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Kagay-anon Restaurant – A Sooo Pinoy Search for the Ultimate Food Blogger Round 2 Entry

Posted on by xerox

This beautiful solid wooden staircase directly leads up to Kagay-anon Restaurant, a restaurant that serves great and delicious Filipino dishes. It is located at Rosario Strip, Lim Ket Kai Complex, Cagayan de Oro City.

This restaurant was actually selected as one of the top ten restaurants in the Philippines with the best “Pinakbet”.

Naturally, my boyfriend and I don’t want to miss out on any of the best foods that the Philippines has to offer and so we really had to scurry on our way there to see it for ourselves.

Because of the vibrant colors of the vegetables, I can absolutely tell that only the freshest ingredients were used for this “pinakbet” .  

The presentation of the “pinakbet” was definitely something new to me. I love how this dish of mixed vegetables with bits of pork meat and a decent amount of “bagoong” was carefully and uniquely presented inside of a fresh squash gourd. 

And for someone who isn’t really a big fan of vegetables, I am surprised that I like it. It’s really good actually. No wonder why it’s the best!

Another item that we picked out from the menu was sizzling “sisig”. 

Oh my goodness… I’ll tell you what, this is the BEST “sisig” I have ever had!

I don’t know how they managed to elevate the taste of what seems to be just an ordinary dish (popularly known as a “pulutan”) but this is certainly how “sisig” should be done! 

Notice that even after we mixed the egg in, you can tell from the photo that the “sisig” still had that creamy texture even after the carryover cooking was done. Really a delight!

A plate of grilled prawns with lemon-butter sauce was another thing on our table. I was absolutely guilty of having most of the prawns. I wasn’t able to stop myself.

And finally to top off this feast for two, we had this stellar “halo-halo” for dessert. Served in a carved coconut shell, without a doubt, this monster is a head turner. This had almost everything that a “halo-halo” should have; The cherry on top was just a bonus. Absolutely irresistibly stunning!

I do recommend this place and I can’t wait to go back there to try all of the good stuff that I missed!

A Two-day Pre-Valentine’s Day Celebration: Ramen Tei and More

Posted on by xerox

Remember this blog post that I once submitted as an entry for a food blog contest?

Well, I am very proud to announce that both my boyfriend and I made it through the first round of the Sooo Pinoy’s Search for the Ultimate Food Blogger Contest!

Just imagine how ecstatic and excited we were when we found out that we are actually contenders for the second round! The moment we got hold of the news, we immediately prepared our own food trip itinerary set for the weekend.

So fast forward, Friday came and off we went to Cagayan de Oro as planned. After what seemed to be an eternity in the bus (the ride was wayyy longer than usual due to road repairs), we were finally able to take a taxi from Bulu-a Bus Terminal to The Mallberry Suite Business Hotel so we could leave our bags and book us a room for the night. 

FYI: Our food trip was actually a two-day thing because that’s how we roll and, also, we wanted to experience the “Night Cafe” together so that explains why we had to stay for the night because it’s more convenient that way (sadly it wasn’t until later on that night when we found out that it has actually been discontinued since Sendong which is pretty disappointing).

It was already way past lunch time by the time we were able to secure a room. Absolutely famished, we decided to put something Filipino on hold for lunch because we wanted something that would really make both of our grumbling tummies happy. Through a friend’s recommendation, we had our lunch at Ramen Tei. 

Ramen Tei serves authentic (and I must add really awesome) Japanese food. The place is really consistent with the Japanese theme. Even the waiters kinda look Japanese! Insane! Bet Ramen Tei’s management screens all of their staff members aesthetically first before proceeding to hire them… 

Nothing but a tray of Japanese condiments. There’s something different about their vinegar. It has some sweet notes to it. It’s the kind of vinegar that doesn’t have an overpowering taste; Instead, it complements the food perfectly. I wonder where I can get that…

A dish of assorted mind-blowing sushi. The best sushi I had ever!

A delicious battalion of mixed maki. I couldn’t stop helping myself to these! They were just really, really good!

A closer look. Gah, I am missing them right now!

I hate to abruptly end this post right here but… Surprise! This is just sort of a teaser of what we had. Expect another post within two days.

Exploring the Heart of the Philippines (Part Two)

Posted on by Leia Bartolome

On Day Three, my boyfriend took me the “Old City”, this is the historical center of Iloilo where structures with Spanish architecture abound.

Usually, we went around Iloilo in a taxi cab but at this time we were fully committing to the whole “real street” experience so we took jeepney rides.

