Crafted To Perfection: Tanduay Asian Rum x Kenneth Cobonpue Launching in Cebu

Posted on September 28, 2016 by issaplease

The Philippine’s world class recognition is represented through many aspects that are proudly Pinoy whether it’s furniture, music, food and now our very own Tanduay Asian Rum.

For this brand, Tanduay Asian Rum chose to partner with Cebu’s pride, Kenneth Cobonpue, because of his embodiment of the brand’s tagline: “crafted to perfection”. Cobonpue’s advances in the world of design truly demonstrates a talent that is pure, raw and proudly Pinoy which also perfectly represents this brand.

Kenneth Cobonpue has always been a globally-recognized Filipino talent through his furniture craftsmanship and designs. Starting with a humble beginning but with a burning passion and ambition to showcase Filipino heritage worldwide, Kenneth was able to craft the Philippine name with his designs through resilience and hard work throughout the years. Kenneth’s eye for details and achievements in carrying Filipino pride made him the perfect partner of Tanduay’s globally clamored Asian Rum.

Cobonpue’s emblem for the brand incorporated ingenious Filipino elements that showcase craftsmanship, resourcefulness and creativity of Filipinos. This marks his trust to co-bear the Asian Rum which is truly why he deserves to be this brands newest ambassador!

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Drink moderately,

Issa Perez

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Pop District Bazaar Anniversary

Posted on August 29, 2016 by issaplease

Pop District Bazaar is a 2- day event that will highlight different fashion, lifestyle and food brands all in one place. It promotes local and startup businesses that you can find mostly in the online community. Through this event, we strive to help educate local entrepreneurs what it means to produce excellent products.

For this event, Pop District Bazaar is going for a bohemian, gypsy like theme which will be filled with lots of interesting mini events such as talks from our favorite bloggers, clay art making, poetry sessions and a lot more!

Tickets are available at P 100.00 which is good for 2 days!

Photos grabbed from the Pop District Bazaar official Facebook page. Follow them for more updates!

See all of you there,

Issa P.

Sugbo Mercado Dos @ Ayala Business Park

Posted on July 6, 2016 by issaplease

In line with Sugbo Mercado‘s goal of being able to open food markets in different key locations in the city, their newest outlet at the Ayala Business Park is a clear sign that they are well on their way! Their second branch, which is located behind CIC Main and the MSY building which is also known as the “jogging area” of Ayala, still has everything we have come to love from their first branch which includes tents, ample tables and chairs, a laid back ambiance and that awesome sense of community that is hard to find anywhere else.

I have always patronized this weekend food market because it gives closet or aspiring chefs the opportunity to put themselves out there and get an experience of how it is to run their own business. At the same time, it gives people like me the opportunity to explore my palette without going home empty handed. It’s a fair compromise for everyone plus, the view is great and the music is always on point!

If you want to catch my vlog about how to survive a night at Sugbo Mercado, check it out here.

Another thing that I love so much about Sugbo Mercado are the interesting stories of each and every vendor. Everyone has their own story to tell and their own interesting back stories which I think makes the food taste even better. There’s always something special about our homegrown establishments which you can find out more about on their blog. Their first feature is about a good friend of mine and his success story about Hala Paella and Papa Churros which you can read more about here. They’ve only featured one so far but I am so excited to read about more success stories in the near future.

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On their opening weekend, they launched with around 32 vendors and the list continues to grow with each coming week so forgive me if a few of these vendors might not be there anymore or if I’ve missed out on some. But in a nutshell, here is a list of the vendors I was able to meet and their corresponding links so you can check out their menu offerings and prices:

Tausug spices – must try: Herbed chicken/ curry
Soul food– must try: Fried ice cream/ Humba with quail eggs/ Mushroom ginabot with sour cream sauce
Bueno JC Mexicano – must try: Quesadillas/ Tacos/ Tea
Taho Pub
Funsea Food Corner
Hala Paella
Proben Deluxe de Cagayan – Chicken proben with chocolate dip
Khan’s Bowls
Kuzina Guadalupe
Papa Churros
Little Chef/ Macology
Pares Baka Baboy
Wokstarz – must try: Pad thai
Frozen Wolf
Jasmine Teahouse
Pizza cones Inc. – must try: Hawaiian cone
Eat, Meat, Repeat
Pow Bao – must try: Deep fried buns with juicy pork belly (per request only!)
Buns and Brews
Chewy Junior
Yum-in-a-box
Papagayu Azul – must try: Enchilada
La Choza Grill
John Lemon – must try: Classic lemonade
Kan-anan ni Nasing
Sno

