Thank You 2013

Grateful for...

• still having a job (the only source for travel funds)
• all the vehicles that have stopped to let Mustachio cross the street (every year Mustachio must thank them for letting him live)
• packing on pounds thanks to:
• food tastings (Marshall's Irish Pub, The Suite Room, Chicken Junction, Golden Cowrie)
• openings (Manggahan, Big Flat Bread, Cable Car, Michel's Deli + Cafe, Hukad in Parkmall, Big Daddy)
• treats just because they were feeling generous (Chatime, Choi City). Wow, Mustachio ate a lot this year!
• the owner of Telesfora Beach Cottage in El Nido for feeding 10 travelers at 530 in the morning.
• Trip@Palawan Travel and Tours for letting Mustachio and friends use the van for an hour more than what they had paid for
• Mustachio's long time college pal who fed him breakfast at Missy Bon Bon in Cagayan de Oro and who prodded Mustachio to become a circus performer (without an audience, but who cares)
• Cheng Bandala for answering calls from an unknown number. Mustachio was a stranger who called asking if Ms Bandala's house in Carabao Island was still open for homestays. It wasn't, but she selflessly took the time to find Mustachio another place.
• Rebecca Bandala for welcoming Mustachio to Carabao Island like they were long lost friends
• Carla for feeding Mustachio at The Suite Room, Chicken Junction, Michel's Deli + Cafe, and Big Daddy
• Joyceren of My Tasteful Life for secretly recommending Mustachio to Senpur Trading. He got to drain five glasses of Allmytea!
• Mustachio's long time friend for letting him crash at her place in Bantayan Island
• Agnes and husband, owners of La Isla Grill Siargao Bar and Grill, for expertly driving their van through muddy roads on the way to the awesome swimming holes of Magpupungko
• Max and Juvil, the father and son team, for the patience while Mustachio explored every nook and cranny of Bucas Grande
• meeting these amazing world travelers: Noelfy and Pinay Travel Junkie
• Kaona Grill for not leaving the Palawan cherry tree to die. The tree is now in Kaona Grill's new home in Lahug. Grow, tree, grow!
• Justinne aka Babe for Food for helping Mustachio maintain his pudginess by: 
• letting him taste her addicting brownie cups 
• giving his name to Chatime, Choi City, Golden Cowrie, Manggahan, and Big Flat Bread
• texting him directions to Mingnan Chinese Cuisine 
• inviting him to Mövenpick, Chatime, and Choi City
• nominating him in this year's Best Cebu Blogs (this does not help maintain pudginess but thanks all the same) though Best Cebu Blogs doesn't think he is qualified
• people Mustachio met on the road who came to visit him in Cebu this year:
• Ryo, a Japanese he met in a bus in Cambodia in 2012, took time off from studying in Manila
• SangCheol, a Korean he met in 2010, came for a weekend of boating and eating
• Teo, a Vietnamese whose family welcomed three strangers into their home, spent more than a week hopping from Mustachio's house to another
• granting the lazy hiker's dream. Mustachio only had to hike for 30 minutes to reach Pinatubo's crater lake
• Mustachio's close friend from highschool for always adopting him when he's in Manila and for taking him to the National Art Gallery, the Museum of the Filipino People, and The Mind Museum.
• everyone who answered Mustachio's questions when he was in Legazpi City in Albay (directions, tips, and random questions)
• the kind lady who let Mustachio leave his heavy bag in her stall while he hiked up Kawa-kawa Hill
• Mt Mayon for showing all her beauty
• Ramir for not overcharging for the tricycle ride from Guijalo Port to Paniman Beach
• Rene and Thata for safely taking Mustachio and friends from Sagbayan Peak to EAT Danao to Tubigon Port through sun and rain
• Mustachio's officemate for securing him a bus seat to Davao City from Cateel, Davao Oriental
• the jeepney driver in Davao City for the interesting conversation on the way to Davao Museum
• Brennan of Baktin Corporation for giving Mustachio no choice but to give in to that collab post about Coron
• Torta og Uban Pa for the box of cupcakes (that was unexpected!) just because Mustachio wrote a blogpost about them
• Mustachio's good friend for the treats from Sunday 2PM and Cafe Caw
• Mövenpick for that impressive experiment!
• everyone who helped the Philippines after that terrible typhoon
• the Christmas gift givers who also believe that it's the season to be fatty: Justinne of Babe for Food (brownie cups), Fred of The Exaggerated Zeal (napoleones), Carla of Jeepney Stop Chillin' (s'mores), Zhequia of FTW! Food, Travel and Whatevs (brownies), and Joyceren of My Tasteful Life (cookies and gummies). If you had given it all at the same time, Mustachio could have had a mini dessert buffet :D
• Mustachio's brother for the new phone. Now Mustachio can Instagram and tweet! If only he wasn't too lazy to actually post.
• everyone who has been visiting (and hopefully reading) this blog!

