Seafood Paluto Feast at Pier One Cebu

 Every time I'm in Cebu, I always crave for fresh seafood in the Cebu City area. Somehow, my Cebuano friends draw blanks when I ask for recommendations, so I always end up at Pier One in Park Mall because it's the only branch in the Philippines that has a Paluto section with fresh seafood. Plus, since my brother was with me this time, I knew he would appreciate the food.

Date Night at Chef Bruce's Table

Even if we are both really busy nowadays, Mr. S still makes time to surprise me with a undiscovered restaurant here and there. Dressing up and wearing my Louboutins is a plus for me.

For our little date night, he takes me to Chef's Table by Chef Bruce Lim

 Star of the Asian Food Channel's Corner Table, Chef Bruce infuses modern industrial sleek with traditional Filipino eats. I am in love with the fully exposed kitchen and backlit bar area.

The Three Lechon Flavors of General's Lechon

Hello my lovely porkers, we meet again.

Three Little Pigs

Since I traverse back and forth Cebu on a regular basis, I've become somewhat of a lechon-snob. I like my porkers tasty, crispy (skin), and tender (meat) without the over-abundance of fat; the combination is next to impossible. I've even gone as far as to roast my own lechon de leche (suckling pig) just so I can attain the perfect pork. So imagine my delight when I was invited to chow down not one, but three different types of lechon from grassroots company General's Lechon. I say, why settle for one when you can have three?

I don't normally attend events for bloggers, but when Anton and Spanky call for a gathering, I'm (almost) always in because I know these two have dining du jour down pat. And when they holler "Lechon", my ears begin ringing.

The Sequel: Max's Chicken All-You-Can is BACK!

I'm not even going to act like I don't care about cheap eats and great deals like the next hungry person. I CARE. And that's why I am excited to announce that as a sequel to the highly successful promotion for the restaurant's 65th anniversary in the food business, and after much demand and requests for a part deux...

 

Max's Chicken All-You-Can Promotion!

“Chicken-All-You-Can fever has never really waned since its successful launch last year. We have received an overwhelming clamor for this unlimited chicken offering from our customers all over the Philippines. Now, Chicken-All-You-Can is definitely here – and it’s bigger and better,” said Bobby Simborio, Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies. 

Here's what you need to know:

• Chicken All-You-Can for  P199/person inclusive of a Pepsi drink (That's about USD4.50)
• Add  P28 for bottomless soda/iced tea
• Happening daily from June 10, 2011 to July 10, 2011, 6pm-10pm
• "As an added treat to its customers, Max’s is also giving away free PhP 20 money coupons for every PhP200 spent during the Chicken-All-You-Can promotion. A maximum of three accumulated coupons per transaction may be used to “purchase” any Max’s products within a year after issuance." 
• The fine print: NOT INCLUSIVE OF RICE. Yay for Carb-less dieters, Sorry for carpinteros.
• Sorry my kababayans, only available at Max's restaurants in the Philippines.

 I'm gonna surprise my staff with unlimited chicken very soon... Well after this post it probably won't be much of a surprise. I CANT WAIT! 
 

Check out the House that Fried Chicken Built

Running In the Rain for Casa Verde's Ribs

 

This is how far I'll go to feed the food frenzy.

 I promised Mr. S & Cay that if we toured Cebu City, I would take them to Casa Verde for some of their famous Brian's Ribs, and I was craving for their delicious Bliss & Mushrooms... so we walked from Hotel Elizabeth Cebu to the Ayala Terraces branch of  Casa Verde. Good thing the hotel was only 5 minutes away by foot form the ball. BAD Thing: The Ayala branch did NOT have Bliss & Mushrooms on the menu, + they ran out of Brian's Ribs. NO!

Touring the Queen City with Cebu Trip

Inasmuch as I travel back and forth to Cebu every so often, and am very familiar with their food, I am admittedly ignorant about the culture and history of Cebu. So when Mr. S and my Make-up Artist friend Cay tagged along for Cebu's Sinulog festivities, I decided to tour them around town.

Not myself, exactly. I called Cebu Trip to take us around all the major destinations and touristy stops in Cebu city. I am, after all, a tourist myself.

