Not known to many but Davao City is a melting pot of culinary diversity. We may not have popular town-distinct dishes like the fried kamaro of Pampanga, the Pancit Habhab of Lucban Quezon or the Bicol Express from the Bicol Region, but our homegrown restaurants and creative cooks can make up to that. But wait, there's more!

This article was also published in the University of Immaculate Conception - The Collegiate Immaculate Tabloid

I've been to nearly every must-go restaurant in the city (Thank you DFAT!) and I tell you what!? Food is so much better here in Davao. I'll spare all the yummy comparisons against food from other towns but I've got 5 reasons to back me up. If you want to know why I said food is so much better in Davao, then here's WHY!?

There's something about doughnuts that makes me nuts! I forgot why though. I was shaken in bed by a reminder with an alarm that today's the birthday of my doughnut-addict alter ego. And I was extremely happy because finally, I'll get to stuff a couple of donuts in my mouth after a week of craving for it or so. And here's the thing. They're not just donuts! They're Krispy Kreme donuts which brings my craving to an international level.They're world-famous right!?

My only problem is that I'm actually late for the event. So I called a friend who was there at the event if it's still okay to come over and she said that they're still having lunch. I quickly searched for my invitation card and found out that I actually have two. In case you wanted to know I got them from Abreeza Ayala Mall over a meet-and-greet dinner with the mall's new manager. So I immediately went downstairs to drag my cousin (Minorca) who was caught unprepared for the things in store for her, I mean, in store for us at Krispy Kreme. Luckily it would only take us 5 minutes to get to the venue. ^_^ So it was a GO!

I think I have to tell you that my cousin is not really a blogger. She's not even interested but I've been bugging her ever since about it. I know she's really got a big potential of being a fashion blogger. I just know it. She needs a little help in the writing part but I know she'll improve later on. So, I dragged her along and when we arrived - BOOM! My happy-o-meter rose up declaring it's indeed my donut-addict alter-ego's self-proclaimed birthday. Oh, I know that sounds so 'assuming' but it really made my day.


What made it even more special is that I got the chance to create my own donut! More appropriately customize one. It's so simple. You pick an original glazed donut, dip it on their chocolate swirling machine, dribble it for some time, shake it 20 times (Yes, every shake counts!), pick it up and sprinkle it with whatever topping you want. :-)

It sounds so simple but it was NOT!! At least for me. You see, I've got big hands and it was a little hard for me to hold the donut without deforming its base. So I need to loosen my grip a little which got me scared that the donut might fall on the chocolate swirling machine. Halfway through I got so nervous that I forgot to count during the shaking part. (O__O) Suddenly, I was the one shaking. I was actually surprised that I got to do it - finally! *sigh*




After that my cousin and I ordered snicker doughnuts and iced coffee to fill our hungry tummies. Yey!


It wasn't my first time to try any Krispy Kreme doughnut but I've got to say that they have the best tasting doughnuts which is perfect for the Davaoeno's taste buds. Now I remember why I get crazy over doughnuts! I'm a Davaoeno. As simple as that.

Whenever a Davaoeno comes home to Davao from abroad or even just in Manila they would always bring a box of doughnuts as "pasalubongs". Somehow, I could say it has become a tradition. A Davao thing that's been going on since God knows when and now that Krispy Kreme has finally landed the Royal City of the South. There's no more flying! Only more of Krispy Kreme's goodness nextdoor. :-)

Life is Here!

P.S.

Please also check my cousin's first post on her blog! New blog actually since we couldn't recover her tumblr account. :-)  Check it here: Welcome Krispy Kreme! Be nice.

I rarely eat breakfast these days and when I do it's either I'm forced to wake up early to travel, attend an event or I'm about to sleep. No school. I stopped. Don't ask! Good thing there's brunch. It's supposed to be my tummy's new best friend as of my current lifestyle. But here's the thing. I usually wake up at around 10 in the morning and I'm left with a cold pandesal and some egg dish in the kitchen every fucking day. In fact, today I woke up with a cold pandesal and scrambled eggs for brunch. Tomorrow I'll probably wake up with another cold pandesal but with a sunny side up. The following day, I expect to have a cold pandesal and a scrambled egg with hotdog chunks. Then the day after that I think I'll wake up with another plate of a cold pandesal and a weird tasting tomato omelet. I know I should be thankful because I still got something to eat (even if it's always egg and pandesal) and most of all because I still get to wake up. Thank God! But I just can't imagine five more days, five more years, five more lifetimes eating egg and pandesal for brunch. If that ever happens - knocks on wood - I'll probably be able to lay eggs.



And in case there's a need for you to know, I don't usually eat rice during brunch or even breakfast. Not that I am on a diet or anything. I just don't feel like it. Char. I eat rice during those times only when I don't have a choice and my Mom's around to tease me about dieting. Which really ruins my day. Another thing, actually together with the egg and pandesal are either hotdogs, corned beef, preserved meat stuff and other canned goods cooked for breakfast. Unfortunately to me, these goods would always end up to the lunch boxes of my siblings who goes to school


Then one morning I was just staring at the cold pandesal and the hard-boiled egg on the table. And I swear I thought I was gonna die or something. Suddenly I heard a noise in the living room. I didn't budge because I still feel so fucked-up of waking up from my short sleep. When I turned back to the egg and the pandesal, the two looked back staring at me and I was like WTF! The hard-boiled egg quickly rolled itself down the table and the pandesal followed hopping like Jimminey Cricket. I immediately composed myself and tried to snapped out of what the hell was going on but I realized my brunch suddenly became interesting (At least, at last!). Choose the best answer in the parenthesis.

