Food Archives - Page 5 of 12 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

Dec192015 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Kamukura Ramen in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan for yummy, cheap eats

Food, Japan, Kyoto, Leisure, Osaka, Reviews, Tokyo, Tourism, Travel

My brothers and I spent our first evening in Japan in Shibuya, one of Tokyo's special wards. I was really looking forward to spending time in Shibuya especially since it's one of Tokyo's busiest districts. You can read more about our fun Shibuya escapades. Anyway, while my brothers and I roamed around Shibuya, we realized we haven't eaten anything yet after we checked in at Oak Hostel Cabin. As fate would have it, we stumbled upon this ramen restaurant that had an English menu - Kamukura Soup With Noodles. Entering that restaurant was one of the great impromptu decisions we made while in Tokyo :) Because, as it turned out, Kamukura is one of the popular ramen places in Japan that served really good, filling and affordable food! Kamukura Ramen actually has a controversial c...

Dec92015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Superb Cebu buffet: Why Tokyo Table is a must-visit

Cebu City, Features, Food, Reviews, Visayas

I'm still on a Japan high! So high that I'm already planning my next trip there! I actually did something that had a touch of Japan even before I actually went to Japan! I visited a superb, much-talked about Yakiniku buffet restaurant in Cebu and savored okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake), lots of ramen (yum!) and grilled squid and salmon (the Japanese love their seafood!). I went to Tokyo Table, one of the best buffet restaurants in Cebu. Located at City Time Square, Mantawi Avenue, Tipolo, Mandaue City, Tokyo Table Cebu eat all you can restaurant serves an impressive array of food choices – from seafood-all-you-can and raw meats that you can grill on your own or with the able assistance of the restaurant’s friendly staff (each table has a grill plate) to a sushi and dimsum station to ...

Oct282015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Churros at Mai Crafts Boutique Cafe CDO

Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Food, Misamis Oriental, Reviews

Ever since my most recent trip to Manila (where I tried the much-talked about churros at La Lola Churreria), I've been having these crazy cravings for churros. Churros are basically fried-dough pastries dusted in icing sugar and served with rich chocolate dips. These choux-based snacks are really delicious and filling, especially when served piping hot, fresh from the fryer. Best to pair it with your favorite hot beverage. In my case, I like pairing it with real good coffee. Anyway, I've been trying to look for churros and lo and behold, I actually had my fill at a craft store. Nope, I'm not kidding. Mai Crafts Boutique Cafe is located along Velez Street, Cagayan de Oro. What used to be a place where you can find imported home furnishings, knick knacks, crafts, dinnerware, tea cups a...

Sep272015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

My Laduree French macaron Makati visit

Features, Food, Manila, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews

One of my longtime super favorite blogs to read is Chuvaness, run by Cecile Zamora van Straten. I've been reading it since its LiveJournal days and as much as I possibly can, I try to visit the restaurants or shops that she recommends. One of her recent entries was about the opening of the Manila branch of Laduree, that famous French luxury bakery that opened in 1862 and that's best known for its delicious macarons. Let's get this out of the way first - a macaron is a sweet meringue-based confection made with egg white. Commonly filled with ganache, buttercream or jam filling sandwiched between two cookies (or crisp shells), the name "macaron" is derived from the Italian word macarone, maccarone or maccherone, the Italian meringue. (Source: Wikipedia) Yes, it's different from macaroons....

Sep252015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Churreria La Lola Rockwell Powerplant

Food, Manila, Reviews

So I finally had the chance to try the famous Churreria La Lola churros at Powerplant Mall, Rockwell. I've been eager to visit since a lot of my Instagram friends have been posting and raving about their giant churros. So of course the girl from Mindanao had to see what the fuss was all about! The long queue at La Lola Churreria really got me convinced that they're serving delicious food here: The menu was simple and easy to understand. Although my mission that day was to try the Churros Clasicos (medium, 6 pieces, Php 110) plus the chocolate dip (medium, Php 60), I want to try the stuffed churros (with a choice of nutella, dulce de leche, strawberry or peanut butter) or the churros dipped in dark chocolate the next time I'm in town (which is next week LOL). YUM! Just typing ...

