Davao-Gensan Trip Part 15: Bon Appetit La Boutique

It’s Day Five and we’re back in Davao once again.

In my quest to explore new gustatory territories, I already had my radar on Bon Appetit La Boutique weeks before our trip. They serve authentic French cuisine in a public square located at Plaza del Carmen, Loyola Street.

I never had a legit French meal in my life so I figured it would be a good place to start.

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Sophisticated, elegant and charming, the interior of Bon Appetit La Boutique is a beautiful reflection of France. It is a perfect setting for romantic dinner dates, anniversaries and other special occasions.

Displayed on their walls are artworks and some French products for sale.

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Sketches

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Foie Gras
Fat Duck Liver

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Canned French Delicacies

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Fragrance Pillows

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Fragrant soaps in Pomme (apple), Lavande (lavender) and Cannelle Orange (cinnamon orange) scents.

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You know they’re the real deal because the menu is written in French. It’s okay, I can’t read French too. Hehe 🙂

Okay, nuff jabbering. Food. Now.

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Baguette et Tapenade 
Homemade French Baguette with Tapenade

Made with ingredients imported from France, this baguette can’t get anymore authentic in taste. 

I’m very picky and hard to please when it comes to bread. You can ask my boyfriend. So when I say that I actually enjoyed eating this means a whole lot. 

The baguette didn’t have that awful starchy aftertaste that breads made in local bakeries here in the Philippines tend to have.

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Upon closer inspection, you can tell that the baguette has a light and airy texture with a thin, crispy golden crust.

Tapenade was something I never heard of before. It is a gourmet condiment usually used as spread for bread and is made out of black olives blended with herbs and olive oil until it forms into a thick paste. Its robust and distinct taste adds a unique flavor to the baguette. 

The baguette and tapenade were actually on the house. Yey for free bread basket!

imageCrêpe Sarrasin, Oeuf, Jambon et Gruyère
Buckwheat Crepe with Fried Egg, Ham & Gruyère Cheese

While normal people would have this for breakfast or brunch, we had it as an appetizer simply because we can (fit lotsa food in our bellies). 🙂

Folded inside the crepe is a sunny-side up egg with slices of ham and melted Gruyère cheese.

Gruyère cheese has a rich, creamy texture and tastes sweet and salty at the same time. There is really nothing like it.

This is something I can have everyday! Light, savory and decadent. That’s what it is. It’s one of those things you have to try!

And yes, the salad did go very well with it too.

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More free hot bread. They won’t stop serving free bread until you get to the main course or until you say so. 

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Penne Sauce Roquefort et Noix
Penne Pasta with Roquefort Cheese & Walnut Sauce

Roquefort is a type of blue cheese characterized by its blue veins of (edible) mold. It has a strong characteristic odor and taste that may put a lot of people off. But if you happen to like blue cheese, you will surely enjoy this dish like we did!

Served al dente, the penne was pasta perfection. 

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Steak de Gindara Grillé Sauce Beurre Blanc
Grilled Butterfish with White Butter Sauce and Potato Gratin

Tender and moist, the grilled butterfish was a delight to eat. The beurre blanc sauce was rich and buttery and it helped elevate this seemingly simple dish.

And the potato gratin was AHMEYZING. I could eat a casserole of that all by myself. It’s rich, creamy and tender. It’s so good that I’d rather have it over pizza any day! And yes, I still can’t believe I actually said that.

Bon Appetit La Boutique is a restaurant one should not pass up. I will not hesitate to recommend this place. Warm service, outstanding meals and fantastic dining experience.

Open Mondays thru Saturdays, 11AM to 11PM. Prices usually range between 300 and 500 pesos.

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 14: Little Kitchen Restaurant

Still unbelievably full from lunch, we opted for a light supper…

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Little Kitchen Restaurant is a popular snack house in Gensan which is owned and managed by a doctor.

Originally built to cater the doctor’s patients and other people within the vicinity, Little Kitchen Restaurant unexpectedly turned out into a flourishing food business.

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With the cozy atmosphere, it’s too easy to feel at home here. The wait staff are accommodating and the service is prompt.

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For appetizers, we got complimentary garlic butter toasts. Loves it! Who doesn’t love free food? Hehe 🙂

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For our supper, we had Shrimp Scampi Pizza. It had a crispy crust topped with olives, mushrooms, shrimp and cheese. This is one of their best sellers.

