Kalami Cebu! - A Gastronomic Guide to Cebu

In my recent trip to Bohol, I went to Dumuluan Resort to learn kayaking. After hours of struggling in  a kayak, I wanted to have a belly-busting dinner.  Our host during our Seas the Day tour brought us to Gustus and it really satisfied the carnivore in me.  The trip to Gustus was another eye-opening experience about the vastly improving gastronomic options in Bohol. 

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.

When I watch movies, I always feel some jealousy looking at medieval kings and warriors feasting after a victory. I sort off salivate when I see Vikings eating a whole leg of lamb using one hand. I fantasize doing just that while eating some drumsticks. Well, my fantasy turned into reality when I went to the opening of Vikings SM City Cebu.

 Call me old-fashioned but when it comes to food that I crave for when I live away from Cebu, Dim Sum from Harbour City is on my personal Top Ten list.  I just consider steamed rice with some spring rolls and siomai as the best lunch option on some days.  This love goes back to over 25 years  ago when I discovered this type of food in the old Ding Qua Qua near STC in Mango Avenue.  Even up to now, I always associate this type of food to good times with family and friends.

I recently partnered with  +Emjae Argallon  of  Emjae Fotos  to produce video content for this blog.  One of our first collaborations was during Foodpanda Orange Awards held at Mandarin Plaza Hotel. Foodpanda is the country's No.1 food delivery app and recently, they feted their 50 best restaurant partners.  Nineteen of the fifty top restaurants came from Cebu.  Check out our video: Top 50 Restaurant Partners of Foodpanda in the Philippines

I am a "rice" guy when it comes to breakfast.  I have been that since I was a kid.  Given a choice between a Tapsilog and a McMuffin, I would choose the Tapsilog 99% of the time (save for the McDonald's National Breakfast Day). In my recent trip to Bohol, I had breakfast at Estrella Bakery and it made me realize that delicious bread and pastries can replace any rice meal on some days.

If you love pizza, pasta, and other American-Italian favorites you should check out the recently opened A Veneto Pizzeria Ristorante at the lower ground floor of SM City Cebu.  The newly opened restaurant specializes in New York-style pizza, pasta, salad, calzone, and sandwiches.  The SM City Cebu branch is A Veneto's 7th branch in the country and the first one in Cebu.