Red Ribbon is one of the largest cake and baked goodies chain store in the country. They are best known for their delicious cakes that use the highest quality ingredients to produce delectable cakes of variant flavors and designs. Indeed, they're my go-to option for when I want to treat myself to delicious cakes that don't scrimp on ingredients yet within reasonable price.
They used to have stalls for cake take-outs only, but a few years ago they have opened their own mini restaurant wherein customers can dine for meals and a slice of their famous cakes. I, myself, have frequented their diner one too many times.
Whenever I dine at Red Ribbon, I almost always orders their Bangus Ala Pobre. What can I do? I love milkfish! This one is a simple dish, though, the way you prepare it at home. For less than a hundred pesos (for ala carte, meaning no cake and drinks), you can get a filling meal. Also, the plentiful garlic they serve this meal with is heaven to me.
Their Pan Grilled Chop meal is another favorite; however, we noticed that the pieces were considerably smaller than the last time we dined at Red Ribbon. Despite the reduced serving portions, though, it was still the same crunchy and savory pork chop meal we've come to love.
And for some dessert, we ordered their Mango Cake. This one is included in the value meal for my Bangus Ala Pobre order, which also comes with your choice of drink. The mango cake slice was the ideal way to end the meal. The light chiffon cake with hints of cream and mango slices helped to neutralize the savory taste of the two meals. If you haven't tried Red Ribbon's mango cake, it's about time you do!
Red Ribbon has branches in Gaisano Mall, NCCC Mall, and SM City Davao.
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When a friend recently had a foreign visitor and we talked about places to bring him to eat, there was one thing that popped into mind first - Bulca Chong. Indeed, this humble restaurant has been serving their famous Bulca Chong to Davaoenos for years and remain to be a go-to place for those looking for their sinful yet sumptuous beef stew recipe that has made a name for itself.
One particular night, I gave in to my desire for those delicious beef stew so I paid Bulca Chong a visit. For only roughly P95, you can get a bowl of Bulca Chong that is steaming hot when served on your table. You can also get individual bowls of soup taken from the stew itself for those who are crazy about them (like me!). What I like most about this beef stew dish is the very tender beef meat that is packed with flavor. It's one of my favorite dishes of all time and those who haven't tried it, I suggest you go ahead and treat yourselves!
In addition to their Bulca Chong, we also ordered their Lechon Kawali, also priced approximately P80-90. This dish is basically roasted pork that is scrumptious and sinfully good! It is very crunchy yet savory. If you want to indulge, then might as well order this together with your Bulca Chong.
Ready to give Bulca Chong a try? They're located along General Luna St., Davao City. It is a mere walking distance from Gaisano South Mall at Ilustre St.
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On days when I can't make up my mind where to eat, I turn to Grub Resto Cafe. Time and again, I've expressed my love for this quaint restaurant because of its delicious offerings that never disappoint. On my most recent trip to the restaurant, I made an effort to try out something different since I've sampled nearly all staple items on the menu. Thankfully, the boyf is also up for something different and we are happy to report that the items we ordered were up to the standard that we've expected from Grub Resto Cafe.
To learn more about these dishes, read on below...
Crispy Garlic Rib
This dish is true to its name - and that's why we liked it! The rib was coated with a special mixture to give it a crunchy exterior. There is also a garlic aftertaste, which is exactly what we wanted! If you're not a big garlic fan, though, don't fret. The garlic taste lingers in there but it does not overpower. Then again, Zabadani's Garlicy Rib is still #1 for me!
Beef Bulgogi
This beef dish is a modern twist to a classic Korean recipe made from grilled marinated beef. In Grub's version, the beef sirloin are sliced into small bite sized pieces and seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and pepper, along with sugar for that sweet after-taste. I love the combination of flavor in this dish, which is a cross between salty and sweet. It is also beautifully garnished with fresh slices of green onion and red bell pepper. If you're a fan of Korean dish, I suggest you try this at Grub Resto Cafe.
If you happen to drop by Grub Resto Cafe, be sure to check these new items out.
Grub Resto Cafe is located at Duterte St., Davao City.
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The French Baker is a pastry shop/restaurant that has several branches in the country, but has arrived to Davao City just recently when they opened a branch at SM Lanang Premier. I've earlier featured them in a post showcasing some of the new restaurants set to open its doors to the visitors of SM Lanang and I am genuinely excited to try them out. The name itself elicits the idea of a Parisian cafe or patisserie, of which I've always dreamed of trying, but if not in Paris then this might be the next best thing.
