Image Source | Facebook: Mercedes Bakery

Mercedes Bakery is a purely Kagay-anon bakery specializing in breads, pastries, and cakes being targeted as the ultimate pasalubong products identified with Cagayan de Oro. The bakery is the sister company of SLERS Products.

When they started rolling the dough

Image Source | Facebook: Mercedes Bakery

Mercedes Bakery started everything in February 2007. It was Ms. Mercedes Mejia who started the Mercedes bakery by incorporating it as SLERS baked products in order to serve cold cut sliced sandwiches. Since they wanted the high quality bread similar to the bread served at the Del Monte clubhouse, Ms. Mercedes decided to bake the bread themselves.

The original bakery was located in Tablon. Early last year however, a fire almost devastated the bakery. Transferring the bakery to its present location beside its sister company store, SLERS, in Gusa, in less than a year Mercedes recovered fully and is now at more than full production capacity. The Mejia family considers this event to be somewhat of a test and blessing for their family business.

“Mr. Crumble”

Mr. Daniel Mejia
Image Source | Facebook: Mercedes Bakery

Arthur Daniel P. Mejia has earned the moniker “Mr. Crumble” for creating the original Cagayanon fresh baked apple pie they call the Pineapple Crumble. He graduated from Xavier University with a degree in Management Accounting. In college he was already a businessman of sorts by managing a SLERS sandwich stand. Admittedly, Daniel confides that he is not a chef and never took up any baking or culinary classes.

He simply learned the basics of baking by tasting the different products produced by Mercedes and by observing their family bakers when he started managing the production business side. He eventually took over the reins of Mercedes in 2012.

Originally, Daniel’s dream was always to eventually manage the SLERS business, but now that he has Mercedes, he considers it a better trade-off. Because of his degree, Daniel was able to gain experience from sales and manufacturing from different companies in Manila before coming home to CDO to manage Mercedes.    

That Mercedes Experience

Mercedes is not your typical bakery that bakes the daily bread. Since 2007 Mercedes has been known for their sizable Pan de Sal and the pasalubong delight called Biscocho.

Their pan de sal is bigger, fluffier, and fuller compared to your usual neighborhood bakery pan de sal that tends to be hollow and full of air. They’re also tastier than your average pan de sal. The biscocho is made from butter and sugar and goes well with your cup of coffee. It’s crispy but not hard because the butter used comes from local producers from Bukidnon and is therefore fresher than most commercial brands. They also serve really good oatmeal and choco chip cookies.

Butter Browns

Butter browns and chunky monkey muffins.

Most recently, the bakery came out with a couple of new products. Butter Browns are basically the mixing up of brownies and butterscotch. In Cagayan de Oro, Mercedes is the only bakery making butterscotch products.

Chunky Monkey Muffins

The Chunky Monkey Muffins is your larger than standard muffins that are sprinkled with really large chunks of dark chocolate. The dark chocolate sprinkles are made in the bakery rather than purchased commercially. The chunky monkey originally was sold in loaves, and is naturally banana based.

Meat Buns
Image Source | Facebook: Mercedes Bakery

Another bestseller is their large Meat Buns that is really filled full in the middle. Mercedes is the exclusive supplier of third-party meat buns for Chams Convenience Store.

Currently, Mercedes is supplying bread products for Chino’s Deli, the local Kenny Rogers restaurant, the pizza dough for La Tango Pizza, and of course, SLERS. They used to supply the bread for Backyard Burger when the latter was still in CDO.

Naturally, Mercedes is coming out with their line of homemade cakes, especially ones created for the coming Valentine’s Day.

The original Pineapple Crumble

Image Source | Facebook: Mercedes Bakery

The Pineapple Crumble freshly baked pie is fast becoming a favorite snack and pasalubong food item made from fresh (not canned) pineapples from the Del Monte plantation in Bukidnon and home-made butter locally produced in Bukidnon as well. It is solely made by Mercedes solely in Cagayan de Oro.

Image Source | Facebook: Mercedes Bakery

The family recipe all started with their mother, Mercedes, who loves to bake pineapple pie, and so Daniel sort of revised it to create the “crumble.” They introduced the crumbling pie to the CDO market in 2013, and it hasn’t crumbled ever since.

Pineapple Crumblets
Image Source | Facebook: Mercedes Bakery

Although baked fresh without preservatives and additives, it can actually last around 3 days in room temperature and 7 days when refrigerated. It can even be served cold or heated and goes well with coffee or milk, making it a really healthy treat.

According to Daniel, because the pineapple is the universal symbol for hospitality, it goes well when tied up with CDO being the “city of golden friendship.” This symbol originated from Christopher Columbus and other European sailors during the age of sail when they would return from a long voyage from South America bringing with them this rare (for that period) fruit that they would hang or spear on their front porch to welcome in visitors.       

So far, there are three major locations for Mercedes products, these being their main store along the C.M. Recto National Highway in Gusa (beside their sister store, SLERS), at their kiosk at the Robinsons Center, Limketkai Center Mall, and the Mercedes pasalubong kiosk at the Laguindingan Airport. Mercedes products, especially the pineapple crumble, are also available at the SLERS Café at the corner of A. Velez and Del Pilar Streets, Chingkeetea outlets, Ababu Persian Kitchen, and Dahilayan Forest Park and Adventure Park. Outside Cagayan de Oro pineapple crumble is now sold in Davao City at the Backyard Burger.

Valentine’s Offers

For Valentine’s Day, here are Mercedes Bakery’s offers:

Heart Brownies (P230) and Heart Cupcakes (P200)

Bloom Box

Mercedes Heart Brownie this Valentines for only P230

Future Plans

Team About Cdo & Urban Life Mindanao Gold Star Daily poses with Daniel Mejia.

For the future, Daniel envisions Mercedes Breads and Cakes as CDO’s “friendliest bakery.” They plan to expand their Gusa store to make this their flagship store, complete with air-conditioned café area and a glass display area where people can see the baking going on. For this they are planning to create more fancy cakes, bread, and yeast-based quality products that people would want to come back to again and again, similar to their pineapple crumble.

The post Mercedes Bakery – The Home of the Famous Pineapple Crumble and Unique, Mouth-watering Pastries Never Tried Before appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

It’s exciting to know now that there is another place adding the list of burger joints in Cagayan de Oro. Just arrived last Friday, February 12, offering the baddest burgers yet in town is Bad Burgers. It is located at Corrales Avenue cor. Domingo Velez Street, right at the new Center Point Arcade behind AA BBQ.

Image Source | Facebook: Bad Burgers page

Their menu includes different kinds of burgers such as the following:

• Classic Cheese Burger
• Pesto with Cheese
• Wasabi with Cheese
• Hawaiian with Cheese
• Cheesy Mushroom
• Pepper Coulis
• Cheesy Bacon Mushroom
• Coleslaw with Cheese

Image Source | Facebook: Bad Burgers page

Their baddest burgers must be the following:

• Double Foul
• Triple Threat
• Black Burger
• The Dominator Burger
• Donut Burger

Cheesy Bacon Mushroom Burger

Triple Threat Burger of Bad Burgers

Along with their burger line ups are:

Appetizers

• Beef Nachos
• Beef Quesadillas
• Beef Taco
• Meatballs
• Buffalo Wings
• Cheese Sticks
• French Fries
• Popcorn

A bucket of French Fries of Bad Burgers

Beef Tacos of Bad Burgers

Pasta

• Spaghetti
• Carbonara

They also offer breakfast meals such as Pancakes, Beef Tapsi, Bacon and Egg, Hungarian and Egg and Omelet with Cheese.

Bad Burgers Interior

There are also drinks being offered such as hot drinks (brewed coffee, hot choco and 3in1 coffee), canned sodas, canned juice, bottled water, beers, imported beers (Hoegaarden from Belgium, Tsingtao from China, etc) and hard drinks (Johnny Walker Red, Black and Double Black, Jack Daniels Whiskey and Honey, Jose Cuervo Gold, Captain Morgan, Fundador Light and Bulleit Bourbon).

They are open on Mondays until Sundays starting from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

So if you are looking for a place to enjoy by yourself or with friends and loved ones, Bad Burgers is definitely for you. A new place for Kagay-anons to stay and enjoy food at the same time.

Thanks to Jiffy Badal for providing some of the pictures shown in this article.

The post Bad Burgers CDO: The Newest Addition to the Best Burger Joints in Town appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Image Source | www.caffelateaph.com/

Last February 22, 2015, Monday, the newest coffee/milk tea/food restaurant in Cagayan de Oro just opened its doors to Kagay-anons who are undeniably sipping cup enthusiasts. Branded as Caffe La Tea, they came all the way from Cabanatuan City.

Image Source | Facebook: Caffe La Tea – Cagayan De Oro page

Caffe La Tea Cagayan de Oro is their first branch outside Luzon and they brought with them their signature Arabica + Robusta roast.They can be located on Hayes Street at the Ground Floor of Monte Carlo 11 building.

