Hukad

When in Cebu, I always make it a point to eat at my favorite restaurants namely Golden Cowrie and Sunburst Chicken. So when I heard that Golden Cowrie has opened a new branch at the Ayala Terraces Cebu with a different name, I was excited to try it.




Called Hukad by Golden Cowrie, the restaurant has a modern vibe yet it has managed to infuse into its decor certain Cebu characteristics. Getting a table was by no means an easy feat. When we got there, we were informed that there was to be a waiting period. Humidity and the stifling heat was what almost turned us away from dining at Hukad. Eventually we did get a table but it was to be outside the air conditioned area. Hungry as we were, we decided to take the table. Before we were even able to settle ourselves, another vacant table nearer to the open area presented itself so we just decided to transfer there with the hopes that the heavens would take mercy on us and blow us a huge gust of wind to take away the sweaty feeling.

Usually, when I like a restaurant, I tend to order the same item(s) over and over and over again so this time it was no exception. Except for the Pinakbet (or mixed vegetables), everything else was what I usually order at Golden Cowrie:




Dinuguan or Pork Blood Stew. This name may sound and look icky (specially if you're an INC member!) but this is actually delicious. Flavorful and goes very well with plain rice


Gising-Gising. A combination of pork, yardlong beans (i think) and coconut milk. This would have been even better if it were made a bit more spicy. For people who are lactate-intolerant, please think twice about taking this dish


Sisig. Made from pig's snout, ears and kidney. Sizzingly good (even if I was able to try the best Sisig in Pampanga a few weeks ago). I would rate this as 4 out of 5.


Pinakbet or Meat-Vegetable Stew. Didn't touch this so can't say much about it.


Crispy Pata or Crispy Pork Leg. This was supposed to be the piece-de-resistance but it turned out to be more like piece-of-trash (I'm being too harsh as we did finish eating it!). First of all, it wasn't crispy enough so that was the biggest disappointment. Second, the taste of the meat was a bit bland. I try to avoid eating anything fatty or unhealthy but I always make an exception if its Crispy Pata we're talking about so to be presented with something that is less than excellent is a real let-down. (Luckily, that night, a friend of my friend brought me to a hole-in-the-wall restaurant/bar called Alejandro where the Crispy Pata was superbly done!)

Overall, the restaurant was not that bad...good ambience and lots of people proving that Golden Cowrie is one good restaurant to go to. But, I'd still stick to my old Golden Cowrie located at Salinas Drive. As they say, the original is always better (not always though)

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino

Aside from being part of the only Philippine owned hotel chain and a flagship hotel at that, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino (WCCH) can boast that it is one of the best centrally located hotel in Cebu.

Opened in January 1998 in time for the Asean Tourism Forum, the hotel has 561 guest rooms, numerous restaurant outlets, a grand ballroom with over 2,000 square meters, a casino, a duty free shop and other various concessionaires spread out over the huge expanse of the hotel.

Upon the generosity of Mr Joseph Tam, Waterfront Hotel Group's Sales Manager, I was able to stay at one of their Superior Rooms

As you can see with the pictures, the guest rooms are in dire need of an update/renovation. Furnitures, fixtures and color scheme seem to date back to the 90s. The bed though is firm and comfortable although the sheets and pillow case need to be of a higher thread count as it feels rough on the skin.

Luckily I am not fond of watching TV so the ill-fitting TV (cabinet is too big or the TV is too small, you decide) did not bother me at all.

I've heard a number of accidents that have happened with regards to the bath tub due to the fact that the tub is perched a bit high and people tend to slip when getting out of the tub. I myself, have never experienced this although I always take great care when stepping in or out of the tub.

Overall, staying at this hotel has always been like going back to one's house as it is both comfortable and homey. But a facelift is what should be in the next order of the management of the hotel group.

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino

Salinas Drive, Lahug

Cebu City

Tel: (+63 32) 2326888

Website: http://www.waterfronthotels.com.ph/

Century Park Hotel

Given the opportunity, I was looking forward to seeing the renovated rooms of Century Park (only the Deluxe Rooms and Corner Suites are renovated). Although the rooms were renovated last November 2009, it would be nice to see an older and familiar 5-star hotel in the Bay area getting a facelift.