The rave reviews I've read on The French Baker also didn't help to curb the excitement. Just last week, I finally got a chance to dine here and it was an overall good experience.
First off, since we came in a bit late for dinner, around 8:30 PM, most of our initial orders were no longer available. Bummer, I know. I would've wanted to give their pasta dishes a try, particularly the Vongole Clam Pasta and Lasagna Verde. It's a frustrating feeling when you see something on the menu and you place an order for that, only to be told that it isn't available.
I decided to go for the Grilled Veggie Sandwich instead. This dish is amazing, thankfully. I would specially recommend this to anyone who loves vegetable dishes! The presentation is unique and creative to begin with, which makes it all the more appetizing. The bread and veggies sandwich are arranged like a kebab on stick. First, the vegetable sandwich are grilled wherein they use a freshly baked ciabatta bread. Meanwhile, it also comes with some side dishes including The French Baker's own potato chips (which was surprisingly sweet and had a nice texture to it) and their honey balsamic greens. But their salad greens was my favorite as the combination of sweet and tart flavor makes this the right compliment to the sandwich.
Another dish we've tried is the Pork Chop Au Foivre. This dish consists of two pieces of herb marinated pork chop and grilled in brown peppercorn sauce. Wow! This dish is superb! I certainly did not expect much but the marinade allowed the flavor to seep deep into the meat. It also comes with a vegetable side dish consisting of corn and carrots, and rice. I would highly recommend this dish and don't forget to order it when available. Every bite is juicy yet savory!
We accompanied our meals with their Four Seasons cold drink but there was nothing special to it. We specifically asked the waitress if it is a fresh juice or canned ones and they confidently reassured that it wasn't the canned variety. But when we got the chance to sip onto our drinks, though, it was the instant juice type. Sorry, not impressed with that.
On my next visit, I plan on sampling their pastries and desserts because that is what The French Baker is all about - especially the much talked about French macaroons.
Have you tried The French Baker? Thoughts?
The French Baker is located at Ground Floor of SM Lanang Premier, beside ChaTime and Krispy Kreme.
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There's something about chocolates that makes me feel giddy and turns my mood around. When I think of dessert, I often think of chocolate. Hence, I always look for chocolate flavors when buying ice cream or cakes. One particular cake recipe that I haven't tried but did not grow a liking to is the red velvet cake. First of all, the color (to me) does not look something that is edible. But I was in for a surprise when I tasted Tea Amo's Red Velvet Cake for the first time.
A red velvet cake is characterized by its light or dark red color. It consists of several layers and then cream cheese or icing mixture are placed in between each layer of cake. The outside is also coated with the same cream cheese frosting to make it more creamy and filling.
The red velvet cake I ordered from Tea Amo is a pleasant introduction to this cake recipe. The cake layers were sweet but not too sweet. Meanwhile, the cream cheese filling helped to introduce another layer of flavor. I never realized that I would enjoy dessert apart from chocolate cake just as much!
If you happen to be in Tea Amo, don't forget to try out their pastries, especially the Red Velvet Cake. A slice costs approximately P95 but totally worth it. And it's a big slice, too!
Tea Amo is located at Tionko Ave., Davao City.
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Every once in a while, you stumble into a restaurant or dining spot that offers quality meals for a reasonable price and you feel a slight tinge of pride for the discovery. Indeed, it is a rare occurrence these days to get great food and feel like you wouldn't mind paying a bit more for it. That's how I felt when I had the chance to dine at BBQ Bob. This simple and unassuming BBQ joint is one of the newest to shoot up in Davao. And you couldn't complain because for less than P100, you can enjoy a meal for two. Good value, huh?
They also have plenty of options at BBQ Bob to suit your taste buds and budget. For instance, we ordered 2 pcs of pork barbecue with rice for only P39. You have the option to add either a stick of pork or beef barbecue and rice to your meal and that will only cost P15.
Meanwhile, their set consisting of 2 pcs of spicy beef barbecue and rice is also sold at P39 only.
