Food Archives - Page 5 of 11 - Mindanaoan - Multi awarded CDO and New York Lifestyle Blog

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...

Nov142014 by Mindanaoan Irene4 Comments

EXCLUSIVE: BonChon Cagayan de Oro branch opening date CONFIRMED

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Features, Food, Freebies, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao

Mindanaoan.com is the very first to break the news --- BonChon Chicken, the company behind the global Korean-style fried chicken craze, is set to open their Cagayan de Oro City branch on November 28, 2014 at the First Level, Garden Area, Centrio Mall! I received this exciting update from the franchisees themselves :) BonChon, which means "my hometown" in Korean, will open their very first branch in Northern Mindanao this month. They first entered the Mindanao market when they set up shop in Davao about two years ago then later in General Santos City. BonChon Philippines Managing Director Scott Tan himself will be in CDO for the launch. And here's more good news - be among the very first customers and be qualified to receive FREEBIES! There will be a private function in the morning...

Nov42014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

FineLab offers baking workshops in Davao and Cagayan de Oro

Announcements, Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Davao City, Food

Are you ready for a baking revolution? FineLab, a division under Thermtech Group, Inc., is set to launch the FineBake Bake-olution Caravan, which will visit both Cagayan de Oro City and Davao City. There will be baking workshops in both Mindanao cities, ideal for business owners and individuals. The FineBake Bake-olution’s Cagayan De Oro Swing will be held at the Polymedic Medical Plaza along Kauswagan Highway on November 11 (Tuesday), 9:00am while the Davao City Swing will happen on November 14 (Friday), 9:00am at the Beauchem Building, No. 846 Atis Street, Juna Subdivision, Matina. During the workshops, attendees will learn how to make Vegetarian Pandesal and Specialty Breads, Sweet Dough, Marble Bavarian Cake, Rainbow Mallows Cake, Caramel Duet Cake, Mocha Crunch Cake, Cherry ...

Oct272014 by Mindanaoan Irene2 Comments

Success stories at the 2nd BIMP-EAGA International Trade Fair #EAGAIMT2014

Advocacy, BIMP-EAGA, Blogging, Business, Consumer, Corporate, Culture, Davao City, Events, Features, Food, Government, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mindanaoan Update, News, Recipes, Society

Thanks to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), I was able to cover the 2nd BIMP-EAGA IMT-GT International Trade Fair and Business Leaders' Conference last October 22 to 25, 2014 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang in Davao City, Philippines. I've always wanted to witness a BIMP-EAGA event and I'm glad that I finally had the opportunity to do so. BIMP-EAGA events are important international functions especially in terms of trade, investments, tourism and even each of the participating countries' roles in the upcoming ASEAN Integration. BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area while IMT-GT means Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth Triangle. Now on its 20th year, the BIMP-EAGA is considered as a key strategy to accelerate social as well as...

Jul242014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Something fun at Bon Appetea CDO milk tea and waffles store

Cagayan de Oro City, Food, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao

Bon Appetea, a milk tea and waffles store, has opened its first Cagayan de Oro branch! Located at the 1st Floor, South Concourse, Limketkai Mall (at the Rotunda area), Bon Appetea CDO offers milk teas, fruit teas, Yakult teas, frappes, fries and waffles. Apparently, Bon Appetea has established quite a following because when I started promoting about their upcoming opening via the Mindanaoan Facebook page and my Twitter account, A LOT of excited fans sent messages. Bon Appetea Limketkai CDO now occupies the area where that stall that sold popcorn and cotton candy used to be. Check out the wide array of drinks and food offered by Bon Appetea: (prices are affordable!) I was invited to the opening (thank you Jon!) a few days ago and I think I was the very first one to ever ...

Jul102014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

What to order at Tonkatsu by Terazawa CDO @TonkatsuPH

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

Tonkatsu by Terazawa is a Japanese Katsu Restaurant by Chef Akinori Terazawa from Nagoya, Japan, locally franchised in the Philippines by The Bistro Group, same owners of Italianni's and T.G.I. Fridays. Here in Mindanao, Tonkatsu by Terazawa opened their first branch at the First Floor, Garden Area of Ayala Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro City. My family and I are regular Tonkatsu by Terazawa customers. We love their katsu meals as well as some side dishes. The Tonkatsu by Terazawa Centrio CDO branch is also comfy albeit small (they share space with Italianni's) - a nice place to bring your loved ones for Sunday lunch, your friends for Saturday get-together or your business partners for power Monday meetings. I also like the hand-painted Japanese characters, lanterns and other accents insi...

Jul82014 by Mindanaoan IreneNo Comments

Sinuglaw Festival 2014 Cagayan de Oro Participating Establishments

Business, Cagayan de Oro City, Consumer, Events, Features, Festivals, Fiesta, Food, Mindanaoan Update, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Society, Tourism

Sinuglaw or sinugba + kinilaw (grilled pork belly and fish ceviche), to me, is one curious, interesting, weird but delicious dish. I mean, look, you have raw fish salad mixed with charred meat and then embraced together by vinegar, tabon-tabon and a colorful, merry mix of ginger, onion, chili and other spices. Party in your mouth! Now if you've tried sinuglaw in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, then you'd agree with me when I say that it's definitely one of the tastiest in the country! So tasty that there's an annual Sinuglaw Festival in CDO! Yes, folks, for 2 glorious months, we can all taste sinuglaw prepared various ways. The Sinuglaw Festival 2014 CDO is a signature event of the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association (COHARA) and a prelude its yearly-flagship event, KUM...