Viva Pit Señor! My adventures in Cebu continue into the Sinulog weekend! Day 8 It’s Sinulog and my best friend and I woke up late in the afternoon! We both have a strong aversion to big crowds so we decided we're not really missing out much. That's right - we're a couple of party poopers! Haha. But seriously, if you've seen the crowd on Mango Avenue, you would think twice about going to the street party. I'm all for having fun in Sinulog, but the event is also a recipe for disaster. I'm always on high alert for human stampedes and crushes. But let me not discourage you from joining in on the fun. Sinulog is still one of the best things about Cebu! We had a really late lunch at Lemon Grass in Ayala. My best friend calls the first meal past noon as "brunner" or breakfast, lunch and dinner. We also had cocktails at New Orleans and watched the fireworks from the mall's rooftop area. If you're looking for authentic Creole vibe, unfortunately New Orleans isn't the place. Sinulog won't be complete without a disco party, of course. We partied it up at Cubana Lounge on Mango Avenue. And it's a bonus since ladies get in for free! Day 9 Our brunner tradition continues at Abuhan Tres in IT Park. This time, with their sizzling pochero! Day 10 My Camotes adventure begins with two of my fabulous friends! Camotes is actually a group of islands east of Cebu. To get there, you have to go to the port in Danao and get on the Jomalia ferry. Upon checking in at Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort, we were immediately welcomed with a refreshing pineapple juice. While waiting for our villa to be available, we had lunch at the lounge next to their infinity pool. We had the most glorious view of the beach! To get around the island, you can choose a tour package and a driver with his vehicle will drive you to different tourist destinations. Since we were short for time, we decided to just have three stops: Lake Danao, Timubo Cave and Santiago Bay. Day 11 Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort was not only exceptional in service, but also in food and refreshments. My friends and I absolutely enjoyed the complimentary breakfast buffet. I would definitely come back to this resort the next time I go to Camotes. Arriving back in Cebu, we already brainstormed for our upcoming adventure in the South. But first, drinks and cocktails at the Monastery. Is it just me? Or are Cebu's restaurants, lounges and cafés littered with electric neon trees? Day 13 Here we are in Oslob, Cebu! A lot of tourists - both local and foreign - come here to swim with whale sharks or butanding. Wearing sunscreen is strictly prohibited. Also, we weren't allowed to touch the creatures. You don’t have to tell me twice! On our way back to the city, we stopped by different beaches and churches. One of which is the restored church in Boljoon. Formally named as Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria, the church has been declared as a national cultural treasure. It is a prime example of baroque architecture from the 18th century. I was mesmerized as we drove along southern Cebu. The public beaches are absolutely divine! Check out the white-sand beaches at Tingko Beach Resort in Alcoy. We also stopped by the grandiose Simala Shrine in Sibonga where conservative dress code is strictly enforced. Of course you can't just go to the South without trying some of Cebu's finest delicacies - Carcar's chicharon and Argao's torta and tableya! Day 14 Café Laguna is one of the restaurants in Cebu that's consistent in flavor. I opted to have lunch here with my aunt and cousin since we were all craving once again for crispy pata! For coffee and desserts, I took them to Figaro Coffee Company. Based on their website, it's a coffee company established in the Philippines! Yay for Filipino entrepreneurs! I've been to many Italian restaurants in Cebu. But Figaro has THE best tiramisu! If you're looking for a lounge with a scenic view, try Bellini in Lahug. The romantic and sophisticated setting is the perfect place to relax and unwind. But beware of their champagne prices! To offset the chichi ambiance at Bellini, we proceeded to Larsian, the ultimate and undisputed gastronomic institution in Cebu. Larsian in Fuente is a showcase of barbecued pork, chicken wings, chorizo, adidas, intestines - all paired with woven-palm-leaf-covered rice or pusô. The next post will be about my third and last week in Cebu! Updates are on the way!
