Foodspotting: Waffle High with Famous Belgian Waffles

This is the first thing I spotted as I was strolling around SM North Wing:

And then the irresistible aroma engulfed me; and if only there weren't much people around, I'd be tiptoe-ing with my eyes closed towards the busy stall. 

I'm not familiar with this brand or anything much in Manila (forgive me if I'm a poor traveler) but I definitely wanted to see if this was as good as it looked and sounded. FAMOUS. BELGIAN. WAFFLE. I believe it could get any cat curious. That must explain the endless long line causing a mini commotion at the usually quiet area. They have a teeny tiny dine-in area but there's no way you could possible get a seat; it's always full. 

I checked out the menu and seeing that the prices were only P30-55 apiece, it turned me on to "full speed ahead"! I had to grab one. Since I'm the biggest strawberry fan ever, I badly wanted the strawberry cream cheese waffle. Unfortunately, all their berry varieties were sold out! Argh! All hell broke loose! Just kidding. I just threw a tantrum in my head. The next best thing was chocolate, of course. I was torn between Belgian chocolate and hazelnut but classics always win, don't they? That means I got the chocolate to see how "Belgian" it was. 

…And I was a happy kid! I'd say it's more worth it than Krispy Kreme! It's more substantial (meaning, it's more filling and lasts longer), it's not too sweet and it's… awesome! When eaten fresh and hot off the waffle maker with a velvety filling like chocolate or cream cheese, it could be a new addiction. It's MY new addiction. And I have yet to get my revenge on that strawberry cream cheese waffle. 

If this got you to become a curious cat (in my case, a curious piglet), you might just find me nibbling on a waffle sandwich on a stool by the viewing window so I could sniff them all day. I'm waffle high, yeah. See you there! :p

Famous Belgian Waffle

2/F, SM North Wing 

(along Mochiko, going to the old wing)

oink oink,

Babe for Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining! :)

Babe for Food is TWO YEARS OLD! + GIVEAWAY

It all started with the love of eating and sharing that with fellow foodies… And now, it's been two years! I've been a scandalous pig for two whole years in full view of you guys! Well… I'm not embarrassed. In fact, I'd like to thank you, dear readers and fellow bloggers (especially THE PICKIEST EATER! ISSA PLEASE and MUSTACHIOVENTURES :D), for being so supportive and encouraging all this time. Forgive me if I haven't been as consistent as my first year. School and a little pastry business sideline are a heavy load but believe me, I do try to squeeze in any vacant time to share my foodiescapes with you. 

Each year has been a blessing and I pray that it continues to be because a lot of circumstances have challenged and discouraged me but somehow, there seem to be more circumstances (and people) nudging me to trudge on. So, I believe this is God's will for me. 

        I don't have much to give this year but I hope giving away some of my brownie cups as a little thank you would give you enough reason to keep reading my blog. So… I'm giving away 6 BROWNIE CUPS from ULTIMATE BROWNIE EXPERIENCE (U.B.E)! 2 of each flavour -- dark fudge, red velvet and the NEW SMORES!

Clockwise from left: dark fudge, smores, red velvet

THIS COULD BE YOU! :))

          This giveaway is from May 16-25. I'll be picking 2 WINNERS who will be receiving 3 brownie cups each. All you have to do is follow the requirements through the Rafflecopter widget:

REMEMBER: You have to comply ALL the requirements THROUGH the Rafflecopter widget.

           Special thanks to my dear cousin Eddy from Singapore who sent me a Macbook Air out of the blue. It's such a great help since I always had to borrow my parents' laptops or go to an internet cafe just to blog. Because of you and what you did for me, I am motivated more than ever to continue this blog. I dedicate all my blogs from hereon to God and you. I love you! :D

           And also to Ejay Williams for lending me his spare laptop last year. Thanks much! I'm so blessed to have such supportive friends like you! :D

******************************************************************************************************

UPDATE

And the winners are...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IRENE ALQUIZOLA

and

APPLE TARIMAN

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

And thank you so much to all who participated in the giveaway! Really appreciate it!

Til next time! :D

Cooking Fashionistas Episode 2: Ham and Hang

Hey foodies!

