Despite the clutter of restaurants in Manila, I still look forward to my visits in Cebu and dining in the few good restos Cebu has to offer. Traveling with Bric means I have to stay longer here so that Ama can spend bonding sessions with Bricky Boy and so that our trip especially the packing will be worth it. Packing for Bric gives packing light a new meaning. NO matter how many days we stay, be it 2 nights or 5 nights, we still have to pack like we'll stay for 5 nights because in goes the sterilizer, the 8 8-oz bottles, the can of milk, the diapers and so on and so forth. So might as well make sulit the packing.
Back to my story... Since I stay here longer than usual, I get to eat out more. Hehee...
Some notables:
Kamekichi Noodles - My ultimate new favorite!!! For the past 2 visits to Cebu, I have eaten dinner here 2 times per visit. Could've been more. I could eat here almost everyday especially since I can't find a good Japanese noodle house in Manila. Kamekichi opens everyday except Sunday from 6pm - 1am. All their noodle soups are yummy. I usually have shoyu or misu ramen, with refreshingly cool chilled tofu and their yummy gyoza!!! Ummmm..... It is located across Paseo, in the Ayala Access road.
Abuhan, a disappointment - Ever since our Tagaytay Trip with our family with Stella's family, I have been longing for the good ol' bulalo steak I would devour with my brothers in Abuhan in Kang-Irag Hotel. Last I remembered, the pochero was huge and sizzling hot and the mushroom sauce was smoking!!! It was great with suka patis and kalamansi. This time around, I brought the Dizon brotherhood and sisterhood (minus Ate and Japa, Randy and Stella) to Abuhan in IT Park. It was such a disappointment!!! The bulalo soup had a stinky smell - too meaty while the pochero steak was bland. Perhaps in an effort to provide faster service, the kitchen already boil the pocheros without any seasoning and freeze them. Upon ordering, they reheat the pochero and pour hot mushroom sauce on it while on the sizzling plate. The result, tasteless and 'cold' pochero meat with the sauce not even infiltrating the meat! Sigh... now I am at a loss as to where to get a good sizzling pochero meal. :(
Giuseppe, good as always - A lot has been written about Giuseppe. Rave reviews and authentic Italian dishes. Yummy pasta, pizza and Italian hot dishes. What more can you ask for? Giuseppe is located a few meters before the entrance of the upscale Ma. Luisa subdivision.
Matias Chicken Barbecue - While passing by a stall of Manok ni Sr. Pedro, I told Mom I missed puso and lechon manok. She then suggested buying chicken barbecue in Matias, an old favorite. Not much ambience there, Mom just bought a few sticks for take out. That's what we had for dinner last night and thank goodness, the flavors and the taste are still the same as I last remembered them. Our barbecue is different from Bacolod's. Ours are juicier and more catsupy, and we don't use much garlic. We flavor ours with soy sauce. Matias is located along AS Fortuna.
Ding Qua Qua, Harbour City Dimsum, Cebu's unique dimsum experience - Perhaps only Cebuanos can appreciate our own dimsum flavor. This is the dimsum we've grown up with ever since we were little. Only in Cebu can we find our steamed fried rice - rice sauteed in soy sauce with pork or beef toppings. Their siomai, chicken feet are flavored differently than in HKs or even in Manila; but the taste evokes just so many memories of childhood that I really can't complain. Now, they have a dimsum buffet everyday featuring the old time favorites!!! Isn't that cool! :)
More on my next post. Hopefully, with pictures :) But I forgot to bring my camera... :(
