Cebu Secret Chow: No. 9

            It’s been a long while since I’ve written about a Cebu Secret Chow, what I like to call a restaurant that is not located in a mall or better known as a “hole-in-the-wall.” Cebu Secret Chows have been the focal point of this blog but thanks to the social media boom in 2013, hole-in-the-walls don’t stay hole-in-the-walls for long. The longest a restaurant can stay under the radar is probably two months these days. Social media has pushed “location” further down the “opening-a-restaurant” checklist for restaurateurs. This might be good news for restaurants who want to get their names around the soonest possible, but I personally think this often kills the charm and essence of hole-in-the-walls.

            Most hole-in-the-walls are residential abodes converted into restaurants and it is the unpretentious home cooking and homey ambiance that captivate our hearts. These are where nostalgia is manufactured, where memories of food and experience are imprinted in our food memory bank—memories that linger and beguile us from time to time.

There’s one I’ve been eyeing on since last year when it opened, but since it was always out of the way from my usual route to and from school, it was a pretty elusive target. I consider it a hole-in-the-wall because it does not belong to or is not located within a commercial establishment. It is not your ordinary home-turned-restaurant; it transcends the norm of comfort food, serving heartfelt Spanish dishes that reflect the artistry and passion of the chef owner.

         No. 9 is named after its address, #9 E. Benedicto St. It has a modern rustic interior with hints of Spanish tones that evokes just enough mystery to spark that excitement for what’s to come as you settle down in one of the tables. Perusing through the menu, you will find that it is brief yet just enough to extinguish any confusion or further delay in making your selections.

Cebu Secret Chows: All Spice Bistro

I used to live in Guadalupe (around five years ago) and back then, there really wasn't much decent dining places around other than Dong Juan, CnT, Mooon Cafe, Aranos and Domeng's, or the regular lechon manok along the streets at night. But with the trending home-based restaurants popping up around the metro, it would only be a matter of time until you find at least one home resto in your neighborhood (do I hear a squeal?). 

Guadalupe is one of the original neighborhoods that is home to humble home-based resto's that have grown to be big commercial ones -- such as Mooon Cafe and Dong Juan. There must be something about 'Guada' soil that nurtures these little 'shrooms… Okay, I'm getting off track. But I guess it has something to do with both resto potential factor and Cebuano palate upgrade (to more adventurous) -- the resto's have been consistent with their service and food quality that word gets around and people are willing to lose their way just to visit the place. 

One unique resto recently joined the bandwagon in Guadalupe, right across CnT.  All Spice Bistro is owned by two friends who have both had international culinary stints -- Chef Francis Ed Saberon and Chef Chad Mercado of Las Vegas. Chef Ed was part of the first batch of students at AICA here in Cebu and graduated top of his class. Chef Chad is a Fil-Am who took culinary education at Le Cordon Bleu and has worked in several prestigious kitchens such as Bobby Flay's resto. Despite that success in Las Vegas, he fell for Cebu (a Cebuana, rather) during vacation and decided to settle down in Cebu and work with his partner, Chef Ed. Together, they continue the passion to serve dishes with depth in flavor.

         All Spice Bistro has a simple setting with a tinge of Spain seen in the black and red colour scheme but their menu is composed of rich Spanish and Tex-Mex dishes, all created from scratch.  

           It was my first time to visit a resto that has sort of like a foyer at the first floor than the usual immediate dining space. A wooden staircase leads to the main event where pictures of paintings (a painting in a picture) streak the walls. 

          On this floor, the space is divided into an air-conditioned room and an open dining setting. We stayed in the air-conditioned room since summer's humidity still loomed in the air even at dusk. The air-con room has a mini bar and a flat screen tv. All the black and red around me made me feel like this is a place where matadors unwind. :D

         Our friends did the ordering so I was excited to be surprised by the dishes that were to come. 

         What better way to be greeted by a resto than through it's food. The first of many was the chowders. These had a pleasantly thick, creamy consistency but the bread bowl just didn't seem to have that slightly crisp and chewy texture I wanted. Maybe it had cooled off while we were busy probing with our eyes and taking photos of it. I enjoyed the clam chowder though. I could taste the clam essence in the thick liquid and the clam meat were cooked just right. It definitely gave us a warm welcome.

Seafood Chowder   P140

Tejano Beef Chili   P160
Stewed Angus beef with three kinds of beans and melted cheese

             I am pretty particular with how shrimps/prawns are cooked. These should be perfect (same goes for eggs!). Gambas is one of the dishes I enjoyed since my childhood (mom's cooking) -- whether al ajillo or a la marinara -- so I'm picky when ordering this at a resto. Whenever I do, I expect to be pleased. It ruins the rest of my meal (since this is usually eaten as an appetizer) unless the main course saves it. Theirs, however, was one of the best I've had. Perfectly sweet and tender shrimps swimming in olive oil with garlic and chili.  My partner and I even finished the sauce by pouring it on our rice (*insert evil gluttonous smirk).   