You probably can’t tell from the photo but the jeepneys in Iloilo look different from the ones in Iligan. There, the jeepneys are generally stubby at the front and are very elongated at the back; And what’s great is that they are also wider. Therefore, it’s more spacious and it keeps you from feeling really cramped inside when more people get in.

Old structures are pretty evident.

We were about to grab some lunch at Crave Burger, a burger joint that my boyfriend was incessantly talking about ever since this happened.

That beautiful water fountain (just right in the center of the city) distracted me.

Here is a peek of what’s inside Crave Burger. I like how the look and feel of this place seem to be very cozy and inviting. And I especially love how we didn’t have to wait so long for our food to be done. I think we only waited like 10 minutes tops. Now here’s what we had…

Twister Fries. Seriously, who doesn’t love twister fries? They’re not only fun to look at but their also fun to eat. I love how the fries were done.

Crave Ultimate Burger. This burger…

Wait! Somehow, a funny random thought just came across my mind.
The burger in the photo reminds me of this…

A wild Pokémon appears!
Notice the resemblance? Now, who’s that Pokémon?

Anyway, back to where I was…
The burger contains 100% beef patty seasoned to perfection, topped with maple bacon, American cheese, lettuce, caramelized onions and a slice of relish pickle. I love how everything in this burger is in perfect harmony with each other (and now I’m shaking my head and wishfully thinking to have a good twelve-month supply of Crave Ultimate Burger shipped to me right now).

And finally the dessert…

A pint of green tea ice cream. I’d like to just put it out there that green tea ice cream may not be everybody’s cup of tea (no pun intended!). Some might dismiss this after their first try. But I personally love it. I enjoy how its flavor develops after every spoonful.

Once we were done, we took a bus to Miagao to see this marvelous centuries-old church that I’ve been wishing to see with my very own eyes.

But before I go show-and-tell, I feel the need to say that bus rides in the entire Panay Island are uncomfortable (and dangerous–will talk about this in a different post) in general.

Not because all their buses in this island are dilapidated, like in the photo above (certainly this is not the case), but rather because they forcibly accommodate more people than the actual sitting capacity.

For jeepneys, it’s a norm anywhere in the Philippines. But for buses? We are talking about long-distance trips here. I was literally sitting for two hours with one of my butt cheeks hanging out from the edge of the seat because I was sharing a two-sitter seat with two other strangers. But left without any choice, there was really no room for me to complain…

Boy, I was glad when I finally saw Miagao Church because it sort of justified my butt-balancing act.

Isn’t it beautiful?

The front doors look like some kind entrance to a royal castle. I actually wished to get married here but now I am starting to have second thoughts all thanks to the gruesome butt-numbing two-hour ride.

After marveling at its beauty for a while, we took two jeepney rides so we can go back to Harbor Town Hotel (yes, we moved again) immediately because we were already getting tired.

Trivia: Harbor Town Hotel is owned by my boyfriend’s relatives. Remember his cousins who treated us dinner? Yup, them. Apparently, they also offered us to stay in their hotel for free. They’re a lifesaver.

But on our way back to the hotel, we stopped for a while and grabbed the opportunity to take a photo of Molo Church.

Actually, there are lots and lots of beautiful old churches scattered in Iloilo. However, it is impossible for me to take photos of them all considering our very limited time and our physical condition then (we both got sick after Day Two and that still continued even a week after the end of our trip).

Since this post is already miles long, I’ll end it now with what we had for dinner at Ponsyon by Breakthrough.

From top to bottom: Sizzling Sisig Bangus, Crab Fat Rice (just by mere looking at it gives me hypertension!), Crab in Coconut Milk Soup and Fried Shrimps.

I’ve never had a freakin’ delicious seafood feast like this for dinner!

P.S.
I thought this post is going to be shorter than the last one. My mistake.

P.P.S.
Pokémon photo courtesy of gtsplus.net

P.P.P.S.
The featured Pokémon is Shellder in case you still haven’t figured that out.

Delecta Diner and Cafe – A Sooo Pinoy Search for the Ultimate Food Blogger Entry

Posted on by Leia Bartolome

I am a food enthusiast and a shutterbug at day and a blogger at night.

It is the marriage of my passion for food and photography that has developed my love for food blogging.

Blogging about food is definitely not something new to me but it is just lately that I have started to become really religious on coming up with new content every now and then.

To share about all the fantastic restaurants in our humble hometown gives joy not only to me but, apparently, to my friends too.

However, I believe it is about time for me to venture out and go what is beyond my horizon.

