The Creative Maki

Oh My, Coffee Dream! Yammy!

I've been much of a coffee addict lately. Yes, I've been through with that and got over it so as my insomnia won't come back. But when I went to Coffee Dream a month ago I fell in love with coffee again!

To be honest, I've been itching to go back there while writing this. But I had no time because school is getting on the way. You know school stuffs that are so lame I don't even want to attend - but I have to!?

Now, now, it was actually my first time to visit Coffee Dream Davao. Although I once saw their other branch at J.P. Laurel Avenue I never had the chance to stop by and have coffee. But like what I've mentioned earlier, Coffee Dream made me fall in love with Coffee (again!). Although, in the irony, I never even had the chance to embrace the warmth or coolness of their coffee blends! I’ll explain myself later.Haha!

So I was lucky to have been invited to visit the so revamped Coffee Dream at SM City Davao. Unlike most coffee shops, the place felt homey and sprightly. In other words it wasn't dark (which is good) so that you will notice the time. Like, when you're inside a coffee shop with your friends it feels as though time doesn't exist. That happens all the time especially when you really get involve on either some serious business, or baloney. It's like a place where you do talk-all-you-can and have coffee/snack at the same time!

It's also a nice place to hangout because it's located inside a mall. Like you can go shopping, watch movies and play at the arcade anytime of the day. Coffee Dream will serve as your "base" in other words. Only that you will have to pay for your coffee of course. They have WiFi, which is free of charge and that will make your stay cozier. Although I think that they should have more couches than the ordinary table-and-chairs setting so that every set of Barkada's will be very happy! Yey. A friend of mine (who blogs at Davaoisms) relates "Masarap at malambot ba couches dun?? hehehe!! Upuan lang kasi habol ko sa coffee shops."

For shoppers and 'Mallers' alike, what's better than relaxing your inner self under the confines of sugar, caffeine and delectable pastries after a nerve-racking SALE expedition inside a very crowded Mall?

And that reminds me! Sandwiches, cakes, pastas, cold and hot variants of coffee and other chilled blends were generously served to us all for free. Just take a look at the photos below and you'll find yourself drooling like me too.

Ohh! Ha?? Ano ka ngayon?

In case you're wondering, I only had Fro-Reo for the drinks!

That should answer why I wasn't able to taste any of their coffee variants. But since I'm a coffee addict, even though I didn't taste any of their coffee I could say that they serve great tasting coffees just because of the smell.

Some coffee shops doesn't feel like coffee shop because of the place's smell.To quote Baldini of La Parfum "The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it."

What's a coffee shop anyway, without the Coffee aroma molecules travelling through the air? Although my observation sounds vague I care not to argue. Not everyone is as gifted as I am.lols.

It might not be the feel the shop has, the couches or their special blend of Iced Mocha or Capucinno, but one thing's for sure the Coffee Addict within me is BACK! Thanks to Coffee Dream.

Update: I was able to try their coffee, here's Coffee Dream's Frosticinno. .and I must say it's. .

In a Coco-Martini-way!

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, by Maki Cabrera

DFAT 2011 Day 1: Let The Feast Begin!

So it was the first day of DFAT 2011 and I have yet to meet some of the participants - probably the whole DFAT 2011 Team if no one misses out. I'm not sure if it was just that I'm too excited about the food that I didn't eat my breakfast or that home-food didn't seem yummy after last night's dinner at Yellowfin Seafood & Restaurant.Sorry Pa! (I'm just being honest.lol)

Trellis N' Vines

Anyway, Day 1 kicked off with a superb lunch at Trellis N' Vines.

I wasn't feeling well, when I was on my way to Trellis N' Vines. But the scorching heat compelled me to fly away minutes after walking sluggishly under the sun.

And finally, there I was. .

It's my first time to eat at Trellis N Vines, but I've been hearing a lot about the restaurant even before the tour. Trellis N' Vines serves Filipino dishes and a variety of Asian cuisines. We started off with Sinuglaw, my favorite Sunday dish made of grilled pork, tuna ceviche (fish cooked in vinegar), radish, onions, cucumber, green mango, ginger, chili and vinegar.

OH diba! Halatang alam ang ingredients!?

You might be wondering why Sunday? At home we usually have this dish during Sundays because it's the only time when my uncles could all booze together, sing to their lungs with the videoke and Sinuglaw is always their Pulutan. And every time I get to see this on the table I always make sure to take all the grilled pork in it! :p

Trellis N' Vines version made me feel nostalgic about the past Sundays of my life.Char!

After that, other dishes were served as well.But no matter what dish comes, it's obligatory to save tummy space for Baby Back Ribs.It's a fave! And Trellis' version was really superb. The tender meat, the piquant sauce - well, the mashed potatoes were also good! Trellis' Baby Back was so good that I almost didn't wanna share.

Two other must-try dishes are Chicken Biryani and Crispy Noodles! For dessert we were served banana peanut roll - it looks like the typical turon, only topped with peanut butter and chocolate syrup.It was delicious but it burnt my tongue. Like nobody reminded me desserts can also be hot!

The place looks fine and simple, the warm colors inside made the place very welcoming and alive.The service was great, and their dishes? Hmmm - Worth the wait!

Later on, we went to Coffeecat (a few blocks away from Trellis N' Vines) to prepare ourselves for a heavy snack at Mam Bebs Bakeshop.It gave us time to talk about blogging related stuff while some took the chance to pamper themselves by taking a nap. *Siesta!* Some ordered cold drinks while others had yogurt.

Mam Bebs Bakeshop

Then came my most awaited snack at Mam Bebs Bakeshop. Joining last year's DFAT Participants, I was able to try Mam Beb's unique pastries by participating in the Google Maps Precinct Mapping Party in Davao City. Just like last year we used the backdoor to get inside.lol.