Sep252015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

BonChon Centrio CDO delivery service

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Food, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Reviews

Aren't there just days when you want your favorite food delivered right at your doorstep? How about instances when you have unexpected guests and you want to serve something good, familiar and delicious? Thankfully, one of our favorite brands, BonChon, now offers food delivery! BonChon CDO can now deliver your favorite BonChon goodies anywhere around Cagayan de Oro City. Just a few days ago, BonChon Centrio CDO sent me a feast! I couldn’t help but give in when a friendly staff member delivered 24 pieces of real good, piping hot chicken and fries right at my doorstep! Trust me, it was an offer that was so difficult to turn down! It was a Friday so BonChon sent me the "Wings and Fries Friday" feast. It is the BEST chicken and fries deal! I tried the new crunchy garlic var...

Aug152015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Chef Nadine Tengco in CDO for Marca Leon cooking demo

Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Food

U.S. certified fitness nutritionist and the Biggest Loser Philippines' resident food coach Chef Nadine Tengco was in town a few days ago for a Marca Leon-sponsored cooking demo. Chef Nadine Tengco shared some tips on healthy eating, diets and good food preparation. One of my favorite take aways from the event? According to Chef Nadine, avoid eating steaming hot rice if you want to lose weight. Better to eat cold or room temperature rice! Hmm...quite a challenge but pretty doable, don't you think so? She also said that it's best to use Marca Leon corn oil because it's good for the heart :) As you can see in the photos I took, the svelte 48 year old sure does know what she's talking about! She is, after all, the diet coach of top celebrities Anne Curtis, KC Concepcion, Julia Barretto, ...

Jul302015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Wine Cellar CDO brings back drink-all-you-can wine nights

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Events, Features, Food, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Society, Style

Fond of wines? In Cagayan de Oro, the only place to indulge in bestselling fine wines is at The Wine Cellar. Located at Door 6, Great Spot Arcade, JR Borja Extension, The Wine Cellar is considered a must-visit in CDO. Not only is The Wine Cellar CDO stocked with fine wines from all over the world (prices start at Php 390 per bottle), they also exclusively carry imported beers (including 1906, voted the best beer in 2014) as well as spirits. And, with the Kagay-an Festival 2015 drawing near, this CDO wine bar has come up with various special promos. This weekend, they're offering a DRINK-ALL-YOU-CAN red and white wines treat! For only Php 249.00, customers will be served with unlimited red and white wines plus FREE pizza slices courtesy of Oliver's Pizza next door. The promo will be o...

Jul112015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Here’s an Italian restaurant amidst Bukidnon mountains

Bukidnon, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Features, Food, Tourism

If, like me, you often traverse the Davao to Bukidnon highway, chances are, you've also spotted this quaint, unassuming place at Barangay BuDa (Bukidnon - Davao border), Marilog District. Marked by an Italian flag proudly swaying along with the wind, La Toscana Il Cielo is an authentic Italian restaurant run and owned by the Lucarini couple. Apart from the fact that this Italian restaurant is located in the middle of lush vegetation, mountainous area in Bukidnon and at the outskirts of a small, quiet town, La Toscana Il Cielo BuDa's other beauty is the fact that they only use ingredients straight from Italy and the herbs and vegetables come from their 3-hectare farm right there at BuDa. Click here to see the menu By the way, "La Toscana" means "the Tuscan" whi...

Jul42015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

How to spot fake rice

Business, Consumer, Controversial, Crime, Food

This fake rice controversy is really very alarming. News reports have so far stated that these alleged fake rice grains entered the Philippine market from China. Although there have been no reports of death, authorities say that people who may have digested these plastic rice grains may experience dizziness, stomach ache and vomiting. Hence, it's really important that we all be extra careful when we buy rice these days. Here are some tips on how to spot fake rice: 1. Regular and well-milled rice are white and long-grained 2. Fake rice looks too shiny, too round and are uniform in shape and size 3. Real rice does not smell like plastic 4. Fake rice may weigh less than the usual at a certain volume 5. Real rice have "bran streaks" Please buy from National Food Authority-lice...

Jun192015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

That Amazing Wine-Paired Degustation At Movenpick Resort Cebu

Blogging, Business, Cebu City, Events, Features, Flights, Food, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Reviews, Society, Style, Tourism, Travel

Degustation is a culinary term that means meticulous food tasting of special signature dishes. Usually consisting of several courses, each paired with matching wines that complement each dish, a degustation aims to heighten one’s senses and allows one to appreciate food at its finest. That’s exactly what happened during my recent stay at Moevenpick Hotel Mactan Cebu. I flew via Philippine Airlines and underwent a wine-paired degustation at the Conservatory of the Ibiza Beach Club, led by no other than popular Cebu businessman and passionate sommelier Manuel “Manny” Osmeña. This was how the Ibiza Beach Club looked like that night: Before that, though, Manny O gave me and my fellow media guests a tour of his private wine cellar. Only a handful of people have ever set foot here s...

