Cebu: CnT Lechon

CnT Lechon

The Taste of Cebuanos

The most famous lechon Cebu!  You’ll see cartons of cartons of this article in the check-in counter at the airport, brought by people coming from Cebu as “pasalubongs” to people back home.  You’ll be surprised at how famous this used to be a simple and small carinderia is today.  It had become a huge bowl of success and won over the hearts of Cebuanos and all sorts of visitors who go to Cebu.  In any normal day, this place runs out of lechons due to its popular demand.  So make sure you go earlier in the day before you regret not having to taste their specialty lechon.

By the time we landed Cebu it was almost time for lunch, from the airport we settled in our hotel room and freshened up a bit then headed straight to the famous yellow building of CnT Lechon just outside of SM City to get a taste of the whole pork roast everyone is so crazy for.

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Cebu: Belgian Chocolate Lace Cookies

One of my friend’s brothers once came home from Cebu carrying this simple chocolate goody & I was lucky enough to have tried it – and then it took me away instantly! Having looked at it on a glance you’d think this chocolate dessert is an ordinary chocolate delicacy, but once you take a bite you’re sure to lose it and wonder what that thing is?!

The thin, round, chocolate covered in a crazy thin yellow white element is called: The Belgian Chocolate Lace Cookies. You take a bite and you feel the lovely dark chocolate crumbling in your mouth and then there comes the crunchy component playing around it which is your lace cookie. Fantastic mysterious treat!

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CHIC-BOY Chicken at Baboy

It’s just astonishing to find a blithe enterprise rise above the rest in the country moreover the world!  So many entrepreneurs have been on scout to hit them on the head to put up something that’ll smack right in front of the mass of people for popularity & demand that’ll rank them up as “competitive” & worthy of being the “next Jollibee of the century”.  Here comes Pier One Bar and Grill Holdings Corporation with Chic-Boy Chicken and Baboy.

The latest craze around the Metro: Chic-Boy Chicken at Baboy is now rising everywhere. It’s your next best stop for affordable good-filling food!

The restaurant is similar with the then owner Edgar Injap Sia II’s Mang Inasal which has been sold to the giant Jollibee Foods Corp. for a hefty 3Billion Pesos!  Although, Chic-Boy offers more variety of food and they not only carry Inasal,their Best Sellers are Cebu Lechon Liempo and Cebu Lechon Manok.  There similar with Mang Inasal is the phenomenal growth of this establishment.  Chic-Boy has been in existence since September 2008, have been franchising since November 2009.  Has ten units in the Chic-Boy system & currently has sixteen franchised units that are under construction to date!  Let’s wait and see how far they’ll come around.

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‘Food truck’ in LA is popular for its Pinoy dishes

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – A mobile food joint offering Filipino food has caught the fancy of casual diners and food critics.

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‘Food truck’ in LA is popular for its Pinoy dishes

First-time in You Jie Xiao Chao Restaurant

by: firsttimetravel

It was another holiday in the Philippines as we commemorated the Day of Valor, celebrating the bravery of Filipino soldiers who fought during World War II. Supposedly, my friends and I were scheduled to go to Corregidor Island, the fortress of Japanese soldiers. Unfortunately, the cruise liner called the day before our trip to inform us that the vessel taking us there experienced mechanical trouble, thus, our schedule was canceled.

Not to waste such a good day, we decided to visit various churches in Makati, Pasay, and Taguig, cities in the National Capital Region of Metro Manila. It was an extended Holy Week for us, minus the crowd and throngs of pilgrims.

But the highlight of our day was a dinner in a hole-in-the-wall eatery that one of our companions recommended. When you’ve been living in a place for a long time, you seem to look for unfamiliar places to eat, to try something novel, and to enjoy a newly discovered joint. It’s like finding out a secret and then you’re dying to share it with only your close circle of friends, but careful not to shout it out to the whole world. Nevertheless, it was a good secret to tell, and I’ll explain why.

by Claire Algarme

We went to a modest neighborhood in Makati. The restaurant was inconspicuous with only a simple facade, looking as if just another apartment door. It was until we approached the entryway and read an announcement from their management that confirmed we found the right place. The note stated that the restaurant, named You Jie Xiao Chao, would be undergoing renovation a few days after, a symbol that it was gaining a following.