With their slogan “Zen and Happiness in a Cup”, sure they are bringing zen and happiness through their coffee and milk tea concoctions. Also, they offer Filipino fusion cuisines. See their menu below.

Image Source | www.caffelateaph.com

Image Source | www.caffelateaph.com

Image Source | www.caffelateaph.com

Image Source | www.caffelateaph.com

Caffe La Tea was made possible by a four cousin-sister-friend group who are confessed sumptuous food-lovers. Their inspiration in bringing up this company were their travels in and out of the country and unforgettable food stories they had along their journeys. Aiming to provide a haven for friends who want to gather and just to have a chitchat over a cup of coffee or tea plus that specific perfect dessert. Thus, on 2012, Caffe La Tea was established in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. And currently is the “homegrown tea and coffee pride” of Cabanatuan City.

Image Source | www.caffelateaph.com

Aside of their coffee, tea and food, they also offer wifi connection for those who are online geeks, may be for leisure, study or work.

So, when looking for a place to share quality time with friends through chitchats, study or work over coffee or tea, there can always be Caffe La Tea.

The post Caffe La Tea CDO: Bringing Zen and Happiness in a Cup from Cabanatuan City appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

March 4, 2016 was a special Friday for the regular goers as well as newcomers of the Weekend at the Strip at the Limketkai Center.

Team About Cdo, Urban Life Gold Star Daily, Irene Aserios and Vic Marion Go Madriaga poses with Ms. Cristina Maagad, Marketing Development Officer/Food Bazaar Organizer.

It was Blogger’s Night on that date and all the Food Bazaars at the Weekend at the Strip held their own best-seller food sampling and food tasting.

The food sampling and food tasting was attended by several bloggers and media people including the interview team of aboutcagayandeoro.com led by Mr. Bryan King, Ms. Yani Briones, Ms. Kc Claud Curay; Ms. Jillian Bacarisas, Mark Llusala and Resali Sarmiento of Urban Life Gold Star Daily; Ms. Irene Aserios of Mindanaoan.com; and Mr. Vic Marion Go Madriaga, multi-awarded blogger of vicmadz.com. The Cool Rhythms Band also performed live on that night.

Weekends at the Strip Food Bazaar bestseller food sampling and food tasting was organized by Ms. Cristina Maagad, head of marketing for the Limketkai Center Corporate Office and organizer of the Weekends at the Strip.

Weekends at the Strip started out last February 5 of this year in time for the Chinese New Year. It features different food bazaars and stalls that sell their unique food menus and bestsellers and drinks. Alcoholic drinks however, are sold separately and exclusively by Pete’s Patriots right beside the food strip bazaars. The food bazaars are open only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

There are live performances featured for each night. Juan Enrico performs on Acoustic Friday Nights, Herbal Remedies are assigned on Pop Saturday Nights, and Chill Beats perform on Sunday Nights. The Strip is located on the parking lot right beside Pizza Republic and Pete’s Patriots. So far, these are the food bazaar stalls that occupy the Weekend at the Strip:

SLOW AND SMOKEY WOODEN FIRE

Slow and Smokey Wooden Fire is a stand-alone food stall owned and operated by Mr. Stanley Dughon. Their bestsellers are their baked scallops with chives and mushroom, pork skewers, and Chinese-style chicken barbecue.

FIGHT NIGHT BOODLE

Fight Night Boodle is another stand-alone food stall in the tradition of the military style boodle fight meals that are becoming popular in the whole country.

The stall is owned and operated by the consortium of Ms. Sheena Parrel, Monica Parrel, and others. Their main bestseller is their small boodle priced at P399 and composed of pork belly, barbecue, chicken adobo, talong (eggplant) salad, and pancit. They also offer boodle meals for large groups.

EAST COAST CHEF

East Coast Chef is owned and operated by renowned chef and Desserts 101 owner and caterer Chef Joseph V. Villamil.

Chef Villamil is well-known around Cagayan de Oro for his dessert, cocktail, lunch, or dinner buffet catering as well as top of the line fondant cakes. Their bestsellers include the east coast burger, beefy subway sandwich, and baby comeback ribs.

POP’S KITCHEN

Pop’s Kitchen is that mom and pop neighborhood family restaurant very popular at the Casa Azucena, Marfori Compound, Pabayo Street.

It is owned and operated by Chef Karl Antoni E. Mison. Their bestsellers have always been their Bibingka de Manila, putobumbong de Manila, Bagnet Ilocos, Vigan longganisa, Ngohiong de Cebu, and their Special Ramen.

HOT STOP

Hot Stop Lechon Belly is a new but popular eatery and lechon belly stall. It is owned by couple Alvin and KC Curay and run by their partners Rhyn Beltran and Belle Kalakiga.

Their best seller is their Lechon Belly Value Meal at only P60 while they sell Lechon Belly Slabs at prices ranging from P999 up to P1,999.

They also offer Italian-inspired dishes and delicious desserts.

Hot Stop used to be one of the tenants at the Food Bazaar but even though they’re no longer at the bazaar they’re still operating their shop at Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City. To contact them for orders and catering services, here are their contact numbers: 0917 3099 725 and 880 1365.

Weekend at the Strip Food Bazaars somehow mimics the days when the Night Café in Divisoria existed – of course minus the clothing stalls – until some yoyo-brained politician decided to end the nights of the Night Café. The Strip is far safer of course, it being inside the Limketkai Center and flanked on three sides by high walls and other buildings (Pete’s Patriots on the left and Pizza Republic on the right) while the entrance is fenced and well-guarded.

This is due to the fact that The Strip occupies a well-guarded parking lot during the day and weekdays, of which it is converted into The Strip for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Night, with a medium sized stage set out on the right side of the wall for the live performances. It’s something different during the weekends as it offers something away from the noisy bustles of the city’s well known entertainment arcades and districts.

The post Weekends at the Strip: A Taste of Best-selling Items from the Menu appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

If there was a single signal indicator of the growing progressiveness of Cagayan de Oro City and Northern Mindanao, it would be the food service and agricultural food industry. This can be seen in the various food festivals held annually in the different malls in the city sponsored by a variety of government and NGO organizations.

Last March 11 – 13 was no exception as the Big Bite! Flavors of Summer – Northern Mindanao Food Festival 2016 was held at the Activity Center of the Ayala Centrio Mall.

Big Bite! Flavors of Summer – Northern Mindanao Food Festival 2016, a project of Centrio Ayala Mall was organized and conducted by the Professional Organizers Unlimited, Cagayan de Oro’s premier and top notch professional organizers since 1998. Major sponsors are NORMIN Veggies, SLERS, and Mercedes Bakery.

While all activities were conducted at the Activity Center in the middle of the mall, the different food and food service booths were spread along the walkways leading to the Activity Center, the bridgeway on the first floor, the bridgeway on the third floor, and at the Capt. Vicente Roa Street entrance to the mall.

The different booths showcased their top food products and some booths allowed for tables and chairs so customers can eat prepared food and meals.

Noteworthy at some booths were the vegetables and fruits for sale that came all the way from Bukidnon.

The garden center with the big tree became the display area for a pony and several rabbits that came all the way from Bukidnon.

The other garden center was converted into a dining area where other booths could sell their menu lineups while DJ Kyle Banaag, DJ Julius Banaag and DJ Cocoy Banaag belted out some cool dance mixes for those having dinner.

What usually attracted the people were the hundreds of colored umbrellas hung in the middle of the open garden center along with the large “Big Bite” letters and a big heart that worked great for photo ops and selfies.

Day 1

The first day was naturally capped off by an official ribbon cutting ceremony near the entrance walkway to the Activity Center.

Officials and VIP’s from the Ayala Centrio Mall, food service, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Tourism were on hand for the said ceremony.

At the Activity Center, the program started with the unveiling of the Biggest Ham Sandwich Ceremony. The usual VIP’s and representatives from the different government, NGO, and food services were there to take a slice and bite of the large ham sandwich, which in reality was a collection hundreds of small ham sandwich bun slices assembled together to form one gigantic ham sandwich. This was followed by all of the guests, participants, and media personalities invited to partake of the food tasting preparations and finger foods.

The first day culinary competitions were the Search for the Best Ham Sandwich, Summer Smoothie Competition, and the Cashew Nut Competition.

The three culinary competitors on hand were the student-chefs from Southern Philippines College, Pilgrim Christian College, and the Culinary Institute of Cagayan de Oro (CIC). For each competition, the food judges had to open a special box onstage to reveal the ingredients that were to be used. Before each competition began, the contest participants were given 2 minutes to get the ingredients they needed. After that, each competition was given a limited time to finish.

The finished preparations were then presented in front for the food judges to taste and to score.

Pilgrim Christian College won the Search for the Best Ham Sandwich, while the CIC took home the Summer Smoothie Competition, and the Cashew Nut Competition awards.