What's in a (Business) Name? Veinticinco

A toast... to new hair!

Spotted along Juana Osmeña St., Cebu City

For more amusing business names, please visit Go Random.

A Box of Brown Goodness

Dear FTW! Food, Travel and Whatevs,

I received a brown paper bag containing a white plastic bag containing a white box (with "Season's Greetings Mustachio" in curly red handwriting) containing twenty pieces of brown goodness. 

Yesterday I ate four of the deliciously not too sweet brownies and today I am still alive. Thank you Zhequia for not poisoning the brownies. I shall remain a pain on your neck on Twitter.

Your friend in hiding,

Mustachio

---o---

Dear Reader na Sweet Lover (reader na hilig ug sweets),

Have a Teaspoon...or a box of brownies! You can order a box of these crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside brownies from Have a Teaspoon (0925 552 2105). Check out what the Teaspoon's baking here.

Your friend in eating,

Mustachio

PS I say the Nutella Crunch sounds good. (I am nuts for Nutella.) I shall try that next time.

Maitre Chocolatier: Heaven and Hell

When my eyes see something tempting, but my pocket sees that something as expensive, my pocket squeezes itself tight to shut out my reckless fingers and I have to walk away with nothing but drool dripping from my mouth. The exact effect of Maitre Chocolatier on me.

When a friend whose big fat sweet tooth draws him to Maitre Chocolatier with me and three more friends as accidental companions, I try and steer him away from the dreaded pocket buster...to no avail. His big fat sweet tooth is waayy fatter and stronger than me.

Big fat sweet tooth drags us straight to Maitre Chocolatier's cake display. Everything looks deliciously similar—all smothered in chocolate. We go for the Chocolate Scones with whipped cream, raspberry jam, and nutella spread; a Nutella mousse cake called Angel's Confection; a Lindt dark chocolate mousse cake called Sweet Ebony; Frey White Chocolate Crepe with fruits; and their bestseller, Golden Euphoria (described as "Ferrero hazelnut crunch cake").

Chocolate scones (left) and Angel's Confection (right)

From left to right: Sweet Ebony, Frey White Chocolate Crepe, Golden Euphoria

Everything is superb (says the very biased chocolate lover—me). But, ahhh, the cakes of Maitre Chocolatier (especially Angel's Confection and Golden Euphoria) are heaven and hell. Heaven to the taste buds. Hell on the wallet.

Maitre Chocolatier
101, Level 1, The Terraces Ayala Cebu,
Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
(032) 238 7116
Daily 11AM to 11PM

With branches in Manila and Davao.


Oh how our stomachs rejoiced while our pockets suffered:
Chocolate Scones Php 150
Angel's Confection Php 176
Sweet Ebony Php 182
Frey White Chocolate Crepe Php 185
Golden Euphoria Php 218

Wear a Mustache!

Who wants a mustache on their wrist?

I'm carefully peeling off my mustache so you could wear it on your wrist!

That's how much I like you!

(Please don't mind the drops of blood.)

Or maybe you prefer this instead of the hairy bloody thing?

In order to own the mustache that ticks (the watch, silly, not a mustache with ticks), you just have to do three things:
1. like and share my facebook page
2. follow me on twitter and say hello
3. and complete this sentence: It is time to _______.

