A recent report of how lechon vendors in Carcar City’s public market intimidated a customer into buying lechon spurred sharing online of horrible experiences with the vendors, with many calling for a boycott.
Many of those who shared their experiences, via comments and status updates on Facebook, centered on three main complaints:
Cebu Brewing Company (CBC), Cebu’s first craft brewery founded in 2013 is proud to announce the release of the country’s original pinoy pop, Loompie.
Based on a recently unearthed family recipe from the early 1900s, Loompie comes in many delicious tropical flavors highlighting the Philippines’ treasure trove of tropical fruits. Loompie comes in a large 420ml all-glass bottles, continuing the CBC tradition of environmentally focused, sustainable packaging corporate policy.
Chandelier and fine tableware.
Raquel Choa’s favorite childhood tales of Maria Cacao shape not only the artisan chocolates that she creates but the spaces where one gets to appreciate them.
At a gathering to launch the second phase of the partnership between Choa’s The Chocolate Chamber and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, she explained that she imagines Maria Cacao with dainty ceramic pieces for her banquets while the chandelier represents the fireflies that provide the dazzling glow to her palace.
Through the collaboration with the resort, Choa gets to show guests the local way of tablea production as a precursor to TCC’s artisan cocoa drinks (locally known as sikwate) and chocolate products.
Talks on cacao and its history and experiential activities will be regular features at The Chocolate Chamber.
Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa General Manager Rene Egle said he was looking for a local product that can be brought from farm to table in 2015.
In celebration of Marco Polo’s 765th birthday, Marco Polo Plaza is throwing an Italian party at the El Viento Restaurant and Pool Bar.
Guest Chef Luca Genco
From September 11 to 15, eat and drink Italian at the hotel’s poolside restaurant. The special event is done in collaboration with Giuseppe Pizzeria & Sicilian Roast. Together with the Marco Polo culinary team, Marco Polo will feature the delectable Italian culinary masterpieces of Chef Giuseppe Genco and Chef Luca Genco.
Enjoy traditional Sicilian comfort food and indulge in delicately prepared Italian pastas such as Spinach Ravioli, Rigatoni Pasta, Farfalle Seafood pasta, Penne Pesto Genovese and Italian Sausage Cannelloni. Hand-made and wood-fired cooked pizzas are a must-try together with different kinds of Sicilian Roasts. Of course, this fete would not be complete without a glass of Italian wine to complete the Italian experience.
PIZZA SLICING CEREMONY. Opening La Dolce Vita with a pizza-slicing ceremony are (from left) Marco Polo Plaza General Manager Brian Connelly and guest chefs Giuseppe Genco and Luca Genco.
The La Dolce Vita menu will be available at El Viento Restaurant & Pool Bar from September 11 to 15. For inquiries and reservations, call (032) 253-1111 or email [email protected]. For more updates, follow the hotel at facebook.com/marcopolocebu and instagram.com/marcopolocebu. (Press Release)
Order your favorite caffeine fix from Bo’s Coffee even when you’re still on your way so that it’s ready for you when you arrive.
All you need to do is look up Bo’s Coffee Advance Ordering BOTTY on Facebook Messenger and follow the instructions for getting your preferred hot or cold drinks. After picking your drink and choosing your payment option, you will be informed how many minutes it would take to get your order ready and again when it is.
The system has been rolled out in 47 mostly company-owned Bo’s Coffee outlets across the Philippines, including 19 in Cebu.
SKIP THE COFFEE ORDER LINE. Bo’s Coffee allows you to order in advance via Facebook Messenger and pick it up at the store.
Bo’s Coffee founder Steve Benitez said during the launch of the Advance Ordering BOTTY in Cebu that the move is intended to enhance the customer experience and a means by which he intended to bring his homegrown coffee chain to the future.
“As we reach our 25-year mark, we want to cater to the fast-paced lifestyle of our customers. We want to make your daily coffee runs simpler, faster, and more accessible so you have more time for more important things in life – your passions, your advocacies, and your relationships,” added Benitez, who is President and CEO of WS & Landin, Inc., the corporation behind Bo’s Coffee.
The Bo’s Coffee Advance Ordering BOTTY is just the first of several technology innovations that are on the pipeline for Benetiz’s coffee shop chain.