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My three weeks in Cebu was a dream! I've been anxiously preparing for it for months. It's my first time to be back in nine years and so much has changed! Don't let me talk about the traffic - at times it's absolutely horrendous - but everything else is nothing short of amazing. Here's a quick overview of my short but sweet stay on this island paradise: Day 1 You would think that after a 21-hour flight I would get some rest once I arrive in Cebu. Hell no! Upon arriving at Mactan International Airport, my gorgeous girlfriends picked me up and whisked me off to commence our usual shenanigans! Food trip started at Mr. A in Busay. This restaurant offers indoor and alfresco dining. It also provides an exceptional view of the city. We then went to Ayala Mall and had desserts at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, an American coffee chain. It was founded before Starbucks but I've never been in one prior to my trip as there's no branch in Canada. We also managed to squeeze in a house party for my friend's nephew's baptism in Talamban. To our delight, lechón was on the menu! Lechón is slow-roasted suckling pig with crispy crackling skin. Needless to say, Cebu has the best lechón in the world! As a mellow way to end the night, we decided to visit La Vie Parisienne, a supposedly French bar and boulangerie. However, the pink electric cherry blossom trees give off a serious Japanese vibe. After catching up over two bottles of Moscato, we decided to call it a night. Day 2 SM Seaside City is the third largest shopping mall in the Philippines and currently the eight in the world. When I arrived, the mall still has a lot of empty commercial spaces as it only opened two months before. First order of business for the day: breakfast at Jollibee! Now let me just explain - Jollibee is an institution in the Philippines. If North American kids can't get enough of McDonald's, Filipinos are simply addicted to Jollibee. My ultimate favorite is the Chicken Joy. I'm also crazy about their spaghetti, creamy mushroom beef patty and peach mango pie! After our stroll at SM Seaside, we went to House of Lechón. I was really disappointed with their lechón as it lacked flavour and the characteristic crisp of the skin. I did enjoy the rest of our order, particularly the baked scallops with cheese and mango and Oreo parfait. That night, we went to have cocktails at Maya, a Mexican-themed restaurant and lounge. Although I love the decór, Maya does not deliver on their drinks! My friend had a really strong White Russian (perhaps the bartender felt a little too generous with the vodka), another friend had a very leafy Mojito (she almost choked on the mint leaves) and I had a watered-down Screwdriver. We were not happy campers. Day 3 I decided to pamper myself on this day. After all, I am on vacation. I took my cousin with me to Nail-a-holics at SM City to have our nails done with Shellac. Since they don’t have Shellac, we opted to try Orly gel. It was pricey and poor in quality. Fast forward three days and my nail gel polish start to chip. Not to mention, they didn't have a lot of colors to choose from. Something to keep in mind before visiting Cebu: have my grooming done in Toronto. An hour of mani-pedi made us hungry and my cousin chose to have lunch at Golden Cowrie. We ordered the usual Filipino food fare with crispy pata - whole pork leg boiled until tender and deep-fried until golden brown. I was surprised when our garlic shrimps was served! I was expecting slightly bigger shrimps that have already been peeled and deveined, sautéed in butter and garlic. Nothing could have prepared me for this dish. That night, my best friend took me to LIV Super Club, the biggest and most posh club in Cebu. I had a great time although we didn't go on the dance floor. On a Tuesday night, I was pleasantly surprised to see such a great turnout from people of all ages - even forty- or fifty-something lads still go out to party! Imagine that. Day 4 The Ibiza Beach Club at Mövenpick Hotel is the perfect venue for a romantic and flirty dinner as well as a great place to have a party or just hang out. Downside is it's in Mactan and driving from my condo in Lahug is an ordeal owing to the rush-hour traffic. Ten years ago, Cebu roads weren't as congested. With the Philippines quickly becoming the outsourcing hub in the world, Cebu was able to benefit, giving rise to the middle-class population. Now, everybody can afford to purchase their own vehicles - which is generally a good thing - but the construction and development of highways and public transit isn't catching up. Day 5 I had lunch at Red Kimono in Ayala. I opted for a light meal as I've been feasting non-stop since I arrived. I ordered a sashimi platter and found their tuna excellent, but their salmon mediocre. This was my chance to walk around Ayala and marvel at the things that have changed versus the ones that remained the same. I was really amazed by their new wing and the Terraces. The Terraces conveniently gathers all restaurants in one location, surrounding an enthralling garden and performance stage. I thought that I will be able to shop in Cebu, but it wasn't the case. Shopping for international brands is simply not worth it. The merchandise is charged with exorbitant import taxes. I found that it’s better to shop in Canada for brands like H&M, Aeropostale, Forever 21 and Aldo. In Cebu, it's better to shop at local boutiques like Bench, Penshoppe, Folded & Hung and Plains & Prints for obvious reasons. My good friend and her family invited me to dinner at Parilya. This place has amazing seafood choices. As can be expected, the place was packed! Once again, I went crazy on the baked mussels with cheese, pochero and pork belly. Day 6 The most-awaited JACKET reunion! It's so heartwarming to see old high school friends a decade later and find out they're as beautiful as ever. Only difference is now, they're also successful in their chosen careers! Blue Elephant Restaurant on the rooftop of Apple One building not only has a great ambiance, they also serve good food. What I love about dining in Cebu is they always feature live bands! The festive music at Blue Elephant made dining and chatting with good friends even more enjoyable. From an elegant setting, we hopped to Café Racer, a hip and rustic setting where the young crowd usually hang out. Judging from the leftover fixtures and overall structure of the area, I believe Café Racer used to be a gasoline station. The owners wanted to give a vintage vibe to the place by setting up upcycled oil barrels, gas pumps and vintage cars. Overall, great design concept, but the food was nothing spectacular. Day 7 The eve before Sinulog and you can feel electricity in the air! A lot of tourists - local and foreign - are in Cebu to revel in the festivities. The best way to celebrate Sinulog is to join the grand street parade and fluvial procession. Since it's a religious festival, observers also go to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, the oldest Roman Catholic church in the country. My best friend and I had brunch at Orange Carenderia in Lahug since it's only a few meters away from my condo. You simply have to try their fried tuna tail. Of course the meal wouldn't be complete without pork belly and tuna broth. We then went to another rooftop restaurant at Harolds Hotel; their logo a complete rip-off of the swanky London department store. But we lucked out that night with the acoustic band. It put us in a relaxed and chill mood; the perfect place to unwind. It was also my first time to try San Miguel Beer in Apple - the perfect dessert beer that goes well with cheese and mocha-flavored pastries. I had an eventful first week in Cebu. Stay tuned for more of my travel and gastronomic adventures!