For the third requirement, you may be creative, witty, funny, or boring (maybe not). You may answer with one word, a phrase, a poem, an essay, a novel (not!), or a drawing (I would prefer a drawing hehe). Post your answer as your facebook status (please make sure it's public so I can see it) and don't forget to tag mustachioventures.

I will announce the winner on my facebook page on December 25, 2013 (Merry Christmas!)

Looking forward to your answers!

PS Open to Philippine residents only. Because I cannot afford overseas shipping!

Wisdom from the Road #10

On being mindful

Don't let your bags take a seat.
There are other passengers, you know.

 For more lessons from the road, please visit Go Learn.

What's in a (Business) Name? Veintiquatro

The internet shop for bats!

 Spotted in Visitacion St., Sambag II, Cebu City

Submitted by Fred of The Exaggerated Zeal. Thank you!

For more amusing business names, please visit Go Random.

What Time Is It at Chatime?

What time is it at Chatime?

First Time. The first time I tried Chatime was early this year. Since then I have consumed about a dozen of their drinks. There are over a hundred drinks to choose from and from the few that I have tried, I keep coming back for their pearl milk tea, QQ milk tea, and strawberry milk tea (with real strawberry bits!).

Tea Time. Or coffee time? Both. Coffee + milk + tea = coffee milk tea (regular Php 100 / large Php 110 / add Php 20 for coffee jelly). Welcome to Mustachio's Favorites Club, Coffee Milk Tea! But I must remember not to drink this at night for it will keep me up until three in the morning.

Coffee milk tea with coffee jelly

Snack Time. The chicken chops sandwich (regular or spicy, Php 95) makes an everyday appearance on the menu but, shame on me, this is the first time I have tried it. Pros: tender and not at all dry. Con: Too spicy. I like spicy food but this was too spicy for me. Next time I will have the regular one. Another snack option is the fries. Potato lovers will like Chatime's fries (Php 65). Choose from three flavors: barbecue, cheddar cheese, or parmesan cheese. 

Chicken chops sandwich and fries

Lunch (or Dinner) Time. Also making an everyday appearance on the menu are the pepper salt chicken chops (regular or spicy, Php 75) and the annatto rice pilaf (Php 18). A good combination for a full meal. But if I were to choose between this and the sandwich, I will have the sandwich. Or maybe I am just saying this because at this point, my stomach was telling me to stop eating.

Pepper salt chicken chops and annatto rice pilaf

Thank You Time. Thank you Chatime for serving me three times—tea (coffee), snack, and meal—at one time.

Opening and Closing Times.

Chatime
eBloc 2, Cebu IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City
Sundays to Thursdays 11AM to 12MN
Fridays and Saturdays 11AM to 1AM

Expansion Time. Soon it will be time to expand. Chatime will open in SM City Cebu by December 2013.

Mt. Uragay Spring

Itching to go for a swim?

• Swim (if you don't freeze) in the ice cold waters of Tappiyah Falls in Batad, Ifugao
• Jump in Kayangan Lake in Coron, Palawan
• Go to Hambil Beach in Hambil (aka Carabao) Island, Romblon
• Take a dip in a swimming pool in Boljoon, Cebu
• Be Tarzan in Canlaob River in Alegria, Cebu

Living in Cebu City and all the above suggestions are too far for you? Then try the cold spring in Carmen, Cebu—Mt. Uragay Spring. Carmen is just 40 km from Cebu City. Mt. Uragay Spring can be reached by taking a north bound bus, then alighting at the Carmen Public Market (or at the turn off before Carmen National High School, if you can spot the signboard for Mt Urugay Spring). Then take a motorcycle to the spring (if you want to walk, it's about 5km from the highway). Sorry, I can't provide estimated fares as I only hitched a ride with friends.

Mt. Uragay Spring

Brgy. Corte, Carmen, Cebu

(032) 429 8200

Entrance Fees:

Adult Php 50 / Child Php 25

Rentals:

Table only Php 100

Table with 4 chairs Php 150

Single Cottage Php 300

Family Cottage Php 500

Parking Fees:

Car Php 15

Motorcycle Php 10

Corkage Fee:

Drinks/Beer Php 50/case

This is a simple place with simple amenities. The basics are provided: tables and chairs or an open cottage (both for a fee), changing rooms, and a small sari-sari store at the entrance if you want some drinks and snacks. If you plan to have lunch/dinner there, best to bring your own food.

