mindanao Archives ⋆ Page 4 of 5 ⋆ Leia Khu

24 & 2 Part 5: Sumo Sam

Posted on June 24, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

To cap off this 24 & 2 series, my boyfriend and I had our lunch at Sumo Sam (Centrio).

Sumo Sam is a restaurant chain that specializes in Japanese-American food and is owned by Marvin Agustin. Hence, the life size photo of him standing right outside the door beckoning for you to come in. Hehe.

One of the things I like about Sumo Sam is that they serve complimentary tea. Please excuse my messy hair and sleep deprived face (I left my comb back at the hotel where we stayed and I was really sick that day) by the way.

Food here is a little bit pricey but their servings are pretty ginormous so you can just share a meal with another person.

Someone looks excited to eat!

I’m not sure what this is… My boyfriend ordered this one. I think this is Smoked Salmon Roll. I remember not being too happy with this dish. The salmon was dry and pale. Though the flavors are somehow there but this is not something I would recommend.

I ordered the oh-so-glorious Beef Gyudon with a raw egg on top. Now, I know this sounds very disgusting for others. Believe me… The first time I had this, I had mental debates about whether or not to skip the raw egg (you are actually given the option) but I’m soooo glad I didn’t! This is just heaven in a bowl! Trust me on this! This rice bowl may be already good on its own but the raw egg just adds that extra creamy texture like no other. THIS I recommend!

Anyway, I just got home from my Davao-GenSan trip with my boyfriend. Expect TONS of blog posts about it soon!

24 & 2 Part 4: Sweet Leaf Bubble Tea Cafe

Posted on June 12, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

This is day number two of our post-anniversary celebration and there’s no better way to start the day than having a cup of milk tea (unless you’re a coffee person then it’s coffee).

So off we went to Sweet Leaf Bubble Tea Cafe. This is another milk tea shop in CDO that serves authentic Taiwanese tea and it is located at Pabayo and Chavez Streets, Divisoria.

Since we went there early on a Sunday, we got to “own” the whole place.

It’s so hard not to feel at home here.

I really love their wall decor.

Here’s a closer look.

More of their wall decor. Diggin’ the quotes!

Anyway, here’s what we had. Left, my rock salt and cheese matcha milk tea with tapioca pearls. Right, my boyfriend’s rock salt and cheese dark chocolate milk tea with some pudding added on.

I didn’t really enjoy mine… However, my boyfriend’s milk tea was the bomb! Definitely a must-try! It’s actually their best seller.

My boyfriend propping up the menu. We still have a looong list of milk teas to taste. Good thing teas here are affordable.

Although I may be disappointed with their rock salt and cheese matcha tea but I’ll definitely come back here to try some more.

24 & 2 Part 3: T.G.I. Fridays

Posted on June 3, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

T.G.I. Fridays, a.k.a. Friday’s, has finally come to CDO!

I know I’m a little too late on this announcement but better late than never right?

Upon finding our seat, I was amused! Here’s le boyfriend with our special guests, Buzz and Woody who joined us for dinner that night.

Hanging right above my seat are two real guitars. And there’s Bruce, the Legend (as Kato) and Bruce, the shark from Jaws. Real awesome.

Anyway, for our appetizer, we had Cajun Chicken Salad.

Crispy fried Cajun-battered chicken strips served with tomato, egg wedges, grated cheese and some mixed greens coated with honey mustard dressing.

I’d have to say that the chicken somehow tastes very similar to KFC’s. Not that it’s a bad thing, I do really love KFC myself.

I love everything in this salad especially the tomatoes (sorry chicken you’re not the star here for me haha). They’re fresh, juicy and sweet. I could seriously eat a bowl of those tomatoes.

And lemme tell ya, this is one HEFTY appetizer and is practically a meal in itself. I was starting to feel stuffed eating just halfway through this salad!

And as if that wasn’t enough, my boyfriend had to order Mushroom Onion Swiss Burger.

Juicy pure ground beef patty topped with tomato, lettuce, pickles, caramelized onions, melted Swiss cheese and thick toasted buns. Served with some crispy fries.