BETTER EXPERIENCE. Bo’s Coffee founder Steve Benitez says they deployed Facebook Messenger chatbot to enhance the experience of their customers.
According to Benitez, the goal is to integrate Bo’s Coffee rewards and even delivery services to Messenger-based system through Grab Express.
While the Advance Ordering BOTTY allows customers to pay cash, its secure and cashless digital payment options through PayMaya as well as credit and debit cards (Visa and Mastercard) allow customers to really skip the line, according to Bo’s Coffee COO Rachel Fallarme.
“In a developing world like ours, we have to do all we can to optimize our efforts and save time,” she added.
CHATBOT LAUNCH. Speaking during the press conference to launch the Bo’s Coffee Facebook Messenger chatbot are (from left) Bo’s Coffee COO Rachel Fallarme, founder Steve Benitez, and developer Cary Gee.
By paying via the system, customers can park curbside in strategic stand alone branches, get their coffee, and continue on with their day. Payment options like Grabpay and GCash will also be available soon.
Some of the Bo’s Coffee branches with the Advance Ordering BOTTY include Capitol, Banilad Town Center, Filinvest Cyberzone, Ayala Center branches, SM City Cebu branches, SM Seaside, and Mactan Domestic and International Airports.
CHAT TO ORDER. Look up Bo’s Coffee Advance Ordering BOTTY on Facebook Messenger and follow the instructions for getting your preferred hot or cold drinks.
System developer Cary Gee, who was also present during the launch in Bo’s Coffee Capitol Branch last July 25, 2019, said the Advance Ordering BOTTY was initially developed for the Singaporean market.
He decided to bring the system to the Philippines when he saw similar patterns in the two consumer markets, both of which are fast-paced, in need of personalization while skipping the queue, and has a good percentage using Messenger instead of downloaded apps.
TRYING IT OUT. Ka Bino Guerrero tries out the Bo’s Coffee chatbot to order drinks.
The system keeps a record of orders and helps the coffee shop push the right promotions to customers. It can also be used to engage customers for rewards purposes.
While it was created with customers in mind, the system will also free up some tasks for coffee shop employees.
Quest Hotel & Conference Center Cebu will offer discounts of up to 60% on accommodation, dining, and banquet events at the upcoming Quest Hotel Super Sale 2019. In celebration of Quest Hotel’s upcoming 7th anniversary, the hotel will offer vouchers to guests and patrons at special rates exclusively at the hotel’s pop-up in Ayala Center Cebu from August 16 to 18, 2019.
Quest Hotel accommodation vouchers start at P2,750 net for an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room. Vouchers for Premier Deluxe, Junior Suite, and Executive Suite are available as well. Premier Deluxe vouchers start at P2,950 net; Junior Suite vouchers at P4,450 net, and Executive Suite vouchers at P5,450 net.
Huge discounts for the spacious Quest Serviced Residences are also up for grabs. Vouchers for the 1-Bedroom Serviced Residence start at P3,700 net while those for 2-Bedroom Serviced Residence is at P5,000 net. The Quest Serviced Residences boasts of higher floors and are equipped with living area, dining, and kitchen facilities.
Be it for business or leisure, guests seeking the ultimate hotel experience will revel in the room’s delightful amenities and scenic sky-high views of the metropolis. Guests enjoy complimentary access to the Fitness Center and the swimming pool, where they may also have bar chow and beverages at the Pool Bar.
Guests craving for delicious bites will have a blast at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, Pusô Bistro & Bar. Recently awarded by TripAdvisor with the Certificate of Excellence 2019, the award-wining restaurant presents an array of flavors both international and local from morning till evening. Discounted vouchers for the buffet and a la carte are available at the sale.
Pusô Bistro & Bar was recently awarded by TripAdvisor with the Certificate of Excellence 2019.
Pusô Bistro & Bar’s highly acclaimed Breakfast Buffet is offered at only P450 net per person from the regular rate of P600 net per person. Lunch Buffet vouchers are available at P560 net per person and Dinner Buffet vouchers are available at P680 net per person. A La Carte Value vouchers are available at P2,650 net for a consumable value of P3,500; and at P1,600 net for a consumable value of P2,000.
