Boosog Lasang Pinoy

One of the best cuisines in the world is Filipino cuisine. Aside from the fact that some are based on a dare, Filipino cuisine is an explosion of flavors from different herbs and spices. There are a lot of reasons why it is considered as one of the premier cuisines in the world. One of which is the way the food is cooked and how the natural flavors of the dish comes out.

Filipino cooking is critical. Original Filipino dishes do not have measurement on their ingredients. Cooks from the provinces use their touch in cooking when it comes to adding the ingredients base only on their own tongue's estimate. If done perfectly, the food will be excellent. A little mistake would mean a disaster.



There are lots of Filipino restaurants in Cebu but few are worth visiting. One of these few is Boosog Lasang Pinoy Restaurant. Boosog may not be a household name just yet but the name itself is what we all aim for every meal. Boosog comes from the word busog, a term for being full in the gastronomic world.

Pinakbet

One of the amazing things about Boosog is they serve the best pinakbet in town. I am not a big fan of the dish as I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to eat vegetables but the pinakbet in Boosog took my tastebuds by storm. The flavor of the shrimp and the squid blended so well that it somehow wraps the vegetables in a strong yet calm flavor. The flavor is so good, you can eat a copy of YES Magazine in it.

Tinolang Manok Bisaya

The crispy pork ribs on the other hand is above average. I like how they fried the ribs to the amount of tenderness that it is usually made. The meat is not too salty and contains just the right amount of fat. Don't get too busy with the ribs though, their tinolang manok bisaya (native chicken) is as legit as it looks. Cooked with the traditional malunggay (moringa) and sayote (chayote), the flavor of the manok bisaya really comes out and mixed very well with the soup. Even the aroma of the dish mesmerizes me like the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

Sinuglaw

A Filipino restaurant that does not offer kinilaw is not a Filipino restaurant. Another dish that Boosog serves is sinuglaw. Sinuglaw comes from sinugba (grill) and kinilaw. This is a fusion of grilled pork and marinated fish that is served with fresh coconut milk. The sinuglaw's tuna is well marinated with vinegar and the collaboration of the grilled pork gives a little bit of bitterness on it. With the sweetness of the fresh coconut milk all over, it sums up to an awesomely delicious dish.

Grilled Tuna Panga

From their array of specialties, nothing compares with Boosog's grilled tuna panga (jaw). The properly grilled tuna panga is stunningly delicious, it's like a beautiful woman on your table. The softness of the tuna is equivalent to excellent and the natural flavors of the meat just comes out in an instant. This dish takes the cake. Their grilled tuna panga is so delicious, it made me think about what I did in my life to deserve it.


Boosog knows that we cannot solve our major problems with potatoes. That is why they offer unlimited rice and bottomless iced tea to all their guests. With prices from P80.00 to P250 (varies from size and type of dish), Boosog is a must-go Filipino restaurant.

We do not need to go to classy restaurants to enjoy food. Most Filipinos don't like gourmet cooking or "this" cooking or "that" cooking.

We like good cooking.

Boosog Lasang Pinoy Restaurant is located at The Gallery, Juan Luna St., Mabolo Cebu City (in front of Carmelite Monastry)

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Fudge

The highest forms of temptations are confections. Many tried to resist and many has failed. This is because, in this life of never-ending problems, we always patch things up with sweets. Best example are the women who just broke up with their men. Also, everyone is trying to stay in figure and so everyone is trying to stay away from sweets as much as possible.

Confectionery comes in different types. The best is chocolate. Chocolate gives us a feeling that everything is going to be okay - even if we're gaining weight. Since we cannot fool ourselves with the extra pounds we'll gain, might as well have the best confections in life. One of the best places to get some good chocolate love (it's not what it sounds like), is Fudge.



Fudge is a boutique pastry that serve unique dishes, most especially, the confections. Fudge is by far, the best pastry shop I have ever went into and all I can do is surrender to temptation.

Tre Colore

Their Tre Colore is the best reason why chocolates rule the confectionery world. Tre Colore consists of the 3 main types of chocolate. The first layer would be the white chocolate, second is the milk chocolate and lastly, the dark chocolate. The great thing about this dessert is the balance of the sweetness. It is amazing to think that with all types of chocolate in this dessert, you will still taste every flavor of the chocolate. The dessert reminds me of the current Miami Heat roster. Three all-star players in one team, but difference is, Tre Colore already proves that it is a champion in the confectionery league.

The Army Navy (photo from Fudge's Facebook Page)

Fudge also serves dishes like chicken and fries, gnocchi and other outstanding ones. But one thing to have in Fudge is their Army Navy sandwich. This sandwich has the ingredients of the original clubhouse sandwich. The amazing artillery of chicken, lettuce, bacon, egg and tomatoes are locked and loaded. But what separates this sandwich from the others is that the sandwich is smothered with melted cheese. I cannot put into words the feeling of orgasm just by looking at it.

