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

(Vlog Series) The Cooking Fashionistas: Episode 1

          Issa and I have been working on two projects together this year -- a blog series, When Food and Fashion Meet; and a vlog series, The Cooking Fashionistas. Our first post for When Food and Fashion Meet was published earlier this month, and now finally, the FIRST EPISODE of our vlog series is out! 

         So, what's this vlog series about? Well, if you can't decide which you love more -- food or fashion -- this is the perfect series for you! Basically, this concept is a product of Issa asking me to teach her how to cook, and me, asking Issa to teach me a thing or two about fashion tricks of the trade as well. Watch the video below and see if I'm right. ;)

        Lemme just fill you in on the recipe featured in the video and how to make it:

Ham, Mango and Cheese Quesadilla

w/ guacamole and fresh tomato salsa 

Ingredients:

1   pack          soft tortilla (up to you if you want 6" or 12")

1   small bar    Eden MeltSarap, grated

1   pack          King's Cooked Ham, sliced into half

2   whole        ripe mango, sliced

1   small stick  Magnolia Butterlicious

(for the guacamole)

1      whole   ripe avocado

1/2   pc        lime/calamansi

                   salt

                   black pepper

(for the tomato salsa)

5   whole    green tomatoes, de-seeded and diced

1   whole    red onion, chopped

2   tbsp       olive oil

1/2 pc        lime/lemon

                 salt

                 pepper

Procedure:

1. Make the tomato salsa and guacamole first:

          (for the guacamole)

              - Mash the avocado in a bowl with a fork.

              - Squeeze out the juice of half a lime or lemon on the avocado.

              - Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

          (for the tomato salsa)

              - In a bowl, mix together diced tomatoes, chopped red onion, olive oil  and lime/lemon juice. 

                 - Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

 

     2. Assemble the quesadilla on a plate in this order: 

                 

                        tortilla

                        grated cheese

                        sliced ham

                        sliced mango

                        grated cheese

                        tortilla

       3. Heat a teflon pan or grill pan or grill. Melt a bit of butter to give your tortilla that grilled look. 

        4. Cook quesadilla on both sides; at first, browning one side, and then browning the other until both are of crisp perfection.

        5. Slice on a chopping board and serve on a plate with guacamole and tomato salsa.

         Just 5 easy steps! If Issa can make it, so can you! :D

If any of you will try the recipe at home, it would be great if you could post pictures on my fb page: facebook.com/babeforfood

  For the fashion d-i-y, just visit my crazy little friend's blog, issaplease, and be amazed at all the wonders this girl could do to your wardrobe or style. 

We'd like to thank Ejay Williams of Zage Media Productions for being so kind to shoot this episode for us and offered us his home for the set. I wish I had his kitchen. I DIIEE at the beauty of it. :D

And special thanks to Rachel Arandilla and Luis Quibranza III for being mechanical and moral support through the cameras and all. 

I hope you liked this post and I hope you'd look forward to the next episodes of The Cooking Fashionistas. 

Don't forget to like and share the video ad subscribe to our channel. Thank you! 

The Cooking Fashionistas Vlog Series

Hey, foodies!

        If you've visited this blog earlier this month, I just started a blog series collab with my good friend, Issa Perez of issaplease.blogspot.com, called When Food and Fashion Meet. Well, that's not the only collab we're doing... 

        We're also launching a vlog series together, entitled "The Cooking Fashionistas", where I teach Issa how to cook and she teaches me some d-i-y fashion tricks. She is after all my ultimate fashion guru. :D

          So, this vlog series is both for foodies and fashionistas. If you love to cook in style or love looking as good as the food you eat, or if you love cooking or food as much as fashion, this show is for YOU! 

        Fortunately, for this project, we have our great friend, Ejay Williams, to help us out with the shoot and even offer us his beautiful home and kitchen to cook at! 

          Hope you'll like it! Please do watch for it this week. Thanks! :D

  

When Food and Fashion Meet 1: Shop. Eat. Play

Hello hello, dear readers! 

       I know I've been saying it over and over but I really am and have been so excited about this! And I hope you are, too! If not, I'm sure you will be at the end of this post. ;)

        First of all, let me refresh you on what this little project of ours (with THE Issa Perez) is:

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!