The foyer/elevator landing. An indication of the overall look of the renovated rooms (that's me being reflected on the mirror!)

So far, no annoying cigarette smell which is not always the case in Non-Smoking floors

Deluxe Room

The bed and the bathroom is divided by a half glass wall (with roller blinds). Everything feels and smells 'new'.

Bed comes with the standard duvet with the updated headboard reading lights. The throw pillows look a bit off though in my opinion

The bath room looks very inviting and clean as a whistle

View (or the lack of it) from the window

Deluxe rooms come with a 42" (?) inch LCD TV

Corner Suite

The only difference between the Deluxe Room and the Corner Suite is basically the view and the living room that is afforded to the Corner Suite

You get a 'sea' view from the Corner Suite although a number of buildings (Legaspi Tower and Central Bank) are blocking the overall view

Its nice to see that Century Park Hotel took the initiative of renovating their worn out rooms although hopefully they will extend the renovation to their Superior Rooms and the other facilities of the hotel (restaurant outlets, function rooms/ball room, etc)

Century Park Hotel

599 P. Ocampo Street

Malate, Manila

Tel: (+632) 5288888

Website: http://www.centurypark.com/

BlackBerry PlayBook

There was a time I wanted to buy an iPad. It was cool, easy to carry and looked like a revolutionary device. I'm glad I dilly-dallied (and eventually abandoned) in purchasing the iPad specially when I heard and saw the new Playbook that was coming out soon. (early to mid 2011 to be exact...the pain of having to wait for it). Made by R.I.M., the makers of Blackberry phones, this is one great news for us Blackberry users.

The Playbook will have the following specs:
-7 inch touch screen
-Flash video playable
-Front and rear cameras
-Can be paired/synched with Blackberry phones
-Users can route data through BlackBerry smartphones instead of paying for separate telecom service

Check out the video Blackberry made at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaez_4m9mQ

Benjarong

I recently had the pleasure of dining at one of, if not THE best Thai restaurant in the Philippines, Benjarong Royal Thai Cuisine. Situated at the Mezzanine Level of the Dusit Thani Manila, Benjarong is open daily for lunch (1130H-1430H) and dinner (1800H-2200H). Upon the invitation of my super amiable host and friend, Mr Jeff Poon (scion of the Maxim's Tea House/MXT dynasty), I decided to relive my travels to Thailand in the not so distant past. And relive I did! With a live Thai Kim musician playing at the background, one could not but feel that one is back in one of the restaurants in Bangkok. Service was excellent (although no one met us at the reception area when we arrived) as provided by the Thai garbed service personnel.

We started off with our soup, Tom Yum Goong.

You can either have it mild or spicy and I decided to have the spicy one as I love the spices and herbs used in Thai cooking. Generous with their prawns and chicken, this was a sign of a good start of our meal.

Next came our Pomelo Salad,

I am generally not a fan of pomelo but the combination of it with prawns (my favorite and will never get tired of it) and cashew (or was it walnuts?) was just deliciously light.

Up next was the different dishes that were served all at the same time:

Pad Thai, stir fried rice noodles with prawns (again! love it) and bean sprouts. This kind of reminds me of Char Kwe Tiao of Singapore with a twist

Chicken curry with mild sauce (Not one of my favorites to be honest)

Minced meat with veggies

Shrimp cakes. Although I'm not much into using sauces on my food, this was one instance where the sauce complimented the shrimp cakes

KangKong (or Swamp Cabbage). I was told by Jeff that the swamp cabbages are meticulously selected by the Thai chef and not everything out of the vegetable is put into the dish

Thai Bagoong Rice (who hasn't tried this but you have to try Benjarong's)

Overall the meal was not heavy, I was still able to cram in mangoes for dessert. If i were with Michelin Guide, I would definitely give this restaurant 5 stars!

p.s. did you notice the lovely Thai plates used. Impeccable!