Nah, I was saying. . Just like last year they served us my mega super duper uber favorite Pancit Luglug, breaded porkchop, the luscious mango squares, sweet potato rolls and *drum rolls please* Mam Beb's magnificent Apple Pies.

Oh, yeah I love the Apple pies so much that I actually had more than three pieces. It had cinnamon on the filling which made a the filling taste stronger and the crust, even though it lack the ideal dense and crisp for a pie, it tasted really great. As far as I could remember the last time I ate a real apple pie was way back my Culinary Arts in High school. Poor me! So most of my eating time were spent over the apple pies.Haha!

But a heavy snack wouldn't be heavy without two heavy Lechon Biik's! Sponsored by Beko's Biik - this is the first time that I've heard of a spicy lechon Biik. That's why I got too excited that on my way to the table. I felt like I'm a meat-hungry zombie about to eat two poor petrified piglets.

Then came a morbid scene - the death of the two poor piglets, stomach opened, bones were ripped, skins were teared and later was eaten by a mob of hungry pig-craving zombies. . .all rejoicing the death of the two Lechon biiks!

It didn't seemed long before dinner time was ready.So we headed off to Ranch N' Reef for a buffet sponsored by San Miguel Brewery.I was already full when I got to the place so my aim was to eat a little bit of everything.The night was filled with laughter; Brains were teased by the super hyper Sushi Game Master Evanjohnn. He initiated mini word games (Around the World, I'm Going to the Moon, Black Magic..etc) that made everybody's brain work out that night.

The fun didn't end there though for they all went to a coffee shop. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to come with them because I was so tired and sleepy then. I opted to go home, besides I'm afraid it'll rain that night. Nevertheless, on the first day of DFAT it felt like . It's a day like no other, a day devoted only to eating *oh wait* and of course - group shots!

Photo by The Photoblogger.

TRELLIS ‘N VINES
Main Branch: Mc Arthur Highway, Balusong, Matina, Davao City
Contact Number: +6382-297-8463
Mobile Numbers: +63922-8832282 and +63917-7000243
Website: TrellisnVines.com FB Page: Trellis ‘n Vines

MAM BEBS BAKESHOP
Address: CVA Building, CM Recto Street, Davao City (in between Union Drug and Planters Bank)
Contact Number: +6382-2278131

BEKO’S BIIK
Contact Numbers: +6382-2272445, +6382-2863445
Mobile Number: +63922-8381600
Pick up for Davao orders is at Dimsum Diner Guerrero Street, Davao City.

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, by Maki Cabrera

In Davao Food Appreciation Tour, Funny

My First Intense Fresh Experience!

"If you were to tour a first timer around Davao City, Where would you take him/her?"

Most first timers would dare to do anything that'll make their stay extreme! With so much enthusiasm building up the moment they first step on Davao City it'll be best to bring them to a place where they would have their very first intense fresh experience! Char. No, I'm not goin to stuff their mouths with Colgate but I would rather take them into a garden, across the river and on a track uphill.

Okay, repeat after me, Garden of Bliss, Enchanting River, Steepy hilll! Say it louder, Louder! LOUDER! *Ala Dora the Explorer* lols.

Where exactly in Davao City can you do all these at once? Take a Guess!

If you guessed it right, the answer is at "Outland Adventure".

I've been itching to blog about this, since this blog hasn't been around the time I experienced "Outland Adventure’s Xcelerator". It's been a year actually, but zip-lining on Asia's longest zip line became so memorable that I thought it well deserves to be blogged and shared.

Now, now. .

Outland Adventure's Xcelerator is the largest ropes course facility in the Philippines, situated in a private nature sanctuary on the outskirts of Downtown, Davao City.

We arrived at Outland Adventure a wee early than the participants of Davao Food Appreciation Tour 2010. It gave me time to think to whether I should DO IT or not. Yeah, I was having doubts because to be honest, I'm that someone who would hide behind my Grandma's back when I get into serious trouble. "Zip Lining" may not sound like trouble at all but when I read their waver I was like. .SO PETRIFIED!

On the back of my mind, I said "It's not always everyday that I get to experience this", So finally, I said yes,

A while later, we were called for the orientation and then each of us were harnessed. The zipline is set on top of a hill .To reach the peak, we would be walking into a garden..

Rafting across the river. .

and Trekking up a steep hill!

It will take you about 15 to 20 minutes before you get to the peak.

And when you reach the peak, you'll be assisted by two staffs, and finally, zipline your way back which- will only take you less than a minute.

It was my turn then that I felt vomitty and scared. I even had a photo taken by a fellow blogger Ate Miah Laborte, where my expression looked rather scared while doing the PEACE SIGN! :|

When I jumped out of the edge of the ramp, it felt like my soul fell on the ground. Then came one of the most heart-pumping moment in my life - a death-defying stunt indeed - it felt like I was Superman flying above a breathtaking scenery. Yes, I was shouting at first but then later on in the middle I got astounded by the scene that it shut my mouth up.

Then the rope started to swing around, and I said "God, Please don't take me just yet"! The air went horribly strong and I started swinging again, it made me turn around and around until I got dizzy for a moment. In no time I reached the near end.

I didn't know what to do just then, but the last thing I remembered there were simultaneous explosions (created by the stops attached on the end of the line) and finally, I was safe. I was catching for my breath when I reached the ground - it was as though I didn't breathe at flight. Then I almost knelt feeling like embracing the ground and dramatically saying "Oh finally, LAND!!".

At eto ang Intense Fresh Experience Ko!

The rope course has an estimated length of 1 km. It's an action pack adventure -I tell you! You'll never regret you've tried it. Although, I would recommend you not to read the waiver; it's quite scary, especially the last word.