eat Herbed Porked Chops promo. The promo included unlimited servings of Java Rice and a Free round of their House Blended Iced Tea. This promo is perfect for all those buff guys and girls who work out at nearby gyms. It is definitely an awesome protein-loading kind of deal.

Check them out and let me know, what you think. Full Review will be up soon here at the blog. Please like and subscribe Kalami Cebu on YouTube. I promise to reciprocate your subscription.

Have you tried eating here? Let me know your favorites by making a comment.

Slate District is located at the Alfresco Area of Parkmall in Mandaue City.

P.S. I would like to thank Shane and Jackie Lua for inviting us to eat at Slate District. I also would love to give my props to my videographer Ramzy Magbitang. Big thanks as well to bloggers/vloggers Jomar Lipon, Herbert Kikoy, Kuro Hitsugaya, Tara the Snap Vlogger, Cyka Niki and Christine Despares.

Dessert Ramen, unique desserts, Dew Droplet Cake, Raindrop Cake, Skillet Japanese Cafe and Bistro, Kalami Cebu Videos, dessert places in Cebu,

If you are the type of person who likes to eat the most unique desserts available then I would surely point you to Skillet Japanese Cafe and Bistro. This restaurant in Norkis Cyberpark serves the best of modern Japanese cuisine and they are also know for their amazing desserts. I recently made my friends try the Dew Droplet Cake and Dessert Ramen, and they really had fun eating and taking photos of the unique and irresistible desserts of Skillet Japanese Cafe and Bistro.

Desserts at Skillet Japanese Cafe and Bistro

It was not my first time to eat at Skillet Japanese Cafe and Bistro. In fact, I made a blog post about the Dew Droplet Cake (Raindrop Cake) before. I really had fun eating it so I brought my friends to this cafe. This time, I got to try their newest offering which is the Dessert Ramen.

Dew Droplet Cake

The dew droplet cake or more popularly know as raindrop cake is like a solidified form of water. Inside this jelly-like substance is a Sakura flower that came all the way from Japan. To add flavor to this dessert, it is plated with black sugar syrup and toasted kinako (soybean flour). Flavors are definitely familiar as the eating experience is similar to having taho with a touch of espasol.

Dessert Ramen

The Dessert Ramen was introduced a couple of months ago. This is like the dew droplet cake but instead of forming the jelly into a ball, the chef formed it like a ramen. It is served with some fruits and your favorite sauce (matcha, black sugar, or mango). We picked the matcha on that day to give it a green tint. The eating experience is like having halo-halo without the ice. The owner suggested that you use chopsticks to eat it. It is quite tricky if you eat that way but it adds some fun factor to it.

In the end, my friends and I had a wonderful time at Skillet Japanese Cafe and Bistro. I would really want you to try their desserts. Please let me know what you think about the dew droplet cake and dessert ramen.

Skillet is located at Norkis Cyberpark in A.S. Fortuna Mandaue City (just beside J Centre Mall).

I am not really into sweets but I recently tried SnowVinz Snoball and I was pretty much happy with my experience there. Going to a good dessert place like Snow Vinz is indeed one of best ways to bond with friends on a lazy weekend.

SnowVinz at SM Seaside City

SnowVinz also offers ice cream sundae by the cup or cone. They have it in interesting flavors like Orchid Vanilla, Raspberry, Strawberry, and the personal favorite Kiwi.

Related articles

Bluewater Maribago's Allegro Restaurant recently launched its themed dinners. They offer a different menu every dinner time and each one is guaranteed to make you experience the joy of food. I recently had a preview of what's in store for each night and I ended having a massive dose of #happytummy.

7 Paths to Food Haven at Allegro Restaurant

Skewered Mondays

Lasa Tuesdays

Cebuano Streetfest Wednesdays

Flavors of Asia Thursdays

On this day, you can go gaga over dimsum and other Asian favorites. The theme dinner will have shrimp and scallop siomai, cabbage rolls, and fried dumplings. These are served with stir fry beef, steamed shrimps, biko panna cotta, and Philippine rum cake with coco jam.