I liked it and it is very good but I’ve had better burgers than this albeit just smaller in size.

By the way, have you ever wondered how to eat a monster of a burger without spilling all over the place? Well, here’s the trick… Grip it tight and turn it upside down!

Yup, you read that right. Try it for yourself and be amazed!

Excuse me while I give this burger a kiss.

Since we had a coupon for a free Mocha Mud Pie, we just had to have it even if we were about to burst at this point.

As written on their menu, it’s rich chocolate-almond mousse and coffee ice cream frozen in a chocolate crumb crust. Topped with hot fudge and toasted almond slices.

We loved it. It’s not too sweet and it reminds me of one of my favorite desserts, Death by Choco. Too bad we weren’t able to finish it all up. Much to our displeasure.

I heard their steaks and ribs are very good but we’ll reserve those for another time.

24 & 2 Part 2: Human Heart Nature

Posted on May 30, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

Just a block or two away from Little Miss Funnel Cake, we spotted a Human Heart Nature branch and we just had to walk right in.

Human Heart Nature is a chain of stores in the Philippines that sell natural and organic world-class goods at very affordable prices.

Their products are ethically-acquired and are not processed with any synthetic chemicals.

From personal care to pet care, they got your basic and furry needs covered.

What I love about this company is that they source their raw materials and manufacture their products here in the Philippines. So if you buy their products, you are not only helping the local economy but you are supporting the local farmers as well.

Another thing that I love about Human Heart Nature is their eco-consciousness. They ensure that their products don’t become toxic once released to the environment and they have a recycling program where 100% of the proceeds go to Gawad Kalinga.

Oh, hi there!

Spotted! My boyfriend slobbering over bars of chocolate…

My boyfriend asked me if I wanted one so he could get one for me but I knew it was him who wanted one really badly. HAHA!

We got the dark chocolate one. I didn’t get to eat much of it though because I was having a very bad cough that day. Please don’t judge the forehead. Hehe.

Boyfriend holding a bag of coffee.

Here is a closer look of it. Don’t you just love the packaging? It was really nice of them to brew us some of this coffee so we could sample it. It was really good! I recommend that you pick this up should you bump into one of their branches that carry this.

Picked out a bottle of Sunflower Beauty Oil for myself. It’s one of their best sellers. I already tried it and it’s amazing! I use it as a make-up remover, hair serum and under eye moisturizer. Once I’ve emptied this bottle, I plan to drop it at this branch for recycling and purchase another one.

By the way, Human Heart Nature has awesome customer service. Should you be unhappy with any of their products, you can return them for a replacement, refund or credit.

They also have other merchanise such as t-shirts, bags and more!

To know more about Human Heart Nature and their products, I suggest that you visit their website by clicking here. They’re all about the good.

24 & 2 Part 1: Little Miss Funnel Cake

Posted on May 28, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

How ya’ll been doing? I hope everyone enjoyed the summer. As for me, I am still in disbelief that May is almost drawing to a close because I don’t want it to end. So far, this month has been the greatest! I just turned 24 and my boyfriend and I just turned 2. All is ~~good~~ super awesome!

And in celebration of my 24th birthday and our 2nd year anniversary, we went to CDO for a food trip and first on our itinerary was Little Miss Funnel Cake.

Little Miss Funnel Cake is a cozy dessert shop located at AB Santiago Building, Velez and Gaerlan Streets.

As the name suggests, they are known for their funnel cakes. Frankly, I had no idea what a funnel cake was and so I did my homework… And it’s actually just batter poured through a funnel and deep-fried onto hot cooking oil until it turns golden brown. I learned that by watching this cooking video right here.

I’m all about good food at great prices…

So this is the place to be! Nothing above 70 pesos! Ridiculous.

Mango Caramel Funnel Cake and Deep-fried Oreos were calling my name so that’s what we both had.

I really like watching how my food is made 🙂

Oh, did I mention that I dyed my hair pink? What do you guys think? 🙂
I digress.