I know the pizza sounds really good on paper but it was a little too bland for my taste. It was a huge letdown for me because I really wanted to like it. Just everyone else does. 

But despite being disappointed, I’d still like to go back there and sample other of their food items. I’m sure I’ll find something I’d love.

Little Kitchen Restaurant is located at Quirino Avenue, next to Calderon Clinic.

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 13: Blugre Coffee

Brewing since 1998, Blugre Coffee is a coffee shop chain based in Davao which is known for exotic durian coffee blends. 

Why Blugre Coffee has made its way in Gensan is no surprise as one of the major franchisees is the power couple, Manny and Jinky Pacquiao. 

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Walking into the coffee shop, I was caught off guard by a strong whiff of durian aroma lingering in the air. To be blunt, the scent was a little bit off-putting because I am not particularly fond of durian… However, it was bearable. 

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While Blugre Coffee specializes coffee, they serve pastries, desserts and other hot and cold beverages as well.

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Too full for anything else, we just had some iced latte for a little afternoon pick-me-up.

And although I was never a fan of durian, I braved myself for one of their durian coffee blends: Durian Arctic Blast… Which I painfully regretted.

Well, at least I tried. Let’s face it, it’s not for everyone. I read awesome reviews about it though and is certainly a hit with all the durian lovers out there.

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Blugre Coffee is a great place for study, work, hangouts, or meetups. You don’t have to be a durian connoisseur to be here. When in Gensan, visit them at Robinsons Place or at JMP Building

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 12: Team Pacquiao

General Santos is the hometown of Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao, the “Fighting Pride of the Philippines” and the first and only eight-division world boxing champion.

Whether you’re a fan of his or not, his chain store Team Pacquiao is one of the must-go-to places in Gensan.

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With several branches nationwide, Team Pacquiao carries various products and limited edition collectibles especially made for all the Pambansang Kamao fanboys to covet.

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They offer Pacman must-have items like graphic tees, polo shirts, jacketscaps and other novelty items. 

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Spotted on their high shelves are some kick-ass memorabilia that you can’t get anywhere else in the world but here (and other Team Pacquiao branches of course). And out of everything I’ve seen, the Mad Mickey toy figure is something I’d like to bring home with me (but didn’t). I’m not gonna lie, they don’t come cheap at all.

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They also have autographed items such as boxing gloves, coffee table books and more.

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And just like a kid in a candy shop, my boyfriend was in a state of utter fascination. I swear his eyes were sparkling with joy. Haha. 

When in Gensan, you should definitely swing by the flagship store of Team Pacquiao which is located at the ground floor of Robinsons Place General Santos.

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 11: Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu & Barbeque Restaurant

On the fourth day of our vacation, we took a roadtrip to Gensan…

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Located at SM GensanTong Yang Shabu-Shabu Barbecue Restaurant is heaven-sent for all the buffet and hotpot lovers out there.

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As we came in, my jaw dropped to the floor. We were greeted with long tables filled with a wide array of fresh and delicious food selections all ready to cook and eat. 

I’ve been to some eat-all-you-can buffet restaurants before but I’ve never seen anything like this.

You are given the freedom to choose your raw ingredients for cooking which can be a little overwhelming especially if you’re a first-timer like I was. They have vegetables, seafood, meat, noodles, sides, broth, sauces, condiments… You name it, they have it all – from appetizers to desserts!

One of the great things about Tong Yang is you can always come back for more food if you want to. Yes, everything is eat-all-you-can within the given three-hour time frame. 

For only 299PHP/person for lunch buffets from Mon-Fri and 399PHP/person for dinner buffets from Mon-Fri and lunch+dinner buffets on holidays & weekends. Where else can you find a great deal as such this??

Too bad we were prohibited from taking close-up food photos though. Boo. Sad panda 🙁

It is also worth mentioning that they have unlimited tap beer (just add 65 PHP for beer-all-you-can), soda and fruit juices.

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Please excuse our cluttered hotpot table. The left side of the table is for grilling and the right side is for stewing. I really like how you can make two stews at the same time. Really cool.

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We were given sticks of butter for grilling. Don’t be shy to ask for more if needed. The butter complements the food well and makes everything taste richer. Genius. 

By the way, a shoutout to our official tour guide and photographer for that day, Jed Reyes. Thanks for the treat Kuya! By the way, he’s an awesome photographer. You can check out some of his amazing shots here.