       Sorry we haven't been able to produce this episode on schedule. We realized we had to plan and organize things better. So now, we hope you guys will like this and the following episodes even more. For this episode, we went French. I taught Issa how to make Croque Monsieur and she taught made me a frame accessory organizer which was just the thing I needed (though it's not like I have truckloads of accessories; I'm kinda OC so I love organizing things as much as possible). I was mind blown with her idea even when we were still planning it. It was something so simple yet so fascinating! I'm sure you girls will love this, too! 

[click here to watch on youtube]

        So, here's the recipe and know-hows for the Croque Monsieur (I'd rather type it than say, thank you). It's actually a pan-fried ham and cheese sandwich. We did both single and double layer versions. :D

CROQUE MONSIEUR

Ingredients:

4    pcs            slice bread (we used wheat bread)
1    small bar   Quickmelt cheese (or Jack, cheddar, mozzarella, gruyere)
2    pcs            King's Cooked Ham, cut in quarters
4    tbsp           Mayonnaise 
1    tbsp           butter
1    tbsp           cooking oil (we used canola)
1    large          egg
2    tbsp           fresh milk


Procedure:

1. Slather the mayo on the bread and place the cheese, ham and cheese again. Repeat order for the second layer.

2. Add milk to the egg. Carefully dip all sides of the sandwich in the egg and milk mixture.

3. Heat oil in a pan and add butter over medium heat. Place the sandwich in the pan and flip to other side after 5 mins. Careful not to burn each side.

4. You can finish the sandwich in your oven for the cheese to melt or you can just eat it after cooking in the pan. The cheese will eventually melt anyway. Easy as pie! :)



          Now, you can head on to Issa's blog for the deets on the accessory organizer. She's a genius, I tell ya! I'm excited for you! GO! NOW! :D


          Big big thanks to FMJ & Co. for producing this vid with us. It was great working with you guys. You should check out more of their videos on their youtube channel: http://youtube.com/FMJCO. Like and Subscribe! :D

'Til the next episode! Hope you guys liked this one! If you did, please like, subscribe and share! Thanks! :D

Cebu Secret Chows: The Suite Room -- Cebu's Newest Boutique Restaurant by Casa Verde

         Before anything, this post was meant to be published two weeks ago but my camera got lost along with the precious photos of the glorious food so I had to ask for some photos from mi amigo, Mustachio. 

         I was invited to an exclusive lunch at The Suite Room last month. I've heard of this place somewhere before but the only clue I had about it was that it was by Casa Verde. I never really found out if it was already operational or where the location was.

         

         So, I was very excited about this invite as though I were unraveling a mystery. It's going to be a long post but it's worth the read, I promise!

         The Suite Room is located at the Ramos branch (the pioneer branch) of the famous home-grown Casa Verde. It's a separate extension, just a little room that could comfortably accommodate 12 people. Apparently, it had already been open for service since Sinulog (which is in January); but that day, we had the first dibs on the new menu.

[photos above from The Suite Room]

         

          As soon as you open the door, you instantly find yourself in a hotel suite-furnished room. It was lavish and classy, and perfect for intimate meals. It had all the works -- plush upholstery, classy wooden tables, a faux fireplace with a huge flat screen TV above it, a dresser with a gorgeous mirror, and even a headboard of a bed at the wall behind the upholstered counter to top off the suite room effect -- and everything was custom-made.

          This concept was inspired from the owner's travels. The setting might immediately give the impression of a pricey menu but Casa Verde stands by its principle of giving AFFORDABLE quality; so, expect the menu to be reasonably priced. Personal service is provided and food is served in fine dining fashion but guests are not required a strict dress code. They make sure to let you sit back, relax, and enjoy the comforts of a simulated check-in to a suite room.

          We were welcomed with -- to our delight -- hotel bedroom slippers. Geared up with our slippers, we then embarked on a 7-course gastronomic expedition of their new menu. 

  FIRST COURSE        
Salads

Mixed Green Salad w/ candied walnuts and strawberry vinaigrette

Caesar's Salad

Thai Prawn Fresh Spring Rolls

         I tend to favor Asian flavors more than any other cuisine but all the salads were excellent. I could taste the anchovies in the Caesar dressing and I loved that the greens were delicately coated and not drenched.

          The Mixed Green Salad is perfect if you want a light salad. I loved the candied walnuts and the tart strawberry dressing added just the right acidity.

           The Thai Prawn Fresh Spring Roll was generously filled with vermicelli, carrots, turnip, cilantro, and a tender, sweet prawn.