         What do you think, eh? Issa Perez has been one of my dearest friends for 6 years now and we've managed to keep in touch and catch up with each other from time to time despite our different lifestyles. She's a dynamic fashion blogger and one thing we both have in common with our blogs is that we cover "Cebu Secrets" in our respective niches -- fashion and food. This detail brought us to the concept of doing a collab for this blog series we named "When Food and Fashion Meet" to offer our readers convenience and something interesting to look forward to on our blogs.   

          So one afternoon, we took to the streets, walking and commuting in jeepneys, to the Cebu Secret destinations. First, to...

Cebu Handicrafts Vendors Association
North Reclamation, across SM North Wing parking lot

How to get here by jeep:
(from downtown) 01K
(from Ayala or Lahug) 04L

         I've noticed this place whenever I pass by North Reclamation going to SM and I also read about it on Issa's blog before. It may just look like a couple of yellow shabby shacks across the North Wing parking lot of SM but it's a haven for tourists looking to buy some local or native accessories as souvenirs and gifts to friends. Issa and I made a mission to buy our own souvenir to remember the first day of our collab -- friendship bracelets!

          All the items sold here are HANDMADE and of export quality yet unbelievably low-priced! You can buy beads here and create your own accessories, too. The things you find here are so much more expensive in the malls and souvenir shops. 

(photo by: Issa Perez)

Mission accomplished!

bracelets @ P10 each!

like grade school best friends :))

          I'll leave it to the fashion blogger to expound more on what you can get here. :))
After that little ocular of the pretty handicrafts, we then headed off to...


The Chillage
G/F Adnama Bldg, Larrazabal Ave., North Reclamation, 6014 Cebu City

Operating Hours: Tues - Sun   10 am - 10 pm

Contact: +63 917 704 3827

Twitter:       @thechillage
Facebook:    The Chillage
instagram:   thechillagestore
tumblr:       thechillage

How to get here by jeep:
(from downtown) 01K
(from Ayala) 03Q to SM, get down at Sun Gold and take a 01K to Cebu Doctor's University 

         I've been so curious about The Chillage since I've seen photos of it on instagram by fellow bloggers and I also visited the stall during Sinulog Blastoff. Issa and I had to WALK around the whole block of Cebu Doctor's University (CDU) before we found the entrance to Adnama bldg where The Chillage is. The entrance was enchanting in itself. 

         A rush of excitement filled me when we got there. I couldn't wait to get inside!

first view as you enter -- the radiant cafe

           Issa and I felt like Alice in Wonderland, finding ourselves in a different world, completely cluttered with quirky things that made our heads spin in amusement and euphoria. We couldn't stop gushing over the things in the shop and the modern details of the interior.

           The concept of The Chillage is, it's a retail store on the front part, a cafe as you go deeper, and a place to "chill" in their own little fun room.  It's a totally wholesome environment, suitable for family, friends, lovers and artists! Their tagline is Shop.Eat.Play. Thus, the title of our first post for our series since it's exactly what we did.  

          The Chillage offers exclusively local products from Manila and Cebu; from accessories, to clothing, to toiletries and what nots. It makes you appreciate local products at a whole new level. 

Lookie what we found!

          They even have free candy. And they taste good! :D

           I have to mention, I'm a fan of pretty restrooms, and so far, this is THE best in town, hands down! Talk about finding a couch right inside the restroom for your girlfriends to hang out and share beauty secrets while doing each other's make up. :D

         I was just as excited to try the food as much as I was excited about the shop. The menu surprised me by how affordable it is! Everything's less than P200! They have pasta, sandwiches, salad, chips&dips and dessert. I guess they're really catering to the students of the neighboring university. 

Theo & Philo chocolates from Manila! Dubbed as the best by Spot.ph 

             We got their Taparoni (their version of beef tapa and macaroni) and Spinach Dip. Both had generous servings and reasonable prices! It was then that I fell hard for the place. It was so impressive to find that they did not use just ground beef. Now that's an HONEST menu; a rare find these days. 

Taparoni  P130

Spinach and Cream Cheese Chips & Dip  P90

I'm in love :)

The Fun Room

- the epitome of chill

           What a day! I fell more in love with Cebu because of The Chillage and since I love it so much, I'll be making a separate post about it. This post is getting so long. Haha. 

            So, that was it. Hope you guys enjoyed it as much as we did! Next post for the series will be out next month, March 2.

             Please visit Issa's blog for her take on that fun-filled day. :D