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Kuya Jed observing my boyfriend as he makes sinigang for the first time. Thank God for Tong Yang’s free WiFi. None of us knew how to make sinigang so we just googled for recipes online and made it on the spot.

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WADAYAKNOW. It was delicious-o!

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We really had an amazing dining experience at Tong Yang. I definitely would love to come back here when I can. I suggest that you come here famished. And do bring friends and family with you because food is always better shared 🙂

PSA

I am sorry to interrupt my Davao-Gensan series but I have a special announcement to make…

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Technicolor Waves of Rhapsody just turned 2 today! Can you believe it? Because I still can’t! I never even thought I would last a year… 

What started out as a mental and writing exercise has now become a hard habit to kick.

I, first, want to give a big, big thanks to my boyfriend. If not for him, this blog would not have existed. His encouragements and gentle prodding lead me to believe that I actually do have the ability to express myself through writing.

Two years ago, I’ve always second-guessed myself because I never was confident enough of my writing skills. It was only through constant blogging that I slowly gained my confidence. Looking back, I know that I have improved so much and I know there is even more room for improvement.

Second, I would like to thank you readers for your support. As cheesy as it may sound, yes, you guys are one of the reasons why I keep on writing. I just want to give you all cyber hugs right now so you can all feel the fuzzy love I have for you. Hehe.

Also, I’m really excited to tell you guys that tomorrow I will have a waterfalling adventure tour (WAT 2.0) with my fellow bloggers (please don’t mind my iffy hair)…

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I am very privileged and humbled to meet these lovely people. And I think it’s only right that you should get to know these people too.

Top to Bottom, Left to Right:
Marky Go – http://www.nomadicexperiences.com/
Doi Domasian – http://thetravellingfeet.com/
Me 
Glen Santillan – http://www.escapemanila.com/
Shugah Pauline Kang – http://www.wandershugah.com/
Tzaddi Esguerra – http://wheresburger.tumblr.com/ 
Lisa Marie Mirasol – http://www.pinaytravelista.com/
Lovette Jam Jacosalem – http://www.traveljams.com/
Gabriel Billiones Jr. – http://neoticviews.blogspot.com/
Alexander Siacor Singcol Jr. – http://www.chooseiligancity.com/
John Badawi

Yobz Tolentino (my boyfriend) – http://ayosaoi.wordpress.com/
Ferdz Decena – http://www.ironwulf.net/
Fredda Ruth Rosete – http://www.freddaruth.com/
Razaleigh Kate Jumawan – http://www.fourhappypeas.tumblr.com/
Kathleen Grace de Garcia – http://www.dasocialclimber.com/
Clement Dampal – http://www.bestspotsph.com/

Please note that this is not everyone. For those who are not in the picture, I will post their names and links as soon as I can get them.

By the way, we all received a shirt, an ID and a special gift pack!

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Inside the paper bag are…

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Revicon and Enervon to give us that added boost of energy for tomorrow’s waterfalling adventure; Alaxan and Biogesic to combat muscle injuries that might happen; Asian Secrets Lulur Indonesian Whitening Body Scrub to whiten our skin after being exposed for hours to harsh sunlight; Swish mouthwash to have fresh breath; and pH Care Intimate Wash because we need to feel fresh all the way down there too. Haha!

I want to especially mention the sponsors. If not for them, there will be no WAT 2.0!

Unilab
Jollibee
Iligan Paradise Resort
Jacko’s Kan-Anan
Silvestro’s
Calda Pizza
Red Planet
NPC Nature’s Park
Rent.ph
Tatay’s Grill
Greenwich
Jasmine Pensionne Home
Kopi Luwak
Keepsakes Iligan
GTC Gerona Town Center
Aruma Coffee Lounge
Perfect Wedding
Councilor Frederick Siao
Bob NY USA
Jesbey’s Diner
Delecta
Iligan de Piaya
Linamon’s Best
JCreations
New Horizon
Third Team Media
Iligan City Government
Iligan Chamber
IHARRA

That’s all for now and I gotta go because I have to be up early tomorrow morning. Bisous!

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 9: Swiss Deli and Restaurant

Just a walking distance from SM Lanang, we decided to take peek inside Swiss Deli and Restaurant.