Gambas Ajillo   P140

             It was a first for me to see a quesadilla served with an egg on top. The tortillas were evidently homemade and so were the sauces that dotted the surface. This was one of my favorites here. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a perfectly cooked egg. :D

Chicken Fajita Quesadilla    P140

          Callos, along with gambas, is another childhood favorite of mine. I was truly impressed by their version because it was tender and... just perfect! This was a nostalgic piece for me. Definitely my favorite dish here. :D

Callos a la Madrilena   P160
 A traditional Madrid style dish with beef and tripe, served with rice.

Paella Valenciana   P340

                 The lamb caldereta was a tad too strong for me but the chef explained that he intentionally wanted to keep the strong flavor of the lamb because "if you want to mask the taste of lamb, you should be getting another kind of meat then." Good point. Take it from the chef then. 

Caldereta de Cordero   P160
A Moorish-Spanish lamb stew with potatoes, carrots and chives served with rice.

            I love our beloved MOLMOL -- the creature that's both fish and bird but can't fly. Haha. Okay, that was lame. But yes, ze parrotfish is a glorious piece of fillet especially when seared. In this case, it was coated with flour but I loved the pesto sauce and mixed bean mash that came with it. It's a fish dish that's heavy enough to share! This is definitely a meal worth coming back for. Nom nom!

Seared Parrotfish   P220
Pimenton spiced parrotfish (mol mol) with a three-bean sauce *with a choice of side

              And finally, the beef. This was another masterpiece -- a glorified beef stroganoff. I could taste the white wine and the creamy sauce was not overwhelming after a while at all.  A dish to die for, for both sexes. Highly recommended on your visit! Yes, because I know you'll be running to All Spice after a glance of the photo. :p

Grilled US Angus Beef   P280

           All Spice looks like a promising resto and is definitely a place to go to for some Spanish cuisine -- affordable and tasty. I'd love to see and taste how they'd do lengua if they added it to the menu. :D

BFF's Picks:  Seafood chowder, Gambas, Chicken Fajita Quesadilla, Callos, Seared Parrotfish, Grilled US Angus Beef

All Spice Bistro

1311 V. Rama Avenue, Guadalupe (across CnT lechon)

Cebu City 6000

Contact: 0917 707 4569

Operating Hours:    11 am - 12 mn daily

Price range:   P120 - P340 per dish

Facebook: AllSpiceBistro

"To know Cebu, eat Cebu! :D"

oink oink,

Babe for Food
- your BFF in Cebu dining

Dos Hermanos -- Food Market Spanish Conquistadors

         Ironic how Cebu (and the Philippines) was a Spanish colony for a couple hundred years and yet you only see meager traces of their cuisine in the food scene today; well, aside from the commoners - lengua and paella - which are not even done justice by most. Ever thought of that? 

         So, where do we actually find good paella, callos, lengua, empanada, and the sorts in this town of shrooming resto's? Good food is, most often than not, found in the home. And fortunately, the Cebu Food Market at BTC offers home cooks and bakers an outlet for their experiments or legacies, where foodmongers may scavenge to find anything their taste buds may crave for. Dos Hermanos is one of these few genuine home cooks who offer dishes especially seasoned with sweat hard work and passion. 

         Dos Hermanos means "two brothers" in Mexican. You could say it's another irony how this little business engorged in Spanish cuisine is baptized in Mexican; but no big deal really. Spanish chorizo, the firstborn and crowning glory of Dos Hermanos, was borne out of the hands of two brothers; thus, the name. It became a popular fare among friends that one of the brothers, Alfonso Martinez, decided to focus on it as his business.

          Aside from his famed chorizo, Alfonso also created his versions of paella mixta, paella negra, paella valenciana and, callos.  These were the first products he sold at the Sunday market in BTC, which easily drew a stream of regulars.  

        Only a handful actually have the skill in churning up sensually gratifying callos (stewed ox tripe in tomato-based sauce). My biased favor clings to my mother's recipe (as we most probably do, each to our own mothers) but she hasn't been making any for too long now so whenever I spot callos in a menu, I eagerly yet skeptically consider having a taste; although none has impressed me quite yet. Dos Hermanos' I have yet to try. I must say, it looks succulent. 

Callos Casera

Chorizo Fresco Picante

Paella Mixta

Paella Negra

           As his clients grew, so did his menu. Chorizo empanadas, chorizo paella, paella balls and croquetas were the new kids on the block. These he sold separately at the Cebu Food Market on Saturdays. 

Chorizo Empanada

Paella Balls

         I have tried the chorizo paella w/ egg, paella balls, croquetas and empanadas and all have impressed me. I simply fell in love with these Spanish conquistadors in the food market. The croquetas, those velvety bechamel balls, were perfect tapas. 

