S&R Opens May 28 in Davao City

Are you looking for a new shopping experience in Davao? Within the past two years, several new malls have sprung up in the city offering more dining, shopping, and lifestyle options for the local residents. Most of these malls take pride in bringing in international brands to the city so that we, Davaoenos, will get the opportunity to shop for these popular brands without traveling to Manila or other neighboring cities in Southeast Asia.

A new shopping destination that is scheduled to open its doors to Davao soon is also making the same promise. S&R Membership Shopping promises to offer world class shopping experience right at the heart of the city. They guarantee a bigger and better shopping experience that reflects the roots of its American brand. Hence, shoppers at S&R will get access to imported brands that will not be available anywhere else in the city.

In order to give Davaoenos a preview on what to expect with its grand opening, which is scheduled on May 28, they have prepared a wide range of treats to those who will be there during the opening event. Members can avail of huge discounts on health and beauty products, freshly baked goods, and house wares, to name a few. On top of that, the first 50 members who will buy appliance during the opening day will be rewarded with a Phillips Audio Dock for FREE!

S&R places top premium on customer satisfaction. Hence, they are hoping to treat Davaoenos to huge savings, on top of having access to products that only they can offer.

If you're a member, make sure to be there on May 28, 2013 for the grand opening.

To learn more about S&R Membership Shopping, you can visit their official website here. S&R is located at MacArthur Highway cor. J. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Talomo, Brgy. Ma-a, Davao City.

Like this blog on Facebook or follow on Twitter for more foodie reviews and updates.

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post.

BBQ Bob Promo: Take-out Adventure

A few weeks ago, I featured BBQ Bob on my blog after I had an amazing dining experience there. I was hyping them up because it is not too often that I come across a restaurant or dining spot that offer reasonable prices that satisfy my cravings for good food. When I found out about their new Take Out Adventure promo, I knew it's something that I had to share to my readers.

BBQ Bob is giving their customers (a group of 4) the opportunity to win an Outdoor Package courtesy of PSD Adventures to any of the top summer destinations in the city. All you have to do is take out an order from any of their branches in Davao and take a picture of you and your friends enjoying your take-out.

For full details of the promo, you can check out their Facebook page. You can also follow the promo mechanics below:

Are you ready to enjoy BBQ Bob and get a chance to win a summer adventure package? Join now and experience your adventure right before summer ends! Promo ends on May 18, 2013.

Like this blog on Facebook or follow on Twitter for more foodie reviews and updates.

Banana Leaf: Bringing Fine Asian Cuisine to Davao

Banana Leaf is an international restaurant that has introduced the best of Southeast Asian dining to the local palate. Their offerings include a wide range of cuisines including Thai, Singaporean, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Indian to ensure that Asian cuisine lovers will get their fill of authentic and satisfying dishes without the need to travel to any of the aforementioned countries. The authenticity of their dishes, which they proudly dub as their signature creations, stem from the fact that they source their ingredients from countries with which the dish originated from. Yet, they've managed to incorporate their own touch to these dishes to make them unique from other Asian fusion restaurants in the country.

Davaoenos are lucky to get the opportunity to sample their dishes as they open a new branch in SM Lanang Premier. I got the opportunity to try them for the first time when I went to SM last weekend. And it was surely one heck of a meal, if I must say.

The distinctive ambiance also helps to set the tone for the dining experience. They use a lot of the Asian colors and design elements ranging from white, to green, to beige. It is also clear that they took out a few design inspirations from a wide range of Southeast Asian sources and incorporated that into the restaurant's interior. If I had one qualm about their new branch in SM Lanang, though, it would have to be the small restaurant area. It can get a bit too crowded during peak hours (usually dinner time) with the tables being much smaller than I would've preferred, which can be a big deal if you're dining with family.

I got to sample a few items off of their menu, but I can assure you that there are quite a hefty amount of options in there. From delectable appetizers, to seafoods, to vegetables - there is something for everyone here.