Dusit Thani Manila
Ayala Center, Makati City
Tel: (+632) 8673333
Website: http://www.dusit.com/hotels/philippines/manila/dusit_thani/index.html

Mooncake Festival

Otherwise officially known as mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese calendar. So this year it falls exactly today! Aside from the Philippines, others countries that celebrate the mooncake festival are China (of course!), Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan and Korea. It is during this time as well that mooncakes are abundant (mooncakes are not sold throughout the year but only around the period of the Mid-Autumn festival)

So what are mooncakes? According to Wikipedia... Typical mooncakes are round or rectangular pastries, measuring about 10 cm in diameter and 4-5 cm thick. A thick filling usually made from lotus seed paste is surrounded by a relatively thin (2-3 mm) crust and may contain yolks from salted duck eggs

Some of my favorite mooncakes are from:

1. Maxim's in Hong Kong

2. Kee Wah in Hong Kong

3. Restoran Oversea in Malaysia

I'm going to be rich!

Going back to the geomancer, Mr Santiago Tong Jr., whom I had the pleasure of meeting in Cebu (he is from Manila as well though) during my recent outing to Crimson Resort & Spa, here are some of the things he said/predicted/felt about me:

1. I'm an impulsive buyer...to the point I don't care how much I have to spend just to get something. TRUE!

2. I'd have to grow a mustache so that my money would not flow out of my hands/pocket. I DON'T LOOK GOOD WITH MUSTACHE THOUGH...and he said my trimming my nose hair has nothing to do with it! hehehe

3. I'm going to have so much money by the age of 51, that I would not know what to do with all the money and I will have a difficult time counting. YAHOO! and this is the reason why my title is such (but can't this come in earlier? nah, won't try to push my luck)

4. Don't be too trusting when it comes to friends. I DON'T! I tend to think I am very guarded (I hope). And I was actually surprised because this was the first thing he told me.

5. Be careful about stomach diseases such as ulcers, hyperacidity, and the likes. I TOLD HIM I'M OK IN THAT DEPARTMENT... so far and knock on wood.

Crimson Beach Resort and Spa

On my free time during my recent trip to Cebu, I decided to check out one of Cebu's newest resort in Mactan, Crimson Beach Resort and Spa.

An introductory information about the resort which I picked up from their website, www.crimsonhotel.com

This 290-key deluxe beach resort oasis in the island of Mactan is managed and operated by Filarchipelago Hospitality, Inc., a joint venture of Filinvest Development Corporation and Archipelago International Pte, Ltd. a hospitality management group registered in Singapore.

Together with my good friend, the owner of Cebu Holidays, Mr. Ricky Tio and geomancer Santiago Tong Jr. (I have another story about Mr Tong Jr), we ventured out on a 45-minute drive from the city to the resort. We were greeted by one of Cebu's long-time and respected Associated Director of Sales, Ms. Golly Talens and was taken for a tour of the property.

Driveway drop-off/pick-up point of the resort

Lobby Area

Front Desk with those tree stump looking desks

The 3-layered infinity pool...for me this is the most scenic spot and the best if you ask me

Basically the resort has three types of rooms,

a. Deluxe Suites

b. Garden Suite

The welcome fruit is actually not supposed to be there (accidentally left by the housekeeping staff I'm sure) but I love the way the whole thing looks

I just found out I didn't have enough pictures of the Garden Suite and am not doing it any justice

c. Private Villa and Casita

With 3 LCD TV's, your own plunge pool and 115 sqm of space, this one bedroom villa will set you back around Php 17,000 (US$ 377) a night. Its also comes with a sofa bed, a king-size four poster bed, and DVD player.

One of two 42 inch LCD TV's in the villa

The bathroom has its own 22 inch LCD TV

plunge pool

The resort has the following facilities:

The main dining area

Pool and beach dining/bar area

The only hotel in Cebu with an indoor badminton court (I don't understand though, why they didn't make this an indoor badminton/tennis court)

gym with Precor equipment

Sport bar (where except for the billiard table, all the other table games are complimentary)

The resort is in my opinion, what a resort should really be...sprawling with no high-rise buildings. Although one may have to walk a mile under the sun to get from their room to the lobby/restaurants, this is part of the charm of staying in a resort. I also loved it that they had quirky pieces of furnitures are obviously made in the Philippines (i'm hoping they are and not some cheap imported stuff). This resort is definitely ideal for honeymooners, young and young-at-heart people and people who just want to get away from the city and get a lot of down time.