Palaisdaan Fridays

This is also another favorite day of mine. This is the day of fish, oysters, seaweeds, crabs, shrimps, and seashells. It is a Filipino clambake capped with some Turones de Leche and Dalandan Cheesecake. When I had my preview, this is the first station that I "pounced" on. ;)

Barrio Fiesta Saturdays

Big Bowl Sunday

On Sundays, you can summon your inner Genghis Khan and conquer the Mongolian Station. Enjoy your Mongolian bowl with some Samosa, Tempura, Squid Salad, Vanilla Almond Roulade, and Apple Pie in a Jar!

7 Days in One Meal

Our friends from Bluewater Resorts invited me along with local media and bloggers to try out the featured dishes of their themed nights. I made sure that I have a sneak peak of each themed buffet. It was a bit of a challenge but here is how I did it:

First Plate and 2nd Plates: Palaisdaan and Lasa

3rd Plate: Flavors of Asia

I got a plate filled with assorted dumpling and stir-fry beef. Cebuanos love their dimsum and I have always been a fan of it since my elementary school days. Finishing the third plate was easy.

4th Plate: Skewered

Well, I have to pace myself so I just got a beef skewer to represent this day. I can practically eat barbecue every day but rarely beef barbecue.

5th Plate: Lasa

I made one of Allegro's chefs cook a green curry veggie dish to represent Lasa. I realized that Tuesdays are perfect for people who love vegetarian dishes. It really feels good to eat veggies because it is not so heavy on the tummy.

This is my favorite day so I had some pochero, chicken inasal, mangang hilaw, and dangit. I had a full plate for this day and I did not regret it. Tasting the flavors that you loved growing up while in one of Cebu's best resort hotel is such a luxury.

7th Plate: Barrio Fiesta

Finally, I am on the 7th day (plate) and I decided to get some lechon skin and sinuglaw. Lechon by the beach! It is actually that common for Cebuanos to that and definitely, the beach is one of the perfect spots to eat this Cebuano favorite!

8th Plate (Bonus): Dessert

I was really full but I still manage to finish a cone of their delicious Mango Ice Cream.

Kalami Cebu Recap

In the end, the experience was like going to food heaven 7 times in one hour. It was a Joy of Food experience and for sure, you will end happy and full in any of Allegro Restaurant's Themed Dinners. I have my favorites but for I am quite confident that you can find yours too.

Which theme makes you hungry the most? Hit me up with some comments. ;)

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Rustic Chef's Favorites

So, I recruited a couple of blogger friends to sample some of their specialties. Three people said yes and we were off to Lapu-Lapu on one Saturday. Rustic Chef's Favorites is located at Maximo Patalinghug Avenue, Lapu-Lapu City. It is just a few hundred meters away from the Old Mactan Bridge.

The Food at Rustic Chef's Favorites

Mermaid N' Mango (Fish Fillet with Mango Bits)

Pork Lauya

Muddy Earthling's Roasted Pork Belly

Dungeon Bamboo Spit Fowl Roasted Chicken

Rustic Grilled Pork Ribs

Rustic Atay Diablo Spicy Stir-Fried Pork Liver

Mango Crepe with Ube Ice Cream

We really had a belly-busting meal and eating something sweet was a great ending. We each had a mango crepe with ice cream. It was a good ending to a feast.

Rustic Chef's Favorites Menu

If you have eaten here, what do you think about it? What's your take on their food? Hit me up with your comments and let's talk about comfort food.

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Conquistadores Explore the Taste of Spain

Aside from usual favorites, here some of the other dishes that one can taste during the Spanish nights at Puso Bistro and Bar:

Cochinillo or Suckling Pig

Paella

Cabrales Roast Beef A La Pobre

Fabada

Other Dishes at Quest Hotel's Tuesday and Friday Spanish Buffet

Aside from these special dishes they also serve tapas and other Spanish favorites. The nice thing about their Tuesday/Friday buffet is that Puso Bistro and Bar also serves many of their regular favorites. Check out my video to see the other dishes and stations.