Cheesecake Delight

The Cheesecake Delight is what a cheesecake should be. Imagine a cheesecake that is placed between a chocolate cake. Interesting? No, it is amazing. The interesting part would be the chocolate not taking the spotlight from the cheesecake and the amazing part is how both flavors blend in your mouth. I love how Fudge made the cheesecake. With the correct amount of sweetness and the pinch of sourness in it, this cheesecake is a sure knockout, via 1-2 combo.

Lava Cake
(photo from Fudge's Facebook Page)

If you think the best confectionery is the bubble gum, think again. The Lava Cake is fierce. Served 25 minutes after ordering, it is worth the wait. A chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream on top looks calm when it is served. But once you take a part of it, smoke from the chocolate cake emerge and the chocolate filling flows out like the genie in Aladdin's lamp. Yes, it is magical indeed. But wait until you've tasted it. The outer layer of the cake has a good crunch while the softness from the inner part plays with your tongue. This dessert is so heavenly, it feels like listening to an angel playing the harp.

Fudge is the reason why confections are called, food for the gods. It is not a sin to have chocolate once in a while. It is nature's way of making up for Mondays.

Come to think of it, chocolate makes you happy. It is cheaper than therapy and you don't need an appointment.

Fudge is located at 888 A. S. Fortuna St., Mandaue City (just in front of Joven's Grill). Price range is P80 - P130

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Casa Verde

Photo by www.misswilhelmina.com

My girlfriend have this secret smile and she uses it only for me. I often long for that smile that every time I see it, my butterflies in my stomach will have butterflies.

That kind of smile is only known and shown to me. Perhaps, it is one of my best kept secrets. However, I may be good in keeping secrets like your best friend but one of the best restaurants in Cebu is no secret at all. Exposed like the magic of David Copperfield, Casa Verde is one of the elite class of restaurants that was only known by few before. Today, it is now equivalent to a tourist spot.



Casa Verde is a restaurant that specializes on steaks. One characteristic of the restaurant that I love is the family-style cooking in a classy environment. They serve food like how a mother serves her child. No matter how delinquent you are, you still deserve the best meal.

Bacon and Cheese Potato Skin

Since Casa Verde specializes on steaks, you will get to choose whether you want it with rice or mashed potatoes. In my world of gastronomy, mashed potatoes rule. Their Bacon and Cheese Potato Skin is one good dish for an appetizer. Served with sour cream, every bite is a delight. I love how they place the amount of bacon and cheese to balance the taste of each ingredient. To me, that is talent.

David Dean's Tenderloin

Tenderloin lovers need not to worry. The David Dean's Tenderloin is one hell of a dish. It is a steak on top of a mound mashed potato and topped with melted cheese. This is also served with demi-glaze and garnished with fried onions and roasted almonds. If the cake is better with icing, then tenderloin is better with demi-glaze. From the first look of the dish, I can already tell the demi-glaze is all over the dish like satin from the goddess Athena's bed. Tenderloin, for me, is really good in medium rare. The sweetness and the flavor of the meat would really come out and this is achieved by Casa Verde.

Brian's Ribs

Their best seller is Brian's Ribs. This is baked pork ribs with a sweet tangy piquet sauce. This is served with corn and rice or mashed potato. The serving of this dish is only meant for one but like any other magic, that is just an illusion. The serving of Brian's Ribs is equivalent to insane. Aside from the huge serving, the meat on the ribs is properly baked. The success of baking pork ribs is like the success of a 36D bra, everything does not fall off in a single poke. Unlike the separation of Kris Aquino and state, Casa Verde was able to achieve the proper way to bake the pork ribs.

Casa Verde seems to be an exposed secret to all of the Cebuanos. But there is one more secret in this very good restaurant. Known by few, there is an item that is not included in their menu. It is their monsterized Casa Verde burger. This secret burger is bigger than your fake Corelle plate. The secret burger is good for 4-5 persons with an appetite of an elephant.

Casa Verde does not need any illusion when it comes to cooking. With all the goodness that they serve in every plate, it is something that we cannot imagine on how they do it. Just like any magic show, enjoy every bite because there is real magic in good food.

Casa Verde is located at #69 Lim Tian Teng St. Cebu City (known as Ramos branch), A104 The Walk Asiatown IT Park Lahug, 3rd level, The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu.

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Chedz Designer Cakes

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. It may not be beautiful for you, but it is a Van Gogh for the person next to you. That is why I ended everything with Cristine Reyes a couple of days ago even if my friend told me that she is a goddess.