It has always been my dream to go to around the Philippines (and hopefully, soon, the world) to sample authentic delicacies from various regions.

For me, this is a different kind of learning experience because it helps me to be more open and appreciative of the unique notes of flavors and tastes from all over the country.

I believe that I am the Ultimate Food Blogger because my passion for food (especially Filipino food) simply runs into my veins and I can translate my thoughts and experiences into words and photographs.

Blogging about food is not only something that I do as a pastime but slowly it is starting to become an extension of who I am.

It is a lifestyle. My lifestyle at that.

Now, allow me to narrate about what my boyfriend and I had for lunch the other day at Delecta Diner and Cafe…

We had “Kinilaw” (a classic favorite of mine), Humba (“Pork Adobo”), Smoked Bangus and Halo-halo Supreme.

I like how Delecta’s “Kinilaw” had a wonderful nippy mix of fresh raw fish marinated in vinegar with some spices. The heat from the chopped chilies was perfect. Just thinking about how this dish tasted makes me slobber.

The Smoked Bangus was something I never had before so I really have no clue what to expect of it. I was quite hesitant to give it a try. But curiosity won me over, so I took a bite and boyyyy did it blow me away! I instantly wanted more! I love its woodsy smoke flavor which really elevated the flavor of the fish. Plus, the salad on the side was a bonus.

Here’s a closer look of the Smoked Bangus. Yum.

And there I am looking dead serious. Seriously dead hungry that is. Beside the platter of “Kinilaw” is “Humba”… Another delicious heart-clogging dish which I failed to document due to hunger. Pardon.

Lastly, here is their massive bowl of Halo-halo Supreme which pretty much had every essential ingredient to make heavenly halo-halo. All it lacked was Cornflakes. But I enjoyed it very much nonetheless. The perfect dessert to end a DELECTAble meal. Pun intended.

Closing this post with a wacky photo of my boyfriend showing the enormousness of Delecta’sHalo-halo Supreme. Please compare it to the size of his head. Kthxbye.

Meong’s Bulalo and Kambingan

Posted on by Leia Bartolome

Located along the national highway, in very close proximity to Iligan’s Gaisano Mall, you really can’t possibly miss Meong’s Bulalo and Kambingan.

If you’re not comfortable eating along the highway in a shack, then this eatery is definitely not for you.

From across the street, this is how Meong’s Bulalo and Kambingan looks like on any regular day…

But like that during a Pacquiao fight!

No surprise there. Every time there’s a Pacquiao fight, it seems like it’s Jesus’ second coming already and a pre-tribulation rapture is taking place (at least here in the Philippines that is).

My personal favorite from Meong’s Bulalo and Kambingan menu is “Halang-halang”. When literally translated, “halang-halang” means “spicy-spicy”. It’s nothing fancy really. It’s simply a spicy beef broth with chunky bits of beef.

Now what I like about their ‘“Halang-halang” is that I can add more stuff to it according to my taste.

I personally love my “halang-halang” with lots of crushed chili, some calamansi extract, a pinch of ground black pepper and a fistful of chopped spring onions. This definitely goes best with a lump of rice and a refreshing bottle of ice-cold Coca-cola.

Eaten best on cold rainy days.

Z Restobar

Posted on by Leia Bartolome

If you are an Iliganon, then this should look awfully familiar to you. Yes?
Okay… I hate to break it to you but Club Thirty is now no more.

What used to be the only fancy club in Iligan, where all the young elites used to go, is now a “restobar” that serves Thai food.

Its interior has been extended to accommodate more people inside and revamped to suit to the Thai theme.

Apart from that, nothing drastic has really changed except for their menu of course. They now serve a plethora of drinks and only a handful of food.

I’d guesstimate that the ratio of drinks to food would be 70-30 respectively.
Maybe they’ll add more food items to their menu in about three months.

I believe it was just the other week when my boyfriend and I just went there for some chow. Down below is what we had for a late night dinner…

In the foreground is Chicken with Cashew Nuts (I’m not sure about the name of the dish; I’ll look it up soon) and Spicy Shrimp Salad in the background.

We just gave Chicken with Cashew Nuts a try, albeit it sounded a bit unusual and strange to us because we are adventurous like that. Glad to say, no regrets. It was good. The flavors are a bit over the top though so it is highly recommended that you should eat it with some rice.

Here’s a closer look at the Spicy Shrimp Salad…

Trivia: Iligan restaurants usually don’t devein shrimps.

So the very first thing I noticed was that the shrimps were deveined! A major plus! The shrimps were tender and had that unique tangy (?) taste which I can’t seem to put my finger on.