Mt. Uragay Spring has two pools. The smaller one (on the mid left of the photo above) is shallow, made especially for kids. The large pool is quite deep and very cold. For those who don't know how to swim, you might want to stay on the sides or deprive kids of space at the kiddie pool.

Marley & Me

Marley & Me
John Grogan

This is the story of a family and their bumbling beast, Marley, a Labrador retriever, who was with them from puppyhood to senior citizenship (13 years). 

I knew I'd enjoy this book after reading the first few chapters. Throughout the book I found myself smiling. John Grogan writes with humor and affection. I think even those not so crazy about dogs would appreciate this book.


For more book recommendations, please visit Go Read.

Fuzion Gourmet

Your restaurant is kind of hidden with only the sign "Fuzion Gourmet" giving a hint of what's a few steps down and behind the door. How can you lure my friends and me into your restaurant?

Start a conversation. That's what Ms Divina Veloso-Couvreux, the owner of Fuzion Gourmet, did when we were walking by in September, a week before they launched. I did not catch how she hooked my friend into a long conversation, but long conversation they had. While they kept talking and talking, another friend and I observed somebody filling tables with different types of pasta before putting on the glass top. In the course of their conversation, she handed each of us 15% discount coupons and said to take a look inside.

Moroccan–inspired interiors

We are such easy targets. The peek into the restaurant metamorphosed into a two-hour stay. We had dinner and desserts. I chose the chicken tajine with couscous because it sounded exotic. My friends decided to have the trusted roasted baby back ribs.

Chicken Tajine (left) and Roasted baby back ribs (right)

Homemade Iced tea

What is chicken tajine? The menu describes it as "Moroccan stew with vegetables and spices served with ratatouille and couscous grain." Ratatouille is not that awesome rat cook in the animated movie, it's a French vegetable dish. Couscous is like rice but not really (oh just google it or, better yet, try it). I have no idea what Moroccan food is and how it tastes but I found my chicken tajine quite interesting, though lacking in quantity. My friends' baby back ribs were, yeah, ribs. Tender but nothing impressive. The homemade iced tea they said is brewed differently, I just can't remember how nor can I say the taste was any different from other iced teas I've had.

From left to right: Green tea muffin, red velvet muffin, vegetable samosa, and chicken pie

Now for desserts: muffins (not found on their menu but in the display case), samosa, and pie. First the samosa and pie. Just Php 25 each. The samosa was like empanada in disguise. In my opinion, the only difference was the shape. The chicken pie was okay. But for just Php 25, I'll pick this over the samosa (size wins this round). Of the four, I like the muffins best! The muffins were packed (not at all crumbly) and moist. And they were big!

Fuzion Gourmet claims to have "a thousand tastes in one place." Yes, the food we had were just a few, but check out their facebook page for the other 993 tastes. Maybe not exactly 993, but there are more choices on the menu, thus more reasons to visit again.

Fuzion Gourmet
Mango Square Mall, Cebu City
(032) 254 1586
Sunday to Thursday 10AM to 11PM
Friday and Saturday 10AM to 2AM


How a discount coupon made us spend for dinner:
Chicken tajine Php 165
Roasted baby back ribs Php 175
Homemade iced tea Php 45
Green tea muffin Php 85
Red velvet muffin Php 65
Vegetable samosa Php 25
Chicken pie Php 25

Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda: How Can We Help the Philippines?

Donate in Kind

There are many donation centers around the Philippines, I am sure there's one near you.