Jun162015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Eating right, losing weight with NutriFit CGY

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Recipes, Society

Here's something I haven't really extensively shared with you yet - I've been going to the gym, following exercise routines and been trying to eat right. In fact, it'll soon be my second month of following this "lead a healthier lifestyle" challenge. It'll just be my second month but boy do I already consider that as quite a feat! Losing weight, eating right, exercising properly - these are pretty difficult to do especially for someone like me who needs to travel a lot, attend several events in a week and have quite a number of PR and social media clients to take care of. Thankfully, there's NutriFit CGY, a homebased food business that offers Paleo diet meals for people who need healthy, calorie-regulated, delicious food. Paleo, short for "paleolithic," involves eating whole, organic, c...

May162015 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

AirAsia Hot Meals – Gastronomic Delights At 35,000 Feet

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, Features, Flights, Food, Media, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, News, Reviews, Travel

I consider myself a budget conscious traveler who doesn’t mind spending extra if it means getting something better. Take airplane food, for instance. Unless I’m truly famished or I want to try something for the first time, I stay away from food sold and served aboard an aircraft. Not only are these airline meals (more often than not) expensive, they’re hardly filling and tasty. The choices are very limited as well (so limited that I think a cup of instant noodles has become the “default” order by weary, hungry passengers). However, let me say this: I always make an exception when I take flights via AirAsia. Even before I got invited to Cebu a few days ago for the exclusive AirAsia Hot Meals media launch, I have already been an avid fan of their in-flight meals. Real, flavorful food sold...

Apr132015 by Mindanaoan Irene5 Comments

Must-try cafe in CDO: Kafe Al Fresco

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Reviews

Have you ever gone out of your way just to check out a cafe or restaurant simply because you've grown curious of all the seemingly mouthwatering photos they post on social media? That's exactly what I did on a Friday when I went to try Kafe Al Fresco CDO. I often see food shots taken from this unassuming little cafe in Sta. Cecilia Subdivision, Gusa, Cagayan de Oro (which is a good half an hour away from my place) and since I like trying out new places and sharing the experience with a friend, I invited Em. Fortunately, she was game to tag along. And off we went to Kafe Al Fresco. Kafe Al Fresco CDO is actually a makeshift structure turned into a quaint cafe of sorts. It's located within a compound that also has a row of apartments owned by the Hojas family. And, yes, it's in ...

Apr92015 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Chicken678 from Korea opens first Philippine branch in Mindanao

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Food, Korea, Reviews, Seoul

During my most recent visit to Korea, I noticed so many chicken and beer food places. I later found out that eating chicken and beer (maekju) is a very big part of the Korean food culture. Hence, the many chimaek or (chicken+maek) restaurants all over Korea. In popular Seoul tourist spots like Myeongdong alone, you'll probably spot a number of chimaeks along every street. So when I learned that Chicken 678, one of Korea's popular chimaeks, is set to open a branch in the Philippines, I was pretty interested. Perfect time to reminisce all about my trip to Korea! I was all the more interested when I found out that their first ever Philippine branch will be in Mindanao! How cool is that? Chicken 678, owned by well-known Korean MC and comedian Kang Ho-Dong, has opened a branch at the Grou...

Mar282015 by Mindanaoan Irene7 Comments

Secret Garden for good Korean food in Cagayan de Oro

Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Food, Korea, Reviews

Ever since I first visited Korea, I've fallen madly in love with Korean food. I love how healthy and clean-tasting (i.e. not oily, very flavorful) Korean dishes are. So I'm pretty happy to know that there's a restaurant in Cagayan de Oro that serves good and pretty affordable authentic Korean food. Located along Masterson Avenue, Secret Garden Restaurant is owned and managed by a friendly Korean, who even had a big smile on his face as my friends and I entered the place to have dinner. There were tables and chairs at an open space but there were also smaller, airconditioned rooms. My friends and I opted to stay outside. The huge overhead fan was enough to keep us comfortable. We were served complimentary kimchi, pickled vegetables and spiced tofu. Oh, how I miss kimchi! And how I ...

