Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort - Samal Escapade Part 2

Seafood Basket

Have you been to Paradise Island? If you're from Davao or Samal, I'm sure you've already heard or even been to this resort and you don't need any introduction. For those who haven't been to Paradise Island, this is one of the best resorts in the famous Island Garden City of Samal. Of course I will just feature the food and a glimpse of the place for you to have an idea if ever you'll get lost in Southern Mindanao.

Eat All You Can @ Saluhan

Buffet restaurants got a new competition! The Saluhan Lounge and Buffet located at Quirino Avenue, Davao City. Experience delicious, tempting and satisfying meals for only 149 pesos.

Mandarin Tea Garden

Tropical Fruit Salad composed of Mango, Papaya and Banana (Simple and Elegant)

Mandarin Tea Garden - Established in Davao City since 1996 and is now nationally recognized as one of the best restaurants in the Philippines serving authentic DimSum and Asian foods.

Mers Bibingka - Digos City

Mers' Famous Bibingka

Mers - one of the best makers if not the best maker of native delicacies in Digos City has been spreading the wonderful smell of its famous bibingka and other kakanin all over Davao Region.

Penong's ta!

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Inato 2 - Chicken Barbecue

Unlimited Rice with Soup and Atchara

Penong's Barbecue Seafoods and Grill, Davao's number one barbecue house and one of the country's best restaurants serving chicken inasal. 

South Brews Coffee Express

Cashew Mocha Torte for only 69 Pesos!

Do you find coffee at cafes expensive? Exclude South Brews Coffee Express. Experience premiere coffee and quality cakes in an open place inside NCCC Mall at a very cheap price. 

California Maki - Rai Rai Ken

Rai Rai Ken's California Maki composed of rice, cucumber, egg, mango and mayonnaise 

Photo courtesy of my friend

Robinsons Cybergate Davao - My gang went to Rai Rai Ken for lunch without inviting me. They just brought me pasalubong (photos). Well, I've been to Rai Rai Ken many times at Gaisano Mall and SM City Davao but never been to their Robinsons and Abreeza Ayala Branches. 

Innumerable Merco Visit

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Merco's Halo-halo for 79 Pesos

If you grew up in Davao, it is nearly impossible that you haven't been to Merco.  Started doing business since 1946, Merco became Davaoenos home grown bakeshop famous for their cakes, banana split, halo-halo, mais con hielo, pastries and many more. Its first branch was located in San Pedro. Today, Merco has more than 35 branches all over Davao.

Starbucks Coffee: Waking Up Davao?

The first-ever Starbucks Coffee in Davao City has finally opened along with other shops during the opening of Abreeza Ayala Mall last May 12, 2011. 

Easing Hunger at Jaltan Food Centrum

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Yummy fruit salad composed of banana, avocado, watermelon and mango.

C.M. Recto Street -  it's one in the afternoon and Mr. Sun, the untiring heat giver was probably having a bad day. It's so hot and we're looking for a place to dine. We found this air-conditioned fast-food restaurant perfect to oppose the sunny day.

Bluewaters Village and Resort - Samal Escapade Part 1

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Five minutes of motor boat ride in their very own boat M/B Danica from Lanang, Davao City to one of Samal's pride resort, the Bluewaters Village and Resort. Showcasing their white sand beach and swimming pools the whole family will surely enjoy.

Lunch at Karlyn's

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Steak a la Pobre

Started three years ago, Karlyn's became famous because of their Steak a la pobre and Lengua (beef tongue). Unfortunately, lengua was already not available during our visit because it's already afternoon (2 o'clock) and a lot of customers ordered it during morning and lunch time. That is how popular their lengua is. We have no choice but to order another specialty, the steak a la pobre. 

Merco's Banana Split

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Bolton Street - Merco's Banana Split comes with three different ice cream flavors with yummy frosting and chocolate syrup for only 92 pesos! 

Grilled Pork (Sugba-Sugba sa Beach!)

Summer time! Outing is definitely number-1 in our "what-to-do list". Me and my friends have decided to just make it simple and cheaper this time. So we went to Bago Beach (Gulf View), the nearest beach in my house. The cottage rental is just PhP150 and the entrance per person is PhP10 (beat that!). Pwede pod mo moagi sa Salakot libre lang haha. 

Every beach gathering will never be complete without food and grilled food is among the easiest to prepare, perhaps. Some marinate the pork over night but in our case we had just bought the pork. So we just smeared a little amount of salt on it and we're ready to grill. The sauce (sawsawan) will just make a difference on its taste. 