Towards the evening, a panel of 20 judges went around to do food tasting from the merchant and non-merchant booths that registered for the Lifestyle Writer’s Choice for Best Dish Award.

The group was brought around and escorted by members of the Professional Organizers Unlimited.

Yani and KC

For Team aboutcagayandeoro.com, KC and Yani were invited as food judges.

Day 2

The second day featured more culinary competitions such as the Veggie Dish Challenge and Giant Salad Competition.

The latter contest is supposed to highlight having Northern Mindanao’s biggest salad bowl. Guests and participants then had their taste and fill of the salad bowls. Overall, the CIC once again ran away with the top prizes for both contests.

In the evening, the booths at the garden area featured their top grill menu lineups for customers wanting to partake their dinner at the garden area with DJ Red belting out dance tunes in the background.

Day 3

The third day featured the Sticky Rice Innovation and Ceviche Challenge wherein both culinary contests were once again won by CIC.

Naturally, during the awarding ceremonies, the overall champion was awarded to the Culinary Institute of Cagayan de Oro.

The third day was also topped off by being hosted by Kapuso Taste Buddies Solenn Heussaff and Iya Villania with local Cagayan de Oro host Ray Cid.

In the evening the dinner area was filled to capacity once again as the food booths offered their different “all-you-can” buffets while the acoustic band, Vital Signs, played in the background to the delight of the dinner goers. A fire-dance even took place at the Capt. Vicente Roa Street entrance area as part of the last day highlights.

For the Lifestyle Writer’s Choice Awards for the Mall Merchant’s Category, the following winners were decided on by the panel of judges:

5^th Place – Blue Marlin by Barkadahan Grill

4^th Place – Rice Toppings by Thai Me Up

3^rd Place – Matcha and Red Bean Muron by Nanay Choleng’s Muron   

2^nd Place – Crispy Pata by Mesa

1^st Place – Crispy Tadyang with Shrimp Rice by Panagatan 

For the Exhibitor’s Category, the following winners were decided on by the same panel of judges:

5^th Place – Hazelnut Brew by Sikwate and Carrot Cake by Sea Cakes (two-way tie)

4^th Place – Chocolate Cake by Chocolate House

3^rd Place – Hayashi Bread Curry Flavor by Arc’s and Z’net

2^nd Place – Red Velvet Cupcake by Heavenly Indulgence

1^st Place – Sisig by Samuel Vjandep

With the Big Bites! Flavors of Summer, everyone now accepts the fact that summer and the heat it brings is once again upon our city, and with it, the summer food and taste that goes along with it.

The post Big Bite Flavors of Summer – Northern Mindanao Food Festival 2016: Showcasing Mindanao’s Finest Food and Cooking Skills appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Image Source | Facebook: Restaurant Damaso

Restaurant Damaso is a home-grown and conceptualized Asian-Fusion cuisine restaurant that opened at the corner of Pabayo and T. Chaves Streets, on the ground floor of Casa Crystalla. This neighborhood Parisian-industrial-minimalist concept diner is owned by Chino, Jonathan, and Katrina Mempin who also brought you Chino’s Deli at the Ayala Centrio Mall.

In spite of only opening in September of last year and being less than a year old, the siblings are always trying to find new menu lineups and new cuisines to add to their already deliciously burgeoning delectable.

And so, last March 10, Team aboutcagayandeoro.com with other culinary bloggers and a culinary team from Urban Life Gold Star Daily.

Seasonal Fruit Vegetable Salad

To start things, they first served the Seasonal Fruit Vegetable Salad (Cous Cous Passion Fruit). It’s called “seasonal” because it contains whatever is “in season” for that particular month or period. What adds to its delightful taste are the granular Cous Cous that is an alternative to pasta in Middle Eastern and North African countries. It’s not too sweet and yet not too twangy and even makes for a great alternative appetizer for salad lovers.

Uni Pasta

Next, the Uni Seaweed Spaghetti Carbonara uses seaweed instead of traditional pasta. Honestly? You won’t really know the difference although what might come into mind is a sort of noodle-like Carbonara because of the softness. But it’s a good sort of soft and not soggy like commercial noodles. And the taste is absolutely divine that even the sea god Neptune would greatly appreciate.

Calamari

Calamari in Black Ink Mayo is large squid slices deep fried and with the squid’s very own black ink used to make a mayo dip. Unlike most commercial calamares dishes that are mostly flour in content and taste, with this dish you get to savor the squid itself and the mayo dip is just absolutely tasteful.

Sizzling Pochero

Sizzling Pochero

The Sizzling Pochero (house gravy) is basically your beef Bulalo, but instead of being served in soup, it is brought in sizzling in its own Damaso house gravy which is a home recipe secret. It is definitely and enormously delicious and is served with its own fried rice, seasonal chips, dressed salad, and roasted vegetables.

Honey Bacon Steak

The Honey Bacon Steak is sort of like eating a large bacon slice complete with the bacon-ny taste that you’re used to when you eat bacon for breakfast. But instead of the thin bacon slices, they serve it up steak-style. It has a unique delicious taste and is served with its own fried rice, seasonal chips, dressed salad, and roasted vegetables.

Smoked Chicken Legs

The Smoked Chicken Legs (wasabi aioli) features 3 deliciously cooked (and smoked) chicken drumsticks in wasabi aioli sauce and served with fried rice, seasonal chips, dressed salad, and roasted vegetables.

Bacon Cheese Burger

For a snack or even a full meal, you’ll be surprised at how filling the Bacon Cheese Burger can be. The beef burger patty alone is thick and served with equally thick slices of bacon mixed in very delicious burger sauce and mustard. If you’re really hungry you can probably finish the whole thing, but two people can easily share the burger equally halved.

Saging Mantikilya

For their new desserts, they served the Saging Mantikilya (coconut sorbet suha). It’s like your neighborhood saging mantikilya cooked the same way but this time served with coconut sorbet ice cream and drizzled with finely ground suha. It has a very uniquely delicious taste that can’t easily be described but definitely a must-try for those seeking new dessert fares.

Chino’s Breakfast

For their new breakfast fares, their bestseller is the Chino’s Breakfast that consists of smoked chorizo, beef tapa, tomato salad, vegetable rice, and double fried eggs. It’s an enormously delicious and filling start to the day.

Food! Glorious Food! 

Here are more food photos for your viewing pleasure! They’re surely mouth-watering and will make you want to rush to Restaurant Damaso right now.

Monte Cristo Sandwich

Orange Salad

Huevos Rancheros

Grilled Pork Chop

Grilled Pork Chop and Smoked Chicken Legs

Function Room and Catering Offers

The interior of the restaurant has greatly improved with the addition of their function room with a capacity of up to 30 persons.

Prices for function room catering are negotiable starting at around P150 to P250 per person depending on whether it’s daytime or nighttime and on a per-plate or buffet basis. They also have external catering for events up to a maximum of 150 persons.

Restaurant Paintings

Image Source | Cdodev.com

The walls are now decorated with series paintings made by the Cagayan de Oro painter Meling Abuga-a. Below are other new paintings decorating the restaurant.

Brand New Menu 

To know what other items are on Restaurant Damaso’s new menu, here are the lists:

Image Source | Cdodev.com

Recent Achievement 

Just recently, Restaurant Damaso was awarded by Courage Asia as Cagayan de Oro’s New and Outstanding Dine Destination.

Contact Information

For inquiries or reservations for their function room or catering, you can reach them on 0917-6700225. You can ask for Katrina, Jonathan, or Chino.

The post Restaurant Damaso – New Menu Items and Still with the Real Deal When It Comes to Delicious Taste with Good Prices appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Image Source | Facebook: Redtail Shrimps & More

When this seafood restaurant first opened at the end of April in 2014 at the Papa Juanito’s Square at the back of Limketkai Center Mall near the Robinsons Center, Kagay-anons were treated to an amusing eating experience. No plates or utensils are used; each person is given long printed paper bibs that they have to wear, thin plastic gloves are worn since you need to eat with your hands, all the food is served in clean plastic bags, and paper plates and table mats are used.

Image Source | Facebook: Redtail Shrimps & More

Another branch is located at the Casa Azzurri along Don A. Velez Street in front of Sentro. This branch opened in September of 2014 as well. However, starting this year, as a means to go environment friendly, Redtail Shrimps and More has foregone the practice of using plastic bags but is instead serving its meals in skillets.

Their seafood dishes are served either with its own sauce or in coconut milk (gata) and butter and locked in those plastic bags, so when they are opened, a tasty aroma is emitted in the air. Both restaurants are always filled to the brim almost every day of the week, a testament to their delicious dishes for a restaurant away from the mall atmosphere.  Their best-sellers are usually the crabs, prawns, shrimps, panga ng tuna, kinilaw, and their boodle group meals.

