eulapanda: Food Review

Bad Boys Wingz: Where the Badass Wings Are

by eulapanda - 3:00 PM

There seems to be a sudden surge in the restaurant scene in Cebu for chicken wings. My boyfriend is a huge chicken fan so we are always on the look out for good chicken wings without burning a hole in our pocket.

We've tried most of the restaurants in the spectrum of good 'ole chicken wings -- the restaurant that sells upscale stuff (expensive wings but really good) and the restaurant that sells unli wings (cheap but not that tasty). I prefer those restaurants in the middle of the scale; those that sell relatively yummy chicken wings at a very good price. One of those hole-in-the-wall is Bad Boys Wingz.

Bad Boys Wingz is a tiny restaurant in Banilad, Cebu City. Located right across Bright Academy and a few meters away from big universities like UV and USC, this 20-seater restaurant can get pretty full anytime during the week, more so when classes are in full swing. Well, there's no reason why they do not get full to the brim! This tiny yet tastefully decorated restaurant has a lot of delicious chicken wing flavors under their belt.

My personal favorite is their Sriracha Honey Chicken which balances the spice and sweetness really well while my friends love their Suicide Chicken which is really really hot. If you don't like spicy food at all, there are other chicken flavors that may suit your taste like the Honey BBQ chicken wings which we adore too. I kinda wish though that they have more pieces for each serving.

You can even get a special prize if you do the Suicide Challenge: eat all the Suicide chicken wings within three minutes. The glitch is you need to consume it without drinking water and anything else within the three minute challenge and three minutes afterwards (a total of 6 minutes). This may sound easy but they only have three successful challengers so far displayed on their wall of fame.

Aside from the chicken wings, they also serve appetizers, ribs, and desserts.

BAD BOYS WINGZ
Gov M Cuenco Avenue, Cebu City (Across Bright Academy)

Store Hours: 09255027874
Phone Number: 10:30 am - 2 pm, 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Facebook (page)
They also deliver via FoodPanda

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Bulalohan sa Mabolo: No Fuss, No Drama, Just Good Food

by eulapanda - 2:00 PM

Have you ever eaten in a place where there's no drama? No fancy cutlery, no expensive decor, no cheesy music but you're just there for the great food? That's how I felt with Bulalohan sa Mabolo. Except that I only realized how great the food was after we've finished devouring all the plates clean.

Maybe the only thing you'd find fancy-looking in the restaurant are these chandeliers.

This tiny hole-in-the-wall is tucked in a quiet side street across Persimmon Condominium in Mabolo. Finding the place may be a bit difficult for first timers since there isn't any signage at all and the people in the area may not have heard of it yet. It turns out, they are still on their soft opening and are due to fully open in the coming weeks.

Don't expect too much of the interiors. It's basically just an old house converted into a restaurant. I think they are slowly trying to renovate the place as they gain momentum in penetrating the local market and earning word of mouth referrals from people.

But who's to say the interiors influence how good the food is? Don't let the looks deceive yah.

Their signature dish - Bulalo (350 Php).

I often get confused with the terms Bulalo and Pochero. As someone explained, Bulalo is just the Tagalog term for its Pochero counterpart in the Visayas (though there may be a few ingredients added here and there).

Whichever name you use, this dish is made of beef shank with the bone marrow still intact and slow cooked until the meat almost falls off the bone. This hearty soup is a perfect comfort meal after a long day's work and most especially during the rainy season which we do get often here in the Philippines.

Every now and then I crave for Pochero but I find it too expensive in well-known restaurants. There's a place here in Cebu that serves dirt cheap Pochero but there just doesn't seem any meat left at all. The Bulalohan in Mabolo is somewhere in between the spectrum - not too expensive but has more meat and tastes way better than the expensive ones.

Bopis at 80 Php.

I first tried Bopis when I was in Manila several years ago and it tasted good. Here in Cebu, we have our own version of cooking pig innards called Paklay though it's way different from the Bopis being served in Luzon. Talk about diversity in cuisine, eh?

Bopis is a spicy dish made up of minced pig's heart and lungs sauteed with tomatoes, chilis and onions (thanks Wikipedia). If you get grossed out with "innards", just think of these as ground pork instead but you'll soon forget you're eating the pig's internal organs anyway because the Bopis served in Bulalohan in Mabolo is really tasty and flavorful.