Parties, whether for birthdays, reunions, or wedding receptions take center stage at Quest Hotel. The three-star hotel is renowned for its 10 state-of-the-art function spaces that can accommodate either intimate gatherings or grand soirees of up to 200 persons. Banquet Value vouchers are available at the Quest Hotel Super Sale at discounted rates of P15,000 net for a consumable value of P20,000; and at P10,000 net for a consumable value of P15,000. Banquet Value vouchers are applicable for social events only.
It surely is a grand, super sale at the Quest Hotel Super Sale 2019. Guests and patrons are in for an array of exciting options to choose from. To know more about the discounted offers, interested guests may visit bit.ly/QuestSuperSale2019 or call Quest Hotel & Conference Center Cebu at (+6332) 402 5999.
The Quest Hotel Super Sale 2019 vouchers are valid for use from September 1 to November 30, 2019. Hotel terms and conditions apply. (Press Release)
If you love cheese, sausages, chocolates, and everything Swiss, head to Cafe Marco in Marco Polo Plaza as the award-winning food outlet celebrates Swissness from A to Z.
The event is part of the hotel’s Culinary Journeys: a series of events held throughout the year to celebrate food and culture.
Until August 5, Cafe Marco will serve Swiss chocolates, raclette, cheese fondues and meats such as Alpine dried beef to Zurich-style sliced meat on top of its international buffet spread for lunch and dinner.
Cervelat and Emmentalier, Gherkins Salad with onion chives
Lunch buffet rate at Cafe Marco is P1,300 while dinner is P1,600.
The culinary event is held in celebration of Switzerland’s National Day on August 1.
“Cafe Marco will feature all things Swiss from appetizers to desserts alongside its international buffet spread,” Marco Polo said in a press release.
OPENING. Marco Polo Plaza General Manager Brian Connelly rings the bell to mark the opening of the media preview of Swissness from A to Z. With Connelly to lead the opening is Resident Manager Michaela Priesner.
As an added treat, guests who dine during the event will have a chance to win a special merchandise from Swiss brand Victorinox.
For inquiries and reservations, call 253 1111 or email [email protected]. For the latest updates, follow the hotel on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Dine on unlimited American staples like burgers, barbecue, mac ‘n cheese, corn dogs, and nachos as Cafe Marco holds a Star-Spangled celebration for American Independence Day.
Binge on steak, barbecue pork ribs, chimichanga, fries, onion rings, and chips when you dine at Cafe Marco from today until July 7, 2019.
The stars and stripes and colors red and blue become the main theme of Cafe Marco interiors as well as the desserts as Marco Polo Plaza Cebu commemorates one of America’s biggest holidays.
Everything’s delicious but the barbecue ribs, bacon maple bar, and Irish whiskey cake are especially delectable.
Add a dip in the hotel’s Mango-shaped pool for a splashing party. Marco Polo Plaza Cebu combines food with a relaxing swim in its Dine N’ Dip promo.
Call +6332 253-1111 or email [email protected] for reservations and inquiries.
Stay tuned for updates on hotel activities and promotions by liking facebook.com/marcopolocebu and following Instagram.com/marcopolocebu.
Rico’s Lechon will open its biggest restaurant this Friday, June 28, in Cebu, bringing back the particular taste of its roasted pigs that has become popular with diners.
Meat Concepts Corporation President George N. Pua said in yesterday’s media preview for the Mandaue branch that Rico’s Lechon has changed ownership but the quality and taste of its roasted pigs remain the same. Pua heads the company that now owns the lechon chain.
NOT JUST LECHON. Rico’s Lechon will serve Filipino favorites on top of its renowned lechon.
The 500-square meter branch, which is the brand’s flagship outlet and newest restaurant, is located at Unit F1 Jamestown, Mantawi International Drive, Mandaue City.
Pua added they will soon work double time to have the branch in Axis Entertainment Avenue along Escario St. in Cebu City reopened by July.
Rico’s will continue to serve its famous lechon in two flavors, original and spicy. It will also offer such Filipino favorites like special boneless bangus, sizzling lechon sisig, monggos, Bicol express, kinilaw na tangigue, calamares, camaron rebosado, garlicky squid balls, sinigang, pinakbet, chopsuey, and pancit canton.