Best-sellers

If you’re wondering what the “More” is in their name, it’s the non-seafood lineup that surprises a lot of people, such as the pork belly that many swear really tastes good. Their chicken tender is also good.

Image Source | Facebook: Redtail Shrimps & More

Their Fisherman’s Catch is also a crowd favorite, a mixture of shrimps, crabs, squid, and mussels all served in a pan, and good for 2 to 3 persons. The salted egg crab and coco loco crab are also must-tries for the eating delight of your palate.

Image Source | Facebook: Redtail Shrimps & More

Aside from the regular “gata” and butter sauces most of the meals are also served in the Redtail Shrimps’ creamy seafood chowder. You should also try their baked mussels. You can even request the level of spiciness if you choose the spicy sauce for some meals.

The Concept and the Owners

Though this concept was started in Cagayan de Oro by Redtail Shrimps and More for the first time, this concept of a plate-less and utensil-less restaurant was started in Cebu by the popular restaurant, Bucket Shrimps. First-timers to using the paper bibs and plastic gloves while eating often have a laugh before eating and usually joke all about it while eating. It’s not uncommon to see families or friends getting their pictures taken with the paper bibs and plastic gloves.

Image Source | Facebook: Redtail Shrimps & More

Redtail Shrimps and More was started by Ted and Angela Jalad who wanted to try out in Cagayan de Oro the eating experience that they had when they toured the west coast of the U.S.A. They wanted Kagay-anons to experience the unique recipes and eating styles from so-called “fisherman’s restaurants” in Maine and Rhode Island. And by the way, Ted and Angela never went to Cebu and experienced the Bucket Shrimp style there.

Overall Restaurant Atmosphere and Prices

Image Source | Facebook: Redtail Shrimps & More

The ambiance of the restaurant is quite nice and festive and reminiscent of those fishing boat ports found around the coast of Maine and Rhode Island. The menu price is actually quite affordable compared to other more pricey seafood restaurants.

Image Source | www.tripadvisor.ca

Expect to pay between P155 up to P335 per meal, depending of course on whether you’re ordering for one or several persons. Their boodle or pan meals usually start at P395.  They do serve beer in case you want to have a night out with the gang and have seafood as your “pulutan.”

Image Source | Facebook: Redtail Shrimps & More

Another thing that catches the attention of the restaurant goers is the “graffiti wall.” Some do inquire if the wall was “artistically” done, when in actual fact it is truly a graffiti wall where anyone can write on it, especially when reviewing the delicious menu lineup of the restaurant.

Image Source | Facebook: Redtail Shrimps & More

What probably adheres Kagay-anons to keep coming back to Redtail Shrimps and More is the unique taste of their menu food items. Unlike other seafood restaurants that adhere to the tested concepts of “inihaw” and “sinugba,” these concepts are not present in the menu. Except for their non-seafood menu, their seafood menu is mostly sauce-based and served inside those plastic bags that waft out the aromatic smell when opened.

Popular Visitors

Redtail Shrimps and More has earned such popularity that a few Manila-based celebrities have already tried it out.

Image Source | Facebook: Redtail Shrimps & More

Ms. Kim Domingo, Ms. Yassi Benitez, and Ms. Kristine Ko, celebrity models for FHM were spotted having dinner there only last March 1.

Image Source | Facebook: Redtail Shrimps & More

Regine Tolentino also tried out the restaurant back in January of this year as well. On October of last year, Yael of Sponge Cola also had dinner at the restaurant, as well as Dimples Romana in September of last year.

Contact Information and Location

Image Source | Facebook: Redtail Shrimps & More

Redtail Shrimps and More is open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Unfortunately, if you are applying to the restaurant as a dishwasher, you’ll never get hired. For inquiries, reservations, or exclusive events, you can contact 880-3950 or 09178755347 for the Papa Juanito’s branch, and 855-0004 for the Don A. Velez branch.

The post For Incredibly Mouth-watering and Satisfying Seafood Combos Go to Redtail Shrimps and More appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Image Source | Facebook: Bel Tavola Cafe By: Chef Angelo Obrero

A casual and intimate Italian dining restaurant in Cagayan de Oro City located at the Lifestyle District, along Corrales Extension, in front of Capitol University. You can actually experience Italian creations and cuisine through the culinary experiences of Chef Angelo Obrero. The cuisines served at Bel Tavola Café are not just hand-me-down recipes but a collection of original creations from the chef’s passion for Italian cooking.

Their food and bestsellers

Image Source | Facebook: Bel Tavola Cafe By: Chef Angelo Obrero

Their strong bestseller is the Roast Beef.

Image Source | Facebook: Bel Tavola Cafe By: Chef Angelo Obrero

The 6-course meal at P1,499 is also a growing popular choice especially for couples going out for dinner. On special holidays or events the restaurant brings out this specialty. Since they opened their regular customers seem to love their Rosemary Chicken. The Chef’s Pizza and the El Diablo Pizza are also highly recommended as must-tries.

Image Source | Facebook: Bel Tavola Cafe By: Chef Angelo Obrero

The pizza served in Bel Tavola is cooked using a wood-fired oven. This wood-fired pizza as well as the other one owned by the chef in his other restaurant has been imported directly from Italy. Their pasta meals are also very delicious and each meal comes with its own bread and special dip that many people swear is really tasty.

If you’re familiar with the TV series, The Sopranos, Chef Obrero cooks up the best Osso Buco in town. This is a beef and vegetable stew that can be consumed even without rice. Well, at least the Italians don’t need rice. Below are other delicious foods that the restaurant offers:

Image Source | Facebook: Bel Tavola Cafe By: Chef Angelo Obrero

Image Source | Facebook: Bel Tavola Cafe By: Chef Angelo Obrero

Bel Tavola is the only restaurant in the city that is selling Beer Buckets for only P498 and this includes one free pizza.

Image Source | Facebook: Bel Tavola Cafe By: Chef Angelo Obrero

Aside from this the restaurant also serves a wide array of choices for beer and other hard liquor drinks.

Image Source | Facebook: Bel Tavola Cafe By: Chef Angelo Obrero

Surprisingly, not many people know that they serve student and teacher meals at only P99 bucks. Each meal comes with its own rice, vegetables, and iced tea. In fact, most of the menu lineup is quite affordable.

Image Source | Facebook: Bel Tavola Cafe By: Chef Angelo Obrero

The ambiance of the place is very clean and very, well, you guessed it, Italian. You get the feeling of being in one of those Rome sidewalk restaurants in Italy. On most days and especially the weekends the place tends to get filled up, more so during dinner time.

Who is Chef Angelo Obrero?

Image Source | www.ohpenda.com

Angelo Obrero is also the owner of Angelo’s Ristorante, one of the first restaurants in the city to introduce wood-fired Italian pizza. He also learned about Italian cooking when he studied culinary arts in Italy.When Chef Obrero decided to put up Bel Tavola and Angelo’s, he wanted Kagay-anons to experience good Italian food and recipes without paying a hand and foot for it. Compared to other very expensive so-called Italian restaurants in the city, Obrero offers his Italian food creations at affordable prices that the ordinary office employee could afford to pay for.

Chef Obrero is backed up by top caliber chef consultants in the restaurant business. Chef Gino Gonzalez is the executive chef of Café Ysabel, proprietor of Buenisimo Restaurant, head instructor at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies; Chef Albert Erfe is an instructor at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies; and Chef Gene Gonzalez is a guest chef of the Café Ysabel and president of the Center for Asian Culinary Studies. All these chef consultants and places mentioned are located in Metro Manila.

Image Source | Facebook: Bel Tavola Cafe By: Chef Angelo Obrero

For inquiries you can call them on (088)-880-8783. Their business hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Kagay-anons love to eat, and one of their all-time favorites is Italian food. Bel Tavola is an Italian place that offers not only delicious and the best Italian cuisines in the city but also the most affordable. It’s certainly the place to satisfy our Italian food cravings without setting the wallets on fire.

The post Bel Tavola Café by Chef Angelo Obrero: Satsifying Italian Cravings with Their Tasty & Unique Dishes appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Image Source | Facebook: 4DaBoys page

Last March 28, 2016, 4DaBoys Pub Kambingan + Lechon Baboy just opened its 3rd branch at CDO Center Point, Domingo Velez Street, Corner Corrales Street, Cagayan de Oro. Loyal and first-time customers were able to enjoy their best-selling lechon and kambing dishes banging with the coolest mixes and tracks by Dj Johnny S & Dj Elmo of Team 4lay.

Image Source | Facebook: 4DaBoys page

This 3rd branch was brought up to accommodate more customers, along with their first branch at Door 3, Diacel building, Corrales Avenue and 2nd branch at the Grand Central.

Image Source | Facebook: 4DaBoys page

Kagay-anons can still enjoy their best lechon and kambing dishes, and other additional dishes to their menu, and a wide range of imported liquor brands such as Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Heineken, Captain Morgan and others.

