Kalami Cebu! - A Gastronomic Guide to Cebu

Hong Kong, 14 September 2018 – The award-winning outdoor Oktoberfest in Hong Kong, Marco Polo German Bierfest will be back from 17 October 2018 at Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel. Thousands of guests will fly in to join the party under the giant open-air marquee – the only place in the world where you can experience authentic Bierfest fun, food, and beer alongside the stunning Victoria Harbour. This year, guests booking their stay at Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, Gateway Hotel or Prince Hotel can enjoy free admission to the highly-anticipated event.

If there are two things that Filipinos love to do, it’s to eat and to travel. Beyond the country’s borders lie new adventures for wanderlusts and foodies alike.   Diners at Ayala Center Cebu will get the chance to win one of five trip tickets for two (2) to London and Paris including 5D/4N luxury accommodations, land transfers, a private tour, spa treatment and dinner at three Michelin-starred restaurants between the two destinations. Ongoing until December 31, present to the concierge near Vero Moda a valid transaction slip of at least P1,000 issued from August 17 to December 31, 2018, using a credit, debit or prepaid Mastercard from any participating or specialty restaurant to receive a raffle coupon. The Mastercard cardholder is entitled to one (1) raffle coupon for every transaction made at selected specialty restaurants, and two (2) raffle coupons for every transaction made at restaurants who participate in the Buy 1 Get 1 promo of Bon Appetrip, where a compl

kalam Food markets have been popping up around Cebu lately and one of the newest is the Y ello Cube Food Hub in Wilson Street, Lahug, Cebu City.  I was there on their first day and I got to try food from the first 7 food stalls that have opened there.  Every stall has a good potential to succeed so I am making a feature to one of them every time I visit the new food hub.  Today, I put the spotlight on Buldak Station.

Barely 3 years after opening its maiden branch, Abaca Baking Company (ABC) has opened its ninth branch at Robinsons Galleria Cebu.  This bakery/coffee shop/ all-day breakfast place has been providing Cebuanos the most delicious pastries and bread in the Queen City of the South.  One thing I love about ABC is their ability to come out with awesome creations at Cebuano-friendly pricing.

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu recently opened a new food and beverage outlet named Hai Shin Lou or Seafood King.  This Chinese restaurant is actually a branch of a famous Makati restaurant of the same name.  Hai Shin Lou aims to be the benchmark of Chinese restaurants in Cebu and they surely have the pedigree to do it. 

I love exploring my city late at night to look for food.  In a way, I believe that in any city in the world some of the best local food comes past your bedtime.  While many are asleep, I am having an awesome food trip.  One of my recent discoveries is the super yummy Bakagan of Mandaue.  If you ask your well-to-do Cebuano foodie friends, what Bakagan is, the question will probably be returned to you.  Well, my short definition of Bakagan is that it is a soup dish made with the skull of the pig boiled for hours.  This dish is characterized by a gingery broth with pulled pork-like meat that is very tender.   Bakagan is perfect during the rainy season or after a drinking session.

Slate District in Parkmall is turning one and I decided to make a rundown of my favorite dishes here.   This restaurant started by a couple who owns a chain of sisig stalls has become one of the best restaurants in the Parkmall-City Times Square area.

We recently celebrated Earth Day.  I have seen many people posting about ending plastic pollution and maybe, on that day many people refuse to use plastic.  As for my contribution on this topic, I would like to share my experience the last time I went to the beach.  As a food blogger, I discovered the favorite snacks of Filipinos or let say Cebuanos by picking up plastic trash at the beach.

One of the first ever favorite restaurants of Kalami Cebu was Carnivore in The Gallery, Mabolo .  I was so impressed with the Cebuano chefs who managed it because they were not afraid to innovate and use some advanced cooking methods.  Too bad, they closed down already.  I really missed the meat dishes of Kurt Famador and company.  I was hoping to see more Cebuano culinary talents to step up their game and compete with the "big boys" of the local restaurant scene.  Then, The Weekend happened!  As #TheWeekendPH turns 1, I do believe that Chef Jan Rodriguez took the cudgels of becoming the benchmark of an excellent local restaurant.