NEW OWNER, SAME LECHON QUALITY, TASTE. Meat Concepts Corporation President George N. Pua said in yesterday’s media preview that Rico’s Lechon has changed ownership but the quality and taste of its roasted pigs remain the same.
When it opens, the Mandaue branch will introduce as well new dishes like the grilled pork belly, grilled daing na bangus, ginataang laing, chicken binakol, beef ampalaya, sizzling adobong pusit, buttered mixed seafoods, seaweed salad, sisig fried rice, chorizo fried rice, sinigang na boneless bangus, sinigang na baka at baboy, and seafood sotanghon.
Pua said all their pigs are sourced from local suppliers, adding that they’ve hired the services of an abattoir and outsourced the roasting to another group.
Rico’s flagship outlet in Mandaue is the second in Cebu, the other being in Mactan Promenade, and the seventh overall.
There are currently five Rico’s Lechon branches in Manila but two more — along Balintawak and in SM North Edsa — will be added soon, according to Pua.
Rico’s Lechon Mandaue has a seating capacity of 300, with four VIP rooms for meetings, gatherings, and special functions with family and friends. The largest room can seat up to 80 guests while the other three can fit up to 20 persons each.
Pua said they wanted to achieve a fiesta ambience, hence the colorful restaurant interior. The chandeliers are made from lechon plates and are manufactured in Cebu together with the furniture.
Seafood sotanghon.
Founded in 1997 by Enrico Dionson, Rico’s Lechon will turn 22 in August 2019. It serves traditional Cebu lechon roasted to perfection and mixed with garlic and leeks.
Some years back, Pua said he came to Cebu, which is known for having the best lechon, and tried the products of different outlets. He came to the conclusion that Rico’s Lechon has the best roasted pig and proposed a partnership deal.
Chicken binakol
He added that Dionson wasn’t interested then but later changed his mind and sold the restaurant chain six years after that initial proposal.
Follow @RicosLechonOFFICIAL on Facebook and Instagram for restaurant and other updates. You may also visit ricoslechon.com or contact 253-4650 or 0917-8238263 for more information.
Share your Rico’s Lechon experience on social media with the hashtags #DaBestGyud and #RICOmeback.
RICO’S LECHON in Mandaue is a 500-square meter branch located at Unit F1 Jamestown, Mantawi International Drive.
Buttered mixed seafood
Chicken skin
Chorizo fried rice
Ginataang laing
Grilled pork liempo
Kinilaw
Scallops
Sinigang na baka at baboy
Sisig fried rice
Sizzling adobong pusit
Rico’s Lechon’s mascot entertains bloggers and journalists who covered the media preview.
To cater to visitors arriving in or leaving Cebu via the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, TGI Fridays opened its third branch here and 26th nationwide at Island Central Mall in Lapu-Lapu City.
The newest TGI Fridays is just two minutes from the airport and was intended to cater to the tourist market as well as locals, said Director for Operations Kristine dela Cruz.
Its proximity to the airport and souvenir shops makes it a practical stop for guests that have just arrived in Cebu and those wanting a last-minute meal fix before their flights.
Brownie Obsession
For people who are new to TGI Fridays, dela Cruz recommends their bestselling dishes that are glazed with Jack Daniels whiskey and these are the ribs, salmon, porkchop, and chicken. The steak can also be ordered with a side of Jack Daniels sauce, she added.
Other items to try include the classic chicken fingers—hand battered chicken tenders paired with a hefty helping of crispy seasoned fries and honey mustard dressing, cajun shrimp, and chicken pasta.
Dela Cruz said the resto’s salads come with special dressing made in-house. Also in the selection are such best-selling desserts as Oreo Madness, Brownie Obsession, and Salted Caramel Cheesecake.
Baby back ribs
TGI Fridays also recently launched lunch menu sets that are below P400 and this is to change the mindset that their dishes are expensive, according to dela Cruz. These are available from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekdays.
Some people see the menu items as pricey but the servings are quite big, she added, citing that a salad order priced at P595 is already good for three to four people.