Image Source | Facebook: 4DaBoys page

Open on Mondays to Saturdays. Up at 11:00 AM to 12:00 MN from Monday to Thursday, and up at 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM from Friday to Saturday.

Satisfy your lechon and kambing cravings at 4DaBoys Pub.

The post 4DaBoys Pub Kambingan + Lechon Baboy: Kagay-anon’s Favorite Lechon, Kambingan and Liquor Place Now at CDO Center Point appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Image Source | Facebook: Daniel’s Restobar & Grill

CDO Center Point, Domingo Velez Street, Corrales now houses another venue for Kagay-anons who want to savour good food, Daniel’s Restobar & Grill.

Image Source | Facebook: Daniel’s Restobar & Grill

They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast includes Continental and Filipino meals. Usually, their viand servings are already good for 2-4 persons but for those who prefer value meals, they have chicken, pork, and beef barbecue inclusive of unli rice and a choice of softdrinks all for only P125 per serving.

They also have wines and liquors for those who just want to unwind. And at 7:00 PM onwards, they offer live music every night. Open from Monday to Saturday starting at 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM.

The post Daniel’s Restobar & Grill in CDO Center Point appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Image Source | Facebook: Pipoy’s Gastropub

Another venue in CDO Center Point where Kagay-anon’s can enjoy a finely furnished interior and good food is Pipoy’s Gastropub.

Image Source | Facebook: Pipoy’s Gastropub

Image Source | Pipoy’s Gastropub

They have their lechon specials such as the Classic Lechon, Binagoongang Lechon, Pipoy’s Sisig, Lechon Express, Lechon Paksiw and Lechon with Rice.

They also have a vast choices of appetizers, Calamares, Camaron Rebusado, Gambas, Seafood Platter, Cheese Stick, Chicken Finger, Chicken Wings, Chicken Skin, Kinilaw, Sizzling Pork Sisig, Volcanic (Tortilla chips with beef and melted cheese), Lumpia Shanghai and Vegetable Spring Rolls.

For those who want a satisfying meal, you can just choose among their “Pipoy’s Meals” that are served with rice. Bangus Belly, Salt & pepper Squid, Sizzling Gambas, Buttered Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken, Baby Back Ribs, Moo Ping (Pork BBQ), Pork Sisig, Beef Caldereta, Tuna Belly and Beef Salpicao.

When looking for soups, they have Spinach Soup with Quail Egg, Tinolang Manok and among others.

Image Source | Facebook: Pipoy’s Gastropub

The post Pipoy’s Gastropub in CDO Center Point appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

As Cagayan de Oro as a city continues to grow physically and economically in leaps and bounds, Kagay-anons will also notice that homegrown, original, and Kagay-anon-owned restaurants and food places have been mushrooming all around the city. Just walk inside the malls or down the Divisoria streets in the city and you’ll see a lot of them.

As Kagay-anons we must feel proud to have these local enterprises by local entrepreneurs so we also need to give our devout attention to these places to keep them in business. This is because unlike major food chains, these establishments are stand-alone businesses and are dependent on the local following. Here’s About Cagayan de Oro’s list guide of where to eat in Cagayan de Oro useful for both local residents and tourists:

NATIVE FILIPINO CUISINE

Kagay-anon Restaurant

Image Source | www.kagay-an.com

This restaurant is one of the oldest in the city ever since Limketkai Mall opened and has made a name with the locals as serving some of the most delicious and authentic Filipino dishes and delicacies in the city.

Image Source | www.libotero.com

It is one of a very few select restaurants in the city that serves authentic ostrich meat as well. It is actually one of the biggest fine dining places in the city and still uses typical Filipino wooden furniture and serving utensils. Their menu may seem a little pricey, but the servings are quite large and may even be too much for two persons. Most notable at the entrance is the large number of awards given to the restaurant over the years. They are at the Limketkai Center Rosario Place. You can call them on (08822)729003 and they are open 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Buffalo Resto Grill

The menu lineup at this restaurant is mostly Filipino dishes with their bestsellers usually being the local Baby Back Ribs, Sinuglaw, and Kinilaw. Their Pancit and Empanada are also second to none in the city, and many regulars of the restaurant will swear to this. Their empanada is sometimes ordered in large quantities for take out to be served at parties, other special occasions, or brought home.

Many also swear to their Lengua Estofada as delightfully delicious. They are also popular with having one of the most affordable function rooms in the city. Occasionally they have affordable lunch and dinner buffets.

They are located along Don A. Velez Street beside RMN-DXCC. You can call them at (088)852-1432 and they are open from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Cora’s Grill

Image Source| www.foursquare.com/v/coras-grill

Many old-timers swear that the original Cora’s Grill was a small stall in Cogon Market, and everything grew from there. Whether this is true or not, one thing for certain is that this restaurant is well-known for its affordability, as you can see it on their signage outside the place: “Lami-an Na, Barato Pa.”

Image Source | Facebook: Leads Agri

Many will swear on their bestsellers such as the Stuffed Chicken, Crispy Pata, and Sizzling Squid. Their old fare of Special Batchoy with egg is also very delicious.

Image Source| www.foursquare.com/v/coras-grill

They also serve occasional lunch and dinner buffets. They are located along the J.R. Borja Extension Highway. You can call them on (088)886-5033.

The Village Den

Image Source | Facebook: Jay Roa Pascual

This restaurant goes with the moniker, “At Home Meals” and many who have tried the place find the prices very affordable, as if it was your mother’s home cooking.

Image Source | Facebook: Jay Roa Pascual

Their rice meals and Chicken Skin Chicharon are really good, as well as their Crispy Pata. They are located at the corner of Yacapin Street and Corrales Avenue. They are open from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and you can call them at 729-774.

Lighthouse Restaurant

Image Source | directory.clix.com.ph

They are located at the 4^th floor of the Gaisano City Mall and they are considered one of the more affordable lunch, snack, and dinner buffets in the city since the late 1990’s.

The food they serve at their buffets is actually very good and it is common to see the place packed full even during weekdays. The lunch buffet is from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the snack buffet is from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., and the dinner buffet is from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Terrazzo Bar and Resto

Image Source | Facebook: Grace Gift T. Chua

Originally located at Lapasan, this bar and resto is now located at Divisoria along Tiano Bros. Street. Many old-timers will tell you that they serve the best Bulalo and Spare Ribs in town and at very affordable prices.

Image Source | Facebook: Cyrus Collins

They don’t look that busy during the daytime but at night the place all lights up. It is also a well-known watering hole for those looking for affordable beer buckets and other liquor.

The post List of Homegrown Restaurants in Cagayan de Oro – A Guide Where to Eat appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

King’s International Delicatessen and Bakery, or just King’s Deli and Bakery, isn’t actually a new place in Cagayan de Oro, though many will be surprised that it’s been around since 2008.

What made its popularity rise was its opening and eventual expanding of its present location at Door 4 Great Spot Arcade, J.R. Borja Extension. Its main branch first opened as an extension of Kingston Lodge along Masterson’s Avenue, near the front gate of Xavier Estates.

Its longevity and rising popularity has been due to the many English and American foreigners who now live in Cagayan de Oro with their Filipino spouses from whom the deli’s regular customers come from. In time, due to word of mouth, many Filipinos and other foreign expats and even tourists have been regularly visiting the Deli along J.R. Borja Extension. Although in truth, what keeps people coming back to them is the quality and taste of the food. King’s Deli and Bakery opened at the Great Spot Arcade around December of 2015.

Recently, it has expanded the deli and bakery to include a dining area that they call the King’s Lounge and Tapas Bar. The deli opens early at 7:00 a.m. in order to serve breakfast meals. Throughout the day their dining area and the deli can serve other meals, Panini, cold cuts, sandwiches, snacks, and desserts.

The food here is CDO’s “best kept secret”

For Filipino palates, King’s fusion menu includes large omelets (P50) using 3 eggs rather than 2, 2 pancakes (P69), American breakfast or meal that includes 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 slices of bacon, toast, butter, marmalade or jam, and served with a choice of coffee or tea (P165), and a variety of Filipino “silog” meals served with either coffee or tea (P150).

If you’re English or Australian, by jove, King’s Deli serves the best Shepherd’s Pie this side of Asia that would make and English king blush. The deli also serves a variety of English breakfasts complete with authentic brown sauce, as well as ye old English Fish and Chips, pork pies, bruschetta, and smoked turkey.

When it comes to sweets, King’s Deli can hold its own with its apple and cinnamon tarts, apple turnover, banoffee pie, and cinnamon swirls.

If you’re into cold cuts, whether as a meal or to bring home, they serve choice cuts of salami, ham, sausage, and turkey.

They also sell a variety of cheeses, including the infamous blue cheese, sauces, and even homemade unsalted butter.

Their English ASDA cookies are also a must-try.