By the way, is it wrong of me to think that “spicy equals to hot” and vice versa?

The Spicy Shrimp Salad didn’t have that kick of heat that I was expecting it to have. Yes, it did have that tiny hint of heat but it’s like almost infinitesimal. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t really enjoy eating spicy food, this is perfectly safe for you to eat.

So those are the only ones that we were able to try so far.
I love the fact that their service is astonishingly quick and their staff is absolutely friendly.

Would I go back there for another dinner soon? Yes, I would.

Pancake House

Posted on by Leia Bartolome

Just last week, my boyfriend and I went to CDO just to watch Real Steel on a big screen. By the way, if you haven’t watched it yet… It’s about time you should because it’s a fun movie to watch!

So anyway, we arrived in CDO just about lunchtime and we immediately had brunch at Pancake House (Located here – Level 1, North Concourse Entrance, LimKetKai Center).

Okay… Normally, I would open a food blog with a photo of how the place looks like. But this post is an exception since I simply forgot to take some interior snapshots of Pancake House due to hunger. So instead, here’s their silverware on a piece of a napkin with their logo.

I was surprised and impressed with how fast their service is for a restaurant.

By the way, these are what we had…

Above is Pancake House’s Peach Waffle with a scoop of whipped cream on top then we drizzled it with some syrup. I honestly have no clue what syrup that was. All I know is that it was definitely not maple.

I like peaches. I like waffles. But my taste buds didn’t agree with the combination. I reckon it would have been better if it had a scoop of vanilla ice cream sitting on top rather than just plain whipped cream.

That is Seafood Gambero. Basically, it’s a marinara style pasta with mussel, shrimps, and cream dory.

I’m really torn with this dish. I kinda like it but don’t at the same time. I really wish they had more mussel. Seriously, just one piece of mussel?
And also, I absolutely wasn’t sure about the taste of fresh parsley. Fresh parsley was absolutely foreign to me until I had that pasta; I find its taste somehow distinctively odd…

Lastly, we had Salisbury Steak with some corn kernels, chopped carrots and a cup of rice on the side. We actually ordered some extra bacon strips and my boyfriend decided to put them on top of the steak.

The background story about the extra bacon:
We ordered them out of curiosity because I have this friend who said that it’s the best bacon he has ever tried.

On the other hand, it was the strangest bacon I ever had. It tasted so much like “chicharon” that I forgot I was eating bacon. I would rather buy a pack of honey-cured bacon at a supermarket and cook some for myself at home, to be honest. (But hey, if you don’t mind eating bacon tasting like “chicharon”, I swear it’s going to be totally fine.)

Then I was starting to get really disappointed until I tried the steak.
The meat was tender, cooked really nicely and I definitely enjoyed eating it sans the bacon strips.

For now, I have no final verdict about their food. They have so many items on their menu that I have yet to explore.

To know more about Pancake House and what they serve, click here.

Papa Mai’s Grill

Posted on by Leia Bartolome

I have been raving about Papa Mai’s Grill for the longest time already. Yet I did not have the opportunity to actually blog about this what-was-once-a-hidden-gem-in-the-city.

I first heard about this eatery ages ago when a friend of mine was blabbing about how delectable their grilled pork belly is. Tales of their grilled pork belly delight was only a word-of-mouth sensation then. Having heard so many good reviews about their specialty, I was not able to resist the temptation any longer…

And you don’t have to guess if I loved it… I simply did and I still very much do!

In fact, whenever I’m feeling for some grilled meat, I head straight to Papa Mai’s Grill.

Tip: Dip those chops of grilled pork belly in a mixture of soy sauce, crushed chilies for some heat, some calamansi extract, and Papa Mai’s special ground ginger-garlic-spices sauce thing. Match made in heaven.

Obviously, grilled pork belly isn’t the only thing in their menu…
You should try their “Halang-halang” (The soup only is free! Who doesn’t want free stuff?) and “Papaitan”.

Originally, they were located in the anus of somewhere and it was really tasking to get there especially since they didn’t post any signage outside of their building.

Trust. I’ve been there a few times and every time I was on the way there…
I still wasn’t sure if I was heading in the right direction or place!

Certainly, the only ones who knew that Papa Mai’s Grill even existed were only the people who already ate there previously or was brought there by a friend. Hence, word-of-mouth.

Thankfully, just recently, they managed to get a space at Pasillo so they are now totally accessible to everyone. I promise to link a map location whenever I remember how to do it again.