WOFEX University at the CICC for Food Businesses

(click to enlarge)

 

            The World Food Expo (WOFEX) Visayas is bringing in industry experts from Manila to Cebu for restaurateurs and food business entrepreneurs to learn some tricks of the trade. This event is dubbed WOFEX University which will be culminating for three days -- April 4-6 -- at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC). Expo hours is from 10 am - 7 pm.

 

        Some of the guest speakers I am familiar with are Mr. Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet and Chef Him Uy de Baron. I wish I could attend this but unfortunately, I do not have the budget this time. Being a student, I do not receive allowance during Summer. 

 

         Each module is for P750 or if you wish to attend all three days, you get a discounted price of P2500. That's worth it for a crash course on some of the most important details or issues in the Food and Beverage (F&B) industry. Think about it, you get to learn first-hand some tips that are not found in the books; tips that are taken from experience.

 

         To register, email info@pepgroup.com or call 02-9280931 or 09175268195.

 

 

*All topics, schedules and speakers are subject to change without prior notice.

 

 



Wishing On A Star... dust

             Sorry, this isn't about food but I'd like to share with you a little something from my childhood. I studied classical ballet at Balletcenter, Ayala when I was 3 years old up until I was 14; so, that's more or less 10 years. I had to stop because my high school was never supportive about it (I went to a strict, conservative Chinese Christian school) but mainly because I had to focus on my studies already. I had term paper to put up with.

        Ballet was the root of my fondness for dancing, classical music and the French language. It was my first love and it never wore off. I avoided passing by Balletcenter since I stopped because I would be stricken with remorse and envy. So, when I was recently invited to watch a recital by my former mentor's new school, I was slightly anxious because I knew I'd be very jealous of the dancers but I couldn't turn her down. I wanted to support their first recital -- Stardust.      

            Stardust was performed on March 2, 6 pm at SM Cinema 1. It was the first major recital of Cebu Centre for Dance (CCD), a new dance school that just opened last year summer. The teachers are all from my former school, so you're more than guaranteed to get quality lessons. 

          Stardust is an adaptation of Neil Gaiman's well-loved book of the same title. The first act of the story ballet introduced the Lad and different characters in the marketplace like the townsfolk, their children, The Baker, Tavern Keeper, Mistress Hubbard, Little Bo Peep & the Sheep, the Songbirds and the Fireflies who eventually led the Lad to the Wall, a village bordering Faerie, where the mortal and magical mingle once every nine years in an enchanted meadow to exchange goods. There, the Lad meets enchanting characters and charms such as the Magical Dolls, the Windflowers and the Pixies, Little Stars & the Evil Witch Queen’s Minions. 

            The lead role of the mystical Star was played by Sabrina Ruth Bogard while Chris Manlunas portrayed the Lad, the mortal man in search of his heart's desire.  The sinister role of the Evil Witch Queen was played by Menreeve Canales while Rufo Jeffrey Tapang danced the role of her Lead Minion. Valerie Ypil was the bewitching Lead Pixie, Kaye Lani Deloria as the Magical Bird and Isabel Gapas danced the ethereal role of the Snowdrop. 

*photos from Cebu Centre for Dance  

             It turned out to be a pleasant trip down memory lane with just a tinge of jealousy but I was more proud and happy for the school's first major production. I was impressed by the set on stage, the dazzling costumes, and all the dancers' performance was laudable. It really showed how well the school trains their students. I shed tears of joy for their performance and from the pang of wishing to dance again. Oh, how I miss it!

            If you're like every little girl who wishes to be a ballerina someday and never really had the chance, maybe now's your opportunity. CCD offers classes for all ages and not only is there classical ballet, but they also teach contemporary ballet, zumba, yoga and many other dances. Just check out their Facebook page for their schedule this summer. Summer classes begin on April 10.

