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! :)

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! :)

Chatime Cebu

        I first read about Chatime on Shoot First Eat Later, a Manila-based blog. I was in Hong Kong during the last week of May and I found Chatime at the airport but unfortunately, the group was in a rush to check in the hotel and I didn’t get to find it again anywhere else.

         Chatime is a superstar  tea shop (if it's in the HK airport, then it must be something, right?) from Taiwan and has made it to international shores. Finally, it’s here in Cebu! I was there during the first day of the soft opening last month with Kazoot, one of my best friends in culinary school who just came back from working in a cruise ship.   

            The moment you enter the shop, you are greeted cheerfully and unanimously by the staff, "Welcome to Chatime!". The interior is bright and quite dainty, a dollhouse feel with the purple and pink theme. The seats are plush and outlets are conveniently provided beside the long tables for you to charge your gadgets for free while enjoying your drink. :)

           Here, you can moderate the ice content of your drink and the sweetness level. At the counter, you will find a list of the top ten drinks they serve. I chose the Yogurt Lychee QQ since it looked irresistible. I could try the milk tea some other time because I'd definitely go back. I wanna finish that list to find out which one I like best. ;)

             Kazoot, on the other hand, got the Grass Jelly Milk Tea. 

Top 10 Bestsellers: 1) Pearl Milk Tea, 2) Chocolate Mousse, 3) Chatime Roasted Milk Tea, 4) Red Bean Milk Tea, 5) Taro Milk Tea, 6) QQ Milk Tea, 7) Grass Jelly Milk Tea, 8) Yogurt Lychee QQ, 9) Banana Milk Tea, 10) Mango Green Tea

          After several returns, I've tried the Chatime Milk Tea, Chatime Roasted Milk Tea, Chocolate Mousse and Strawberry Slush. Of all the top 10 drinks I've tried so far, Yogurt Lychee QQ is still my favorite. It's the most refreshing drink I've ever had and I love nibbling on the pearl-coco jelly combo. . :)

All in large: Yogurt Lychee QQ - P95 (mine) and Grass Jelly Milk Tea - P85 (Kazoot's)

            The menu offers a wide variety of Mellow Milk Teas, Smoothie Series, QQ Jelly (QQ = black pearls + coconut jelly), Oriental Pop Tea, Chatime Mousse, Fresh Tea, Energetic Healthy Juice, Coffee/Hot Drinks, Chatime Special Mix, and Chatime EATS for some snacks to go with your drinks. 

              All milk teas come with one free topping. You can choose from pearl, grass jelly and pudding. You can also add an extra serving of these for only P15. Other toppings you could  add are mousse, coffee jelly, coco jelly, rainbow jelly, red bean, and aloe vera for P20.

                If you get hungry, they also have the right fix for that. This is the only the tea shop I know that serves rice. Chatime EATS are Annatto Pilaf Rice - P18 (like Java rice), Chicken Chops - P75, and French Fries - P65(available in Parmesan Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, and Barbecue).

            The Chicken Chops have such a crunchy coating. I'm sure it matches well with the Annatto Pilaf Rice. And the french fries, they're thick and crispy. The serving is also quite big, a great value for the price. I like the barbecue and cheddar cheese flavors best. :)

Salt n Pepper Chicken Chops - P75

French Fries - P65
Flavors: Cheddar Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Barbecue
(served individually per flavor)

              So far, Chatime is a favorite hangout of many for its refreshing drinks and comfy and posh ambience. Today's the grand opening at 1 pm and there's gonna be a secret celebrity! They will be launching new promos, and products, so don't miss it! :)

Chatime
eBloc 2, Asiatown IT Park,
Salinas Dr., Lahug, Cebu City


Operating Hours:       Mon - Thurs       11 AM - 12 MN
                                Fri & Sat            11 AM - 1 AM
                                Sun                    11 AM - 11 PM


Facebook: facebook.com/chatimecebu
Twitter: @ChatimePH



" To know Cebu, eat Cebu!" :D

oink oink,

Babe for Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining! :)

Tea & Symphony

         With milk teas leading the food trend in Cebu, here's one called Tea & Symphony that just launched this month. It is located at the ground floor of UC Banilad. This is quite convenient for me compared to Cobo because it's along my route to school. 

        I was invited to the launching but I missed it so I dropped by one day with my friend , Chin-Chin, on our way to school. We were greeted by a cozy, clean and simple interior; perfect for study groups, small meetings, or even alone time. Picture frames of tea farmers at a tea leaf farm line the walls and they also have a spot where you can leave traces of your visit on a message board.     

the message board. leave a note! :)

the menu board

        They serve freshly brewed teas, milk teas, fruit teas and non-tea beverages with a variety of toppings to pair. Aloe Vera, Grass Jelly and Egg Pudding toppings are a must try! You can have their brewed teas and milk teas either hot or cold in small, medium or large serving. They also offer Taiwanese street food snacks! Choices are Chicken, Fish and Tofu in either Salt n Pepper or Wasabi Pepper. Being the more adventurous diner, I got wasabi pepper fish. Sweetness level is offered in Normal (100%), Less (75%), Half (50%), Mild (25%) and Healthy (0%). Chin-Chin tried their house blend, Tea & Symphony milk tea in normal sweetness, and I got their Panda milk tea (Tea & Symphony + black and white pearls), one of their mash up drinks, in 75% sweetness.      

pretty Chin-Chin! :)

:)

their snack bag :))

Fish in Wasabi Pepper

        I found the fish quite salty but I loved the fried basil they included in the serving. The wasabi pepper was also just mild. My Panda milk tea was a bit too sweet to my taste so I think 50% sweetness would have been better. 


         I visited this place again last week with Doyzkie of iluvcebu.com and his friends JP and Javier. We had Tea & Symphony, Black Dragon, Wintermelon, Hokkaido and Panda milk teas (all at 50% sweetness), Apple Double Fruit Tea (Apple Green Tea + Green Apple Nata) and all three of their snacks - Chicken (in Salt n Pepper), Fish and Tofu (both in Wasabi Pepper). Only the Apple Double did not fit in the liking of our taste buds but everything else was really good. I particularly loved the Black Dragon with Aloe Vera Nata and the Tofu in Wasabi Pepper! :) 


         Tea & Symphony must have been named so because of the harmony of their teas and the pleasant music played in the cafe. They play acoustic, bossa nova and some blues at a pleasing audio level. The place is also very kempt and their teas are freshly brewed as you order! Definitely a place for you to cool down and relax without the guilt (if you're enemies with fat/cholesterol). ;)  


Price range:
Milk Teas - P60 - P75
Brewed Tea - P55 - P70
Snacks - P50


Operating Hours:
Mon - Thurs   9 AM - 10 PM
Fri - Sun        1 PM - 10 PM


Tea and Symphony 
G/F UC Banilad, Cebu City


Map: link

Like them on Facebook! 


To know Cebu, eat Cebu!

xoxo,

Babe for Food

- your BFF in Cebu dining! :)