Majid's Kabab Favorites

Since tasting my first kabab, I had been a big fan. I admit - I was slightly reluctant about trying out Persian food. But Majid's Kabab has made me a convert and it is one of my favorite go-to restaurants for kabab, aside from Zabadani. When I feel like being exotic, I go for the Ox Brain on the menu. If you haven't tried it, I suggest you should - it tastes way better than you think! A little squeeze of lemon can go a long way to add a kick to the flavor. 

But aside from the Ox Brain, which might freak out most people, I have two staple favorites on the menu at Majid's Kabab - Biryani Chicken and Cholo Kabab. To find out why, read on:

Biryani Chicken

Majid's Kabab's Biryani Chicken is a very tender serving that is seasoned with all kinds of herbs including basil. The java rice that it is served with is cooked with slices of potatoes and green peas to make it more delectable. However, I love that they are served with the stock used to cook the chicken meat with such that the dip is packed with flavor! In fact, I love pouring the dip onto the rice and the salad on the side to give them more flavor. 

Cholo Kabab

This kabab dish is made from goat meat, which I haven't tried before until I had this dish at Majid's Kabab. The goat meat is tender and lean. It's also seasoned perfectly that every spoonful is a celebration inside your mouth. If there is one thing that I would eat over and over again if I dined at Majid's, this has got to be the dish.


What's your favorite dish at Majid's Kabab?

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Ronaldo's: Fine Dining Made Affordable

With a huge array of restaurants promising to treat Davaoenos' taste buds to some of the best local and international cuisines, restaurant owners are compelled to come up with unique offerings to entice the local foodies and tourists. Ronaldo's is one of those restaurants that fit this bill. They promise to offer local inspired cuisines using locally grown ingredients but also something that is unique and creative enough to excite the local palate. 

The ambiance at Ronaldo's might slightly intimidate - but don't let it. It might be a classy looking restaurant but you will quickly feel at home with the deletectable dishes served on your table. Even before our orders were served, we got this complimentary that comes with freshly baked bread served on a pastry basket and comes with its mango puree in olive oil dip. If the complementary were any indicator, I knew this was going to be a great meal! You have to try it to believe it.

As if that hot and fresh bread isn't enough to fire up your appetite, we ordered the Sopa de Samal Estilo Ysabel or market fresh shellfish in a saffron chowder (PhP 140). What a rich soup this is! I am a big fan of chowder as there isn't anything more that could represent comfort food better. The soup is a combination of creamy and savory. And I love that the shellfish flavor really comes out on top, which is a treat for a seafood and shellfish fan like myself! And with that, we are so ready for the next course...

The Salmon Lasagna (PhP 245) is another unique dish that quickly drew my attention. And you've probably guessed why by now - salmon. This dish consisted of a layered Norwegian salmon pasta with homegrown herbs in a saffron sauce. The aroma coming from the saffron truly does help to bring this dish to another level, just like it did with the chowder. The meat from the salmon is extremely tender that it almost melts into the pasta. 

The only not-so-good part of this meal is their half Fragrant Fried Chicken (PhP 160). There was nothing special about this dish though I appreciate the color from the outside. The seasoning is just right, too.    

This is one of few restaurants that had been in my must-visit list for the longest time and I can say with confidence that I will recommend it and be back here soon. Ronaldo's truly exemplify how the local cuisine can compete with some of the world's bests.

Ronaldo's is located at Torres St. beside Tiny Kitchen. 

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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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