Now to the delicious part of the post…

Mango caramel funnel cake, topped with tidbits of fresh mango, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a sprinkle of powdered sugar and a drizzle of caramel syrup. Although I do wish I had a bigger scoop of ice cream but it doesn’t matter… T’was gooood.

Deep-fried Oreos, also topped with powdered sugar and a scoop of vanilla ice cream then drizzled with some chocolate syrup. Now I know these deep-fried Oreos look rather unappealing in this photo as the ice cream has already melted into a sticky soup here… But I swear that it is an artery-clogging treat that you should not miss!

While I would not want to have these everyday myself for health concerns but they’re really good to have every once-in-awhile.

I highly recommend that you visit Little Miss Funnel Cake and try these goodies especially the deep-fried Oreos! And I guarantee you that you will not regret it!

The Irresistable Charm of Chingkeetea

Posted on March 10, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

Recently, tea houses have been blossoming and spreading like wildflowers. And for someone like me who loves tea, this is amazing news!

I love tea! Hot tea, cold tea, blended tea, iced tea, you name it!

I have already been to a few tea houses but so far nothing quite compares to Chingkeetea (or maybe I’m just a little biased).

Chingkeetea is a cozy little tea house nestled somewhere in the heart of Cagayan de Oro City.

They serve a variety of delicious milk teas and fruit teas…

They also have some snacks that go well with tea like cookies, cupcakes and pasta. All reasonably priced so that students can easily afford.

My personal favorite is Wintermelon Milk Tea with Tapioca Pearls.

The rustic vibe gives Chingkeetea that distinct charm and character which sets it apart from all other tea houses. It’s just so hard to not fall in love with the place.

It is one of the go-to places for tea and photo ops.

Look, there’s me just chillin’ out…

And then, there’s my boyfriend… Swingin’.

Chingkeetea is not only for the tea lovers. It is also a hub for the bloggers, the shutterbugs, the bookworms and the creative youth in general.

Since I’m pretty sure I’ll keep coming back here (because I can’t get enough of Chingkeetea’s charm and milk tea of course), please expect more blog posts about it some time in the future.

‘Til my next post, have a nice Sunday everyone!

Prawn House Seafood Restaurant and Suites

Posted on February 24, 2013October 7, 2018 by xerox

Last year (this is another backlog entry apparently), my boyfriend and I were invited to a wedding party in Cagayan de Oro and since it was going to start late in the afternoon (and would most likely continue late into the night) we looked for a place to stay…

After spending some time on research and much deliberation, we finally decided to stay at Prawn House Seafood Restaurant and Suites. As obviously implied by its name, It’s not only a hotel but it’s also a restaurant that serves seafood. And because I really love seafood, it’s a double win for me!

The best part is, it’s only a walking distance from SM City! And for those of you who want to know, it’s only just a few minutes away from the Lumbia airport too.

There’s my boyfriend checking out their menu… Food prices range between 200 to 300 pesos.

Yes, they have aquariums that contain live sea creatures just like in Oyster Bay Seafood Restaurant.

And then there’s my boyfriend again, enjoying his fresh buko juice, or as Americans would like to call it, coco water.

Forgot what this is called but it definitely looks like steak. I remember to have enjoyed it. The gravy went really nicely with it and so did the vegetables on the side.

Sizzling sisig. One of my favorite Filipino food of all time. Pairs perfectly with ice-cold beer.

Of course, no Prawn House trip is ever complete without having to try any of their seafood, especially their prawns! Their Prawn Thermidore is a definite must-try!

And here’s a preview of the room we got…

This is the Standard Room. Can you believe that this only costed us 850 for the night? It’s neat, tidy and cozy. The linens and towels were fresh. And they provided complimentary bathroom products too! Believe me, not all budget hotels here in the Philippines do that. And with this note, I am impressed!

So for those who want to experience quality service but are on a budget, I highly recommend this place!

For more information about Prawn House Seafood Restaurant and Suites, please click on this link.