After our delightful brunch at Buca, my friend and I decided to have coffee elsewhere but still within the Yorkville area. To keep with the theme of trying out new places, I remembered I've always wanted to go inside the Nespresso Boutique Bar on Cumberland Street! And it was an excellent choice! Nespresso Boutique Bar provides a unique customer service experience by turning a coffee shop into a one-stop locale for people to check out their sleek coffee machines, stock up on their wide array of coffee flavors and relax and unwind in their ultra-luxe lounge. The 14,000-square foot café and retail space stands out from the already-saturated coffee shop market in Toronto. When every corner downtown is littered with Starbucks, Tim Horton's or Second Cup, Nespresso pulls out all the stops with its stylish décor and personalized service. Finally, no more self-serve! Once seated, we were offered a glass of water with a slice of lemon. After a quick perusal of their menu, I found that aside from pastries, coffee and desserts, they also offer sandwiches. We ordered hazelnut cappuccinos and half-dozen assorted macarons. The café also operates at a reasonable price range for their food and beverage. Compared to Starbucks and their overpriced lattés, Nespresso Boutique Bar is still a bit pricier. However, I can say the cost is totally worth it as I was totally amazed with the quality of the interior design, service and food. If only there are more Nespressos across Toronto, I would never want to set foot at any Starbucks again! On the last day of 2015, I took my best friend to Yorkville for brunch. Right in the heart of downtown Toronto, Yorkville is home to designer boutiques, high-end hotel chains and chic restaurants. My best friend's birthday is on New Year's and I thought it will be nice if we can spend some time together before the city shuts down the next day. I made reservations for brunch at Buca, an Italian restaurant annexed by the glamorous Four Seasons Hotel. I heard great things about the restaurant and how it is arguably the best Italian in Toronto. Getting to the restaurant might be a challenge for first-timers as the address is on Scollard Street. The best way is to go through Four Seasons Hotel at Yorkville Avenue and spot their iconic burgundy fountain. Behind the fountain to the right is the famed restaurant. The interior did not impress me as they opted for a simple and casual ambiance. I did like the dark brown leather place mats and thought it would be a great idea to incorporate at my future home's dining table - functional and refined. Our waiter came with the menu and offered a brief explanation of the dishes as well as the perennial favorites! Here's a quick peek of their sample brunch and dinner menu. What Buca lack in their Spartan decor they definitely made up for with their food! And the best part was it didn't take them forever to serve our order. First, we ordered a little something to whet our appetites. We had olive ascolane or olives stuffed with pork sausage. I didn't really taste nor felt the sausage, but the breaded and crispy exterior of the olives provided an interesting texture. Next, I chose the funghi pizze bianche. We thoroughly enjoyed the thin-crust pizza and savored the contrasting flavors of the mascarpone and gorgonzola cheeses. My friend even exclaimed it's the best pizza he's ever had! As an adamant carnivore, I found myself pleasantly surprised that I can actually enjoy a vegetarian pizza. For our main dishes, we ordered two of the most popular pasta - the Pomodoro and Bigoli. I was very interested with the latter as I've never had duck egg pasta. Since my friend ordered it, I chose the safer and more boring option. But both dishes were exquisite! Amazingly al dente pasta coupled with fresh ingredients. My friend shared his Bigoli and the flavors and textures meshed perfectly with just the perfect creaminess from the mascarpone. The tomatoes used in the Pomodoro were also imported from Calabria, giving it a distinct saltiness. Overall, the gastronomic experience and staff service at Buca is spectacular! However, we refrained from ordering alcohol or desserts as the bill already rang us at $96.00 for just three small dishes, appetizer, soda and orange juice! |
AuthorThe Toronto Traipser aims to explore the vibrant city by indulging in its many sights, sounds and flavours. Archives
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