San Pedro Street: Suroy Ta!

Hot Cake, Buko Juice and Maruya

Sunday - day of worship for the Catholics. People are flooding at San Pedro Cathedral for the Sunday Mass. Outside, vendors are glad for the numbers of people walking along the street of San Pedro, another day of profit for them. A usual scene every Sunday, I paused and glanced at every people - different kinds of people are having a great day at San Pedro. Peers, families and lovers are all welcomed by the smiling faces of the vendors in this outdoor mall.

Salbaro / Sitsiritsit

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Sitsiritsit, commonly known as salbaro or salvaro (not sure about the spelling) is a crunchy snack made of cassava and melted sugar on top of it adding the sweet taste. I used to call it CD before as in compact disc since I don't know what it's called. You can find this crunchy snack in several beaches of Davao and Samal. Also, if you're in downtown, I'm sure there's a vendor of salbaro at San Pedro Cathedral. 

I've had a little chat with the salbaro vendor at Bago Beach about the process of making salbaro.

Gardena Fresca Garden Pond and Grill

Oftentimes, we don’t have time to relax and eat in a paradise-like place which most likely can be found in country places. We live in a city and fast food chain and carenderia are the best options for busy people including students. Well, FYI, I’ve found this kind of (hidden) place in Matina which you couldn’t imagine that there’s a paradise inside that very common-looking village (Coca-Cola Village). I was amazed and shocked to find out that there is a big pond inside, the pond of Gardena Fresca.

Kinutil: Tuba Chocolate

Wow! Look at that....! The one she's holding. It's TUBA.  Not the usual tuba that we know. This one is reeeeally great! Why? Because of it's chocolate taste. Something bizarre? No it's not. It's very common in Davao especially in the beaches of Bago, Toril and Times (Ecoland). Formerly favorite of lasenggeros alone, but not anymore. Tuba has gone a long way. From the typical tuba of our lolo, now we have "kinutil". Maybe they were sick of the taste of tuba and experimented something new, something weird but turned out great.

Hinalang

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Hinalang of Eden's Lechon

From the Visayan word "Halang" means Hot or Spicy derived this popular soup dish close to Nilagang Baka, "Hinalang." A soft dainty beef with a heap of chili (some restaurant use siling labuyo) and ginger could make you sweat and take off in your seat because of it's fiery peppery taste. A dish that is so compatible with rice to minimize its hotness. Before sipping the soup, I always

Stadium Buffet Restaurant and Sports Lounge

Eating is NOW allowed inside a museum - a museum-type buffet restaurant located at Mc Pod Building, McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City near Ateneo de Davao University Grade School and High School. 

Davao Coffee: Forget about Starbucks

500 gms. - Php 132

250 gms. - Php 72

By the time you're going on a grocery either at NCCC or SM, try to find this coffee and try it for yourself. I know the price is just a feather in your pocket. Sip and smell the aroma of Davao Coffee every morning (It'll keep you awake and alert). 

Arroz ala Valenciana

Lami kaayo tan-awon noh???

Seeing an episode of Jessica Soho featuring valenciana of Capiz gave my cousin an idea to cook valenciana for the Lenten Season. And it turned out great! Well you're just seeing it but the taste was really awesome.

Flyover Ihaw Ihaw: Proudly Davaoeno

At Buhangin, Davao City was the first branch of Flyover Ihaw Ihaw BBQ Seafoods and Grill. I have no clue where the owner got its name "Flyover", all I know is it's just  beside a flyover in Buhangin LOL.

Creating Keepsakes

keep·sake
[keep-seyk]
–noun
anything kept, or given to be kept, as a token of friendship or affection; remembrance.
—Synonyms
souvenir, memento, token.

Dei's Golden Biik! More than just Lechon

Lechon biik is the most popular menu of Dei's. Wrong. Despite its name "Dei's Golden Biik," there are still a lot of food waiting for your censorious tongue to discover. Customers are not only returning because

Durian: Try it before you die!

Back in 2007 when I first came here in Davao City to study college, I haven't tasted this fruit they called durian nor seeing it once in my life. I'm an Ilonggo and we do not have that kind of fruit in Iloilo. It's the Visayan language that I'm more interested to know (I'm fluent now and could hardly speak Hiligaynon/Ilonggo anymore, LOL). Almost all of the people here