For additional main courses, they have a wide array of Filipino dishes as well as their signature flavored puso (hanging rice). They also have a noodle station, grilling station, and teppanyaki station.

To cap a fine meal, they have a well-stocked dessert station featuring assorted cakes and desserts including Spanish-inspired ones like Churros. They also have a halo-halo station and an area serving Filipino delicacies like my favorite yema.

Kalami Cebu's Conquistadores Experience

Plato Uno: Spanish Favorites

Plato Dos: Japanese

Normally this plate would have been my appetizer. +Ramzy Magbitang and I shared this plate. We took a lot of pictures of this one so that we can PM it to our sushi-loving friends especially +Katherine Anne Cutar. It was also an easy plate to finish.

Plato Tres: European Appetizers

I took some tapas like the almondigas (meatballs) and bruschetta. I also got some of the special cheeses for the night and some cold cuts. I started heavy then I went light which is kind of weird but I was really enjoying my dinner.

Plato Cuatro: Pinoy Barbecue

Plato Cinco: Desserts

I tasted a lot of flavorful dishes that night and I have to balance everything with something sweet. I took small bowl then I got a scoop of strawberry and mango ice cream then took 3 yemas then topped it with a marshmallow dipped in chocolate. Burp!

I ate five platefuls in two hours. It was spectacular and I would love my readers to try it. If you have an appetite like a Spanish Conquistador, I am pretty sure that your 850 pesos will feel like a bargain. The selection is excellent and the quality of dishes is outstanding.

Before I conclude this mouthwatering post, I would like to congratulate Miss Mia Singson-Leon on her appointment as the new General Manager of Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu. All I can say is that I Came, I Ate, and I Conquered!!! Viva Espana!!!!

Puso Bistro and Bar is located at the ground floor of Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu. For inquiries and reservations, please call 032-4025999 0r 032-230-5888.

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I finally got to meet Bisaya Youtuber Glenn Abucay. Apparently, blogger friend +Hannah Frej is a big fan of his and they collaborated to make a video a week before with the trekkers of NCR. This time the young Cebuano Youtube sensation shared a meal with the Kalaminions at Manggahan.

Kalaminions of the Week

No. I was not third-wheeling on this #MeetEatRepeat episode. There were actually six of us and we just came off of a food tasting event next door. The ladies (including +Rome Nicolas ) were still hungry so we decided to have another dinner at Manggahan. So, it looked like more of a triple date.

Here is a brief background about each one of them:

Hannah just renamed her blog to Bean in Transit to reflect her aspirations to go global. She is an accomplished travel blogger and one of the best and cutest Virtual Assistants that you can have.

Glenn is an up and coming Youtube content creator. I am a big fan of his humor but I think Hannah is the biggest fan of his among the #Hibsters. He is a graduating student at the University of San Carlos taking up Marketing.

Sean is a new member of the Cebu Blogging Community. He works in an IT company. He is single and ready to mingle.

Emelie is also a new member of the Cebu Blogging Community. She works in an IT company as well and she is active with GDG Cebu. She is also single but she is a bit picky when it comes to guys.

Romeo is a Bisaya pride advocate. He is one of the best Bisaya language writers of his generation. He is dating someone right now and he loves to join organizations.

Pomelo Salad
Pomelo and singkamas tossed in calamansi dressing topped with crunchy dried squid

Cab-Cab with Bangus Pate
Crispy fried cassava cracker with smoked bangus pate on the side

Cucumber and Green Mango Agua Fresca
Refreshingly detoxifying blend of cucumber and green mango drink

Sizzling Chicharon and Red Egg
A crunchy and savory combination of chicharon and salty egg (itlog maalat) with a bit of spice

Pinaugang Balbacua
Oxtail braised in aromatics and served in thick flavorful sauce - not the soupy balbacua you know

Zarzuela de Mariscos
Seafood cooked in light tomato sauce, olive oil, tomatoes and coco wine