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Of course, what kind of food blog would this be without some enticing food photos? Here are some photos of the food I was able to sample during the media launch:

Herbed Chicken from Tausug Spices

Fried ice cream from Soul Food

Quesadillas from Bueno JC Mexicano

Seafood bowl from Fun Seafood Corner

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Paella Valenciana from Hala Paella

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Chicken Proben in Mediterranean & Japanese sauce

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Spicy lechon belly from Kuzina Guadalupe

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Taco Mac & Cheese from Macology 101

Churros from Papa Churros

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Customized pasta from Yum-In-A-Box

Hawaiian Pizza Cone

Shaved Ice from Sno

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Pork belly from Eat, Meat, Repeat

Pork bun from Pao Baw
Classic Lemonade from John Lemon

Pad Thai from Wokstarz

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Enchilada from Papagayu Azul

So far my favorites have been the Proben Deluxe de Cagayan in Mediterranean & Belgian chocolate sauce, the Hawaiian Pizza cone, John Lemon’s lemonade, everything from Pow Bao, Hala Paella and Wokstarz. I’ll definitely be back this weekend to sample more because you know… why not?

Sugbo Mercado Dos will be open on the following dates:

Sugbo Mercado-IT Park: Wednesday to Sunday, July 6-10, 5PM-1AM!

Sugbo Mercado-CBP : Thursday to Sunday, July 7-10, 4PM-12MN!

For more updates, check out their official blog here

For business inquiries, find out how to join here

Also, follow them on instagram here

Stay hungry, Stay thirsty… Stay alive,

Issa P.

Bad Boys Wingz @ The Greenery, Mabolo

Posted on June 30, 2016 by issaplease

I first heard about Bad Boys Wingz a couple of years ago when they first started selling at the Banilad Town Center’s weekend food fair. They were an instant hit and it wasn’t too long after that they started making a name for themselves at local food bazaars where people would flock to get a chance to try out their chicken wings. Soon after, they opened their first branch right across B.R.I.G.H.T. Academy and the entire Cebuano population rejoiced because they no longer had to wait for the weekend to feast on their well- loved wings and other menu items that were added to their selection.

Following this success, Bad Boys Wingz which is owned by the “Bad Boys of Cebu”: David Santos, Gino Ortiz and Andrew Aseniero, pushed the envelope even further and opened their second branch at The Greenery in Mabolo. If you’re a banila-phobe (a.k.a. someone who is physically incapable of enduring the Banilad- Talamban traffic) like I am, then this branch is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy some really.good.food. and alcohol, let us not forget alcohol.

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Hello little monsters!

Their second branch has 2 floors and can roughly accommodate 30- 40 people including a smoking area outside. Their industrial themed interiors are perfect for that laid back and unpretentious feel that we all look forward to at the end of a long day of work. It’s also pretty spacious so you don’t have to worry about bumping into each other while eating or getting around.

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Of course, what would Bad Boys Wingz be without their signature chicken wings that come in 9 flavors: Plain Old Wings, Lemon Pepper, Garlic Parmesan, Honey Bbq, Teriyaki, Siracha Honey, Mild Buffalo, Angry Buffalo and Suicide? Enjoy these favorites or their boneless chicken for P 169.00 for half a dozen, P 320.00 for a dozen wings or P 430.00 for a bucket for 16 with a choice of two sauces.

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Deviled eggs @ P 100.00

In case you didn’t know, I am allergic to eggs but these babies were definitely the egg high and itches I got not too long after. For the price, servings and taste, I would definitely recommend this dish to my friends who want something to much on as an appetizer.

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Spicy Garlic Shrimp @ P 280.00

If you love shrimp and that subtle spicy kick in your mouth then I’m sure this is something that you’ll find yourself coming back to over and over again. We devoured this dish and then played with the shrimp heads after. #weirdandproud

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Linguine Scampi @ P 220.00

The shrimp linguine was also one of our favorites and we made sure to bring some home for our mom so she could tell us what her opinion of it was since she really enjoys pasta. She gave it a thumbs up and vowed to come with us to sample it fresh and warm some time soon.

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Bad Boys Burger @ P 250.00

The inner burger girl in me truly feels like I need to give this dish justice because I really, really, truly loved this dish. I probably skimped out a bit on the fries because I was eating soo much already but the Bad Boys Burger definitely did not disappoint. There is nothing I did not like about this burger and the patty which was cooked just right (brown on the outside, pinkish on the inside. Just how I like it!) took me all the way home.

If you love burgers just as much as I do, PLEASE try this and love this burger like I do!

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The Rib @ P 250.00

Their grilled ribs covered in their special bbq sauce was soft and tender which is how all ribs should be. The sauce was a bit sweet and barbecue-y which wasn’t overbearing but not lacking in taste either- it was just right. This was the first dish we finished and we really enjoyed the extra sauce that came with the dish and needless to say, we had our own little dipping party.

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Other items on their menu also include:

SIDES

Crispy Spuds – P 75.00

Spam Fries – P 150.00

French Fries – P 80.00

SANDWICHES

The Burger – P 195.00

Classic Cheese Burger – P 215.00

Shrimp Po’boy – P 230.00

Philly Cheese Steak – P 225.00

MAIN

Macho Chops – P 200.00

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To keep updated on Bad Boys Wingz’ latest offerings and promotions, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Operating hours are from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

For reservations contact 0925 502 7874

Stay bad (to the bone) ,

Issa P.

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The Asian Taco in Cebu: Pow Bao

Posted on June 8, 2016 by issaplease

Consider me a little late when it comes to popular food choices in Cebu but like the saying goes, better late than never.

The Asian Taco, also known as Pow Bao, invaded Cebu a couple of years ago, first debuting at our favorite food markets until they finally set camp at the Banilad Town Center. Their handful of choices for fillings offer Cebuanos who love to experiment with food with great options such as chicken, pork belly, chorizo and even tofu!

If you’re looking for something heavier, they also offer rice meals with the same meal options.

Pao Baw is actually a fusion of Taiwanese food with a touch of Mexican street food which are both great cuisines individually and surprisingly great together.

Not being the most adventurous with food, I was honestly a bit hesitant to try this meal out but I was delightfully surprised that the Asian Taco was really good and not to mention, extremely filling! I personally enjoyed the chicken and tofu fillings the most.

Assorted (mix of 3 baos) @ P100.00

Rice meals (pork belly, fried chicken, chorizo or tofu) @ P 90.00

Meat+ vegetables +special yellow rice = LOVE!

Baos (pork belly (steamed or fried)/ chorizo/ fried chicken/ tofu) @ P80.00

Pow Bao is located at the front of the Banilad Town Center. Operating hours are from 10:00 am – 9:00 pm everyday.

Follow them on Facebook & Instagram for updates and deliveries.

Gibbs’ Hot Wings Newest Item: Chick N’ Fries

Posted on May 12, 2016 by issaplease

Consider me as one of Gibbs’ Hot Wings’s biggest fans (but I’m not a snob to other chicken wings places either! #justtomakeitclear) so every time they releases a item on their menu, I’m always on board and willing to give it a try especially if it’s in their famous Angel wing’s sauce!

One of the newest offerings on their menu is the Chick n’ Fries which are french fries topped with boneless chicken wings. For someone like me who doesn’t enjoy eating with their hands or de-boning anything, I think that it this perfect. Plus, who doesn’t love a good spud?

At P 238.00, these Chick N’ Fries are also available in the different sauces that Gibbs’ has been known and loved for. Whether you love your chicken spicy or you’re a little on the soft side like me, there’s definitely something for everyone there to enjoy!

Gibbs’ Hot Wings is located at the second floor of The Streetscape, Banilad.

For reservations contact 0949 376 7220

For updates and promos follow them on Facebook

When In Carcar: 1878 Restaurant

Posted on April 13, 2016 by issaplease

Took a trip down South over the Holy Week to visit my boyfriend and to explore the area with my family. We overheard that there was a new restaurant that had opened a couple of months ago and we were eager to try it out since we were already in the area and had ticked off most of the things we intended to do during our visit.