Kings Lounge bar also offers “Beer tower” which is 3 liters of ice cold San Miguel or Red Horse beer. Since they also serve beer and other liquor, the deli offers their Large Platter of deli foods that’s perfect for large groups out drinking.

They also have a drink and dine al fresco where guests can take a table and enjoy their drinks outside in a relaxed atmosphere.

In addition, Kings Lounge Bar also serves flame-grilled steaks, ribs and burgers. Their steaks are from Australia or USA. To make sure that their ribs extremely tender, they are cooked long and slow. Kings burgers have their own line of burgers which are made of 100% beef.

Aside from that, they also offer; hot and cold drinks, liquor, cocktails, shooters, wines and desserts. The reason why they’re called Cagayan de Oro’s “best kept secret” is that, aside from the fact that both their delis are not really that visible, they have relied solely on word of mouth and just a little bit of social media to get the word around. But their steady stream of customers each day attests to the good food they serve.

Kings Lounge and Bar Food Tasting

Team About Cagayan de Oro, together with other bloggers and media people were invited to a food tasting at Kings Lounge and Bar and here are some photos from the event.

During the tasting, we were made to taste various best-sellers offered at Kings Lounge Bar. All of them were delicious! We especially loved their Cheese and Ham platter, Bruschetta, Spare Ribs, Spanish Chorizo, Gambas and Calamares.

Cheese and Ham Platter

Bruschetta

Spare Ribs

Spanish Chorizo

More exciting dishes arrived and this time, their spicy Buffalo Wings and Quesadillas were definitely divine!

Spicy Buffalo Wings

Quesadillas

Their drinks are amazing as well! We really enjoyed their Mudslide cocktail and Singaporean sling for their distinct taste.

We were so impressed with their unique dishes, drinks and cozy atmosphere.

We can’t wait to tell our friends and we’ll definitely come back to this place to try more of their exciting dishes.

Meet the Owner

Perhaps you couldn’t expect anything less since King’s is owned by an English fellow named Tony King. He is a very approachable and friendly guy. He is also the owner of Kingston Lodge. Perhaps this is also the reason why the city’s expats are so endeared to his deli since he gives a little bit of taste from “back home” in this little corner of the Philippines.

Operating Hours, Location and Contact Information

Team About Cdo poses with the Owner Mr. Tony King, his Chef and Bartender.

Kings Delicatessen and Bakery is open from 7am-12 midnight.  The lounge bar is open from 4pm – 12 midnight. They are located at #3 and 4 Spot Arcade, JR Borja Extension, Cagayan de Oro City. For reservations, you may contact them at 880-9585.

The post King’s International Deli & Bakery and Lounge Bar– A Taste of European Heaven in Cdo appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Are you the type who wakes up running with feet on the ground so you need to eat breakfast outside the home? Or are you the travelling entrepreneur always on the go and always seeking out those fast breakfast places? Perhaps you’re just tired of the same-old, same-old food at home so you’re looking for something different before going to work in the morning?

With Cagayan de Oro being a fast growing metropolis in the country, places serving good and fast breakfasts on the go will never be left behind. Here are some of the good places you can eat heartily in the morning to give you that much needed kick for energy.

Missy Bon Bon

Image Source | Facebook: Missy Bon Bon

If you’re the bread or sandwich type in the morning, Missy Bon Bon’s breads have sweet varieties like the blueberry cream cheese, chocolate almond, and mocha sandwich. Their breads also have meaty varieties like chicken adobo, German franks, ham and egg, and fish curry bun. For sandwiches, their best seller is their Full House, but others like Miss B’s Roast Beef, Missy Cheesy Burger, and the Top Dog Roll. If you like salad for breakfast, the freshly made healthy salads such as the Chicken Caesar salad, the Ham Waldorf salad, Kani Mango salad, and Missy Chef salad have always delighted the taste buds of those who only want to eat green and healthy.

Image Source: Ivy Ledesma

They have “All Day Breakfast Meals” like the Eggs Benedict (meal invented by Benedict Arnold, the American traitor), Fish n’ Chips (meal invented by the British), Missy Fish Teriyaki, Power Omelet, Shrimp Scampi, Steak Breakfast, Filipino breakfast, and American breakfast. According to Trip Advisor Philippines, Missy Bon Bon has been selected as one of only four restaurants in Cagayan de Oro City for its Certificate of Excellence. This excellence certificate is only given to restaurants that meet their excellence standards based on traveler and customer reviews. They are located near the main entrance of the Limketkai Center Mall.

Restaurant Damaso

Image Source | Facebook: Restaurant Damaso

This is another locally owned and conceptualized Asian-Fusion cuisine restaurant that opened at the corner of Pabayo and T. Chaves Streets. This neighborhood Parisian-industrial-minimalist concept diner has become popular with their deliciously unique menu lineup. Lately, they have added their new breakfast fares.

Image Source | Facebook: Restaurant Damaso

Image Source | Facebook: Restaurant Damaso

Image Source | Facebook: Restaurant Damaso

Their breakfast bestseller is the Chino’s Breakfast that consists of smoked chorizo, beef tapa, tomato salad, vegetable rice, and double fried eggs. Their other breakfast fares are also delicious and very filling to jumpstart that busy day or lazy weekend.

Brewberry Cafe

Not many know that this locally owned and grown Cagayanon restaurant and coffee shop actually made it to the Philippines’ Top 10 Promising Restaurants in 2010. Today, the place is still known for their delicious dishes, meal combinations, buffets, and they do make their share of whopping and killer coffee combinations. In fact, the place actually gets filled in the morning with students and professionals savoring their different breakfast meals. They’re one of the few places that serve free refillable coffee for breakfast. They are located at the corner of Don Apolinar Velez and Toribio Chavez Streets.

Chub’s Diner

Image Source | Facebook: Chub’s Diner

This is a small mom-and-pop-neighborhood-diner nestled between buildings along Corrales Avenue in front of the Xavier University gymnasium. It’s a favorite actually for students and professionals from the nearby offices and banks.

Image Source | Facebook: Chub’s Diner

They’ve been around since 2012 because not only do they serve really large meal servings, you can order their really tasty breakfast meals any time of the day. Just leave your belt outside as their door sign suggests.

Krispy Kreme

Image Source | Facebook: Krispy Kreme CDO

If you’re the type that goes for a coffee and doughnut breakfast (even if you’re not a cop), the best doughnuts and the best coffee is at Krispy Kreme and they’ve been around since 1937 to prove it. Many coffee lovers swear that Krispy Kreme coffees have a far superior taste than Starbucks, and their doughnuts are just “to die for.”

Image Source | Facebook: Krispy Kreme CDO

The first franchise opened in CDO is at Limketkai Center while the second one is at Ayala Centrio Mall.

McDonald’s

Image Source | Facebook: McDonald’s

A breakfast place like McDo has to be mentioned since they serve their breakfast meals only until 11:00 a.m. They have a variety of garlic rice, pancake, and other varieties that include sausages, scrambled eggs, and other fillings for the pancakes.

Image Source | Facebook: McDonald’s

They are also the only breakfast place in the city that serves really good hash browns. For all meals you get a choice of coffee, juice, or soda drink. Many swear that the McDonald’s brewed coffee is really tasty.

Jollibee

Image Source | Facebook: Jollibee

Since the American Mac was mentioned, we can’t ignore the all-Filipino Jollibee breakfast meals. Like their American counterpart, the really fast and tasty breakfast meals from “the bee” is served only until 11:00 a.m.

Image Source | Facebook: Jollibee

Image Source | Facebook: Jollibee

Image Source | Facebook: Jollibee

You have choices from their garlic rice meals, pancakes, or “pandesal meals.” All meals come with a choice of coffee, juice, or soda drink.

Slers Ham and Café

Image Source | Facebook: SLERS Philippines

Surprisingly, few Cagayanons realize that Slers Café at the corner of Don A. Velez and Del Pilar Streets, another at the ground floor of the Gaisano City Mall, and one at the corner of Don A. Velez and Yacapin Streets.

Image Source | Facebook: SLERS Philippines

They offer really delicious sandwiches, pandesal jamon combinations, and some of the best all-day breakfast meals and coffee selections in town.

Image Source | Facebook: SLERS Philippines

The sandwiches are mostly filled with Slers’ flagship ham slices that they have been known for. The meals are all paired with meat products that Slers has been famous for.

Army Navy

Image Source | Facebook: Army Navy Burger + Burrito

If you happen to be at the Ayala Centrio Mall in the morning and you’re sort of tired of all those fast food breakfasts, why not try this restaurant’s newest lineup of all-day breakfast meals made especially for the Filipino palate.

Image Source | Facebook: Army Navy Burger + Burrito

Image Source | Facebook: Army Navy Burger + Burrito

Since this place is more famous for its burgers and nacho meals, the breakfast meals haven’t really picked up yet in the city, but they’re very delicious, and you have a choice to pair them with coffee or their very famous tall tea drink.