In Cebu, here are a few suggestions:

ABS CBN at North Road, Jagobiao, Mandaue City

DSWD Field Office VII at MJ Cuenco Avenue cor. Gen Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City

The Freeman at D Jakosalem St corner V Gullas St, Cebu City

Gawad Kalinga at the old Sacred Heart School along Gen. Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City

The Philippine Red Cross along Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City (beside Jose Rizal Memorial Library)

If you'd like to donate for a specific area, visit these pages:

Malapascua Island, Cebu: Help Malapascua

Bantayan Island, Cebu: Bangon Bantayanons
Carigara, Leyte: Bulig Para Carigara

Isabel, Leyte: Bangon Isabel, Leyte

Ormoc, Leyte: Hope for Ormoc
Tanauan, Leyte: Burublig para ha Tanauan
Guiuan, Eastern Samar: Bangon Guiuan

Donate Time

If you're in Cebu, volunteer to pack goods at:

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Operating 24/7 in these locations:

DSWD 7 AVRC II Camomot-Franza Rd. Labangon, Cebu City

DSWD Field Office VII MJ Cuenco Avenue cor. Gen Maxilom Avenue

Benito Ebuen Airbase in Mactan, Cebu
Contact persons: Mary Jane Muaña 0926 633 8652 or Beth Canalda 0916 437 1532
Rules: No wearing of shorts and slippers. No cameras/picture taking allowed.

Cebu International Convention Center in Guizo, Mandaue City, Cebu
Contact 032 343 9441

Gawad Kalinga

1PM to 10PM

Old Sacred Heart School along Gen. Maxilom Avenue

0925 574 8292 / (032) 266 1288

Philippine Red Cross

Operating 24/7

Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City (beside Jose Rizal Memorial Library)

(032) 253 9793 / (032) 412 4140

Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.

Please visit their facebook page for schedules

or contact 0942 359 1097

Casa Gorordo, #35 Lopez Jaena St. Cebu City
November 16 (Saturday) 8AM to 1PM
November 17 (Sunday) Shifts: 8AM-11AM / 11AM-2PM / 2PM-5PM
November 18 (Monday) Starts at 10AM
November 19 (Tuesday) Starts at 9AM
November 20 (Wednesday) Starts at 9AM
November 21 (Thursday) Starts at 10AM
November 22 (Friday) Starts at 10AM
November 23 (Saturday) Starts at 9AM

Register through their facebook page or call (032) 418 7234 loc 511 or text Ms Rose 0917 316 9888

University of San Carlos (USC) Main, P del Rosario St. Cebu City
Up to November 19 (Tuesday)
Please bring ID

Contact Edelyn Juntila 0917 624 8439 for questions

Or volunteer to cook and pack hard-boiled eggs at  
Kaona Grill
Wilson St. Lahug, Cebu City

0917 323 0020 / 0917 310 7699 / 0917 303 8638

Starts at 11AM. Operations end on November 22.

For those outside Cebu, please visit this article from Rappler to find relief operations centers around the Philippines.

Donate to Rebuild Homes

Gawad Kalinga

Habitat for Humanity

Donate Money

Donate to any of these organizations. No amount is ever too small.

The American Red Cross

Bundles of Joy

Caritas Filipinas Foundation

Doctors Without Borders

Gawad Kalinga

The International Rescue Committee
Oxfam International

The Philippine Red Cross

Ramon Aboitiz Foundation

Save the Children
ShelterBox

UNICEF
Watts of Love

World Vision

World Food Programme (WFP)

Thank you to all the countries who have offered to help us

Australia / Belgium / Cambodia / Canada / China / Czech Republic / Denmark / Finland / France / Germany
Hungary / India / Indonesia / Ireland / Israel / Italy / Japan / Kuwait / Luxembourg / Malaysia / Mexico
The Netherlands / New Zealand / Norway / Panama / Qatar / Russia / Saudi Arabia / Singapore / Slovakia
South Korea / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland / Taiwan / Thailand / Turkey / United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom / United States of America / Vatican / Vietnam

I know there are many small groups who are also doing their share that I missed to include in the list above.
Please send me an email so I can add you to the list.
Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank YOU!

My Greek Taverna

What is a taverna? A taverna is a small restaurant serving Greek food.

What is a Greek taverna? A redundancy.

What is My Greek Taverna? It is...not mine.

Where is My Greek Taverna? My Greek Taverna is in Mango Square, along Mango Avenue, across One Mango. Just remember those three mangoes and you'll find it.

What's in My Greek Taverna? The taverna serves gyros, pitas, kebabs, and salads. Prices range from Php85 to Php215.