A few days ago,  I was asked to write something related to Globe Telecom's #MakeitSafePH campaign.  I mindfully said "Yes", because I agreed with the premise that we need to make the internet safe.  I was just supposed to write the article on my other blog but then an incident happened recently that gave me an urgency to support this campaign not only through words but also on video.  Content creators are exposed to hateful language daily and it is time to make a stand.

For locals, nothing beats good Filipino food. No wonder some of the most successful restaurants in the country have Filipino dishes on their menu.  After years of success in Cagayan de Oro City and Davao City, Boy Zugba comes to Cebu to give Cebuanos a chance to taste their version of "Kusina Bisaya".  

kala In the past year, there have been many Milk Tea and Coffee Shop places/stalls that opened in Cebu.  It comes from all around the world.  Beverage brands from Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Sri Lanka have invaded Cebu.  This weekend a Tea brand from Macao has opened in SM Seaside City Cebu.  Macao Imperial Tea has a lot of interesting offerings that can surely quench the Cebuanos' thirst for sweet drinks.

Barbecue has always been a Pinoy favorite.  I grew up eating at the old Larsian in the Fuente Osmena area. I am a big fan of Ric's Barbecue in Ramos before as well as Matias BBQ and Junjun and Malou's in Mandaue.  My barbecue adventures though never reached Mactan Island until recently when I discovered Tongro Korean BBQ.

A couple of months ago, I was raving about the Steak-All-You-Can Promo at Bai Hotel Cebu's Marble + Grain Steakhouse .  This time, our friends from Bai Hotel invited me to the launch of their Salmon-All-You-Can promo.  I found the promo very timely especially it was the Lenten season but after trying it out with my friends, only the price says it was a promo since everything was spot on.

I am not Chinese but the possibility of having a Chinese ancestor is not really remote.  As Ka Bino Guerrero said, "if you shake a Cebuano's family tree hard enough, a Chinese will fall off!". We recently celebrated the Lunar New Year or more popularly known as Chinese New Year.   I consider myself fortunate as I was able to witness two grand Chinese New Year celebrations.   I went to Marco Polo Plaza Cebu for Chinese New Year's Eve and then to Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Mactan for the New Year's Day feast.

Since the 90's, cafes have increased in numbers alongside the internet dependence of Filipinos.  The cafe phenomenon started with internet cafes, then early this century, big branded coffee shops like Starbuck's started to dominate the local scene. Now, cafes are known for "expensive" coffee and calorie-rich offerings. I rarely have a decent meal at a cafe and that is where Candiez Cafe is different.

Century Tuna Superbods Ageless 2018, the hottest and most awaited summer event, is taking the country by storm as it launches the second leg of its nationwide go-sees events on February 18 at Gold’s Gym, Ayala Center in Cebu City.

Do you want to get a 100-peso discount on your next shopping spree plus a chance to win a trip for 2 to a select Asian country? All you have to do actually is to download the SM Supermalls Mobile App to enjoy these perks.

I love steak and I always get excited when a new steakhouse opens in Cebu.  Recently I got invited by our friends from Bai Hotel to have a preview of their steak-all-you-can promo.  For 999++, one can enjoy as much Certified Angus Beef Ribeye.  I really think that this promo will be a big hit among Cebuano steak lovers.

Cebu is home to Sinulog, and is also home to Michelin-starred Chef Jason Atherton’s first restaurant in the Philippines, The Pig & Palm. To celebrate the country’s grandest festival, the tapas-style dining hotspot concocted two fruity specialty cocktails plus a dish that best complements it, available until January 21.

It's Sinulog season and I am pretty sure that there are many first-timers here in Cebu.   Well, Cebu has a lot of good places to eat.  Cebu is highly urbanized so one can easily find excellent dining places all over the island.  With the rise of high-end restaurants, most of the tourists do not get to taste the food that truly represents Cebu.  Kalami Cebu and Aldrincore Moshpit present the 10 must-try authentic local food in Cebu that you do not find out if you do not have Cebuano friends.