Razon's scrumptious halo-halo and sizzling bulalo

I am not choosy when it comes to food it’s one of my stress relievers in life, food provides me comfort and thrill. Back in Davao, I and my good friend, Kathy Dacanay, used to go cafe hopping and we already visited quite a number of cafe houses in Davao City,  Chicco de Caffe, Cafe France, Cafe Demitasse, Annie Pie, Kangaroo to name a few, and the night before I left for Manila, Kathy and I once again spent few hours at Chicco.

My favorites include Carbonara,  Blueberry Cheesecake and Brazo de mercedes, Japanese food is another special craving, Maki for instance :-) The best California Maki I tried was at Sangkai Restaurant, an authentic Japanese resto in front of Central Bank in Davao.

But when I left Davao and relocated here in Metro Manila, this weekly food adventure halted, I've not yet visited a cafe house here so my craving for pasta and all sorts of yummy desserts was put on hold, not sure also where to go, I am not yet familiar with the place.

Until one day, Jerome Abendan brought us to Razon's, a fine food chain along McKinley Hill in Taguig offering delectable dishes including yummy desserts. He told us about the scrumptious halo-halo that is so utterly different from other varieties, so I was thrilled to try this refreshment. According to him, there are lots of branches of Razon's in the metropolis but the one that offers the best halo-halo is the outlet along McKinley Hill.

Ultra delectable Halo-halo at Razon's!

Razon's along McKinley Hill, Taguig City

True enough, when we had lunch there and had halo-halo as our dessert I felt the hype of the taste perfectly authentic! So yummy and smooth, very gratifying, I did not feel any roughness effect on my tongue, you know the usual stuff in halo-halo that is so annoying sometimes -- the coarse ice granules. At Razon's that was so different, the sweetener was just right too and there were no excessive beans mixed in the ingredients.

Razons is a quiet place to hang out with friends, very relaxing with a cool atmosphere, perfect to enjoy the food and the refreshment! Jerome introduced us to another unique cuisine: Sizzling Bulalo. My God totally appetizing!!Something that should never missed out!I was used to the idea of bulalo in stew but at Razon's it was completely different, an extraordinary lip-smacking recipe.

 Luscious lunch treats from Anelyn and Jerome, thank you guys!

Sizzling bulalo, sisig and boneless bangus, soooooo delightful!

Halo-halo at Razon's along McKinley Hill utterly refreshing with a finely crashed ice that almost feel like powdery granules in your tongue, no extra effort of pounding to make, a little stir is enough. This halo-halo however has no blob of ice cream topping only Leche flan. Don't miss this out when you come to Taguig. Other food offerings are equally delightful, love to go back there some other time! 

More stories in my MY CUP OF TEA blog

Yellow Hauz

If you are looking for a comfortable and relaxing cafe house offering good foods that satisfy your cravings of European dishes with a spike of Filipino taste, Coffee @ Yellow Hauz is the perfect place to visit. Apart from the first word that appears in their commercial name, Yellow Hauz is not only offering coffee concoctions but also other delectable food choices.

A home grown Coffee Shop, Yellow Hauz offers comfort for diners with a free wifi zone. What I truly love about this place is the serenity provided and the feeling of being at home. The environment is so relaxing and quiet, no screeching of cars, no noisy crowd. It is very homely, almost residential, surrounded with a beautiful garden of green plants and flowers. 

Customers can choose to stay inside or at the garden. The atmosphere can be compared to a lovely and relaxing private house. It has a function room also that caters 25 people with an accommodation payment of 1,800.00, the 1,300.00 is consumable.

If you think you are already consumed by stress and pressure and life has just been so busy with stressful office works, why not visit Yellow Hauz where you will be treated into a delightful experience of being at home far away from the city. It's a perfect and fantastic place to hang out with friends.

Yellow Hauz welcome diners with a residential feel and homely atmosphere, very ideal for small gathering with a homely theme, that's why I choose this venue for my friend's Bridal Shower (Click the link here to read related story) because it reflects our party theme, Home Sweet Home.