Please excuse the crappy photo of the menu.

How's the food at My Greek Taverna? It was okay. I wasn't wowed by it. But I was wowed by the price...wow, it's so expensive! I could get twice the size somewhere else for the same price of their half serving of kebab. It won't be Greek food, but it's the same concept as a gyro/kebab. Hint: shawarma.

I requested for the gyro and the Doner Kebab to be portioned into three. The photo of the Doner Kebab is just the half size.

What else would you like to say? My sister did air out that My Greek Taverna could have used reusable plates for customers dining in and just use the Styrofoam containers for take out. Yeah, why don't they?

My Greek Taverna
Mango Square, Mango Ave., Cebu City
0917 622 6993
Daily 5PM to 5AM


How My Greek Taverna robbed My Filipino Pitaka (wallet):
Hummus with pita Php85
Gyro Php185
Doner Kebab (half size) Php85

Learn Science at The Mind Museum

Science doesn't have to be boring. The Mind Museum agrees. The Mind Museum is an interactive science museum where guests, young and old alike, are encouraged to perform tasks in order to understand a particular concept.

The Mind Museum is the first (and only, that I am aware of) science museum in the Philippines. Visitors can either choose the 3-hour pass (Php600 for adults, Php450 for students) or the all-day pass (Php750). There are three time slots for the 3-hour pass: 9AM, 12NN, and 3PM.

For the love of science, I, the thrifty one, gave up my 600 pesos. The three-hour access pass, in my experience, gave me enough time to check out all 250 interactive exhibits in the museum.

Aedi (left) and a Mind Mover on a Segway (right)

Before we began our scientific journey, we were welcomed by Aedi the robot and by Mind Movers (the museum's resident scientists) on Segways. The kids were definitely awestruck with the talking robot.

The Mind Museum has five galleries, namely: Atom, Earth, Life, Universe, and Technology. I was hoping a Mind Mover would act as a guide and explain what each gallery is about, but that was not the case. We were to learn and experience on our own.

 

Exhibits from the Atom (left) and Earth (right) galleries.
I am not going to post too many photos so as not to spoil your visit.

 Earthquake simulator

When trying out the exhibits, do remember to be considerate of other visitors and not hog the exhibits. One must also have the patience to read and follow instructions. Do not just randomly press buttons and pull levers. One, the experiment wouldn't work. Two, you might break it.

Some of the galleries show short films or have experiment demonstrations. Spare some time to watch the shows, it will be interesting. If your level of interest is not the same as mine, at least you can nap on the couch in the Space Shell while the film runs.

 Science in the Park

Learning is not only limited within the walls of the museum. Kids will surely enjoy the park outside. There, they can learn science through play. To gain entry to the park, one just needs to present their museum pass.

The Mind Museum
JY Campos Park, 3rd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
(02) 909 6463
inquiry@themindmuseum.org
Tuesdays to Sundays 9AM-6PM (Closes at 9PM on Saturdays)

Downtown Food Hunt: Mingnan Chinese Cuisine

The visit to JRG Halad Museum made me hungry. Not because I associate music and musical instruments with food, but because it was almost lunch time. Where's a good, cheap place to eat downtown? My brain cells work extra fast and grasp this memory: reading about a Chinese restaurant in Brennan's blog Baktin Corporation. My fingers work extra, extra fast and dial Brennan's number. After all the pleasantries, I get to the point...

Mustachio: Bren, I need directions for Mingnan, that Chinese carenderia I read in your blog.

Brennan: When facing Metro Gaisano Colon, turn left and go straight. It's two or three blocks from Metro. After about two or three blocks, turn right at a small street, a street where it looks like you would most likely get mugged.

Ha ha. Nice description Brennan. That doesn't scare me from looking for Mingnan. When I get to Metro Gaisano Colon, I realize there are two "lefts"—Colon St. and Osmeña Blvd.—so my friends and I play ask-random-people-for-directions game. That didn't result in anything. And then I remember Babe for Food, the blog I rely on when it comes to food. How could I have forgotten her? Justinne aka Babe for Food wrote about the same place two years ago! I send an SOS message and, thankfully, hear back from her with complete directions and some tips on what to order. Yay!

