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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Fruits in Ice Cream

Ice cream is one of the finest creations of man since the wheel. This is considered one of the superstars when it comes to desserts. Whenever and whatever it is, there is nothing an ice cream can't do. It can stop a baby throwing tantrums and can quiet a man like a .45 pistol.

Black Sesame Ice Cream

This is why age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone. Most especially if that scoop of ice cream is from Fruits in Ice Cream (FIC).

Fruits in Ice Cream is on the A-list of ice cream shops in the country. With a deadly roster of more than 40 ice cream flavors, you will surely go crazy over them. There is no secret about it, the reason why this ice cream shop is one of the elite is because of the milk content. The milk ingredients is being imported from New Zealand and Australia. That is how FIC ticks.

Pistachio Ice Cream

Fruits in Ice Cream's Mangga't Suman flavor is one adventurous darling. This belongs to their Pinoy Sorbetes flavors that interprets popular Filipino desserts. They also have Tsoko Pinipig, Banana Q and Halo Halo flavors. Their Pistachio Ice Cream is one of a kind. You can distinguish the real pistachio in every spoonful of it. The texture is very smooth and heavy, you will get the mouthfeel of the milk from it. This pistachio is as real as the stare of your mother-in-law. The sweetness does not take over and instead, it just guides the true flavor all the way.

With all the rotten things in life going on for unlucky people, their Cookies n' Cream will make people think that everything is going to be okay. Their version of the famous flavor tells me that I have been eating the wrong cookies n' cream ice cream since childhood.

Frozen Cupcake

Fruits in Ice Cream is not limited to scooping ice creams. Their Frozen Cupcake is insanely good. It is a cupcake with a scoop of ice cream on top glazed with chocolate. The cupcake is soft and the inside is as moist as a real kiss. This is one sexy dessert.

Since ice cream cravings are not to be taken lightly by the health conscious, Fruits in Ice Cream Lite will be your excuse. This version have no added sugar and only have 50% of the fat content in regular ice cream products. Parental guidance is not a recommended.

Green Tea Milkshake

Mocha Milkshake

When you talk about ice cream, you should also talk about milkshakes. We all know that a good milkshake depends on how good the ice cream is. FIC's milkshakes are remarkable. The sweetness stays but it is the sweetness from the ice cream and not from a pound of sugar. Their Green Tea Milkshake must not be judged by its name. This milkshake will make you feel godlike, as though you can conquer enemies, lead an army and entice lovers. Oh trust me, it will give you that Brad Pitt effect.

The price range for the FIC ice creams aren't bad at all and it is worth it. FIC uses top quality ingredients and they mean it more than your girlfriend saying, "you are a handsome man with class."

Money may talk, but great ice cream sings. You being handsome may be a long shot, but I'm sure Fruits in Ice Cream will take care of the class part.

Fruits in Ice Cream scooping stations can be found in SM City Cebu Upper Ground Floor (by Ace Hardware) and in Ayala Center Cebu 2nd floor (beside Chowking).

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Special thanks to Kim of http://thankgodforfood.blogspot.com for the pictures used in this post.

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Kubagli

Pork Tonkatsu

Eating is an activity not just to cure hunger but is also an activity to have good times with your family, friends and your loved one. But there are also times when we just want to relax and have a couple of beers and have good food with your friends.

With all the rising prices of beer and food in the metro, I have stumbled upon a good place where everything is quiet and laid back with prices friendly to your pockets. This place is called Kubagli.

Kubagli is a unique restaurant and bar that fused Japanese and Filipino food. The place is so Japanese, you'll imagine Maria Ozawa on your side. Having a bottle of beer with you, their Pork Tonkatsu will surely get you going. It is not the typical Pork Tonkatsu you find in Japanese Restaurants. The pork cutlets are deep fried just like the typical breaded adobo. Their Tonkatsu's sauce is a nice mixture of sweet, sour and spicy. That combination can spawn Captain Planet anytime.

Pork Teriyaki

What I also recommend to pair up with your beer is their Pork Teriyaki. Served on a sizzling plate, their pork cubes are fried to the core, getting the meat as dry as it can. Not a good way to fry your pork cubes but it is a set up for something great. With their dry breaded pork on the sizzling plate, the teriyaki sauce is poured over the meat. It is a sea of teriyaki sauce that does not hurt the tastebuds. The teriyaki sauce is so good, that it can make a bad dish better! It's like having a photo of you with Anne Curtis - you as the dried pork and Anne as... well, you get the idea.