Pica Platter at Yellow Hauz

Aside from the usual concoctions offered by cafe houses, Yellow Hauz offers pica platter consisting of twister fries, chips, potato wedges and garlic bread. A taste of Europe's all- time favorites like milk tea, pasta, pizza, cake and sandwiches.

Yellow Hauz is located along V. Mapa and Mabini Streets, Davao City (besides Mabini complex in Malvar). Telephone number: 2822178.

Let's Dish Food Haus and Coffee Shop

There's a newest food destination in Davao City that offers scrumptious food selections from traditional cuisines to desserts and coffee concoctions.

Let's Dish Food Haus and Coffee Shop is located along Jacinto street, Davao city, fronting Ateneo de Davao University, opens from Mondays to Saturdays, 9:00 in the morning to 10:00 in the evening.

In an area where chicken, hotdog and tapsilog are so common, Let's Dish is really a breather. The restaurant provides a distinct menu of delectable dishes and pastries. Its menu choices range from a la carte' to short order meals.

It is a one-stop restaurant where customers are treated into a different experience of dining through its buffet style service and fast food meal choices.

We visited the restaurant during its soft opening last June 8, 2012 and find it very delightful and trendy, hugely different from its neighboring food establishments.

Food prices are very affordable and the service is fantastically satisfying. I and my friends chose to order the traditional dishes and had a dessert of oatcake afterwards.

The ambiance provides relaxation and comfort, away from the maddening crowd of the city. It's a perfect place to spend lunch or dinner with friends because aside from  its quiet environment, the foods are so gratifying.

Its most prized concoction is pancake with a mouthwatering buttery topping that satisfies one's desire of a good and delicious dessert. It is worth trying.

My personal favorites are Fettuccine Carbonara (I am a carbonara person ) and Fresh Lumpia, so yummy!

 Fettuccine Carbonara

Fresh Lumpia with Peanut

Let's Dish also offers catering services on any occasion at affordable rates. It has an air-conditioned function room that can cater 40 people. The management and staff are very accommodating, attentive to the customers' needs, you'll love making a repeat visit/order there.

For your inquiries, VISIT LET'S DISH WEBSITE HERE

Dining with friends during the soft opening of the restaurant

Sushi Dito

Treat yourself to a good restaurant once in a while, it is a good breather to get away from clutters in life. Relax and enjoy a mouthwatering meal with friends.

And where else would you go than in a cozy Japanese restaurant? The experience is quite different, it is more than awesome...

One of the best Japanese restaurants in Davao city I'd visited is Sushi Dito! The bright and warm atmosphere of this oriental restaurant is so relaxing! It provides a good venue to loosen up after a busy day at work....

Sushi Dito

California Maki

Sushi Dito, along Quirino Street in Davao City, offers scrumptious Japanese cuisine with a wide selection of oriental delectable foods which you will love to devour any time of the day. The MAKIS are simply mouthwatering! My super favourite maki from the menu is Kani Cheese, it is simply delicious, creamy and oh so yummy, each maki is drizzled with creamy cheese.

All makis can be ordered either at 4 pieces or 8 pieces. Other makis include Tuna, Unagi with Cucumber, Egg, Philadelphia, Salmon, and many more. The price is not really expensive, you can have lots of savings when you come in a group.

Shrimp Gyoza

I also tasted their Shrimp Gyoza, great and super love it, more delicious than the Gyozas offered by other Japanese restaurants in the city. Sushi Dito is open from Monday to Saturday 10:30 am to 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm. 

Kani Cheese Maki

The place is cozy and quiet and I love the whole ambiance, so warm and tidy. It is crowded at night so to ensure that you will get the most comfortable place, try to call the resto ahead of time to make reservations.