Special thanks to Tita Johanna Mangubat for inviting me. It was more than a pleasure. Congratulations and God bless! :)

Cebu Centre for Dance

Tango Plaza Building, Queens Road, Cebu City

(near KFC, Redemptorist Church)

Contact:  (032) 514-4283

               ccdschool@rocketmail.com

My Longsilog Story

I FINALLY COOKED AT HOME FOR THE 

FIRST TIME (THIS YEAR)! :D

Longsilog -- King's longanisa hamonada,
sunny-side-up and brown rice

        There's a little confession I'd like to divulge as a prelude to why I'm ecstatic about this simple meal I made for myself. We don't have a single gas stove at home (don't ask why; long story) so our meals are usually fastfood takeouts. I know, horrible. But my awesome boyfriend knows how much I miss cooking so he gave me a portable gas stove for Christmas! You can imagine how delighted I was and squeaked at the first sight of it. 

         Since you already know we don't have a gas stove at home, obviously, we didn't have pans either. So, I wished I could soon save enough to buy me at least one pan to cook with. And alas, God really does love me because I finally bought one as part of my investment for The Cooking Fashionistas Vlog Series, too! Thus, the birth of this common Filipino meal -- longsilog. But it's not your average longsilog, FYI. That's KING'S longanisa hamonada. It's been a favorite for quite a while now and it always tickles my taste buds the right way every single time. It's got just the right kick of spice to awaken my senses in the morning and the skin isn't annoyingly thick as well. So, there. Ta-da! My first home-cooked meal for the year! :D 

          You can find King's longanisa hamonada and more of their various products in all leading grocery stores or supermarkets and just recently, Islands Pasalubong. 

             Add them on Facebook to see more of their products!

Maria Ressa in Cebu for Social Media Influencers Summit 2013

         I know this is really late but I’ve been crazy busy with schoolwork and exams since last week. Final exams are still ongoing til next week but I can’t miss this huge event – Social Media Influencers Summit 2013 – TOMORROW! It’s the largest social media event in Visayas and it’s happening in Cebu at J Centre Mall Convention Hall on March 16, Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.! 

          This is the first leg of this event, organized by iNewMedia Online in cooperation with Cebu Bloggers Society Inc. 300 social media influencers and users are expected to convene in this star-studded event where prominent media personalities share priceless tricks of the trade. 

Goal: #TrendingForward

The summit’s theme is the summation of two words: “Trending” + “Forward”

“Trending” means “the general direction in which something tends to move.” Each individual or company may have separate goals, but the ultimate goal of any “Social Media Influencer” is to create a buzz for its cause to make it appear on the “trending” topics of the social media networks.

“Forward” is being used to depict the innovation/presentation that each social media influencers should do to reach and influence the target audience. Buzz is not created by all. It is practiced by those who had mastered it. And this craft is fast changing with the dynamic preference and attitudes of the social media users. (www.socialmedia.org.ph)      

          The most exciting thing I am looking forward to is the keynote speaker, Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler.com and a highly respected journalist who has been in the industry for more than 25 years now and was the lead investigative reporter for CNN. I do remember watching her on CNN when I was younger. Not to be biased, the rest of the guest speakers are also very interesting! The topics are all very useful for social media users and influencers to be more efficient and professional. I can't wait! I really hope I get a confirmation to attend this event. 

          For updates on the event, follow SMIS 2013 on Facebook and Twitter.

         I'd also like to thank the sponsors for making this event possible.

Sponsors:

CO-PRESENTOR

PLATINUM

GOLD

BRONZE

Welcome, Ersao + GIVEAWAY

          The closest I’ve gotten to tasting Taiwanese snacks was only that one time I ordered fried sharks fin dumplings from Cobo, which really doesn’t count. But just last month, a Manila franchise specializing in Taiwanese snacks/meals and milk tea just opened at J Centre’s 3^rd floor, near the cinemas.

          Ersao may be new to us in Cebu but it already has 18 branches within Metro Manila. It started out as a commissary in Quezon City, Metro Manila back in 1998 and opened for franchising in 2011. That’s pretty long in the industry!

          I was invited to their grand opening and discovered that it’s an open resto inside the mall, with bright green hues that command you to GO try it out. When I went inside, I was surprised to find that the cube seats could open at the top for you to place your belongings inside for safekeeping (sorry, I didn't get to take a photo). How innovative!