Paolo, who was our tour guide for the day, did not really know much about the newly opened restaurant so we put on our adventure boots and headed out to find 1878 Restaurant.

Considering the Car- car is a small place which means that word travels around fast, it was not long til we found ourselves standing in front of a green gate along San Jose St., Poblacion 1 (one of the back roads from the City Hall/ church)

We were greeted by a quiet, peaceful and homey backyard- turned- restaurant that was surrounded by lots of plants and hanging lights. Surprised and delighted were the first emotions that overcame us because for a very long time, we had the impression that Cafe Terraza was one of the very few restaurants located in the area.

We eagerly found the closest seat to the counter and braced ourselves for our brand new gastronomical adventure.

1878 Restaurant has a lot of food offerings that are both interesting and intriguing like their ever famous steamed rice which was the main reason that led us there. A lot of the food on their menu seemed to be Chinese influenced which we discovered was because the head chef spent many years working for Ding Qua Qua before moving back to his hometown where he now works.

We opted for the steam rice, quail egg siomai and lumpia shanghai.

Steam rice – P 35.00

I wouldn’t say that it tastes exactly like our good ol’ Dimsum Break but you know what, it’s still pretty good. If I were to compare it to anything, I would say that it is closely similar to Braddex and for the price and location, it’s a very good deal.

Quail egg siomai (7 pieces) – P 80.00

We really enjoyed this dish and the fact that it cost only P 80.00 for 7 pieces! It is very unlikely to find anything as affordable as this and flavor wise, we were not disappointed.

Lumpia Shanghai – P 100.00

The last dish we had on our short trip was this lumpia shanghai. It was definitely flavorful and fried exactly to my liking. It wasn’t my favorite but I still enjoyed it anyways.

About a month after our first experience, Paolo has shared with me his frequent trips and discovery of their handful of dishes. I trust his judgement in food and so, I am confident to share with you his recommendations which are: the fried rice (P 80.00), chicken cordon bleu (P160.00) and calamares (P 200.00).

1878 Restaurant is a good place to visit especially for my Car- caranion readers who are looking for a new place to spend their meals with friends and family.

Their servings are generous, the food is good and the ambiance is definitely a good break from the hectic city life.

For inquiries and reservations:

032 487 7145

0977 839 4488

Burp,

American Short Orders @ Luncheonette

Posted on March 28, 2016 by issaplease

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Diners have always been iconic when it comes to American culture. By definition, diners are small roadside restaurants accompanied by long counters and booths that closely resemble a dining car on a train. I’ve never personally experience lunching at a real diner before by my Luncheonette experience was pretty close.

Known for their “short order” menu items, Luncheonette offers hungry guests a taste of their deep fried and grilled goodness that we all love (healthy or not!).

Had brunch there with my family a couple of Sundays ago and we were impressed by the food, the staff and the overall experience. Their seating arrangement which is basically lined up stools doesn’t allow you to be as intimate as you would typically have it but it’s an experience altogether and one I definitely would not mind trying again.

When at the luncheonette, don’t be afraid to go down and dirty with your grub. Use your hands, dig in and enjoy the greasy goodness which is what diners have always been known for. And lastly, don’t go if you’re on a diet unless its a cheat day because you will go home stuffed and hating yourself for eating more than you would have wanted. I had no regrets though.

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Hand Cut Fries – P 129.00

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C- BLT (smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo)- P 289.00

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Big Breakfast (2 eggs, home fries, bacon, toast & bottomless coffee) – P 199.00

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Texican chicken sandwich (chipotle bbq, smoken bacon, cream slaw and mayo) – P 289.00

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Luncheonette is located at the ground floor of Robinsons Cybergate,Don Gil Garcia Street Capitol Site

Everything deep fried is heaven sent,

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Hit or Miss @ Gold Mango Grill & Restaurant

Posted on March 25, 2016 by issaplease

My curiosity in Gold Mango sparked when a friend of ours mentioned on a car ride to Mactan that it was always full and required reservations in order to be accommodated. He shared his experience of purposely heading to Mactan on two occasions to sample the dishes at Gold Mango to no avail. I had only heard of Gold Mango that morning while we were headed to go diving/ boating and I honestly knew nothing about the food or the prices except that it was a Korean restaurant but a little voice in me told me that I had to try it. And so I did.