Kubagli's Cheese Sticks

When you are in Kubagli, I strongly suggest Kubagli's Cheese Sticks. These are cheese sticks that is breaded thoroughly to become the perfect stick. As they are served hot, every bite is like a live orchestra melting in your tongue. It really melts in your mouth and not on the plate. This is a very good pair to a beer. This cheese stick is legit.

Kubagli is not an exclusive Japanese-Filipino restaurant at all. This is a perfect place for college buddies and people who just wants a good time on a budget.

Who knows, you might really end up with Anne Curtis.

Kubagli is located beside BugRock Cafe, on top of Calda's Pizza in Mango Ave. area.

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As you have noticed, the pictures of the food is at high quality. That is the work of an elite photographer named Roui Faelnar. If you think his food photography is as fine as me, you should see his fashion photography. He is one of the best in the industry. Check his works in his Multiply, http://www.roui.multiply.com

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The Manila Foodshoppe

Breaded Chicken

The Manila Foodshoppe is known not just for its low prices but also because of their ridiculously large servings. This restaurant lets the food do the talking and you leave the restaurant happy.

Aaah, happiness. The thing everyone is looking for (well except if you are Will Smith). Defining happiness depends on the people who defines it. For me, happiness is when you have a really good meal with a bill lesser than a pair of Havaianas.

Aside from their array of beastly pancit dishes (from canton to bihon), one of their top hits is their Breaded Chicken. What I love about this dish is the way the chicken was fried. The natural crisp of the fried chicken stays and the meat is as tender as Angelina Jolie's bedroom voice. This is fried chicken, in High-Definition. For only 150Php, you will have 12 pieces of happiness.

Calamares

Their Lechon Kawali is above the norm. This dish reminds me on the way Chinese people fry their pork chops but this time, it is fused with our Lechon Kawali. A very interesting dish I say. Happiness does not end on the pork. Sometimes, happiness comes in circles, just like their Calamares. The Foodshoppe's Calamares is another fusion of cooking style. Their Calamares is gently covered with flour and the meat was well-cooked. Also, its dip have mild flavors with a sprinkle of lime. This dish is good for 3-4 persons with a price of 108Php.

Sweet and Sour Pork

That's not all, the ultimate dish that made me incredibly happy was their Sweet and Sour Pork. Blanketed with the stunning sweet and sour sauce were the chunks of pork that was fried for great justice. Their version is so good, it was like the first time I heard The Beatles.

The Manila Foodshoppe makes a lot of people happy with their reasonable prices and good food. Now, before you scoot your way to this restaurant, let me warn you that it is dangerous to go alone. Take a couple of friends or you might go home with a couple of plastic bags for your leftover.

Now, do you really have to wait for the big jackpot to be happy?

The Manila Foodshoppe is located in front of Cebu Doctor's Hospital, ParkMall and in Manalili.

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Cebu Bloggers Society @ 2

Sorry for this interruption. To those who think I am better off talking on the radio, you can catch me every Saturday at Monster Radio BT 105.9 from 9AM - 1PM with Ryk Orion. I will be doing food/restaurant reviews live from my mom's basement every now and then. I am still learning on how to give out proper report over the radio so this is going to be raw. For those people who can't get off the internet, you can listen here:

http://streema.com/radios/Monster_Radio_BT_105.9?f=0

This special announcement is made to let you know that Cebu Bloggers Society will celebrate its 2nd year anniversary on February 14!

In two years, blogging in Cebu has ripened from just being a mere online diary to something that takes an active role in civic and social awareness.

One of the factors that contributed to this positive development in the blogging scene in Cebu is the creation of a local blogging community.

The Cebu Bloggers Society was founded on February 14, 2008, with the main goal of uniting Cebu-based bloggers into a well-bonded community. And indeed, after its creation, individuals with diverse backgrounds but with a common interest, which is to promote Cebu and advocate blogging as a key tool for progress, converged together to establish Cebu’s first and largest blogging community.

The Cebu Bloggers Society has really grown and evolved quite significantly. From its humble beginnings, the group presently has at least 80 members and the number is still bound to increase further.

And now, the group is already anticipating its 2nd founding anniversary! Dubbed as “CBS @ 2: The Cebu Bloggers Society 2nd Anniversary Celebration”, the event is envisioned to further strengthen the bond of friendship and camaraderie within the blogging community.

The anniversary celebration will be held on Sunday, February 14, 2010, 5-9PM, at the Celebration Hall of SM Storyland, Lower Ground Floor, SM City Cebu.

This big and important event won’t be possible without the help and assistance of the following:

Batang Yagit
Jehzlau Concepts

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