Count Your Blessings 2013

          No matter what trials and battles we all face and overcome each year, fact is, there is always more reason to be thankful for in this life than to hate it. It’s always interesting looking back at what has transpired throughout the year since our last New Year, to see if we did take to heart and accomplish our resolutions.

2013 has particularly been interesting and life-changing with a couple of extraordinary events that have happened, not to mention, the simultaneous calamities that swept through the Philippines. I believe this year has made a lot of people truly reassess life in all its essence and a lot of lessons – on faith, hope and love - are learned and reinforced.

            What matters most for me at the end of the year is personal growth in all aspects – mental, emotional and spiritual (let’s just skip physical because I don’t wanna grow, well, sideways. Hehe.). I seek most of all to learn and experience new things that can make me a wiser and stronger person; a woman of substance.

         Here’s a rundown of the greatest blessings I’ve received this year from my loving Father, just as I’ve been doing since 2011:

JANUARY

            I have a confession to make: I am not very good in front of cameras especially when it’s for “professional purposes” such as a TV show or photo shoots. I don’t turn down opportunities like these though because one can never overcome fear if one does not face it. So, I just do regardless of my awkwardness. Haha.

Well, I was asked to be a model/ambassador for a friend’s Sinulog shirt business called The Sinulog Shirt Project and here’s a photo to prove what an awkward subject I can be. :p

Photography by: Ean Dacay

MUA: Jennifer Elaine Sarmiento

Best Cebu Blog Awards 2013: Third Time's A Charm

          Best Cebu Blog Awards (BCBA) is now on it's 6th year. They say "the third time's a charm" and coincidentally, it's my third time to be nominated and be a finalist for this annual award under the food niche. Well, I don't have any expectations or hopes this year, but I'm grateful to Khonie for whatever she sees in me or rather my blog that is worthy to be nominated for this. Thanks a bunch, Khon! :D

     The brains behind Best Cebu Blog Awards is Mark Monta of cebufitnessblog.com who founded and organized this along with the following bloggers:

Agnes Jimenez of empressofdrac.com
Bjorn Bernales of bjorncebuano.com
Gezelle Tapangan of geemiz.com
Chanel Imperial of shankybaby.blogspot.com
Rabsin dela Cruz of finlust.blogspot.com

       BCBA, for me, is somewhat the benchmark for my blog’s existence. Barely a year into blogging back in 2011, I found my blog nominated for the BCBA. And somehow, Babe for Food has been consistently nominated yearly since.

         I started blogging because I merely wanted to share my thoughts on food and 

Serenitea in Cebu

            Even if I'm a food blogger, I'm not one to join the bandwagon of fads in the food industry. And we all know milk tea has been all the rage this year but you barely see posts of these on my blog. Well, i think that explains itself. Dont get me wrong, I'm no hater. I'm just not as crazy about it. However, I do like milk tea cafe's because they're great alternative hangouts when your favorite coffee shop is full. 

             Serenitea is said to be the pioneer milk tea cafe in the Philippines. Seems like it since I first heard of it in 2009, way before milk tea was in the limelight. I've heard nothing but great comments about their tea but believe it or not, it was only last month during their grand opening when I first tasted their milk tea. 

            Serenitea's first branch was in Manila in 2008 and now has over 23 company-owned branches in and outside Metro Manila, including their first franchised outlet in Cebu City. They started operations here since last March with an open area setting. They then opened an indoor, air-conditioned extension last month at their grand opening. Their indoor area is furbished with plush couches and comfy chairs. It can accommodate up to 30 people and outlets are available for charging gadgets or laptops.   

            Their menu offers a wide variety of tea mixes to choose from. If you have a hard time choosing, the helpful staff give you suggestions or you can take your pick from their Top 10 list. I actually visited them the night before the grand opening to get the actual  experience of a regular customer. 

            Okinawa Milk Tea is their best seller so I chose that without the pearls to really taste the milk tea itself. It was definitely a treat, something different for once, from the usual Wintermelon favorites in other milk tea places. It felt light, not overwhelmingly rich yet substantial. It also did not leave an unpleasant bitter aftertaste. The customer service was also great. The staff were accommodating and I like the organized set up of the shop wherein ordering and claiming are separate. 

                On the day of the grand opening, Serenitea gave out free JUMBO upsize for every order of drinks from their Top 10 list the whole day. My eyes definitely went JUMBO to see such a big container that one's hand could barely hold. It was 1 liter big! But this size is exclusively available for if you book special occasions at their outlet. 

        

              This time, I got the fruitea -- Cranberry Green Tea w/ Perilla (basil seeds) at 50% sugar level (my default sugar level). Again, I was not disappointed. The drink was so refreshing, it easily became my favorite. And I was so amused by the perilla seeds that floated in the middle of my drink. It was my first time to taste them. I thought it would be impossible for me to finish my huge drink but eventually, I had an empty cup in my hand. It was so refreshing, sip was followed by another sip unconsciously, almost like a reflex.

             I sandwiched my fruitea with my fellow bloggers' milk teas. I noticed that the black pearls (sago) they serve are smaller than the usual ones from other milk tea cafe's. Personally, I prefer that because then I don't have to chew so long. It gets tiring, y'know. Makes me feel like a goat or cow chewing on cud, no offense. My friends prefer the regular-sized pearls though.

JUMBO milk teas: (from left) Sinjin of libotero.com's Wintermelon Milk Tea w/ pearl and nata, my Cranberry Green Tea w/ perilla, and Angeli of foodiecraft.com's Okinawa Milk Tea with pearls

               

              The new indoor area was launched by the franchisee and partners of Serenitea Cebu: 

(Center) Juliet Herrera, owner and general manager of Serenitea Cebu, with her business partners Chloe Ong and Francisco Bernardo 

                Their indoor area is definitely a serene place to stay for some good milk tea and company. I actually like staying here when I can to work on the blog. The modern minimalist interiors create a liberating atmosphere for the mind although it's not exactly a place to chat with friends because it can easily be heard by others around. It would be best for studying and online work. :)

           Though I'm no milk tea junkie, Serenitea won me over with their blends. I found out that what truly makes them stand out is that they are the first and only milk tea shop in the country that uses a "teaspresso" machine. That means each order of tea drink is freshly brewed to ensure the service of qualiTEAS (see what I did there?). So, if you wanna make sure you get fresh milk teas, this is the place to go. Their wifi here is fast, too. ;)

Serenitea

Podium Level, Calyx Centre, Cebu IT Park, 

Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City 6000

Operating Hours:  Sun - Thurs     11 am - 12 mn

                                Fri - Sat            11 am - 1 am

Contact:   (032) 236 3228

For updates and more information, just like, follow, or visit their social media accounts: 

Facebook: Serenitea Cebu Official Facebook Page

Twitter: @iloveserenitea

Website: www.iloveserenitea.com

"To know Cebu, eat Cebu! :D"

oink oink,

Babe for Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining! :)

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

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