As a special treat, TGI Fridays is celebrating the Mactan branch with a 50% discount on any of its burgers on top of a minimum purchase of P1,000 on food and drinks. The offer is valid until June 30, 2019.
For more information, visit www.fridays.com.ph or follow TGI Fridays Philippines (Facebook) and @tgifridays (Instagram).
HANGOVER BURGER. Beef patty, fried egg, caramelized onions, mayonnaise, melted cheese, bacon, brioche bun, crispy seasoned fries.
Pork liempo with garlic rice.
TGI Fridays newest branch is in Island Central Mall in Lapu-Lapu City.
NEAR THE AIRPORT. US Consul Agent Glenn Ivan Loop, Lapulapu City Tourism Chief Hembler Mendoza, & TGIFridays Director for Operations Krissy Dela Cruz are flanked by the managers and staff of the recently opened TGIFridays Mactan. The restaurant is located in Island Central Mactan; a convenient stop for inbound and outbound flyers.
From durian rice cakes to fish stewed in turmeric to slow-cooked beef in burnt coconut broth, an interesting and delicious range of dishes with Moro and lumad heritage are on the menu in Café Marco at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.
The dishes are made available as part of Flavors of Mindanao, this year’s Independencia Culinary Journey from June 7 to 12.
PIYALAM is a Tausug dish of stewed fish with turmeric.
Independencia is a celebration of the food of the Philippines, said Marco Polo Plaza Cebu General Manager Brian Connelly.
“We’ve featured cuisine in the past seven years from heroes of the country, actually also from the president himself who signed the proclamation. Last year, we did food of northern Philippines. This year we wanted to go south. And we wanted to do this in conjunction with our sister hotel in Davao, the Marco Polo Davao,” Connelly said during the opening last Friday.
“It’s part of our experience here in Marco Polo to share cuisine of different parts of the world, of different parts of the region, as well as different parts of our country. We’ve got this wide range of food and this year, it’s southern Philippines – Mindanao,” he said.
The executive chef of Marco Polo Davao has been studying the dishes for 2-3 years.
Marco Polo Davao Executive Chef Alex Destriza and Chef King James Tinio worked with the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu team of Executive Chef Juanito Abangan to create the menu.
Destriza said native Mindanao cuisine is divided into that of the Moros and lumads. The region is rich in rice and coconuts and they figure prominently in their cuisine. An example of this is the Tausug dish Tiyulah Itum, where beef is slow cooked in a broth made of burnt coconut meat. The use of burnt coconut meat in the preparation of the food is widespread and includes dishes with chicken, beef, and fish, he said.
TIYULAH ITUM is a Tausug dish of slow-cooked beef in burnt coconut broth.
Many of the dishes, including Tiyulah Itum, are cooked in bamboo, a process that intensifies the flavors, Destriza said. The Marco Polo chefs just improvised to adapt the preparation in a modern kitchen and experimented with the cooking methods.
Coconut and rice also figure prominently in the desserts of the different communities with such treats as durian rice cake and a ball made of camote with bukayo or sweetened coconut meat strips filling.
OPENING. Marco Polo Plaza Cebu General Manager Brian Connelly welcomes guests to the opening of Independencia.
Destriza said he has been researching these dishes for two to three years. These are served mostly during special occasions like weddings and are rarely available outside their communities or region. He said, however, that slowly, the food is being introduced in other places of the country. Marco Polo Davao, for example, has a halal station with these dishes.
The dishes are available on top of the regular international lunch and dinner buffet spread at Café Marco until June 12. Lunch buffet rate is P1,300, while dinner is P1,600. For reservations, you can contact (+6332) 253 1111, email [email protected].com or link them up on Facebook or Twitter.
KULMA BAKA is Tausug dish of beef stewed in coconut milk.
PIASSAK is cow liver cooked with burnt coconut.
PIYANGGANG MANOK is a Tausug dish of grilled chicken in burnt coconut.
RIYANDANG KAMBING is a Lanao dish of mutton with coconut and spices.
PIYAREN UDANG is a Lanao dish of prawn with sauteed coconut.
PALAPA is made of ginger and other spices that is then roasted.
Agal agal
Guava membrillo
Kagikit na manok
Kagikit na isda
Kamias ug dayap
Kiyuning golden rice
PAN-PAN KAMOTE has bokayo or sweetened coconut meat strips as filling.
Pan-pan monggo
WADJET MAKADURIAN is durian rice cake.
DARAL or sweet coconut grating pancake.
KINILAW na tuna or tuna ceviche.
Talong sa gata
Pomelo green papaya with prawns salad
MARCO POLO CHEFS. Marco Polo Davao Executive Chef Alex Destriza (center) talks about the dishes they prepared as part of Flavors of Mindanao. With him are Marco Polo Plaza Cebu Executive Chef Juanito Abangan (left) and Marco Polo Davao Chef King James Tinio.
From its succulent roast goose and soyed chicken to the xiomai and xiao long bao dishes, Hai Shin Lou at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu can always satisfy any craving for authentic Cantonese cuisine.
As it unveils exciting culinary promotions, dining at Hai Shin Lou Seafood King Cebu becomes even more exceptional.
Cebu’s world-class Cantonese restaurant offers lunch break specials, all you can eat dimsum, and Chinese banquets for big celebrations.
Turn your midday break into a feast of Hai Shin Lou’s best-selling dishes, with the curated set menu for groups of two to six that includes such favorites as spring rolls, white chicken, peppercorn squid, Yang Chow fried rice, and more. Lunch break specials are available from Mondays to Fridays, except for holidays.
If you’re craving dimsum, you’ll enjoy the dimsum lunch party from Mondays to Saturdays. It’s “All You Can Eat” dimsum from the restaurant’s dimsum menu at only P688+ per person. You can also opt for a 30 percent discount on Hai Shin Lou’s over 25 dimsum selections.
The dimsum creations are made even more scrumptious with the newest addition to the restaurant’s culinary team, Dimsum Chef Wong Hon Chau, who has 40 years of experience in several restaurants across Asia.
Chef Wong Hon Chau
The new dimsum chef has 40 years of experience in several restaurants across Asia.
Hai Shin Lou Cebu is open from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm for lunch and 6:00 to 10:30 pm for dinner daily. Call +63 32 234 8189 or email [email protected] for bookings and inquiries.
Marco Polo Plaza Cebu’s latest offering combines Hai Shin Lou’s delectable Cantonese cuisine with the hotel’s excellent service and top of the line banquet rooms.
Whether it’s to celebrate a wedding, anniversary, birthday, reunion, or corporate events, you can’t go wrong with the hotel’s Chinese Banquet packages covering a minimum of 50 to a maximum of 400 persons.
Choose from carefully curated menus prepared by Hai Shin Lou’s three Hong Kong chefs in charge of wok, dimsum, and roasting. From their kitchen to your banquet, you and your guests are assured of high quality dishes truly fit for the best of occasions.
To request for the Chinese Banquet menu and other inquiries, email [email protected] or call (+63 32) 253 1111 local 8109.
Cebuanos were introduced to dimsum through Ding How on Colon Street in the 1960s and its steamed rice dish started out purely as a Cebu thing before it became a nationwide favorite.
As the group behind Cebu’s dimsum culture and such iconic restaurants as Ding How, Ding Qua Qua, Dimsum Break, and Harbour City celebrates its milestone 50th year, it’s offering big anniversary deals for dimsum lovers.
The Harbour City Group marks its golden anniversary this 2019, 50 years since it introduced dimsum cuisine in Cebu, with a series of events that pay tribute to its heritage and give thanks to the generations of Cebuanos who have patronized their food products.
DIMSUM EXHIBIT. These giant models of the Harbour City Group’s famous dishes are on exhibit in Cebu City malls to mark the company’s 50th year.
It was Henry Uytengsu who started the business, now passed on the third generation of the family in the same way that dimsum dining has cut across generations of Cebuano diners.
“My father Henry loved Chinese food and he loved to share this passion with everyone else,” said Harbour City Group Director Lorraine Uytengsu-Calisang. “A single branch led to another and then another, and now we have a whole stable of restaurant brands all serving traditional, authentic, and time-honored family recipes,” she added.
The Harbour City Group restaurants are known for its authentic and all-day dimsum dining experience, serving appetizing Chinese cuisine that has become a homegrown favorite and now shared across the nation.
