Pearl Farm Buffet

On our fifth anniversary, we decided to spend the day at Pearl Farm since both of us haven’t been there before and we were looking for a nice and quiet place to relax (for me, that meant anywhere near the beach or any body of water). Pearl Farm was a no-brainer because I heard it isn’t just an exclusive resort but they also serve good food.

I bet anyone-foodie or not- would find their buffet spread quite irresistible. They have all sorts of seafoods ranging from fish, crabs, and shrimps to a salad section. But my favorite would have to be the stir fry section wherein you can pick any ingredients you want and then hand it over to a very friendly chef who’s going to cook it for you. Then, they will serve it to your table for you to enjoy. The sautéed meat and vegetables was the best part of this meal. 

My second favorite part? The dessert buffet! There’s plenty to choose from that I didn’t hold anything back. (My plate full of desserts pictured above.)

Paradise :)

A return visit is certainly called for, if not for the beauty and amenities of the resort, but for the quality of the food alone.

Dreaming of Café Del Sol

One thing I love about cafes is that you can indulge in breakfast meals any time of day. Pancakes. French toast. Omelette. Don’t we all have that occasional craving? Comfort food at its finest.

On my recent trip to Boracay, I had a chance to dine at Café del Sol with E and a friend. We needed to give our feet a break from the long hike and also to grab a quick mid-afternoon snack. We ended up in Café del Sol, which is a small restaurant located right at the entrance to D’Mall. Initially, we planned on trying their breakfast meals but we figured we were too full to eat that time. So, we opted for their dessert snacks instead.  

Cafe del Sol Boracay

But I have a confession to make: the decision to dine there wasn’t spontaneous at all. I had spotted their frozen shelf full of drool-inducing pastries that I HAD to sample one (or two!).

And so we did. Here are our orders:

Square Indulgence

Oreo Cheesecake

Mango Cheesecake

I would be hard pressed to pick which of the three I loved best. All of them were equally out-of-this-world! I forgot to take note of the prices but I think each would cost around PhP150-PhP200. But totally worth every penny spent! I’ve been dreaming of that delectable taste on my palate since I tasted their delicious pastries.

Now, if only Café del Sol opened a branch in Davao. The recent surge of new restos (with the opening of new malls and another one due to open its doors to the locals late this year) has given me hope that eventually this will happen. Until then, the dreaming continues.

Introducing MUSHAK-KAL at Zabadani Cafe

Delectable but reasonably priced food is Davao’s gift to the culinary world. This makes it easy to indulge in your cravings because there are plenty of options for good dining choices in the city without stretching your budget. One example is Zabadani. Since opening their second branch at Gaisano Mall The Peak, there’s been a lot to look forward to.

First off is the Zabain Card, which is a promotional card that aims to reward loyal Zabbers. The more you visit them at the Peak, the more you can get rewards in the form of freebies and/or discounts.

Another irresistible offer from Zabadani Café at The Peak is the Musshakal. It’s described as “an island of scrumptious seafood favorites – large shrimps, squid, and swordfish”. If you’re like me who’s crazy about seafood, this one is for you! There is also a meat version of the Musshakal, which is made up of beef, chicken, and chevon (or lamb). Make sure to bring your friends with you because this is going to be a huge meal! 

This is available for PhP 999.00 for a total value of PhP 1,390. That means you can get up to PhP 391 in savings. Other add-ons that can be enjoyed for free along with your Musshakal platter include 3 pita breads, 3 cups of rice, and a pitcher of iced tea. To try this, you can check out Zabadani Café at The Peak (beside Kublai Khan’s Mongolian Restaurant). For inquiries, you can contact them at the following numbers: +63 (82) 301-6065 / 302-5886

Or like them on Facebook. :)

Cheap (And Not-So-Cheap) Thrills!

There is no love more sincere than the love of food. -George Bernard Shaw

Pretty much the story of my life right there. And it’s that one love I can’t part with. Food makes me happy. Food inspires me to explore. When I travel to a place for the first time, the first question I often ask is, “Where’s the best place to eat?”

Over the past year or two, I am happy to report that I’ve been able to explore more about this love of mine. To see some of my favorites, read on after the jump:

Favorite way to cook fish – Mandarin Tea Garden’s Steamed Fish

Favorite ice cream dessert – Merco’s Chocolate Parfait

Favorite soup – Cecil’s Batchoy

Favorite drink – Zabadani Coffee

Photo courtesy of http://zabadanilayeredcoffee3.weebly.com/

Favorite teppan – Rai Rai Ken’s Seafood Teppan

Favorite crepe – Tata Benito’s Mango Choco Crepe

Favorite baon (for my nephew) – GoNuts Donuts

Favorite buffet – Pearl Farm

Favorite Seafood dish - SumoSam's Seafood Kamameshi

Favorite Yogurt - White Hat

That’s one hell of a food porn right there, LOL. But I’m just getting started. This new year has introduced more dining options in the city. I always keep a to-do list when it comes to the top restaurants I want to visit, and just when I think I’ve exhausted the list, I keep adding new items every single time. So, I guess the food trip will never stop. Join me on the rest of my gastronomic adventures!