Lumpia Shanghai (90 Php).

I love lumpia shanghai and the ones being served at Bulalohan sa Mabolo were good though I kinda wish they were a bit thicker.

There you go, folks! That's our superb and comforting dinner at Bulalohan sa Mabolo. We will definitely be back when they fully open and when I crave for Bulalo/Pochero again.

I do believe this hole-in-the-wall restaurant with humble beginnings will go a long way. Here's their menu, just in case you'd want to have a bang for your buck at Bulalohan sa Mabolo.

Bulalohan sa Mabolo
116 H. Joaquino Street, Mabolo, Cebu City
Opens from 5 pm to 10 pm (Reservations are encouraged)

For reservations, call/text: 0936-991-8924
Like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BulalohanSaMabolo/
Follow them on Instagram: BulalohanSaMabolo

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CDO Eats: Three Awesome Food Finds in the City of Golden Friendship

by eulapanda - 10:53 AM

One of the things that surprised me on my recent work-related trip in Cagayan de Oro City (apart from the crazy traffic brought about by some drivers) was the ridiculously cheap food served in cafes and restaurants. You can find a lot of hole-in-the-walls tucked away in some corners and quiet side streets of this bustling metropolis.

Let me to share to you three of our awesome finds in the City of Golden Friendship:

Cecil’s Snack Inn and Bakeshoppe

This quaint little cafe located near Bonifacio Park and Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan is heaven for those with sweet tooth. From cakes to pies to pastries and other sweet delights, Cecil’s is the place to be when in Cagayan.

The place may be a bit small but is tastefully decorated with chic interiors and is kept clean and tidy. Service is good; the manager (owner?) even fixed our wobbly table himself.

Lovin' the chandelier!

Chic little corner at the shoppe.

A quote on canvas to remind us that we are the masters of our fate.

Though they are known for their sweet delectable choices, they also serve breakfast meals and quick orders for those who want to have the main meal first before the most awaited dessert.

Top - Tocilog (95 Php);

Bottom - Hungarian Sausage with Beef Tapa and Egg (125 Php)

And of course, a slice of Red Velvet Cake (65 Php).
I am not really a fan of red velvet cakes because I feel that I'm just eating red food coloring (haha) but this one is good - the cream cheese made me take one bite after another.

Here's their menu for reference (as of February 2016)

Address: Corrales Corner Hayes Streets, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental

Butcher’s Best Barbeque

Looking for budget-friendly grilled meals? Butcher’s Best Barbeque is the answer!

I love barbecue and grilled food so it was a treat trying Cagayan’s version of one of my comfort foods. Though it looked dated and the lavatory may need some serious upkeep; the food certainly do not disappoint.

Here’s a quick rundown of the items we ordered:

Sinugwow (80 Php)
I originally thought this was their version of Sinuglaw (grilled pork & fish ceviche) of which Cagayan de Oro was known for. It turned out to be just grilled pork belly swimming in soy sauce and topped with lots of chopped white onions. Still good, though.

Pork BBQ in Sweet (left) and Spicy (right) sauce at 15 Php.
Perfect for those on a tight budget. No wonder there were lots of students there.

Grilled Angus Beef Belly (120 Php)
A real value for money! It was good though there were some slices that were a bit rubbery when chewed. But considering the price, it was well worth it.

Butcher's Best Barbecue Menu as of February 2016.

Address: Hayes Street, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental

The Old Blue Burger

A good friend of mine has been raving of Old Blue Burgers for the longest time and when it was my turn to go to CDO with her, she didn’t pass up the chance to introduce me to one of the awesome hole-in-the-wall finds. Guess what? I’m a believer! LOL

I wasn't expecting it to be just a small food cart right on the sidewalk but don't let this fool you because, oh boy, you'd definitely be in for a big surprise.

The Old Blue Classic (99 Php)

100% beef patty, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and Old Blue's special sauce served with Old Blue fries. What should I say? Hands down to this yummy burger without the hefty price tag! The melted cheese and the special sauce together with the well-seasoned beef patty took this burger to a whole new level.

The Old Blue Fries (50 Php).

These potato wedges are too thick for my liking (I like the thinner ones - a bit on the crispy side) but the spiced coat balanced well with the thicker cut.