SECOND COURSE
Soups

Prawn and Beef Noodle Soup

Cream of Mushroom

Pumpkin Soup

         I had the Prawn and Beef Noodle Soup first (Asian, told ya). It had a siding of pickled cucumbers and carrots which you MUST add to the soup. It was the most interesting one, bursting with flavors -- sweet, salty, and sour -- playfully teasing the palate all the while in perfect harmony. The cream soups were also smooth and fine. 

THIRD COURSE

Appetizers

Meatballs in Stewed Tomato Sauce served w/ bread

Cajun Style Skewered Shrimps 

Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings Asian Style

             These were the best meatballs I've ever had. They were juicy and cooked just right -- not underdone and not overdone. The Cajun style shrimps on the other hand were also tender and sweet. The chicken wings were well... chicken wings. I'm not a fan of pineapples in savory dishes.

FOURTH COURSE

Sandwiches

Chicken Salad Sandwich

You know what this is ;)

Tuna Salad Sandwich

               Since The Suite Room is open all day, you can snug up in a corner with their sandwiches or tacos if you want some peace and quiet. I wished they served healthier sandwiches though. 

(belly about to burst at this point and expecting main course is next but then...)

FIFTH COURSE

Pasta

Spaghetti and Sausage in Tomato Sauce

Spinach & Ricotta Cheese Ravioli in Tomato Cream Sauce

Bacon and Mushroom in Pesto Cream Sauce

Shrimp Fettuccine in Alfredo Sauce

          You can hate me for this, but you really can't bring me to finish a whole plate of carbonara. I'm just not the cream sauce type; but I don't mind having cream-based sauces as long as they're not purely cream -- such as, pesto cream! So, my pick among the pasta we tasted was the Bacon and Mushroom in Pesto Cream. I love ravioli but somehow, theirs didn't feel right. It was a bit too hard for me. I like the kind that slips in the mouth and bursts open with a smooth, rich spinach and ricotta filling.  

And finally...

SIXTH COURSE

Main Course

Pan Fried Salmon in Citrus Butter Sauce with Mushroom Risotto

Australian Beef Striploin Steak

Australian Beef Rib Eye Steak

Fresh Corned Beef w/ Horseradish Sauce

1/2 Citrus Herb Roasted Chicken

Skewered Surf and Turf with Cajun Butter

Pork Kalbi

Baked Cream Dory

          Oh boy, the main course was like a spectacular firework one after the other. The steaks were impressive and on the lighter side, my fave is the salmon with risotto... I'm at a  loss for words.

(surpassed glutton level right here... but my favorite course is just too good to pass up on!)

SEVENTH HEAVEN COURSE

Dessert

Frozen Caramel Macchiato

Green Tea Ice Cake

RAINBOW CAKE!!!

*photos by Mustachio (thanks so much for the awesome photos!)

         Finally, surviving that huge wave of courses, the last men standing were just me and Mustachio. I initially didn't know how to feel about dessert anymore whether it was punishment or reward. When the cakes arrived, I transformed into a masochist more than happy to meet punishment. The Suite Room's Frozen Caramel Macchiatto and Green Tea Ice Cake were absolutely perfect. And the plain white frosted cake I noticed in the chiller was actually a RAINBOW CAKE! That cake I used to see in Instagram photos from Manila or elsewhere. Oh joy! Definitely felt like sliding down a rainbow into a pot of gold. 

              It's seriously been a while since I've had a meal as great as that. Though the meal was a long one, it was a smooth ride. Servings were hearty, plating was beautiful and most importantly, they all tasted as good as they looked. Best of all, the most expensive dish on the menu is only P450 and that's already a steak!

          If you order a la carte, the servings are mostly big; but if you feel like splurging on a meal, you can get their set menu which consists of soup, salad, entree and dessert for only P500. You can also rent out the whole room for just P5,000 consumable for 3 hours. This is definitely one of the coziest places in town. 

Reminder: Reservation is highly recommended. 


*This is a Cebu Secret Chows segment. Check out the page on my homepage's menu bar for the complete list and more posts like this. :D 



The Suite Room
69 Lim Tian Teng St. Ramos, Cebu City

Contact:  (032) 254 0508
               thesuiteroom@casaverdecebu.com

Operating Hours:  11 am - 10 pm  DAILY

"To know Cebu, eat Cebu! :D"

oink oink, 

Babe for Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining