The 1st Dabaw Sinugba Festival at Tienda del Mercado

Davao has a lot to boast off to its tourists -  exotic fruits, such as durian, endemic fauna, a thriving eco-tourism industry, and a rich and diverse local culinary scene. One of the most prevalent features that help Davao establish its unique stamp in the culinary industry is the growing array of grill and BBQ houses in the city. Every single one of these businesses has a unique flavor to offer to the delight of its locals that had been savoring these recipes from several decades ago and continues on until today. The 1st Dabaw Sinugba Festival aims to bring that to the fore through the first ever Dabaw Sinugba Festival. 

This event aims to celebrate the grill and BBQ tradition of Davao in a four-day festival that allows locals and tourists to enjoy local and international BBQ recipes. From chicken, to pork, to seafood - you name it, you will find it here!

The event is scheduled to take place on March 14 to 17, 2013 to coincide with the Araw ng Dabaw celebration. To learn more details about this festival, you can read the full press release below:

In time for the 76^th Araw ng Dabaw,  Mocha Productions and Tienda del Mercado will host the 1^st Dabaw Sinugba Festival from March 14-17, 2013 at the Tienda del Mercado in Acacia St., Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City.

The Dabaw Sinugba Festival will showcase and celebrate the BBQ and grill cuisine in the city by bringing together local BBQ and grill businesses, culinary schools, and food enthusiasts.

The festival will offer mouthwatering displays of BBQ and grill food including kababs, burgers, pork and chicken BBQ, and grilled seafood.

One of the event highlights is the “Eat-All-You Can Sinugba Buffet”. For P200, festival goers can feast on the selection of BBQ and grill dishes.  Participating in the sinugba buffet will also earn them the chance to vote for the “Best Sinugba” among the 32 food stalls.

The festival will also feature BBQ and burger eating contests, cooking demos and contests, and nightly acoustic music entertainment.

The Dabaw Sinugba Festival will run from 4 PM -12 midnight daily from March 14-17, 2013.

The four day festival is the launching event of Tienda del Mercado, a weekend market and bazaar, which will showcase lifestyle choices in crafts, plants, food and drinks, fashion, music, health and fitness, animal grooming, and many more.  

For inquiries about the event, contact 0917-710-2700 (Jo), 0922-613-4005 (Sue J.),  or 0932-410-5750 (Jocel).

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Must-Try in Davao: Backyard Burgers

Burgers and fries is the ultimate comfort food combo. A delectable array of flavors coming from the savory patty sandwiched by a soft bun, then tossed in with some fresh vegetables, will surely be a winner in any foodie's book. Even for someone like me who isn't a big fan, you just can't turn down a good burger. And I know one when I taste one! 

Recently, I stumbled upon another gem in the long line of burger joints in Davao - Backyard Burger. I was all rave to E about it after we dined here and I knew it deserved a spot in my blog. In fact, I was left to wonder what took me so long to try it.

If you come in here expecting a grandiose facade, you might be slightly disappointed. Backyard Burgers has nothing of the extravagant ambiance that Hollywood Burgers has. But you cannot blame them - it is called Backyard Burger for a reason. Fine with me, though. The concept actually works - it's like having some barbecue and burgers with your friends at the yard. 

And now for the stuffs we came here for - the burgers...

The BB Yard Burger is the most basic burger that is available on their menu. It is priced at P90 and with that you can get 100% fresh pure beef patty (that is grilled to your preference), plain bun, tomato catsup, mayo, lettuce, onion, and a homemade steak sauce. 

Meanwhile, I went for one of their best-sellers: BB Japanese Oishii Burger (P150). It also comes with 100% fresh pure beef patty, cheddar cheese, Japanese nori, wasabi-Japanese mayo sauce, lettuce, cucumber, and onion. These fixings are sandwiched in a black sesame bun. 

The first bite was a pleasant surprise. The patty does taste like it is made with pure beef and that means no extenders. We chose to have our patties well done, which I love because there is a smoky flavor to it and yet still very juicy. The texture is amazing! Also, I love that they used curly lettuce because not only does it plate well, but also makes it easy to bite into. 