We made early reservations that afternoon and arrived at around 6 pm. I appreciated how the restaurant remained spic and span throughout our meal despite having quite a lot of guests come in. Interior wise, Gold Mango is decorated with beautiful interiors so you probably wouldn’t want to go there with wet hair and in bikinis. There is also a parking area in the front which could be filled up pretty fast so it’s best to go early if you decide to come.

Truthfully, I was a bit scared going into Gold Mango because of what I had heard about it from the morning of- you had to make reservations in order to get in, it was always packed and it was Korean. Things like that intimidate me and I was scared that I couldn’t afford anything on the menu or that everything would be spicy. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that most of the items on the menu were pretty within my normal spending ranges of a little over 300 and below (except for certain dishes).

But that wasn’t the biggest shocker. What surprised me the most was to find out that it was a Korean owned Filipino restaurant and most of the items on the menu were Filipino and Italian dishes!

Crispy Sisig – P 195.00

Coconut Fried Shrimp – P 350.00

Sizzling Spicy Gambas – P 245.00

Caesar Salad – P 220.00

Gorgonzola Cheese Pizza – P 395.00

Baked Scallops – P 195.00

I have entitled this post Hit or Miss because although we did enjoy some of the dishes there such as the crispy sisig (which was spicy enough for me to tolerate), the blue crab rose pasta and the fried coconut shrimp, I would still prefer more traditional Filipino restaurants when it comes to the other dishes. Their interesting take on the scallops which used Mozzarella cheese instead of the typical cheddar cheese was definitely interesting but truth be told, it did not quite hit the spot for me. Same goes for their Caesar salad but their greens were so pretty, I wished that I loved it.

Their reasonable prices, interesting menu items and kept ambiance are definitely worth going back to. Plus, it’s a nice place to go to when in Mactan and you won’t come out smelling like you’ve been grilled. I am still a bit on the fence when it comes to their food though but I didn’t hate it so that’s still something.

Gold Mango is located at Maribago Lapu-lapu city, M.L. Quezon National Highway, Lapu-Lapu City, 6015 Cebu

Their opening hours are from 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

For reservations contact: 0915 330 8432

Follow them on Facebook for more updates!

This post made me crave for scallops,

Coffee Sessions @ 32 Umber

Posted on March 19, 2016 by issaplease

I am no coffee expert but I do enjoy a nice strong cup of Joe especially when the day calls for one. That day being everyday.

32 Umber had been on my go to list ever since it opened some time by the end of February. I fell in love with their Instagram posts of coffee (with great reviews!), pastries and beautiful interiors which we all know I am a sucker for so naturally, I had to check it out for myself.

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32 Umber is a bit small and is probably good for about 20 people at a time but with its glass enclosures, it definitely does not feel cramped. Regardless of size, their furniture is cozy and the whole place is homey, inviting and will make you want to camp there for hours at a time whether you wish to study, work or just catch up with old friends.

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32 Umber sets themselves aside from other local coffee shops in the metro with their hand- brewed coffee which is also known as pourover coffee. This method of brewing involves fresh grounded coffee beans, a filter and a filter holder. At its most basic level, the brewing level involves pouring water over and through the grounds of coffee to extract the flavors into your cups for drinking. At 32 Umber, you get to choose between 2 brewing methods which are V60 or an Aeropress. I have yet to taste it but I do look forward to coming back very soon and trying it out for myself!

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On our menu: Cafe Latte and a coffee for me and an Iced Mocha for my main

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32 Umber is located at The Forum, Archbishop Reyes Ave., Cebu City, Philippines

They are open from 1:00 pm- 9:00 pm

For reservations contact 0932 804 7983

Happy Caffeinating,

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Category Archives: Food

Crafted To Perfection: Tanduay Asian Rum x Kenneth Cobonpue Launching in Cebu

Pop District Bazaar Anniversary

Sugbo Mercado Dos @ Ayala Business Park

Bad Boys Wingz @ The Greenery, Mabolo

The Asian Taco in Cebu: Pow Bao

Gibbs’ Hot Wings Newest Item: Chick N’ Fries

When In Carcar: 1878 Restaurant

American Short Orders @ Luncheonette

Hit or Miss @ Gold Mango Grill & Restaurant

Coffee Sessions @ 32 Umber