The famous saying also includes everything when it comes to cakes. You see, the beauty of the cake does not end on the design alone; it all goes down to the taste, texture and the feel of the cake. Good cakes are everywhere but when it comes to great cakes, it is like looking for a lost Egyptian artifact, difficult and full of frustrations.



There are a lot of great cake shops in the Philippines but here in Cebu, Chedz rules. Chedz has been mesmerizing the hearts of cake lovers since 1991. Everytime I get a Chedz cake, it is always a great cake. The softness and the taste of every cake is equivalent to amazing.

Cappuccino Cake

Their classic cakes is like a menu for the Gods. The Cappuccino cake is remarkably good. It is a cappuccino chiffon cake showered with semi-sweet chocolate shavings and pinches of cherries. The cappuccino icing does not taste like a powder of sugar and the softness of the cake is as perfect as a greek god. Coffee lovers will surely go bonkers over this cake.

Black Forest

Their version of the Black Forest Cake is one of the best. The chocolate filling between layers of chocolate cake reminds me of how beautiful life was back then, sweet and comforting. This is also topped with semi-sweet chocolate shavings and cherries to balance the chocolate overload on the cake.

Cebu Mango Cake

Like Zeus, I have my own favorite on their menu of classic cakes. It is the lovely Cebu Mango Cake. This cake to me, is the greatest mango cake ever made. Texture is great and the softness and sweetness is perfectly achieved. Not only that, the mango filling between the cake is ridiculously delicious! The butter icing also compliments well with the fresh mangoes on top of the cake. If you look up "magical" in the dictionary, Cebu Mango Cake will come up.

Chedz is not only good with their classic cakes. Who would have thought that customizing your own cake is like constructing a new house. If you do not have the mad skills to make your dream cake, the Chedz team will take care of it for you. Their works reminds me of National Geographic's show, Mega Structures.

This is why Chedz Designer Cakes is highly suggested when it comes to weddings, birthdays and anniversaries.

Rome was not built in a day. For Chedz, making cakes is as serious as my man-love for LeBron James and that is why you need to contact them 2-3 months before the big event for the cake. I even heard rumors that Chedz is the maker for Marc Nelson's body.

You may not be able to own a Van Gogh in this lifetime nor have Marc Nelson's body, but you can always own a Chedz cake; which is for me, a complete beauty.

For more information and ordering online, go to ChedzCakes.com

Chedz Designer Cakes is located at Lifetime Events Depot, 101 Gorordo Ave. Cebu City (beside PhilHealth).

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Balamban Liempo

The belly is important for humans especially when it comes to food. We eat to cure the horrible disease called hunger and satisfy our bellies. Some also embrace hunger to achieve Derek Ramsey's secret weapon, the abs. Either the former or the latter, it is all connected with the belly.

What is also important is the pork belly. This part of the hog is a very flexible part for a dish. You can fry it, grill it and boil it. When it comes to the pork belly, Filipinos tend to grill the loveable thing. We call it, Liempo. A liempo is a grilled pork belly that is marinated for a couple of hours (sometimes for days) and is grilled to achieve a classic dish.

I have tasted a lot of different variations of the liempo and only one is equivalent to a champion. The liempo that I am talking about is the Balamban Liempo.

Liempo

Since my family is from Balamban, I have tasted this unique liempo a couple of years back. I bet my farm, this is the best liempo ever made. The flavors of this liempo resembles to Manny Pacquiao's left hook, very strong and always ready to knock you out. Not only that, the secret lies between the meat. The meat is filled perfectly with herbs and spices which makes the unity of its flavors as fierce as China and the tenderness of the meat is as lovely as the waves in Hawaii.

This liempo is one of the great dishes to ever come to Cebu City. The uniqueness of the dish is incomparable with any liempo in town. The meat's skin is also very crispy while the meat is not overcooked. Taste the flavor, not the charcoal.

Chili Chicken Wings

Balamban Liempo also offers a lot of other dishes in the menu. One of which is the intense, Chili Chicken Wings. It is fried chicken wings blasted with a chili sauce which will surely make you sweat. For only 75Php per serving, prepare yourself. Especially your hanky.

As what people say, he who does not mind his belly, will hardly mind anything else. This liempo is a very good excuse to hit on the diet brakes. It does not hurt to have good food once in a while and you are not going to hell for eating a liempo because their kitchen is our shrine, their cook; our priest, their tables; our altar, our bellies; our gods.

Yes, I do want to have Derek Ramsey's abs but I just like having some softness. If I lose that, then Cristine Reyes might leave me.

Balamban Liempo is located in Kamuning St., Capitol (at the back of Coco Mall) and at Cor. Tres Borces St. & S. Cabahug St. - for more information on their branches, visit their website at www.balambanliempo.multiply.com

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