 

When we spot Mingnan Chinese Cuisine, I mentally raise my fist in the air, yes! And get a pleasant surprise upon stepping in—it's air conditioned! (Being greeted by a blast of cool air after walking downtown at noon, you'd be ecstatic, too.)

Too bad, none of the dishes Justinne mentioned in her text message were available. But I am not complaining, what's available looked good too. I did not bother asking for the names of the dishes, my friends and I just pointed to whatever looked delicious.

Linat-an baboy (pork stew)

Clockwise from bottom left: tofu, tomatoes with egg, fried chicken, mushrooms

A plate of one rice and two viands costs only Php50. My friends and I were very happy with our lunch; flavorful food for just Php50, now who wouldn't be happy? You, Mingnan, were worth bugging Brennan and Justinne for.

Mingnan Chinese Cuisine
Plaridel Ext., Cebu City
(032) 253 5522 / 511 8400
Daily 830AM to 10PM

How Mingnan makes Mustachio want to go back to the most-likely-to-get-mugged-in street:
Meal (one rice and two viands) Php 50
Soup Php... I forgot
Softdrinks Php 15

Cafe Caw, Is the Third Time the Charm?

Third time's the charm, so they say. The first and second times I have been to Cafe Caw, at their Banilad branch, Cafe Caw failed me. On my first visit, I couldn't find value for my money. The second time was worse—I paid 60 pesos for a cupcake that was almost as hard as a rock. (I suspect it was an old batch that they forgot to throw out.) I posted it on their facebook page and the owner offered me a refund and a box of cupcakes. It was very kind of him, but I was ashamed to take his offer.

My third visit was at their newly opened branch in SSY Building in Lahug. The place had comfy settees and ottomans, which means (if you have been to their Banilad branch) that the Lahug branch is bigger—five times bigger—but with the same pastel–colored interiors. At their new place, it wasn't the interiors that caught my eye; it was the display case containing drool–inducing cakes. Cakes I had not seen in their Banilad branch. Cakes which I did not take a photo of (it slipped my mind).

The hosts (I was invited by a couple to come along to the cafe) ordered two drinks and the chopping board, which is a collection of five goodies: one cake, two cupcakes, one cookie, and one bar. I actually don't know what they call the set, I just called it the chopping board for all five goodies are served on a wooden chopping board. 

The hosts chose the following for our chopping board:

Blueberry cheesecake. I am not a fan of cheesecakes but the female half of the couple said it's one of the best cheesecakes she's tasted.

Choco oatmeal bar. Loved the gooey fudge.

Choco chunk cookie. Chocolate chunks, yessirree! Yum!

Green tea cupcake. The cupcake did have a hint of green tea, but much as I like green tea, I probably wouldn't care to have this again.

Mocha cupcake. The cupcake had a moist chocolate cake bottom and mocha icing.

The chopping board set could make at least four dessert–loving people happy. I did not get to try any of the drinks but the couple did say the drinks were too strong for their taste.

The verdict: Charmed. Yup, third time's the charm.


Cafe Caw
SSY Building, Lahug, Cebu City
(032) 418 1012
Daily 11AM to 12MN

Gov. M Cuenco Ave., Banilad, Cebu City
(032) 316 4595
Daily 11AM to 10PM



How much each goodie would cost:
Oatmeal fudge melt Php75
Cookies Php50 each
Cupcakes Php60 each
Cakes Php150 each
Drinks Php65-135
How much a chopping board set of goodies would cost: Php 375 (you save Php20)

The Mövenpick Hotel Experiment

I'm snoozing under the covers in the huge room on the 22nd floor of Mövenpick Hotel when I am rudely awakened by a grand shake and the sound of things crashing... Ha! Just a dream (being at the penthouse) and a nightmare (the hotel crumbling to pieces with me crashing along with it).

True, I am in Mövenpick Hotel, but in a room just five floors aboveground. A relief, given it has only been a week since the earth shook. And a disappointment; I was half hoping to be put up in the penthouse or whatever they call the room at the topmost floor. I am here to act as a guinea pig, might as well put me to the ultimate test.