The steamed fried rice or “steamed rice” is an iconic Cebu dish that originated in the kitchens of Ding How. The Shaomai, Spring Rolls, Steamed Hakao, and Beef Sate Noodles are other dining favorites.
HOMEGROWN FAVORITE
The Harbour City Group restaurants are known for its authentic and all-day dimsum dining experience, serving appetizing Chinese cuisine that has become a homegrown favorite and now shared across the nation.
In celebration of its milestone anniversary, it has lined up a series of events to pay tribute to its heritage, beginning with an Interactive 50th Year Exhibit tracing the group’s history from its humble beginnings in 1969 to its growth and development in the 21st century.
Featuring colorful and picturesque backdrops and life-sized models of the company’s famous dishes and icons, the exhibit will be in the following venues: Level 1 of Ayala Center Cebu up to June 14, Robinsons Galleria Cebu from June 16 to 29, and SM City Cebu from July 1 to 11.
“Celebrating our 50th year is a milestone not many companies get to celebrate,” said Harbour City Group Marketing Manager Steven Kokseng. He added that “this celebration is the perfect opportunity to show our gratitude to everyone who has helped bring us to where we are now.”
Big deals are in store for dimsum lovers throughout the year. They can purchase a limited edition celebratory tumbler for only P50 and get a free bluetooth speaker for a minimum order of P1,200 up until June 15.
Customers can also purchase dimsum favorites for only P50 from June 15-September 15, 2019. Customers can purchase, and order snack-sized noodles for P50 between 2-5 p.m. from July 1-September 30, 2019. Those celebrating their 50th birthdays get 50 percent discount on the bill if they dine in Ding Qua Qua and Harbour City anytime during the year.
“The entire year is filled with activities meant to be celebrated within the organization as well as activities intended to give back to generations or loyal customers,” Kokseng said.
After Ding How, the company opened Ding Qua Qua in 1987 that later evolved to today’s Dimsum-All-You-Can experience. Sister brand Harbour City provides customers with the classic dimsum and tea house pushcart experience. In 1996, Dimsum Break was established to cater to the modern fast-paced lifestyle.
The Harbour City Dimsum House Co., Inc. operates Ding How, Ding Qua Qua, Harbour City, and Dimsum Break. It now has 35 restaurants nationwide, including Metro Cebu, Tagbilaran, Dumaguete, Ormoc, Tacloban, Iloilo, Cagayan, Butuan, General Santos, and Davao.
To stay updated on their dining offers, like and follow @DingHowDimsum, @DingQuaQua, @HarbourCityDimsum, and @DimsumBreak on Facebook.
Share your dimsum experience on social media with the hashtag #HarbourCityAt50, #CebuDimsum, and #50YearsofGreatDimsum.
Simple and authentic, the Humba Cebuana of Golden Prince Hotel and Suites exemplifies the Filipino dishes that it has made available in its ala carte menu beginning in May to highlight the celebration of National Heritage Month.
The dish is the typical humba that can be found in Cebuano homes: cooked slow to make the meat tender and prepared with boiled egg and saba (a banana variety), said Aaron Que, Vice President for Corporate Communications.
Humba Cebuana and other Filipino dishes like pochero and sinuglaw can now be ordered for lunch or dinner from 12 noon to 10 p.m. at Golden Prince’s Kabilin Heritage Lounge.
Humba Cebuana
Golden Prince’s Pochero Cebuano uses uses beef shank since Cebuanos love to feast on the marrow in the bones. To bring out the flavor of the beef, it’s simmered for no less than an hour. Corn, banana, string beans, and cabbage are added to the mix.
The vegetables in Cebu’s pochero differentiates it from a similar dish in Luzon called bulalo, according to Louella Alix, the hotel’s heritage ambassador.
Other items in the menu include the sinuglaw, a dish originating from Mindanao that combines grilled pork with fish ceviche, shrimp halanghalang, and Pescador, which takes inspiration from escabeche. Golden Prince’s main fish dish is deep fried grouper with sweet and sour sauce on the side.
Sinuglaw combines grilled pork with fish ceviche
Cebuano cooking is based on the freshness of the ingredients and this is one thing that Kabilin can guarantee for its newly launched ala carte dishes.