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Swiss Deli and Restaurant is simply the best source for delicious and authentic European food in Davao. They really have a LOT to offer. And when I say a lot, I mean… 

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They have a plethora of meat and cheeses to choose from. Varieties that I used to only see on cooking shows are here! All imported from Switzerland and Europe (most of them I can’t even spell HAHA). 

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Check out their shelf full of quality wine imported from different countries across the globe. They have more at the cellar. I regret to say that we weren’t able to take a look there. 

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They also have freshly baked bread and pastry up for grabs and a fridge full of desserts that I didn’t manage to get a photo of.

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Some more choices of everything delicatessen

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And at this point I was just foaming in my mouth already. Chocolates, spreads, condiments… I could just go on and on and on! All the grocery items I have long lusted for… Were just right there in front of me. I felt so helpless that we couldn’t afford to purchase all of them. But we were not there to shop (trying not to sour grape here). 

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I really love their service. The wait staff were very professional and attentive. 

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I ordered Mediterranean Salad with penne (cooked al dente of course), lettuce leaves, onion, olives, tuna, tomatoes and cucumber tossed with vinaigrette. Simple, fresh and delicious!

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My boyfriend ordered Veal Bratwurst Sausage with some mashed potatoes and veggies on the side. It was our first time to have veal so I really like how we were able to really taste the meat. No extenders. Just pure veal goodness. Never had sausage that good in my life! The best, really.

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And for our dessert, we had Chocolate Mousse. Light, fluffy and had just the right amount of sweetness. A really nice treat to conclude our snack. Yes, not meal. Snack. HAHA. This was after CBTL. We’re such pigs, I know.

Serving world-class delectable meals at reasonable prices, Swiss Deli has impressed me on so many levels. Needless to say, we had a fantastic dining experience. 

They’re open daily from 8AM to 10PM. 
You can view or download their menu here

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 8: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Many moons ago, I noticed that a lot of people on my Facebook newsfeed have been raving about The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL). And being a tea-o-holic that I am (an ex-coffee addict too), I don’t wanna be left behind. 

CBTL is an American coffee chain that serves only the world’s finest coffee and tea. Born in South Califoria on 1963, CBTL has grown into one of the largest coffee and tea companies in the world with over 900 outlets in 23 countries since. And yes, of course, they have free WiFi too.

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This was taken on our first CBTL experience at Abreeza. In the photo above are Ice Blended Matcha Green Tea and White Choco Dream Latte.

Both are just a dream in a cup. Really. Definitely better than Starbucks by a mile. 

And just so you know… 
Starbucks doesn’t exactly thrill me. There. I finally spilled the beans. Please don’t roast me! (puns intended)

Oh, lemme introduce to you the greatest invention since sliced bread…

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This thingamajig! I really don’t know what it’s called. If you happen to know, you have to tell me! 

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What’s so great about this thing is (more like are):
1. It eliminates those silly table number tags.
2. I don’t have to constantly fidget as I wait for my name to be called. 
3. It vibrates and lights up once your order is ready.

Doesn’t it make life a lot easier? Whoever thought of this sorcery is a freakin’ genius! 

I still don’t understand why other restaurants or fastfood chains still don’t have this brilliant piece of technology yet. I’m sure it’s not that hard and expensive to make, right? Wishful thinking.

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Having watched too many Masterchef episodes made me feel sorry for ourselves that we haven’t tried eggs benedict yet. So we really had to give it a go! This was our second CBTL experience at SM Lanang. 

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The look on his eyes explained everything. Haha! Clearly, he’s more excited than I am.

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As my boyfriend ran the knife through the egg, the yolk didn’t run into this thick velvety sauce as I saw it should in Masterchef a thousand times over.

I then pictured Gordon Ramsey in my head like this…

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While it wasn’t close to perfect (at least to Gordon’s standard), it tasted really good. And that’s all that matters. I also happen to like my eggs to be done over medium thankyouverymuch.

For all those who have been disenchanted with overrated coffee shops, I plead that you at least give Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf a chance.

They serve high-quality, great tasting coffee, tea and food. Plus, their service and ambiance is marvelous.

Their beverages cost between 100~200 pesos… Not bad right? Know more about what they serve here.

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 7: Classic Savory

Just a real quick post here while I can still sneak in some time to blog before I leave for CDO today.

For Day 3, we had our brunch at Classic Savory – SM Lanang branch.

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I’m not a fan of Filipino-Chinese food at all. But after constantly being prodded by some friends to try Classic Savory’s chicken, I raised my hands as a sign of surrender and decided it was finally time to give it a try.