The spicy kick from the wasabi-mayo sauce on the Japanese Oishii Burger is really unique. Plus, the spicy hint introduces a nice layer of flavor into the burger, which you might think at first as something that would not work, but it does! It is actually excellent!

The only thing that I did not like about their burgers is the bun. I would prefer my bun to maintain its shape so that the fillings do not fall off with every bite. 

We closed off the meal with their S'Mores Cheesecake. Yes, S'mores Cheesecake. Two of my favorite things rolled into one. Each serving costs P70, which I got really excited about because it's really affordable. But you are served with this small cupcake that is one of the best things I've ever treated my taste buds to!

I would rank Backyard Burger as one of the best burger joints in the city for its delicious yet affordable burgers, ranking alongside my favorite Space Burger. 

Backyard Burger has two branches in Davao: Central Quirino and Quimpo Boulevard. 

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Lachi's New York Style Cheesecake

There are quite a few restaurants or dining spots in Davao that has come to be associated with the local culinary scene. These are places that locals would recommend to tourists with pride and without hesitation. One of those that I would personally recommend is Lachi's. This quaint and small restaurant is one of Davao's pride, indeed, especially when it comes to sweets and desserts. The restaurant bears the tagline "Only the Finest Ingredients" along with its name, and with such a promising claim, you need to put up or shut up!

And having been to Lachi's several times, I can say with confidence that this place is everything it is hyped to be.. and more. But their New York Style Cheesecake is something that has drawn me back time and time again. Hands down - the best cheesecake in Davao. I've tasted quite a few ones like the one at Euro Cafe, but everything else just pales in comparison.

There are actually two options for enjoying your cheesecake at Lachi's. You can go for the chilled or baked variety. Since most cheesecakes I've tried before are chilled, I went for the baked version with blueberry on top (you can also go for the cherry). The cheesecake mixture is heavenly! I love that they don't overwhelm with sweetness. Don't be deceived by the size of the slice because every spoonful is packed with flavor and the rich topping of blueberry is just icing on the cake, so to speak.

Reminiscing about the delicious desserts and sweets at Lachi's makes me want to head on over there and treat myself to some slices. Their tortes are equally amazing, too! But if you want to sample something that is truly Davao-ish, go for the Durian Cheesecake. That one, I'll have to pass because anything with durian is a no-no for me. 

Have you tried Lachi's? Though the real question is - why haven't you? 

Lachi's is located at Ruby St., Marfori Heights. Davao City. 

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Space Burger Brings Affordable Yet Delectable Burgers in Davao

I had always been a big fan of Space Burger because of the smoky and savory taste of their burger patties. According to the Space Burger ad, all of their patties are flame grilled, which is probably where they get that smoky flavor. Nonetheless, I had been enticed by their burgers because it is not only delicious but extremely affordable, too. 

Earlier last year, I had the chance to sample Hollywood Burgers wherein I've seen the biggest patty in my entire life. It is a bit pricey but totally worth it. If you're a big fan of burgers, that is the best place to indulge. Another favorite is Al's Diner. It was originally located at Ponciano Reyes St. and is my go-to option for quality yet affordable burgers. One time, I heard they had the biggest burger available in Davao City. Sadly, I found out that they were closed when I went to visit them sometime last year. 

Thus, Space Burger is the sole surviving burger joint that I go back to whenever I get that craving. There is nothing fancy about the bun - the patty is the real star in their burgers. Aside from the regular Space Burger that is reasonably priced at PhP 62, you can get more options from their menu.  

My go-to favorites are the Mushroom Burger Melt (PhP 79) and Bacon Burger Melt (PhP 79 - pictured here). Both of these burgers come with 1/4 pound Australian beef patty that is flame grilled to allow the juices to come out and the natural lean quality of the meat to be left behind. Hence, it is all savory and not fatty at all. Aside from the patty, each burger comes with crunchy lettuce, onions, and condiments like mayo, catsup or mustard. Naturally, you can get a crispy slice of bacon or sliced button mushrooms on top, if you pick any of the two burgers mentioned above.

Space Burger has been and will always be my number one choice of burger house in Davao. There are several branches, too, which makes their burgers easily accessible to the locals wherever you may be.

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