Paluto at Pier One, Cebu

I'm not a big fan of Pier One, nor do I remember the last time I was in one since I finished highschool, but if you are in Cebu, this is one of the best places to have a Paluto (cooked-to-order) experience. They have the same reconstituted container ambiance, but they also have aquariums of fresh seafood which you can personally pick and have cooked to your fancy.

 No Cebuano restaurant would be complete without the bowl of condiments to make your own sawsawan (sauce) for dipping your seafood. And a lot of seafood there is...

Christmas in Pampanga & ToT's Kitchen

Before I go on another JuJu cleanse for 2011 to rid me of all the holiday cholesterol, let me greet everyone a very belated Merry Christmas and a happy happy 2011 from ToT's Kitchen & family!

Every year, we prepare a traditional Noche Buena meal for the family. This was our first ever Christmas in our new home with the kitchen I designed. Our meal consisted of:

This Sans Rival Can't Be Rivaled

Ladies and gentlemen, I have discovered the best Sans Rival, or Cashew Torte, I have ever tasted. Good thing I went on the JuJu Cleanse to make way for this buttery wonder in my system.

Since holidays are opportunities for friends and loved ones to express their generosity, a TON of food gifts have been arriving in our household. One of them, this large red box that I found in the refrigerator. Seemed nonchalant, so I decided to open it to figure out if I was to recycle it and re-gift it to someone else (oh come on, admit it).

Casa Verde's Unbelievable Ribs

Who would've thunk (YES, thunk!) that a 1920s Filipiniana ancestral house in the side streets of Cebu would be home to some mighty and meaty meals at remarkably affordable prices?

And if your tag line is RIBS-ON-THE-GO, you're really asking people to rate your ribs.

Introducing Casa Verde: Homey in the front, Resto in the back.

Casa Verde is popular to local Cebuanos, who are notorious for their good taste coupled with inexpensive dining options. Many people say that if a restaurant can survive in Cebu, it can go on business anywhere else

Cebu Lechon Ala Zubuchon

On one of my frequent trips to Cebu, I brought home some very tasty pasalubong conveniently found at the airport. Coming into Cebu, I usually get a healthy breakfast of toast, so going out of Cebu, ToT decided to indulge in a little more cholesterol

 Lechon! 

But not just any kind of lechon. Apparently the "best pig ever" by Anthony Bourdain!

Some Zubuchon Lechon!

DIY Lechon De Leche Ala ToT

 

Who's Cuter? ToT or the little Piggy?

A couple of days ago, my mother divulged that we have a little porker freezing in our freezer. Boy, she wasn't kidding! 

Red Cross Gala Dinner

Lately I've had this very unproductive habit of buying things before I find the need for it. It's my fault, ever since coming up with the wise thought that there is no need until you know something exists, I've found myself needing everything I happen to chance upon.... especially on the internet.

ToT with Ish

But it truly is better to have something and not need it, than need something and not have it. In a matter of days, I found myself as a guest for this year's Red Cross Gala with a very special exhibition of designer Dennis Lustico's deliciously gorgeous garbs. Good thing I had this lovely Badgley Mischka gown I bought off the web (ala rack) which had been festering some cabinet mites.

Dennis Lustico has been on the radar for some time due to his very well executed and crafted dresses and trousers. I've been following his work for some time, and was excited to finally be a part of his first solo exhibit. But come on, I'll be honest, aside from the opportunity to dress up, I was really there for the foooooood! And food there was!

Dreaming of Damaso... Sigh

After being eternally bedridden these past three days to due a recurring flu aka trangkaso, I finally generated enough braincells to go back to finishing up the long list of blogs waiting to be written. For some reason, I've been itching to write this blog because, from what I remember of the nibbles and the bites... this was one good experience.

I'm quite convinced that my fingers wanted to type away because tasting absolutely nothing, on my sad little food tray brought to my bedside, just pisses me and my tummy off. Not to mention ToT. I NEED TO TASTE SOMETHING!