Sbarro in Davao

I know it's a late post. But as a big fan, I feel obligated to broadcast that Sbarro is finally here in Davao. For the longest time, Davaoenos had been left to wonder if the only time we'd be able to try out their pizzas (and yes, I'm looking at you, Chicago White) is when we visit Manila. 

Sbarro's best-seller

Sbarro SM North

But things have changed. The SM branch was their first in the city, and then quickly followed by the opening of their Abreeza branch. Now, we don't just have one but TWO branches to choose from. Personally, I am very happy that they also opened a branch in Abreeza because it is more accessible from where I live.

Okay, good luck wallet and figure! :)

Swiss Deli-cious!

Swiss Deli set the bar higher on my culinary standards. Not to say that I underestimated this resto, but it managed to crash my expectations on how good their cuisine will be. Needless to say, this was one of the best dining experiences I had and that's saying a lot given that I've tried quite a few in Davao.

Italian Antipasti

To start off our meal, we had their Italian Antipasti. This appetizer consisted of thinly sliced air dried beef, salami, coppa, and pancetta. It was also served with bread and pickled vegetables. This was a huge serving and surprisingly affordable at PhP 190. 

 

Salmon Steak

I ordered their Salmon Steak (PhP 295). Other than Bigby's own Salmon Steak, this was the best salmon I had. The meat was perfectly cooked and tender. And it was a big piece of salmon, to boot!

Swiss Steak

Meanwhile, E picked their Swiss Steak (always on the hunt for their bestsellers). This one cost around PhP 280, I think. These are several slices of pork tenderloin served with vegetables and french fries on the side. This meal was very filling and perfectly seasoned. (Of course, I had to take a bite!)

Swiss Chocolate Mousse

We ended the meal with dessert. Since I was already full at that time, but still wanting to try out their dessert, I opted for the small one – Swiss Chocolate Mousse (PhP 95). This chocolate sponge cake was the perfect way to end the meal. But a little too small for my sweet tooth. Ha!

On the way home, E decided to treat my sweet tooth with some of their delectable chocolates! I went gaga scouring their shelves when E told me to pick whatever I want!

Grub Resto Café: My All-Time Fave in Davao

Why I haven’t got around to writing a blog on my favorite place to dine in Davao is beyond me. Grub Resto Café is that one place that I go to again and again if I want to experience good food. And until today, it hasn't disappointed me.

I have a few favorite dishes in Grub Resto Café, which is a small restaurant located in Duterte St. (directly across Shakey’s). 

My first favorite is their Fresh Garden Salad. I always order this one whenever I get the chance. It is the perfect example that healthy does not always mean bland. But there is one element to this salad that I really dig – the vinaigrette. Hands down, this is the best vinaigrette I’ve ever tasted to date. E & I had been working hard trying to get the same results with our vinaigrette whenever we make a salad at home, but we couldn’t quite get there yet. Grub’s has the perfect combination of tartness and sweetness that compliments the crisp texture of the greens. It’s also got a generous amount of cauliflower and broccoli, which is a bonus.

Another dish unique to Grub Resto Café is their Grub Meatball Spaghetti. I bet you haven’t had spaghetti like this! The marinara sauce is well seasoned and sprinkled with all kinds of aromatics. The serving is also unique because it is served inside a round bread such that you eat the bread together with the pasta, instead of the usual wherein the bread is put on the side. And even the bread in itself is better than any other garlic bread you’ve ever had! If there is one dish that you shouldn’t miss at Grub, this is the one!

Here are our other favorites from Grub Resto Café, which I recommend you should give a try!

Chocolate Kiss

Dino Chops

Grub Ribs

Fish Parmigelliano

Pork Mexicali Style

Homerun Pie

 

These are just some of what we had sampled at Grub Resto Café. I highly recommend that you pay them a visit. They are open Mondays until Saturdays. And they have very friendly staffs too!

Vist their Facebook page for more info!

Chowking Chef Bowl Specials - Honey Garlic Chicken

I don’t frequently dine at Chowking except for when I have occasional cravings for their delicious and filling Bola-Bola Siopao. But I recently found one more reason to visit their branches more often to dine – their Chef Bowl Specials. More specifically, the Honey Garlic Chicken.

My first chance to sample this dish was by accident. E & I wanted to grab something for dinner and I did not want to wait too long to have my order, so we opted for Chowking so I can satisfy my growling tummy... ASAP! Lo and behold, I have found quite a gastronomical masterpiece in this tiny, red bowl. 

Chowking's Honey Garlic Chicken

But hold it right there, I said tiny when I first saw it. But when I started to dig in, it was actually a bigger serving than it looks! I am not really a big fan of rice so it was more than enough serving for me. The chicken was the best I’ve tasted when compared with other fast food offerings. The use of honey on the marinade gave a sweet undertone to the salt and crisp chicken. The outside is also sprinkled with a generous amount of garlic, so that basically won me over!

The chicken also comes with a lightly sautéed vegetables, which makes it a complete meal in itself. I believe it costs 89 PhP per meal (including the drinks!). But if you’re like me who’d like to skip on the soda, it is cheaper at 79 PhP.

They also have other chef bowl specials, namely the Oriental Beef and Fish Taosi. I’ve tried the Fish Taosi but it wasn’t as good as the Honey Garlic Chicken, which is why I’m all rave about the latter.