          The menu comprises of Taiwanese dumplings, spicy snacks and specialty noodles. Their beverage menu is an extensive selection of Taiwanese milk tea, fruit smoothies and blended iced teas. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think this is the only or one of the few resto’s in town that doesn’t serve softdrinks.

          I tried several noodle soups such as the seafood, meatball and dumpling, of which Maki Mi was my favorite. I loved that the broth was not too thick. The noodles were also  really good; even my Chinese father says so. I also tried their dumplings, both fried and steamed. I prefer the fried ones because the delicate crisp shell was a great texture in contrast to the juicy filling. It had me at the first bite.

The most interesting dish I’ve tasted here though was one called Cuajitos. Sounds Mexican right? Well, the only thing about it being close to Mexican is it’s spicy. I guess it’s a plural Taiwanese term for “pig’s ears”. This is definitely a must try. It’s one of their spicy snacks that has a play of textures that’ll get you hooked and is a perfect match with their Chao Fan. I think this should be a staple order as appetizer if you come dine here. It’s very flavorful – salty, sweet and spicy – and the cartilage (which is my favorite part) gives it a crunch to its chewy nature. I also love the scallion slices that are sautéed with it. The scallions give it a fresh angle. 

 

          As for the beverage, I’ve tried their taro milk tea and green apple green tea juice. The milk tea reminded me of Cobo’s and the juice was very refreshing – perfect for post-noodle chomping. They also have a variety of sinkers to add to your drink.

          I think you know who the girl in the logo of Ersao is…

hehe. gotcha. :))

GIVEAWAY!

          I love Ersao! It’s great that it’s just near my house. This is definitely a convenient place to have some comfort food. And since I love it, I want you guys to try it, too. So, I’m giving away P500 worth of gift coupons! My first giveaway for the year! Giveaway period is from March 11 - 30. Winner will be announced on April 1 via FB message or email. To join this giveaway, log in to Facebook through the Rafflecopter widget below and you will be guided on the mechanics. It's easy! Click away! And don't forget to complete all the mechanics. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

         

Ersao

3rd floor, J Centre Mall, 

A.S. Fortuna St., Mandaue City, Cebu City

Price Range: P45 - P190

Store Hours:  10 AM - 9 PM  DAILY

Contact: (032) 260 2747

Facebook: ErsaoCebu

"To know Cebu, eat Cebu!" :D

oink oink,

Babe for Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining! :)

When Food and Fashion Meet 2: Back-breaking and Cowgirl-ing

Two enthusiastic ladies exploring

the best city in the world, Cebu, on a 

quest to uncover the best places to shop, dine and lounge around.

From hole-in-the-walls, downtown best-kept secrets, 

to fancy date spots and splurge sprees -- we’ll be on it!

          It's time for "When Food and Fashion Meet" again! Wow, last month sure just flew by. WFFM's first post was fun, and I'm proud to say, this coverage was definitely another worthwhile adventure!

          This time, we scour the alleys of downtown for a secret shopping destination that makes every girl's dream come true of owning any kind of accessory she wants without breaking the bank; and then we dragged ourselves back uptown to let loose on a well-deserved meal.  

Aizilym Enterprises
#37 Lincon St., Cebu City

Store Hours: 8:00 am - 7:00 pm (Monday- Saturday); 8:00 am - 4:00 pm (Sundays)

Jeepney Guide:

from Lahug - 17B and get off at USJR --> we took this from IT Park! :D

from Talamban/Banilad - 62B

from Ayala - 06B

         I've been itching to check out this secret shop since forever because I've seen and heard of so many cute and unbelievably more-than-affordable pieces through friends from that little cave. It's about time I stocked up on new accessories myself. I've been wanting to buy a long necklace and stud earrings. 

         Getting there, I couldn't believe this little Issa could brave those streets because this was the home of bandits and all sorts of sneaky culprits waiting to jump you. I mean, this was the heart of downtown we're talking about. But she ruled the streets like it was her turf. Even the security guard of "Aizi" -- as more popularly and fondly called by schoolgirl shopping einsteins -- recognized her! This was definitely her turn to take me around and amaze me.