Gelato by Missy Bonbon

Posted on August 19, 2012October 7, 2018 by xerox

Whenever I go to Cagayan de Oro, I make sure to grab one of my ultimate guilty pleasures in life and that is Missy Bonbon’s freshly churned gelato!

Just look at all those sinful choices! I can hear them singing my name. If you feel overwhelmed on which one to pick, don’t be shy to ask for a free taste test.

Creamy, sweet and delicious. I simply can’t get enough of it. Goodness starts at 45 PHP only!

Tarakumain sa Tadakuma

Posted on August 18, 2012October 7, 2018 by xerox

I KNOW. “Tarakumain sa Tadakuma” has just got to be the lamest pun title I ever came up with. And yeah, I just had to kinda force it. I bet you must have rolled your eyes. MOVING ON…

Tadakuma is a Japanese restaurant that just opened at Don Ramon Chavez Street, Cagayan de Oro City.

My best friend’s boyfriend, Miguel took my boyfriend and I there for lunch. Sadly, my best friend, Ritz was not with us because she is currently living and working in London (we miss you!).

Originally, my boyfriend and I planned to have our lunch at Kogi Bulgogi (a Korean restaurant that just opened at Lim Ket Kai). But sometimes, things just don’t go as planned. But hey, who said I was complaining?

Tadakuma is very cozy and modern. Actually, when we got there, it was REALLY busy. All the tables were full and so we had to wait for a table for a little while. By the way, the photo above was taken after everybody else already left the restaurant with happy tummies.

Nothing but a cute random bowl. If only I could take one home as a souvenir. Just kidding. Or am I really?

Oh, before I proceed to talk about what we had, can I ask you a teeny favor guys?

Umm.. can you please not hate me for forgetting the names of what we had? I was soooo hungry that everything just went completely out of my mind. I am crossing my fingers that the photos will just somehow make up for it. Here goes…

This is a bowl of plain minced raw fish on top of a bed of rice. And those two tiny blobs that you see on top are wasabi paste and pounded ginger. To eat this, you have to properly mix everything in together so to evenly distribute the flavor. It has just the right punch of heat and that zing of flavor coming from the pounded ginger. It’s like a different take on “kinilaw”. If you don’t have problems eating raw fish, you’ll definitely love this!

A bowl of ramen noodles with three thin slices of meat, a slice of fish cake, a slice of boiled egg and a few greens. It looked like it could need a little more stuff though. However, the soup is like no other.

So that’s all we had. Blurred in the background is Miguel’s Tempura Udon. For some reason, I can only remember his order. Shoot me.

Tadakuma is a tad cheaper than Ramen Tei. In average, everything costs around 200~300 PHP per dish. The servings are delicious and quite generous so you do get your money’s worth. To the last peso. Give this place a go and I’m sure you’ll love it too!

Z Restobar Revisited

Posted on August 15, 2012October 7, 2018 by xerox

Hello everybody, say hello to Z Restobar again!

Since there are so many dishes that we still have yet to try, my boyfriend wanted us to go there again to celebrate our 15th “monthsary”.

So without any further ado, first up was Thai Green Curry with Chicken.

Although this had chunks of pineapple in it (I dislike pineapples in case you don’t know), it was just too good to not like it! They had me at the richness of the coconut milk and the aromatic smell of the curry. The chicken was tender, the piquancy was just right and it was so hearty that I could have had one big bowl all to myself. But due to gastric problems, I had to control and refrain myself from eating too much of it. Especially since it is my doctor’s advice to avoid anything spicy and acidic for two very long months. Woe is me.

And the other thing that we had (apart from two mounds of garlic rice that were not pictured) was Thai Fried Noodles with Prawns.

I believe one must have an acquired taste for this dish. Its mix of flavors is very unique and can be quite unusual for the Filipino palette. It was sour, nutty and had a tiny kick of heat to it all at the same time. I found the taste to very weird at first… But when my taste buds were finally able to adjust, I realized that I began to like it. Just not as much as the Thai Green Curry with Chicken though.

It was of great misfortune that they ran out of Matcha Green Tea… I would have had that.

Till the next post!