Mar242015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Visit Coffeeworks Malaybalay for coffee dates in Bukidnon

Bukidnon, Business, Consumer, Food, Malaybalay City, Mindanaoan Update, Northern Mindanao, Reviews, Society

Coffeeworks, a Cagayan de Oro coffee shop brand, has finally opened its Malaybalay City branch in Bukidnon. Coffeeworks Malaybalay is the newest, latest coffee and pastry shop in the capital of Bukidnon. Located at Mandani Arcade along Fortich Street (just a few meters away from Bukidnon State University, see Google map below), Coffeeworks Malaybalay is home to freshly brewed coffee, smoothies, ice blended drinks, "over ice" drinks, teas and pastries. I'm a regular customer of the Coffeeworks Cagayan de Oro branches at Rosario Arcade, Limketkai Center and Corrales Avenue (right next to the Xavier University gymnasium) so I'm familiar with their menu. So when I was invited to visit Coffeeworks Malaybalay a day before their formal opening, I just had to order my all-time favorit...

Feb282015 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

At Tim Ho Wan Manila Michelin Star Restaurant

Business, Consumer, Food, Manila, Reviews

So I've finally visited TIM HO WAN Manila! I've been seeing a lot of photos of Tim Ho Wan's Manila restaurants plus their uber popular baked buns with pork BBQ (char siu) filling. At bilang fan na fan ako ng dim sum, I knew I just had to include Tim Ho Wan in my must-visit list next time I'm in Manila. Tim Ho Wan, which originated in Mong Kok, Hong Kong, is recognized as HK's most famous Michelin star restaurant. Actually, Tim Ho Wan is the world's cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant! And you know how it is if a restaurant is awarded a Michelin star. It means you simply have to visit. The Tim Ho Wan Manila franchise, a result of a partnership between Felix Ang of Cats Motors and Ricky Dee of Mesa and Todd English Food Hall, is less than a year old but based on a lot of posts and pho...

Feb252015 by Mindanaoan Irene8 Comments

TAPS restaurant Davao has a warning for table hoggers

Business, Controversial, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Food

TAPS, a famous local restaurant in Davao City, Philippines best known for their silog meals and is open 24/7, has a warning especially for table hoggers. A table hogger is a person who either spreads his work or bags and other stuff across a table (and therefore discourages other customers to use or share the table) or a person who orders one item (usually the cheapest on the menu even!) and stays at a table practically for several hours! I'm sure everyone has spotted a table hogger at one time or another. I guess TAPS Davao gets a lot of these table hoggers since they're open 24/7. However, the management has apparently decided that enough is enough! Here's a warning posted inside their restaurant: * Photo courtesy of Arvy Francisco Vallejos The text is written in Bisaya but ...

Feb82015 by Mindanaoan Irene1 Comment

Mindanaoan In Korea Travel Series: Insadong Seoul

Culture, Features, Food, Korea, Mindanaoan Update, Seoul, Tourism, Travel

Insadong was one of my favorite places during our Seoul, South Korea trip. Also known as Seoul's culture street, Insadong has so many shops selling traditional Korean goods, teas, candies, street food, wooden cooking utensils, crafts, staple food like bottled kimchi and roasted nori sheets (yum!) and souvenirs such as hanbok and hanji. Although there's a main street in Insadong (no vehicles allowed here), don't hesitate to explore the inner streets. There are small but nice tea houses and restaurants that have "English OK" signs (meaning their servers can speak English :) ) along alleyways. Insadong is a safe place to "get lost in." Just go back to the main street and you'll be fine ;) How to get to Insadong: My brother and I took the subway. We rode Seoul Subway Line 3 then took ...

Dec202014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Pancake House re-opens at Limketkai Mall CDO

Cagayan de Oro City, Features, Food

Just writing about this is making me swirl with happiness! Pancake House has finally re-opened along the North Concourse of Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro City! After a temporary halt in operations a few months ago (due to the expansion of the newly-opened Globe Gen3 store), Pancake House CDO is finally back! What are your favorite Pancake House offerings? Mine are the cheese pancake, caramel banana walnut waffle (with bacon strips on the side, please!), almondigas soup, classic pan chicken and the seafood gambero! And yours? See you at Pancake House CDO!

Dec122014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Liempo King CDO opens new stores, expands menu

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Features, Fiesta, Food

A Cagayan de Oro brand known for introducing the special spicy lechon liempo infused with herbs and spices continues to dominate the local market as it opens more stores and expands its menu. Liempo King now has 8 stores all around the city, including their newly redesigned main branch located at Rizal - Hayes Streets, Cagayan de Oro. Now sporting new, fresher interiors plus an expanded menu, the Liempo King main restaurant also offers fast and FREE WiFi Internet - a rare feature among restaurants that offer budget meals. Liempo King CEO Jeffrey Uraya says that the new look, new menu and added features are proofs of their commitment to customer service. "We value our customers and the experience they get when they visit our store," he said, adding "all of our ingredients a...