Kalami Cebu! - A Gastronomic Guide to Cebu

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.

One of my biggest frustrations as a child was not learning how to play a musical instrument.  I never had a chance to have lessons until recently when I got an invite to Uke Hub Kafe.  I spent a whole afternoon there painting and learning how to play the ukulele while eating and drinking the cafe's specialties.  Uke Hub Kafe is definitely one of my favorite cafes in Cebu.

Italian brand Hausbrandt opened its first cafe in the Philippine at the Capitol Square, Escario Street, Cebu City. Hausbrandt has a presence in 70 countries worldwide and they plan to be a major player in the local coffee market. What sets Hausbrandt by Euro Food 1892 from their competitors is their way of brewing their coffee.  They are the only cafe that mainly uses the Bialetti Moka Pot to make delicious coffee.

One of the best ways to enjoy a weekend is to go to a newly-opened cafe. I went to Backstory Kitchen and Cafe a couple of weekends ago and I got an awesome meal at an awesome new place. I have been wanting to go this cafe for some time, but I just cannot find a place to park during weekdays. Going there on a weekend was indeed a brilliant idea and I want to go back there more often.

One time, I was looking for a good place to eat at the Banawa area. I end up parking at Paseo Arcenas and checked out the several lunch options there.  I saw Brussels Cafe and decided to eat lunch there.  The cafe has a very cabin-like feel. I can see many European products on display. I expected this place to be different from the typical cafes in the city.

I had a blog event last month and it was held at Cafe Sarree in Escario Street, Lahug Cebu City. This cafe is really known for its tantalizing desserts.  I was really looking forward to the snacks that they were going to serve.  Cafe Sarree did not disappoint as I was able to taste a very delicious Moist Chocolate Cake. I was not really feeling too well when I went to Cafe Sarree and I ordered a glass of hot kalamansi juice.  Chocolate cake with kalamansi juice is an unusual combination, but it worked out for me.  The cake was really yummy and I really liked the wet chocolate and caramel icing.  The cake was moist and had the right level of sweetness. Cafe Sarree is really one of the best cafes in Cebu when it comes to desserts. I will definitely come back here and check out their other specialties. Related articles Dessert Places: Enjoying the Variety at La Marea Cafes in Cebu: After-meal Coffee and Dessert at Le Cafe Noir Weekly Specials: Feijoada ...

For months, I have been curious about this place in Lahug that has a logo that reminds me of Coca-Cola.  I knew that it is some sort of a cafe, but I really cannot find a reason to visit Le Cafe Noir. A few weeks, I finally had a chance to check out the place after having a hearty meal at Shalom Judges and Jireh Genesis Eatery nearby.

The Abaca restaurant group opened its newest outlet that is fast becoming the trendiest bakeshop/cafe in Cebu.  The Abaca Baking Company started serving fresh breads and pastries to Cebuanos a few weeks ago.  It is located at the Crossroads Mall in Banilad. The Abaca brand has always been a favorite among upscale diners and this new bakery/cafe/coffee shop is another sure hit by the famed restaurant group.

I just love going to cafes to write or read up on something.  One of my favorite cafes here in Cebu is Coffee Bean Scent. Located just beside One Mango Avenue, this Korean-owned cafe is one of the most popular places to study or hang out in the Mango Avenue area.

It has been a while since I last talked to my friend  +Nezte Virtudazo  who is taking up Law at the University of San Carlos.  I usually drill him with  some law-related questions just to keep himself sharp in his freshman year in law school.  One of our favorite study hangouts is Degree 9 Coffee.  We just usually have coffee or tea.  Recently, we had a meet-up during finals week.

Cafes are fast becoming the favorite study places for college students here in Cebu. In the Cebu Asiatown I.T. Park, one of the most popular cafes for students is the Bubble Bee Cafe. It's location is very convenient and it has an ample seating to accommodate around 30 people at the same time. 

Can you imagine yourself having coffee beside some cute looking cats?  Well, a cafe in Guadalupe is gaining popularity for letting customers mingle with cats, while enjoying some delicious food and drinks.  The Cat Cafe has been featured by a national TV station and I visited the cafe last week to find out how it is like to be in a cafe full of cats.

I really do not consider myself a coffee person, but lately I have been discovering new things about the world of coffee with the help of the different coffee enthusiasts here in Cebu. After my introduction to the 3rd wave of coffee, when I visited Ironbound Coffee and Bakery, I got a text  from the owner of Boots Coffee Bar. He told me to try his coffee. Boots Coffee Bar is located at the Al Fresco area of Persian Palate in Mango Avenue. It is only open during Fridays and Saturdays. Last weekend, I checked it out.

Recently, I was looking for a nearby LBC branch and I found one really close to my place.  I also discovered a new tea place has opened at Ridges Mabolo. Beanleaf is another new player in Cebu Milk Tea market.  I decided to check it out because my wife really love to drink Milk tea.

I have been passing by Butterbean Desserts・Cafe in Escario and I never really found the time to eat there.  I thought the establishment was all about cookies and brownies. I was wrong. I checked it out last weekend and I ended eating my lunch there. 

There are now so many interesting Cafes in Cebu.  While driving to Ayala, I passed by this new coffeeshop in F. Cabahug Street with a tarpaulin that said, "Hello Cebu! Welcome to Ironbound Coffee". 

Cafes are usually known to be the best places to enjoy some coffee and sweets in a very relaxing setting. This is actually bad for people who are at risk of diabetes or tooth decay. One café in Lahug is making it harder for the sweet tooth to resist as they offer 1-Peso desserts.   1 Peso as in? When was the last time you can buy a delicious cake at 1 peso? To avail of this wonderful deal, all you have to do is buy 1 meal plus a beverage then the dessert is practically FREE.      I accidentally bumped into this promo when I was looking for a decent internet connection because I needed to contact someone via Viber. I ended up at Tazza Cafe and Patisserie in Lahug. Well, it was lunch time anyway so I ordered a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich and iced coffee.   I was able to enjoy a delicious carrot cake for just 1 peso.

I was asking people around over ask.fm about cafes in Cebu.  Someone suggested Treat Street Cafe in the New Wing of Ayala Center Cebu.  The suggestion made me realize that I have not really explored the food choices in the mall that I go to everyday.  Last Sunday, I checked out the new Group Exercise Programs of Gold's Gym Ayala Center Cebu  and I was starving after almost 3 hours of cardio exercises.  It was a perfect time to go to this place.  When I saw the stall, I was like saying to myself, "Thank God I worked out. Now, I can eat all these carb rich offerings".

One fine day last year, my sales team was looking for a place for a meeting. We ended up in Baseline Residences since we went to the Redemptorist Church before our meeting.  At Baseline, our choice was between Bo's Coffee and this other cafe called Sprocketeer. Bo's was a bit crowded then so I decided we just check the other place out.

A few days ago, I had a relative who got confined at the Cebu Doctor's University Hospital.   It is really hard to find a good parking spot in the area and I usually ended up parking a few blocks away from the hospital.   One day, I ended up parking near Captain A's Restaurant and I saw a nice looking building that looks like one of those cafes that are popping up around Metro Cebu. I told myself that I am going to have dinner there. When I went back, I thought it was your typical dessert place that serves coffee and a variety of sweet offerings. Good thing, they also serve rice meals. What was most interesting was that they serve Ostrich meat . I made my orders and proceeded upstairs. The dining area really looks good.  The designs are slick and the colors are really pleasant to the eye.  There are also several colorful paintings hanging on the walls.