As we swung open the frosted glass door, we were surprised to find all seven or nine tables full. Most of the customers were Chinese. A framed paper with Chinese characters hung on the wall, giving us a hint of the kind of cuisine we would expect from this restaurant.

by Claire Marie Algarme

The waitress handed us a compilation of photos of their menu. Enthusiastically, we perused what she handed us, huddled in the center of the tiny eatery. While customers were focused on their food, we were equally busy getting our pick and placing our order.

When one table became available, we immediately took the recently vacated chairs as more people arrived, peeking behind the restaurant’s door and waiting for their turn. After a few minutes of waiting, our rice orders came along with the fried string beans and chicken with peanuts.

What followed was a large bowl of steamed fish covered with red hot chili, which we mistook for tomatoes. The fish was truly tasty. Despite its spicy flavor that stung our mouths, we gorged the delectable fish head.

by Claire Algarme

A plate of spare ribs and another one of dumplings were placed before us. We never realized we had so much food! But what can we do when we have so many mouthwatering offerings shown to us?

So, a few days after I found out this little secret of my friend, I’m sharing this hole-in-the-wall, You Jie Xiao Chao restaurant, with you. Be sure to try it out yourself, and keep this little secret close to your heart.

Now, here are some other little secrets that can be whispered to your ear.

Escolta

Escolta was once the seat of financial district in Manila. During the post colonial era and pre war in Manila, Escolata was marked by  beauty and splendor. The high-end  fashionable shops and department stores were located here. It was reputed as the place for shopping of the rich. CLICK TO READ MORE.

The Sumilao Farmers – a Filipino Success Story

It was recently announced in local media that the Sumilao Farmers from Bukidnon, Mindanao, have finally gotten back their 144 hectares of land.

For those of you unfamiliar with the story, here is a brief background: In 2007, fifty-five farmers marched all the way from their hometown to Manila in order to convince the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to return ownership of 144 hectares of agricultural land to them.

Through various dealings and agreements, the land ended up in the hands of San Miguel Foods Incorporated (SMFI). The company was to begin construction for a piggery on that land, so the farmers were running out of time.

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Their efforts were publicized by the media and were supported by various groups and universities. The farmers finally returned to Bukidnon via plane provided by the Philippine government, after SMFI promised to return 44 hectares of the land. That promise was kept.

With the help yet again of students from the Ateneo de Manila University, the farmers began planning organic coffee on their land. The Sumila0 Agri-Enterprise was formed, and now Sumilao Corn Coffee is being sold in both Mindanao and Manila.

Now, another 100 hectares of agricultural land was given to the farmers by the Philippine government. It was a hard fought effort – peaked by the assassination of the leader of the Sumilao Farmers – but one that was not in vain.

For more information on the farmers or the organic coffee they produce, you can visit Environment Philippines or the official website of the Sumilao Agri-Enterprise.

The Manila Blogs’ Family and Nokia’s: My Life Promo

Last week, I came across another great contest give away. This time it’s from Manila Blogs in celebration of their 5th Year Anniversary.

The Manila Blogs Family started in 2005 with Manila Reviews, a blog site which features the best new food and food entrepreneurs in Manila.  As the years went by, new blog site additions were included in the family namely: Manila Mommy which is dedicated to mothers, Manila Fitness for the health conscious, Manila Shopaholic for all the kikays and shopaholics and Manila Blogs which gives tips to new bloggers.

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Kalamay from Bohol

Kalamay is a Pinoy food that could be found in many places around the Philippines. There are many variations of this Pinoy food, according to the region where it came from. kalamay is made from grounded rice, grated coconut, brown sugar, peanut butter and margarine.

The kalamay that was made in Luzon is sticky and sweet. On the other hand, the kalamay that my boss gave me is very sweet and very chewy. It is also very sticky, just like the rugby glue. I just ate few spoonfuls before I gave up because of its sweetness.

Continue reading in Before the Eastern Sunset.

Things I Love: White Chocolate

I don't eat chocolates everyday and I seldom have sweet cravings but I do love chocolates from time to time.  My favorite from all the chocolates are white chocolates.  My Husband usually tease me and say, "You seldom eat chocolates but you eat the unhealthiest chocolate of all." (hehe). ... 

Source:  A Wife's Charmed Life

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