All of their barbecue offerings are noted as offering not only reasonable prices, but also great quality. I can attest to this. The quality of their meat is comparable to other higher priced barbecue houses. And their barbecue are also well seasoned. I can't say they can compete with the likes of Penong's yet, but if you have a limited budget and you want to get a decent meal, BBQ Bob can help stretch the value of your peso.
BBQ Bob has branches in Bonifacio St. and Quirino Ext., Davao City.
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One of my favorite past time activity, obviously, is eating. I always like to try out new dishes and dining spots whenever I get the chance (or when the budget allows!). Here are some of the recent foodie spots I've paid a visit to:
Annipie
Dining at Annipie is always a treat for the senses. Stepping into the restaurant welcomes you with this beautiful aroma that revs up your appetite quickly! For my return visit, we sampled their Chicken Teriyaki and Lemon Fish Fillet. Both are excellent dishes and a truly hearty meal!
Greenwich Ilustre
I always love going back to Greenwich because they have one of the best tasting pizzas, apart from those authentic Italian restaurants that I've dined on. I just recently dropped by their Ilustre branch and ordered their All-Meat Overload Pizza and Chicken ala King. I have to note that their food items are excellent tasting, especially the pizza - even though they are affordable, they never scrimp on the toppings!
However, their crappy service at the Ilustre branch just spoils everything. Not only do the food takes a loooong time to get served, but their waiters and waitresses have become quite skilled at ignoring customers and pretending like they don't exist. This is one reason why I always think twice about dining here... and probably will look elsewhere next time. Lesson learned.
Backyard Burgers
Since tasting my first Backyard Burger, I can't seem to get enough. Hence, I went there earlier this month for a second trip and it was the same quality that I had enjoyed last time. The BB Yard Burger (P125) is always a staple with a visit to this burger joint. Plus, I also sampled their BB Extra Cheesy Burger (P140) for the first time. This one also comes with pure beef patty, cheddar cheese, black sesame bun, catsup, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, onion and its own steak sauce, and of course another slice of cheese to make every bite a lot more cheesy and savory!
Baywalk & Corazon Tourist Inn
There are not too many dining options in Puerto Princesa as there is in Davao. However, they have a pretty decent range of options that are good and reasonably priced. A seafood dinner at Baywalk is one good way to spend a lazy night, while enjoying the view of the sunset and listening to some bands play nearby. This grilled squid and barbecue dinner is as good as it can get for more or less PhP 200. Great deal, right?
And here's a glimpse into my final breakfast in Puerto Princesa...
Where have you dined lately?
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I haven't been to Zabadani Cafe in a while but I've never stopped thinking about making a return trip there. Admittedly, this is one of the restaurants I go to when I want to enjoy great food and know that I won't be disappointed. Last week, I finally made a reservation and dropped by for dinner after my session at the gym. And boy, was it a fantastic feast! I just realized they already had an updated menu, which only goes to show that I haven't been here for much longer than I had imagined. At the same time, it is an exciting prospect because I now have more new items to explore.
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| new menu |
However, E wasn't as into trying new items off the menu as I was. He still went with his old favorite, the Garlicy Rib (P 155). If my memory served me right, he has been ordering this dish since it was made available on the menu. Not that I can blame him. This succulent beef rib that has been marinated in a 7-spice mix and rubbed with plenty of garlic cloves and granules is the best Garlic Rib you can have in this side of the country. The meat is also tender that you get to enjoy more of its flavor rather than trying to wrestle with the meat on your plate.
Another dish that we tried is the Zabadani Prawn Balls (P 145). This dish is a new one and is made out of ground prawns formed into balls and fried until crimson red. Each ball is properly seasoned to a point that you get to enjoy a truly savory meal that is light at the same time. Couldn't have asked for a better compliment to the ribs.
Meanwhile, I had to sample one of their salad dishes - Fattoush. We ordered the small serving (Sagheer), P75, and you can get a decent serving of tomatoes, cucumber, onion, parsley, mint, salt, pepper, and olive oil. The salad also comes with chunks of pita bread on the side. This was the best way to start the meal because the subtle flavors helped to liven up your palate for a more enticing meal ahead.
We accompanied our dish selections with a refreshing drink in Mango Frullato (P 75) simply because we were craving for a mango shake all week long. This one is a much better and richer version of mango shake. Must-try!
If only I had more room in my tummy for dessert, I would've ordered one. But I guess that's another reason to go back especially since I had a peek into their Dessert section on the menu and it looks pretty tempting!
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