Last week, my (almost always mistaken as a fraternal twin) brother and I decide to go "malling" during the afternoon to check out some watches. Now the term "malling", if everyone remembers correctly, means heading out to the mall to chill out. I don't remember the last time I've done it past high school... but I remember a disturbing mention the term while he and some middle aged men were found strolling around the mall in the heat of the afternoon, malling. Shudder.

Anyway, one thing bro and I both share so generously is a never ending appetite and ever present desire to eat out. Having lived in LA together, I've infected his masculinity by introducing him to the haven that is Fred Segal's and coordinated garb, while he has killed my femininity by infecting me with his burly appetite. Being 6'1'', he needed someone dependable enough to eat next to his side through thick waist or thinning hair. From taking Pepperdine University's Waves Cafe and turning it into a degustation experience for college kids, we've graduated to actual degustations at Lolo Dads, Aubergine and Peter Luger's

For our afternoon delight date, we decide to set up shop in Greenbelt 5's Damaso restaurant, home of the infamous Brazo de Mercedes I so excitedly blogged about previously.

Haute Hawker at Lime88

As a rejoinder to previous retaliatory post about my supposed snooty food facade, please welcome part deux of my attempt to erase the myth that I do not eat below my social class. I bring you isaw (intestine), balut (duck fetus), kwek kwek (don't ask, I don't know either), and tuyo (cured fish).

With a twist, of course.

Exactly what Lime88 is all about, street food with a twist, as their tagline indicates.

My girlgroup and I just couldn't get enough of each other and decided to meet a second time in one week, which is all but rare, this time for some good old Filipino cuisine. I've been craving for isaw (intestine) for a while... so this was a perfect crave buster.

Lime88 is literally a house turned resto in the heart of Mandaluyong city. Entering the house gate feels like walking into one of those 80's soirees at some guy's house where chairs are propped by the garage, music blaring from the inside, and shabby chic lighting illuminates and sets the mood for soiree-ing. There is an indoor area complete with karaoke room, but we digressed, knowing for certain our Assumptionista gab would overpower any minus-one song by three decibels.The thought of beer garden also comes to mind, but hey were not picky, like some people think.

How to Have the Perfect Weekend

Weekends are somewhat of an addiction of mine. Since moving back, I count the hours til the clock finally ticks Saturday. I've vowed to resuscitate my liver by drinking only on weekdays, although it seems to be slightly less effective in terms of sobriety. I also took up diving to compensate for my lack of eagerness to go out, so my weekends are my special days. Those two days of sheer solitude usually end up becoming opportunities for things I used to do ritualistically when I was living in sunny California.

The intense addiction to weekends is actually the cause of this blog, Trip or Treats. My friend B once told me on YM: J, I never know where you will be until I find out on FB that you are either here, or there or everywhere. It's like you want to escape Manila. You should be a travel writer. Well... not quite, but this is a pretty good attempt, right?

My weekend rituals are quite simple really. I love to drive, preferably with the view of the Pacific Ocean on either side of the window and/or driving to some far off destination aka LONG DRIVE. I love being near the water to watch the sun set or rise. And lastly, ahhh... I really enjoy feeding people with food that I prepare myself.

I did all three this weekend when my adopted famiglia and I went to Punta Fuego to enjoy the long weekend with some driving, sun and food.

Driving: No matter what you hear about Angelenos and freeway road rage, it doesn't apply to me.

I L.O.V.E to drive. Of course, it helps to have a sweet ride, but it's not so much the physical manifestation of driving that delights me, as it is the mental clarity I get when maneuvering the brake and gas with my bare feet while hearing the engine respond fully. It feels like an orchestra performing a symphony with driver as conductor. Having a banging playlist also does wonders to soundtrack the fast paced lights running across the windows.

The Brazo That Made Me Convert

Filipinos around the world: Do you remember those parties back in the 80s/early 90s where the designated dessert was either Crema De Fruta and/or Brazo De Mercedes? Non Filipinos with Filipino friends: Have you or your loved one suffered thru a Filipino party wherein you were guilt tripped into eating either presentably challenged desserts?

Read this post on the NEW ToT: 
http://www.triportreats.com/2011/07/28/the-brazo-that-made-me-convert/