I went under the table to check but the two weren't there anymore. So I turned back and saw that the pandesal and the egg each developed some tiny arms and feet and that they're actually running towards the living room. I crawled going to their direction and noticed that they are headed to the wall clock that fell on the floor. As they neared the clock some beam of light came out of it and the egg and the pandesal leaped up to the light. They held each others hand while the song "Hawak Kamay" was playing on the background. I could also hear the ticking of the clock and suddenly everything was in slooooooowwww mooooottttioooooon. The two just floated on the light and got sucked inside the clock. I thought it was some kind of portal that leads to a world full of food. So with all my might and my craving for something else than pandesal and egg, I leaped towards the clock in slooowww motiiooon too. As soon as the light touched my skin I was vacuumed to reality, half-asleep and about to choose which meal set to pick.



There's a hand waving in my face and I heard someone saying "What do you want to eat?". I collected myself back and quickly chose the Roasted Chicken with Macaroni Salad on the table. Sooner reality on me and I realized "OMG! I'm at Cafe France" and I barely had any sleep. Stupid daydreams! It was around 11:00 o'clock already and my stomach started to grumble in hunger. So I immediately eat my food. The roasted chicken tasted nice by the way, but I thought if there's anything I need to try in Cafe France it had to be Cafe France's pastries. From the internet I've read about that Cafe France offers a wide array of yummy treats and their best sellers comes from the baked ones. And since it's their first branch in Davao, in fact, outside Luzon I was more than eager to try out nearly everything they could offer us during the Press Launch.



So I tried their Seafood Marinara, some California Chicken Clubhouse, salad and the croissant from the breakfast tray. And the winner for me was their croissant! In fact, I totally agree with what Jesse said about Cafe France's Croissants! "They are God's gift to human kind." And thank God my pandesal-and-egg infected floppy tongue is back to normal again.


Since then I've been going back to Cafe France just to order croissants! I've tried their Chocolate Croissant, Butter Croissant and Choco Almond Croissant and oh..they're perfect with a hot chocolate and sometimes even with the milktea I'd bring. Hehehe

Cafe France is more than your usual coffee shop. They offer a wide selection of great tasting pastries, stomach filling meals and a croissant that doesn't only satisfy one's tongue but snaps you out of your nightmarish egg and pandesal daydreams.

Credits:
Photos Courtesy of Chic Foodies! Thank you Algene. :-)

Having fun at Ranchero's while waiting for the FOOD!!	Featuring The KAKANIN TRIO!!

Davao is starting to become one big Hawaiian pizza; sliced into different parts, with chunks of hams as big business establishments, Pineapples as pop stores and cheese for restaurants or food stalls. Apparently, that means food is just about everywhere here in Davao. Competition would then bake the pizza; the cheese melts and eventually doubles its scope. This is probably the reason why every now and then we hear about a new restaurant chain opening up around the city.

Ehem..ehemm..I hate metaphors!

Renz (The Traveling Nomad, Ang pinaka MOWDEL SA LAHAT!!)  -Thank you Renz for the photos! :D

North Palm Hotel is located at Andreliz Bldg., Km. 7 Lanang, Davao City
Reservations, please call: Tel No: (082) 234-0733 and Fax No: (082) 234-8153
 For More information visit their website at:
www.northpalmhotel.com

It was a very hot afternoon when I was on my way to Ranchero. Following a woozy ride back from Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort one is likely to develop a major headache. Now double the major because the sun's heat was worse than Day 1. This time, I thought I was being roasted.

Ohh..their Crispy Pata is fit for the Gods! Nmmm...

And Oh! How can I ever forget the tender, juicy, succulent, luscious and sweet-smelling baby back ribs? No wonder it's their best-seller!

After a delicious lunch, we went for some adrenaline-pumping adventures at Zip City and Zorb Park.

"No way. . .I'm never gonna try any of those!" I said to myself along the way.

Chicken? No way! Though I must admit that zipping would force me to spill out all the curses in the world. It's just that Zip City's Zipline didn't look very challenging at all.Well, Zip City is claimed to be the friendliest zip line in town!  But I've been through what seems to be the "otherwise" (at least).

As for the Zorb ride, I really wanted to try it but unfortunately I didn't have a partner so I ended up saving my adrenaline for more food adventures coming up next!


Crepelato

After the adventure, we went to Crepelato for some cooling snacks - GELATO!!

Their Gelato is mild and sweet to the tongue and the crepe together with the toppings made the taste intensely flavored.I don't really know what's the difference between Gelato and Ice Cream. Perhaps Gelato is richer and healthier but I couldn't care less because Crepelato's Gelato was certainly ravishing!

Lachi's Sans Rival Atbp.

Dinner time! I was lucky enough to try Lachi's last year along with the participants of DFAT 2010. This time around, dining at Lachi's is what I have been looking forward to, now finally as a participant of Davao Food Appreciation Tour 2011!

Owned by twins Mike and Melvin Aviles, Lachi's Sans Rival Atbp. is perhaps, the best restaurant in Davao City. Serving glorious dishes like Laing, Beef Tapa, Breaded Tofu, Pork Marinara, Kaldereta and the unforgettable PORK RIBS!!!

Ohh..I super love their Durian Sans Rival!!! Lachi's cakes are to die for also. .pak! I will definitely come back to Lachi's on my birthday! >.< That's tomorrow, actually. <3

All in all, the second day of DFAT 2011 may have started with mild sun burns behind my neck. But like what old folks used to say "In every desert there's an Oasis, in every Adventure there's a Paradise!". And in the 2nd day of Davao Food Appreciation Tour I got the chance to get a taste of Food Paradise!!