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Behind us is a photo collage of Manila during the 1950’s. It proved to be a nice distraction as we waited for our order.

The loose top I wore here made me look 20 pounds heavier, I know. Too lazy to liquify myself on Photoshop. Also, I didn’t care to fix my hair that day. Bah. Haha.

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Our order came earlier than expected. Which was a good thing because we were really hungry already.

I got myself a value meal that came with a piece of chicken thigh, slivers of fish fillet and some gravy on the side. My boyfriend had a similar order. Just with a different side dish. I forgot what he had. And I don’t know why we didn’t take a photo of his order. It totally slipped out of our minds.

Anyway, the fish fillet was tender and delicious. I like the sauce that it came with. It was creamy and it complemented the fish fillet really well. I just wish there was more of it though. 

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The chicken proved to be the star of the meal. Marinated with their special secret sauce, it was delicious to the bones. Although the chicken wasn’t done perfectly (it was dry and a tad overcooked), I still enjoyed it for its timeless taste nonetheless. 

Would I go back? Yes, because I would like to give their chicken another try but most likely from another branch. Hopefully, it’ll be juicy and tender as they claim it should be. Also, I need to have a platter of their fish fillet all to myself!

Click here to check out other food items from their menu. Prices usually range between 150 to 250 pesos. 

Davao-Gensan Trip Part 6: Backyard Burgers

A burger joint that serves fresh-off-the grill, legendary burgers is every guy’s dream… Fortunately that dream is now a reality. 

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Let me present to you, Backyard Burgers. I’ll tell you upfront: nothing fancy schmancy about this place. True to its name, it’s like you’re just at someone’s backyard; just out in the open.

Just right smack in the middle of downtown Davao, it is located at E. Quirino Avenue (inside Pard’s Compound).

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Not only do they have a magnificent array of gourmet burgers to choose from, you can actually make your own burger! Yes! You can have your own CUSTOMIZED burger! How cool is that?! You can check out their menu here and find out different ways on how to customize your own burger.

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And when I say customize, you can also command the doneness of your burger steak. I always like my steaks medium rare so that’s how I had my burger done. Never in my life have I been to a burger joint that does this (maybe because I’ve been living under a rock since 1989). My mind completely blown!

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As I was busying taking photos of everything, I didn’t know our food was already there. Talk about fast and efficient service. Say hello to my boyfriend pouring root beer into our cups. I like root beer. Don’t judge.

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I honestly wanted to steal those cups. If I’m not mistaken, they were porcelain. Backyard Burgers keepin’ it classy and eco-friendly too.

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Voila! Our monstrous, heart-stopping burgers. Especially made for hungry men and foodies who-don’t-give-a-damn-about-calories like me.

You know it’s going to be a good burger if the burger patty is 100% fresh, pure beef with none of those silly extenders. And their burger patty is just that.

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Look at the size of that thing… Ridiculous. By the way, what do you guys think of my new face? 😀

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This is my boyfriends BB Japanese Oishii Burger. Sandwiched between two toasted black sesame seed buns: a thick and juicy 100% pure beef patty, a lettuce leaf, a few onions rings, some seaweed shreds, a slice of bacon, a slice of melted Cheddar cheese and a drizzle of wasabi-mayo sauce. The wasabi-mayo gave just the right amount of spiciness to the burger.

I have to be frank, the quirky toppings are definitely not for everyone. And as much as I like Japanese food, I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. However, my boyfriend enjoyed it very much. There’s nothing wrong with the burger… I’m just kind of a burger purist.

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My BB Philly Cheese Steak Burger. This has got to be the best burger I’ve tried in my life so far. Inside the burger: a thick and juicy 100% pure beef patty, a slice of cheese, roasted peppers, a lettuce leaf, some caramelized onions and thinly-sliced pieces of steak (as if the patty wasn’t enough) which were absolutely soft to the bite; all drizzled with some specialty sauce. I just love everything about this burger! Definitely a must-try for everybody!

Writing this post is making miserable and “hangry”. How I wish I could just fly to Davao and grab a BB burger (or two) right now. 

If you’re a burger lover (or even if you’re not), consider adding Backyard Burgers on your checklist when in Davao. You simply cannot afford to miss their delicious charcoal-grilled burgers! Prices usually range between 150~250. 

*Anime face by JoBerU-Uta