         I only had a shady expectation of the shop, thinking it would be a regular-sized one where everything is in full view once you enter. But boy, was I surprised when I saw that it had all the works of a mini-mall -- security guards to check your bags as you enter and leave, a courtesy booth for your bags if you wanna shop "light", a few rows of cashiers like those at the grocery, and best (or worst) of all, aisles and aisles of accessories to choose from. We got a serious problem here. I can take reeaally long to decide when buying things because I'm not an impulsive shopper like Issa and my mom (typical girls) are. I like to invest in good pieces that last me at least four seasons. 

         Oh, and by the way, picture taking is NOT allowed here, which explains the lack of photos on my post. But Issa the ninja just had to sneak some for you guys to have an idea how it looks like. So, check out her post to see photos of some of the stuff sold there. She also has a map guide and survival tips! :D

my weak revenge for that embarrassing photo of me in her post :p 

          To cut to the chase, I bought way more than as planned, and we stayed way longer than planned -- two hours! I couldn't believe I bought so much and only for a fraction of the price if I had shopped elsewhere. Sweeet! Now, I felt like a girl... and an old lady with my aching back from all the bending over  with my heavy bag (because I brought my books with me to study for exams) -- big mistake!

My haul:

Total: 14 items = P477.78

Issa, my craziest friend, was hooked to some weird accessories that made one look like she worships an "EYE" god. This seriously freaks me out. :))

        So, obviously, Aizilym is synonymous to accessory hoarding. Once you step inside, you can't leave... empty-handed! Secret's out, girls!

 For a map guide and survival tips when shopping here, visit Issa's blog. :D

Having gladly burned a hole in our wallets, we could barely walk from the exhaustion and nausea of the endless merchandise to choose from. 

We submitted to the cab to nurse our broken backs and swollen legs. 

Rodeo Grill

Archbishop Reyes Ave., beside Hotel Elizabeth

Contact:  (032) 406 4294

Price range: P99 - P399

Rodeo Hours:

        I got a request from a reader to try this resto because she wanted to know if I'd recommend it. I have heard inconsistent reviews about the place so I was reluctant to, but I'm the type who wants to see things myself before I have a stand on it. This actually wasn't the original plan for this part of the series but since we overstayed in Aizilym, I had to think of something else quick.

       I always love the charm and mystery that Cebu Secret resto's have, especially the first time I visit them. I love (nice) surprises, you see. Nothing makes me more giddy than exploring new resto's or resto's I haven't been to yet. This, in particular, was a beauty in the daylight. A humble facade with a huge menu board gave us a preview of the feast that would await us inside. As we entered, we were welcomed by attentive servers (props to the good serice!) and a cozy ambience brought by neat interiors and warm lighting. Though the place was small, the space was well utilized.  

Swing right in, par'ner!

       It felt so good to be back in civilization and retire in an airconditioned place! Apparently, Issa was no stranger here. Taking her suggestion, I got their bestseller, the Sgt. Peppers Sizzler while she got their Deputy Short Sizzler which was bigger than my order. Yes, don't underestimate this cunning little girl's appetite. :D

Mine:

Sgt. Peppers Sizzler - P159

            By the way, my order came with UNLIMITED rice! Yeah boys, you heard read that right. With that, the place is easily loveable for the guys. My first bite into my steak really impressed me. I hate margarine though, and it was pretty pronounced in the gravy. But the steak is mighty fine even without the gravy!

Issa's: 

Deputy Short Sizzler - P169

         Issa, little ms. mashed potato, ordered an extra serving. And I'd have to agree with Issa, that they have one of the best mashed potatoes in town.

        I have no regrets in the change of plans for our lunch at all. This choice was timely for our famished cowgirl appetites from all that shopping. The sound of our sizzling meals was like music to our ears. You could say the feasting began in our ears. :))

      I would definitely wanna go back for more. I wanna try these next time:

       Check out Issa's shot at being a food blogger, too! Click here to read her post about our cowboy meal.

P.S.  Issa actually learned a thing or two from me during this episode. I taught her how to compute discounts at Aizilym, and also taught her how to slice her steak. :))

                               Before                                       After

             


       I hope you enjoyed this second episode of our blog series! Feel free to comment and share your thoughts and suggestions.

Til the next episode,

xx

Issa Please

and

Babe for Food