No, really, I am just happy to be a guinea pig. Put me on any floor you want, Mövenpick, and I shall oblige. It is not everyday that I get to be invited (well, I have never been invited, until today) to stay in a hotel (or anywhere swanky for that matter). I was genuinely happy when Justinne of Babe for Food invited me to be part of this experiment. (Thank you Justinne for thinking me a worthy test subject.)

The goal here is to survive (along with all three Mövenpick towers) the aftershocks and assure everyone, or at least everyone who cares to read our blogs, that the building is still safe after that strong earth shake. Before the survival test, Mövenpick's General Manager, Mr. Knuth Kiefer, assures us that the hotel has been structurally designed beyond the local building code. In layman's terms, no need to worry.

 

Ibiza Beach Club

The assurance is paired with a Churrasco dinner at Mövenpick's Ibiza Beach Club. Churrasco is, to quote the hotel, "a Brazilian–style barbecue laden with mouth–watering fire–roasted meats and seafood, cooked in a churrasco grill and served from a sword–like skewer at your table." Before the grilled fare is served, we are given a plate with garlic rice, vegetables, and beans, and a separate plate of four condiments for the grilled meats and seafood: chimichurri, butter, red wine butter, and herb butter. Each guest is given a disc, with one red side and the other green. Turn the disc to green to signal the server to start carving the meat, and turn it over to red for stop. Salads can be had before diving into the meats and seafood.

 Please excuse the color cast.
For photos of the churrasco meats and seafood, check out Babe for Food's blogpost

I do not get to flip my disc to green but the servers wielding sword–like skewers come one by one: lamb chop, rib eye, filet mignon, lamb leg, pork belly, pork rib, chicken, ostrich, fish, squid, lobster, prawn. Each one is mighty scrumptious. I think I will lose this battle. By dessert—churrasco pineapple with yogurt, honey, and pistachio—I am as weak as an overfed pig. Weak but, still, I manage to wipe my plate clean with the last bit of pineapple, and pat my happily bulging stomach, "We are done."

Wrong. Something else comes our way: a scoop of maple walnut ice cream, which is not part of the churrasco dinner. I hastily make some space for this creamy, generously sprinkled with walnuts, delight. I spoon some in my mouth, and another, and another. If I had more space, I would have easily finished two or three more scoops. Best ice cream I have ever had. Congratulations, tummy, we are still alive. Those skewer–wielding people almost killed us with their delicious swords, but we are tougher than we look.

 Maple Walnut ice cream

Again, please excuse the color cast.

But we don't act so tough when we encounter SSB—sakit sa baboy. It's time to hit the sack. Nice, comfy, fluffy sack that is. In my room on the fifth floor, I draw the drapes close, snuggle under the covers, and sink (literally) in my pillow. Sweet slumber. And then a big jolt. I sleepily crack my eyelids open, listen to the walls shake, and reach for my watch: 2:42AM. This time it's not a dream. But I remain in bed and wait for the shaking to die down and switch back to hibernate mode.

I am awakened at 630AM. By my alarm. Hey, I'm alive. And the three towers are still standing. After a quick shower, I head down for breakfast at The Sails: A glorious spread of breads, cheese, cereals, waffles, bacon, sausages, eggs (omelet with mozzarella cheese!), soup, salad, yogurt, fruits (lots!), juice. Then explore the hotel one last time to admire the well–maintained beach and pool, and to survey the game room.

 Breakfast at The Sails

I check out early, say goodbye, and rush to work. That part I wish were just a dream. I would have happily stayed under the sheets all morning, with just a short break from bed to have that sumptuous breakfast in between. Thank you, Mövenpick, for that impressive experiment. I am one happy guinea pig.

Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu
Punta Engaño, Mactan Island, Cebu
(032) 492 7777


Was I was worth this experiment? I hope Mövenpick thinks so.
Rooms at Mövenpick start at Php7800, inclusive of breakfast for two.
Churrasco dinner (all you can eat salad, meats, seafood) costs Php2000. Add Php500 for bottomless wine.
A scoop of maple walnut ice cream for about Php300.