Here's the Old Blue Burger's menu just in case you'd find yourself in CDO (as of February 2016). Would love to try Philly Cheese Steak next time as it was not available when we visited.

Address: Don A. Velez corner J. Gaerlan Streets, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental (they are also serving burgers on Chingkeetea's newest branch).

There you go, folks! That concludes another fattening food trip session with EulaPanda. Until next time!

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Top Three Things You Should Know (and Love) About Meximama

by eulapanda - 11:47 AM

Craving for Mexican Food without burning a hole in your pocket? Fret not Cebuano folks - Meximama is firing 'em up for you, hungry panda!

Located at The Ridges in Mabolo (and another one in Lapu-Lapu City), this could be the best place to excite your taste buds with some seriously good eats and a great night out with your best buds.

1. Ambiance and Interiors
Arriving a bit earlier than my friends, I took the opportunity to snap some shots of this well-decorated diner. I have a penchant for everything beautiful so if I had to rate the place for its aesthetics, this one's definitely one of the top contenders for its category.

That probably is Meximama, eh? Mexican interiors are known for bursts of bright colors and cool patterns and mosaics.

The bar counter. Dining alone? You could sit on one of those bar chairs and watch the chef or bartender prep those amazing stuff up (you could chat with the staff too).

A chandelier made of Corona beer bottles hang on top of the bar counter. Creatively ingenious if you ask me.

The best seat in the house, yo! When dining out I usually look for the best table - one that has less traffic yet strategically located to observe the crowd. At Meximama, the best seat is where the corner sofa is.

2. Service
One of the things that really matters to me when dining out is the customer service: Are the staff attentive? Helpful? Courteous and polite? Friendly? You'll find them all in Meximama.

Upon knowing that I will be with my friends, the staff suggested that I move to a bigger table so we'll have more space to eat. I also noticed how they always respond with "You're welcome" every time we say thank you.

3. Food and Affordability

And now the best part - food! I haven't really exposed myself to Mexican dishes much so it was a pleasant surprise to the palate and to the pocket too dining at Meximama.

Elotes (95 php) - So good, I swear! I love sweet corn and I love it even more when I had these corny babies at Meximama. What made this extra special were the salsa toppings coupled with some Mexican spices.

The Honey and Chili Wings (165 php). I got to sample a tiny portion of the wing (my friend ordered this) and it was good. This was by default spicy but you can ask the waiter to tone down the spice a bit like what my friend did.

Costillas de Cerdo (195 php)- charbroiled baby back ribs, orange barbecue sauce, pickled vegetables, and Mexican rice. I had this and I was really satisfied with my meal. The meat was tender and it comes with a hefty serving of rice. I kinda wish though that it comes with an extra sauce so I can slather the inner bits more.

Chuletas (185 php) - Mexican marinated pork chops, mango jalapeño and pineapple salsa, pickled vegetables and Mexican rice. Just by the looks, you know you've made a great choice. My friend ordered this the second time we went there and she clearly enjoyed it much.

The Ultimate Taco Sampler (255 php) - Can't decide which taco to buy? Why not buy all five? With this, you get to try everything - from sisig, achiote and lime chicken, breaded fish fillet, beef carnitas, etc.

Four Seasons Punch - Perfect to share with your friends!

And who goes to a Mexican restaurant without trying out the tacos? This is Soft Shell Beef Tacos (135 php)that I ordered to-go for my boyfriend. By the looks of him devouring these tacos, I'm pretty sure they're delectable too.

The food trip doesn't end here, folks! Let's now go to the dessert.

Coconut Creme Brulee (85 php) . I've had better creme brulee in other restaurants (this was too liquidy to my liking) but what sets this apart from others was the twist - it has coconut strips inside.

And of course, the Churros (85 php) . It has two variants - chocolate and leche (milk) - and we ordered the latter. We also tried the chocolate version when we dined again a week after and I liked it better. The chocolate was more on the dark choco side (not too sweet) which was perfect after eating too many yummy food.

You will never go wrong ordering all these at Meximama. Perfect to cap the night full of chika with friends and tummy filled with food.

MexiMama Fast Good Mexican Diner

(1) The Ridges, F. Cabahug Street, Cebu City

(2) Marina Mall, Pusok, Lapu-lapu City

Opens from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm

#09989890561