Alix likened dining at Kabilin as being a dinner guest of a Cebuano home as the food items are family favorites,
With the launch of its ala carte menu, Kabilin also introduced a new line of iced and hot tea drinks by Signature Estate. The tea varieties are of single origin from the Assam Estate in India.
HERITAGE DISHES. Louella Alix, Golden Prince Hotel and Suites heritage ambassador, and Aaron Que, vice president for corporate communications, with two of the hotel’s chefs during the presentation of their Filipino dishes.
The tea selections, blended with such spices as cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and pepper, are said to be good pairing for the heavy Filipino cuisine.
Kabilin, described as the “first heritage home in a hotel,” was awarded early this year with the Best Merienda Buffet in Cebu. The merienda or snack buffet is served daily from 2p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Kabilin Heritage Lounge is located at the ground floor of Golden Prince Hotel in Acacia Street corner Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City.
For bookings and inquiries, call (032) 230-1588 or 230-1500. You may also check it out at facebook.com/KabilinHeritageLounge.
SaladStop! has opened its 15th branch in the Philippines and 2nd in Cebu at the Oakridge Business Park.
SaladStop! is the leading salad bar chain in Asia. It launched in Singapore in 2009. The chain serves a variety of farm-fresh salads and wraps with premium toppings and dressings as healthy alternatives to fast food.
The chain’s “Eat Wide Awake” campaign emphasizes the importance of proper nutrition and diet as part of a global shift toward a healthier lifestyle. It wants to put an end to “pre-made culture” when it comes to food.
SaladStop! diners have the option to create their own salad or wrap with more than 50 fresh toppings and 18 homemade dressings. They can also order from the chain’s Signature or Classic selections. Other menu items include warm grain bowls, pastries, and all-natural fruit smoothies.
During the press event, the chain introduced Bring It ‘Chon, a seasonal menu item made with romaine lettuce, quinoa, lechon, turnip, cherry tomatoes, ripe mango, pickled green papaya, fried garlic, and mango cilantro dressing. The item is exclusive to Cebu and will be available at its stores in Ayala Center Cebu and Oakridge only until June 12.
SaladStop! Oakridge is located at Oak Tree Drive 2 and is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Calling all cake and coffee lovers, looking forward to unlimited refills? Now you may fill those cups to the brim without spending more at Golden Prince Hotel’s Q Café limitless coffee offer.
It’s time to treat yourselves to an array of irresistible specialty cakes, house recipe otap and cinnamon twists while you sip your hot coffee and let Q Café rescue you from that mid-afternoon slump every day from 2 pm till 6 pm, for only P148. This offer is perfect for that much needed afternoon caffeine dose.
If you want something shaken, blended, and refreshingly cold to cheer you up in this summer heat, Frapponillas in different flavors are available on Fridays for only P100.
If you want something shaken, blended, and refreshingly cold to cheer you up in this summer heat, Frapponillas in different flavors are available on Fridays for only P100.
And on some nights when you need something deliciously warm, comforting and filling, Q Café’s hot pochero will chase away those cold night blues and guaranteed to satisfy those odd-hour cravings. Hot pochero is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Q Café is located at the ground floor of Golden Prince Hotel and Suites, Acacia Street corner Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City. For more details, like Q Café’s Facebook page ILoveQCafe or call (032) 230-1588 or (032) 230-1500. (Press Release)
Put together puto and sikwate, pancit palabok, lomi, binignit, banana cue, maja, camote crisps, as well as dinuguan and you have the staples of the afternoon merienda at Cafe Lorenzo in Cebu Grand Hotel.
The best news: it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet from 2:00-6:00 p.m. for only P275.
Jun Tantoy, Cebu Grand Hotel Food and Beverage Manager, said the merienda buffet is available from Monday to Saturday and includes drinks like the sikwate to pair with the puto, chilled juices, and coffee. Pastries and cookies are available, too.
On some days, the menu for the afternoon snacks may vary slightly, such as pancit guisado being served instead of palabok or sotanghon soup in lieu of lomi.
It’s also great that you get to enjoy your food in the hotel’s comfortable and spacious Cafe Lorenzo, which has more than enough tables to accommodate groups of friends and families.