Of course, you might have your own choice of a fast food place or restaurant that serves breakfast meals that we haven’t mentioned here, but do feel free to try out the above-mentioned if you haven’t yet. Have a hearty breakfast.

The post Where to Have a Good Breakfast in Cagayan de Oro appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Image Source | www.kidspot.com.au

Ever since cellphones became digital and started sporting their own cameras, the eating table has never been the same again, especially with the advent of smartphones and apps that cater to mobile photography. Not to mention the fact that numerous social media sites aside from Facebook have sprung up, number one among them being Instagram, that cater to displaying photos, particular your personal photos that display the most incredible and well-presented dishes and desserts that you have ever gobbled up. But it’s a modern trend now; when the food is served, everyone seems to want to whip out their phone cameras and take a picture before it is finally devastated and consumed inside everyone’s gut.

Image Source | www.trinitygroves.com

So here we go, being one with this trend, we present to you some of Cagayan de Oro’s best and most incredible desserts and dishes that are definitely Instagram-worthy and may even fool your French business colleague into thinking that you’re eating in a Paris café. They are in no particular order and sums up our team’s eating experience all over this city. You may have a few and better examples to show us, so please feel free to do so, rather than criticizing us for not knowing about this dish, for the simple reason that we can’t all be everywhere. Now, Soyez calme et juste manger la nourriture.

Tartufo – Candy’s Café

This is actually Candy’s most popular dessert, well, at least for the regulars going there; try to imagine a bowling duck ball (that’s the size of it) that’s actually a spherical cake and inside is pure vanilla ice cream.

Image Source | www.tripadvisor.com

When served, it’s already sliced, so you need to eat it fast lest the ice cream just melt and go to waste. It’s perfect for a snack or dessert for four people. The cake, ice cream, and overall sweetness are just right. If there was a dessert that can be tagged as dessert of the gods, Tartufo would be it.

Fondue – Chocolates and Creams

Here’s something you may want to try at Chocolates and Creams. It’s called Fondue (French for “dip”); it’s basically slices of toasted bread that have been cooked in sweet caramel.

Fondue

When served, it is accompanied with a chocolate dip and a caramel dip, so you have a choice of either dip or you can dip it in both. It’s really something different to be experienced when it comes to desserts or snacks.

Cheese and Ham Platter – Kings International Bakery and Delicatessen

Again, something different from what many people are referring to as CDO’s best kept food secret. Kings Deli and their new Kings Lounge Bar offer their bestseller, the Cheese and Ham Platter.

Cheese and Ham Platter

It is a platter filled with cheese and rolled up ham and cold cuts on sticks. The ham and cheese aren’t just ordinary because they’re imported from the UK or nearby Barbados since the owner of Kings Deli is a right English fellow. It’s sure to delight your lunch, dinner, snack, or when accompanying your favorite wine or other liquor.

Bacon Cheese Burger, Sizzling Pochero, and Seasonal Fruit Vegetable Salad – Restaurant Damaso

Now here’s a really different and delectable restaurant that will literally have you carrying your belt home after you eat at their restaurant. We chose these three because they seem to have that mouth-watering effect on Instagram when posted, though you can prove us wrong.

With the Bacon Cheese Burger, the beef burger patty alone is thick and served with equally thick slices of bacon mixed in very delicious burger sauce and mustard. If you’re really hungry you can probably finish the whole thing, but two people can easily share the burger equally halved.

Bacon Cheese Burger

The Sizzling Pochero in house gravy is basically your beef Bulalo, but instead of being served in soup, it is brought in sizzling in its own Damaso house gravy, which is a home recipe secret. It is definitely and enormously delicious and is served with its own fried rice, seasonal chips, dressed salad, and roasted vegetables.

Sizzling Pochero

The Seasonal Fruit Vegetable Salad with Cous Cous Passion Fruit is called “seasonal” because it contains whatever is “in season” for that particular month or period. What adds to its delightful taste are the granular Cous Cous that is an alternative to pasta in Middle Eastern and North African countries.

Seasonal Fruit Salad

It’s not too sweet and not too twangy and even makes for a great alternative appetizer for salad lovers.

Tiramisu Cake, Opera Cake, and Red Velvet Cake – Pane e Dolci

For those not familiar with cakes, Tiramisu is a multi-layered coffee cake, Opera cake cannot sing opera (just kidding); it’s still a multi-layered coffee cake but in thinner layers, and Red Velvet Cake is a play on the famous red velvet Sylvannas invented by Pane e Dolci by making it heart-shaped and bigger, like a cake.

Tiramisu Cake

We could launch into long tirades about how all three are prepared, cooked, what makes them sweet, etc.

Red Velvet Cake
Image Source | Facebook: Pane e Dolci

Opera Cake
Image Source | Facebook: Pane e Dolci

We offer instead, this challenge, to anyone with a sweet tooth, to try out the Tiramisu Cake, Opera Cake, and Red Velvet Cake at Pane e Dolci, and if you’re singing opera by the time you’re paying your bill, then you’ll finally discover that they make the best ones in Cagayan de Oro.

Berry Merry and Choco Overload – MBB Frozen Factory

Unless you still don’t know, Miss Bon Bon (MBB) Frozen Factory makes the best gelato ice cream in Cagayan de Oro. Heck, they make the best ice cream in town. Period. So from among the many selections of gelato variations they have, the Berry Merry and Choco Overload are their bestsellers.

Merry Berry Double Sundae

Served in a special glass, the Berry Merry is filled with whipped cream, strawberry gelato, chocolate cubes, grated chocolate, blueberry gelato, and topped with a fresh strawberry on top.

Choco Overload Waffle Cup

The Choco Overload is cutely served in a waffle cup and inside is an overload of chocolate and vanilla gelato topped with a fresh cherry. Both are sure to melt away the heat of summer once you touch your lips and tongue on the gelato.

Flat Iron Burger – Chino’s Deli

Purists and oldies will tell you that nothing beats eating popcorn and chocolate bars inside a movie theater. But food pundits and experts will tell you that one of the best eating experiences they ever had was watching a movie while gorging on a Flat Iron Burger from Chino’s Deli.

Flat Iron Burger

It’s actually their bestseller and if you’re really hungry you come out of the cinema burping, or you can share it with your partner and have it halved in advance before taking it out. It’s more than a quarter pounder of ground chuck steak beef patty, slathered with boursin cheese, American cheddar, fresh tomatoes, home-made pickles, lettuce, and with black sesame buns.

Black Mamba Pizza – Chez Marie Bar Café and Restaurant

No, they didn’t make Kobe Bryant into a pizza, and no, their pizza won’t bite. It’s one of the best kept secrets of Chez Marie how they make their black-crusted Black Mamba Pizza.

Black Mamba Pizza

Suffice it to say, it’s worth your time and effort when you sink your teeth into one of the black mamba slices. Let’s just say, they’re the only restaurant in Cagayan de Oro that makes this type of pizza, and the most delicious one at that.

Smokey Buffalo Wings and Sizzling Roast Beef – Lefty’s Chick-N-Chops

If you love Buffalo Wings or Roast Beef, one of the best places to go to in Cagayan de Oro is Lefty’s Chick-N-Chops.

Smokey Buffalo Wings

Their Smokey Buffalo Wings served with coleslaw is sure to whet your appetite even during meal time.

Roast Beef

And if you’re into something with rice, their Sizzling Roast Beef is just something else, served with rice and mixed vegetables.

Mango Ice Choco Banana – Mango Mania

Mango Mania serves fresh fruit with all its fruit menu lineups, and none has stood out more than their Mango Ice Choco Banana.

Mango Ice Choco Banana

Let’s just say it’s like a modern day banana split, but only better. The bananas are still there but it’s loaded with a lot of mango ice shavings, chocolates, nuts, mango slices, and topped with a tall mango ice cream on top. It’s a craving that’s also healthy since everything is made from fresh and natural ingredients.

The post Most Instagram-Worthy Dishes and Desserts from Popular Cagayan de Oro Food Places appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

With a lot of food hubs in the city, Cagayan de Oro has been known to be filled with diverse cuisines. From Spanish, French, Italian, American and other foreign cuisines being served among tourists and also Kagay-anons, sure there’s a lot to be discovered in the city alone when it comes to food.

They say, in order to get to know the people and the culture of a place, one must try its local food. Most of travelers will always agree with this. And betting everyone agrees too. Local food dishes are being passed from generation to generation, so it will continuously live in the food scene. And it will always be an honor and a delight to get to taste a place’s specialty that have lived for years already.

Image Source | www.heart-2-heart-online.com

Talking about local food, there is this one restaurant that has always been the top choice among foreign visitors. Just by its name, it’ll instantly be recognized as the city’s finest local resto. Called the Kagay-anon Restaurant, it is located at Limketkai Rosario Center Place.