The paella with that perfectly executed egg glimmering in all its glory was irresistible.

The paella balls were a Spanish version of Japanese rice cakes, only with better texture from the crisp shell.

...and the empanadas won me over from my particular distaste of this breed. 

         The empanadas had a crisp, flaky crust with just the right amount of filling, bursting with flavor as you take your first bite with the beautiful medley of roasted peppers, caramelized onions and that special chorizo. I think the fact that it didn't have green peas and raisins in them was one of the charms. I loathe those gatecrashers in them typical  empanadas.

         So now, you don't have to head out to a fancy schmancy Spanish resto (if you even find a decent one out there) to have some good ole Spaniards Spanish gracing your table. 

        If you can't wait for the weekend to have some, just give them a call. Orders are most welcome. ;)  

*Photos by Dos Hermanos


Dos Hermanos
Cebu Food Market, Banilad Town Center
Gov. M Cuenco Ave., Banilad, Cebu City 6000

Saturdays and Sundays   10 AM - 6 PM

For orders, contact: +63 917 620 8764

For updates, like them on Facebook: facebook.com/doshermanos.spanishcuisine  


"To know Cebu, eat Cebu! :D"

oink oink,

Babe for Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining! :)

Cebu Secret Chow: Kiss of An Ox

    I've actually only noticed this small unseeming restaurant at a glance when I ate at Doming's two years ago on a lunch break from culinary school. I liked how mysterious the facade was and it lingered at the back of my head. I just never thought of going there since no one really reminded me of it and I transferred residence which was too far from this location already. So introducing my first feature of Cebu's Secret Dining Spots from A-Z, Arano.

    Arano is located at Guadalupe, Cebu City. I don't really know the specific details of the address but if you know where Doming's (another secret dining spot!) is, it's situated right beside it. The most details I could give you are landmarks like, Guadalupe Elementary School and San Jose Bakeshop. Enter the road right across the school. This road has San Jose Bakeshop beside it and a signboard that says "Fairlane Village". Just go inside then turn right and follow the road til you see a low green gate (that's Doming's). Arano is located right beside that green gate. 

     It's actually one of those house-turned-restaurant dining hideaways. I chose to pop by for dinner to see the ambience at night. I believe that the entrance of a restaurant always makes the first impression for any guest. I liked the entrance because it is unique to find a door with a door knob right along the road. The fact that this was the setting actually made it inviting to open the door and see what's inside (Narnia-ish? lol). The walls are also covered with vines and there you find their signage, carved on wood. As i opened the door, it led me to a small room which was the bar. It was exclusively reserved that night so we proceeded to the actual dining area which was led by another door. The dining area was in a garden setting, generally outdoor and partly sheltered by an extended roof. It was a rainy night but if it weren't, I can imagine that it would have been a romantic night with a cool breeze at the garden. So anyway, I'm here for the food. My friend (the photographer for this feature) who has dined here several times recommended their lengua. We were all hungry and quickly ordered our menu choices. Of course, I went for the lengua. 

lengua @ 120 php

If you've never tasted or heard of this, or you have and just didn't know exactly what it was, this is actually braised ox tongue. Ooh la la. Some people shudder at the thought of ingesting such a thing but this is one Spanish delicacy I truly enjoy. Not too much, of course. There are various recipes for this but I don't have a specific preference as long as it pleases my taste buds. The lengua I had here was served with a mushroom gravy sauce. Tender, yes, but in terms of taste quality, it still had that odor that shouldn't be there so it was not perfectly prepared or spiced. The sauce was a little salty, too. I prefer the lengua of Montebello Villa Hotel. For the price, it's not a very generous serving. The slices were quite thin.       

porkchop @ 110 php

     My friends, on the other hand, had the porkchop. It smelled and looked palatable. It was topped with fried garlic and butter, and accompanied with a chunky mashed potato (not bad). I liked how chunky it was. It was a little dry though. I was actually quite jealous of this. This is definitely way better than Mother's Fried Chicken's famed porkchops (my dad was obsessed with this before).  

       Unfortunately, for this gig, I had to "eat and run" because my family wanted to go home early together. So overall, this is a conducive date spot with reasonable prices and menu and ambience is alright and casual whether for lunch or dinner. I would go back for the porkchop and their steaks are at most 350 php! I'd also want to try their callos next time. 

    I'd like to thank my dear friends who came along and Raymond "Momon" Racoma for taking me there. :D

clockwise from left: Kirby, me, Momon, Paolo, Issa, Kentoi

good food, good company

Photo credits to: Issa Perez http://littleblacksheepfashion.blogspot.com

                        Momon Racoma http://momonracoma.tumblr.com 

LIVE, LOVE, EAT! - Wolfgang Puck  

Til the next gig,

Justinne <3