First off is their Vietnamese Prawn Ball with Cheese (P 168) for appetizer. This one is a different kind of prawn ball from what I tried at Zabadani Cafe. It comes with more crunch on the outside and a soft (and warm) interior with the mozarella cheese oozing as you bite into the middle of each ball. If you're not big on salty foods, though, I warn you that the cheese filling can add a bit more saltiness to this dish. But they serve it with a dip that can help to cut a bit of that saltiness.

Another dish that I've tried at Banana Leaf in SM Lanang and one that I would highly recommend is the Stir Fried Oat Prawns Singaporean Style (P 338). The prawns here are cooked to perfection. There is crunch on the outside from the oats sprinkled all around the prawns while the prawn meat is juicy on the inside. It's also a good indicator that the meat is fresh! There is also a hint of spicyness to this dish, although it's very subtle that someone like me who doesn't eat anything spicy would still be able to enjoy this dish. In fact, I might order this again on my next visit.

Since both of the above dishes are not served with its own rice, I also ordered their Penang Fried Rice (P 168). This serving is good for 2-3 persons. To quench after the meal, Banana Leaf's Iced Milk Tea Hongkong Style is the perfect drink to sip. It is light and refreshing. Undeniably, one of the best milk teas I've had. You can get an order for P68 only.

With a slew of new restaurants in SM Lanang and in Davao, Banana Leaf deserves a spot among those that you need to visit. Our dining experience there was rather spontaneous. But I did not regret a thing. I will be back for sure.

Banana Leaf is located at the Ground Floor, fronting the Fountain area, of SM Lanang Premier.

Like this blog on Facebook or follow on Twitter for more foodie reviews and updates.

Java Jive

Davao is clearly saturated with coffee shops and resto cafes offering basically the same array of food items on their menu. Hence, entrepreneurs are always keen on looking for ways to offer something unique to their customers for a wider market reach and to establish a customer base. Thus, Java Jive opened with a new offering to the local palate that would soothe not only your craving for good food, but also relaxing music throughout your dining experience. 

I always pass by Java Jive on my way to the gym after work and it's piqued my curiosity - I have to admit. However, I haven't had the chance to go in and try them out until just recently. The main appeal of Java Jive is not only their ability to offer good food, if that is indeed the case, but also to be serenaded by Davao's local talents while enjoying your food.

One thing I noticed right away is the ambiance at Java Jive. Indeed, it is as laidback as you can get with dim lighting and comfy chairs (they have sofas, too!). The mellow music performed live by the artists set the mood of the place. In addition, they also have quite an extensive menu. And as a hardcore foodie, I scoured the menu to see what I can treat my palate to while listening to the live music.

My first order was the Tasty Tuna Pesto Pasta (P145). I had to note that this wasn't my original order, though. I really wanted to get the Pesto Farfalle but I was told that they didn't have the farfalle pasta, so what's the point. Thankfully, this dish was good. Not great, but good. Slightly overpriced given that they only used canned tuna. But since pesto is a weakness of mine, I can't complain anymore.

Also on the order was their Crispy Chicken Wings with rice. For something that is priced more than P150 (forgot to take note of the actual price), I expected better. Instead, we got 3 pieces of small chicken wings. The batter wasn't anything special. Plus, we also weren't served with gravy along with this meal even though the menu clearly indicated that an order comes with its own gravy. This was only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, because when we ordered this on the counter, the attendant apparently forgot to take note of this particular order. After 30 minutes of waiting, we complained about our missing order only to realize that they did not get it. What a shame, right?

My only favorite thing about this dining experience at Java Jive was the Cookies N Cream Jazz Blended Drink. This one is milk-based and comes with a rich whip creme on top, along with sprinkles of oreo cookies. For someone who is a big fan of cookies n' cream, this gets my approval.

I am not keen on returning to Java Jive soon. Maybe if they'll improve their service and food quality, I will re-consider. I am counting on them to make these improvements especially since this business has great potential.

Java Jive is located at 1.18 Centron Bldg., Quirino Avenue corner Gen Luna St., Davao City.

Like this blog on Facebook or follow on Twitter for more foodie updates and reviews.