In the leading travel site, TripAdvisor, Kagay-anon Restaurant ranked #2 from all of the listed 159 cdo restaurants. The ranking is based on the level of satisfaction from reviews among travelers that have already visited the specific restaurant. This just showed that Kagay-anon Restaurant is a promising local resto, proudly introducing Kagay-anon food to locals and foreign tourists.

Famous CDO Sinuglaw Image Source | www.heart-2-heart-online.com

Kagay-anon Restaurant is one of the oldest restaurants in the city and has since existed as Limketkai Mall opened to the public. Definitely one of the biggest fine dining places to go in the city, designed with typical Filipino wooden furniture. And through the years, it had already built a name in the local food scene serving the most delicious and authentic Filipino dishes in the city.

Ostrich Salpicao Image Source | www.libotero.com

Along with the other few restaurants in the city, Kagay-anon Restaurant serves ostrich meat dishes. Ostrich Salpicao is their specialty, and has always been a must try among tourists. Aside of their specialty, their Pinakbet made them to be included in the top ten restaurants in the Philippines with the best Pinakbet.

Pinakbet Image Source | www.chuckbravante.wordpress.com

On their menu, you can get to order Sizzling Bangus Fillet, Baked Clams, Sweet and Sour Pork, Bicol Express, Kinilaw Malasugue, CDOs Sinuglaw, Grilled Tuna Belly, Liempo, Ostrich Tapa, Steamed Fish and a lot more.

Sizzling Squid Image Source | www.chuckbravante.wordpress.com

Kagay-anon Restaurant’s Halo-Halo in Buko has always been present in every diner’s orders. Some of the other desserts they offer include Leche Flan, White Salad, Banana Split, Buko Pandan, Coco Mango Royale.

Halo-Halo in Buko Image Source | www.heart-2-heart-online.com

Mostly full during lunch times even on weekdays, Kagay-anon Restaurant sure must have impressed a lot of taste buds ever since it opened its doors to the public. Every Kagay-anon can really attest to this, and tourists who have been to the resto. Thinking that the awards that welcome you as you enter the resto are not enough? Treat yourself at Kagay-anon Restaurant. Make the Kagay-anon experience more memorable by bringing with you your family and friends.

The post Kagay-anon Restaurant: Experience Food The Kagay-anon Style appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Sometimes, we look for a place where we could be alone to be creative and somewhat productive with our own stuff, or with friends just to hangout and spend some worthy chat times. Most of these times, we prefer to have them over coffee or tea. More if you are a coffee or tea drinker type of person.

Here in Cagayan de Oro, there are already quite a few coffee shops. Currently coping up with its number are the tea shops which have had numerous fans already. With the numerous tea shops in the city, it’s kind of hard to choose which and where to go, yet, there is this specific tea shop that has since been popular not only because of its Wintermelon Milk Tea, but because of its unique interior design.

Image Source | www.chiefjournal.com

Opened  in 2012, Chingkeetea became a buzz in social media when first-time customers posted pictures of the shop formerly located inside Marfori Compound. With the tea shop filled with artsy crafts, walls covered with painted scraps, unique ceramic collections, chic teacups and random stuffs, Chingkeetea is unlike any other tea shops in the city. Years have passed, Chingkeetea remained a favorite hangout place among students and milk tea enthusiasts, even tourists as well.

Image Source | www.clix.com.ph

From Marfori Compound, the main branch has been moved to its new location, at Arch Hayes corner Pabayo Streets. With a larger area, Chingkeetea can now accommodate more than 50 individuals. Their shop has a ground area, and a second floor where the counter can be found. It might be a new location yet it brought with it the rustic and chic vibe it was known for.

Chingkeetea currently have another branch within the city which is located at the first floor of Grand Central along Hayes Street. Along with their expansion, their menu also expanded with new additions on their menu. Cookies, cupcakes and Ramen are being offered in their Grand Central branch while in their main branch, customers can enjoy their milk teas with burgers, pizza, rice meals and among others.

Image Source | www.outragemag.com

All of their branches have no wifi, thus encouraging everyone to start conversations.

Behind the success of Chingkeetea is the owner Sharee Mae “Chingkee” Te who is a confessed art and tea lover. Her fondness with art, specially with painting, made Chingkeetea a one of a kind milk tea shop in the city.

Image Source | Facebook: CHINGKEETEA page

Chingkeetea’s bestseller has always been the Wintermelon Milk Tea. But they also have other flavors such as Taro, Strawberry, Oreo, Blueberry, Honey Dew, White Matcha, Caramel, and a lot more. You can also choose among their add-ons to add to your milk tea drinks such as tapioca pearls, chocolate pudding, ice cream, nata, etc.

Events can be also held at Chingkeetea such as Trivia Nights, Poetry Nights and Art Fairs.

With the growing number of milk tea shops in the city, one must step up the competition to win the hearts of milk tea enthusiasts. But Chingkeetea does this with little to less effort. Customers just kept on coming to their shop, and always come back.

Image Source | www.chingkeetea.com

The post Chingkeetea Authentic Taiwanese Milk Tea: A Whimsical Place To Sip Your Favorite Milk Tea appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Image Source | Rappler.com

On Tuesday, May 31, top fast food giant Jollibee launched its limited edition halo-halo sundae and the adobo flakes Yum! burger.

These new treats from Jollibee will be available starting on Wednesday, June 1, in celebration of the Philippine Independence Day on June 12.

The halo-halo Sundae which is priced at P35 is a Sundae with macapuno, red bean, banana and jackfruit, and nata de coco, plus ube syrup toppings.

Image Source | Rappler.com

Meanwhile, the new adobo flakes burger that will only cost you P59 is an upgraded version of the Yum! burger that comes with adobo sauce and adobo flakes inside.

Image Source | Rappler.com

Also, on June 6, a limited-edition bucket design will be served for your chicken joy in buckets! Including in this Independence Day design is a Jollibee mascot in Filipiniana attire.

What are you waiting for? Go to your nearest Jollibee stores now and taste these latest treats of your all-time favorite, Jollibee! Celebrate #PinoyPride with Jollibee!

The post Jollibee Independence Day Treats! Halo2x Sundae and Adobo Flakes Yum! Burger appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Image Source | Facebook: R.Kelly Pizza House Cagayan de Oro

From Brgy 29, Corner Corrales and Justo Ramona Streets, R Kelly Pizza House is going to open its 2nd branch in Cagayan de Oro, specifically at Primavera Residences, soon.

Open from 10:00AM to 9:00PM, Mondays to Saturdays, R Kelly Pizza House has been one of the favorite pizza houses in the city, offering fresh pizzas at very affordable prices. Their pizzas, burgers, hotdogs, sandwiches and the rest of their products are made with the best ingredients, assuring the best food experience for customers.

Image Source | Facebook: R.Kelly Pizza House Cagayan de Oro

Walk-ins, groups and families are very welcome at R Kelly. But for those who don’t want to go out of their homes or offices, they offer free deliveries for a minimum purchase of P300.

Kagay-anons from the uptown will now be able to enjoy R Kelly pizzas.

The post R Kelly Pizza House to Open 2nd CDO Branch at Primavera Residences appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.

Fond of japanese cuisine? How about a place where you can find near to authentic japanese dishes? Look no further for in in Cagayan de Oro hails a Japanese fusion restaurant that serves scrumptious bubbly food and tea-based drinks.

Image Source | Facebook: Tokyo Bubble Tea Restaurant, Philippines

Located at the 3rd Floor in Ayala Centrio Mall facing the cinemas is Tokyo Bubble Tea Restaurant CDO.

Image Source | Facebook: Tokyo Bubble Tea Restaurant, Philippines

As soon as you enter their place, it’s like you’ve traveled to Japan, with its light ambiance, Japanese greeting staff and Japanese music playing on the background. To mention, their food are impressively authentic and that are priced reasonably. Not to forget their tea-based drinks such as the bubble tea, milkshakes and among others.

Firecracker Roll and Ebi Yakisoba Image Source | Facebook: Tokyo Bubble Tea Restaurant, Philippines

Some of the favorites on their menu are the Okonomiyaki Pizza, Bulgogi Nachos, Takoyaki, Teriyaki Chicken don, Yogi’s Poutine Fries and Korean Bulgogi. Their milk teas, tea slushes, coffees and milkshakes are a must-try too.

Tokyo Bubble Tea Restaurant is good for groups, may it be composed of families, friends and officemates. But usual customers that come are the young-adult group.

Since their existence in February 2014, regular customers and first-time customers get to always provide positive impressions towards Tokyo Bubble Tea Restaurant. They are highly praised with their interior design, food, vibe, with Wi-fi as a plus factor, service and their accommodating staff.

The post Tokyo Bubble Tea Restaurant CDO: Enjoy Japanese Food and Vibe Within the City appeared first on About Cagayan de Oro.