At Shushi Dito with Juvy and Kathy

...and Ate Melds, Ate Vicky

Sushi Dito offers occasional promo and free coupons, so it is a must to visit their site (click here) to avail these packages. The other night, a very good friend of mine, Kathy, invited us to dine there because she had a coupon worth P300.00 (consumable), we only paid P600 + out of the P1,000.00 + bill because of this free coupon. So avail it yourself and make a reservation now!

G Cafe

Located along Quimpo Boulevard, not far from SM Davao, G cafe is another place where you can comfortably relax with friends while surfing the net. The place is wifi ready. I love their Apple Cider Tea, very delicious and soothing! You can order foods--burger and fries-- from nearby Brothers' burger store just beside G Cafe.

Last weekend I and Kathy went there to discuss things about blogging and I was pleased with its wonderful and relaxing interior, European style setting. We bought Garlic Fries sprinkled with Parmesan Cheese and some herbs. Then just sipped Apple Cider Tea. The feeling was great and we had a wonderful discussion about many things. Scent of brewed coffee and other foods wafting in the air that I felt like I want to eat and eat hehe...and the music softly played in the background.

G Cafe is just one of the many elegant cafes in Davao City that I visited, such a cozy place to unwind and think about important things in life. If you are looking for a conducive and warm place to study or do some research, G Cafe is a perfect place for you because it is so quiet and you can surf the net endlessly as its wifi connection is very fast. 

REGOS PASTA EXPRESS

Gambero Basil Pesto at Regos Pasta Express (sauteed garlic, fresh basil leaves, shrimp, olive oil and parmesan cheese

Located along Arellano Street in Davao City (at the back of Central Bank), Regos offers unique pasta recipes and coolers. I just visited this place with my two friends last week and I am impressed with its very delicious pasta concoctions. The Gambero Basil Pesto is just so amazing!

Ice cream in Walnut and Apple drizzled with Caramel

I love this place's location because it is so quiet and relaxing, I can hang on with friends without annoying disturbance from outside. Pasta at Regos is cook on the spot within seconds of order. Diners can even see it cooked on the glass kitchen. 

Don Beppe!

Puttanisca

Penne Arabiatta

Don Beppe, located along Bonifacio Street (in front of Anclar hotel not far from UIC), serves fine Italian foods! Hmmm I could still feel the sweet aroma of puttanisca and other concoctions wafting in the air.  A simple place with a very comfortable interior, its setting echoes some European touches. The place is styled like a fine dining set-up -- cutlery and table arrangement -- well except for its limited space, other elements I am looking for in a quiet restaurant are there -- pasta, service, comfort, excellent accommodation.

The service is great, I should say. When I and my two friends dined one evening there, the owner personally welcomed us and asked if we like the food, he also offered us free Iced Tea! The place has a very quiet environment, it feels like we dined in a restaurant far from the hustle and bustle of the city life where in fact it is actually located in the heart of metro Davao. 

 devouring penne and puttanisca with Kathy

...and Sashing (Don Beppe's owner in the background)

Don Beppe's pasta concoctions drew from authentic Italian recipes which taste better than other pasta I tasted in town, I mean there's something in each recipe that I want to eat more, maybe because of olive oil or some ingredients. The foods are not really expensive if you come as a group because each serving is good for four people.

For people who are not used to European dishes, Don Beppe's pasta might appear strange or tasteless, but for those who want to try some authentic Italian foods, this is the best place for you to visit. This is one great resto in Davao worth trying, it has warmth and comfort plus the Italian foods are fantastic.

LACHI'S

Nice words spread about this one dining place in Davao City called Lachi's that I was so excited to go there.

My friend told me ahead that the place is often crowded with diners, others even just endure the long hours of waiting outside. Luckily for us, there were still few people inside when we went there one afternoon. True enough, this place has the finest foods a cafe or a restaurant can offer.  

Lachi's is located along Marfori heights not far away from Nanay Bebing, it is just a very small place with only eight to nine tables, hence, people often called in advance to make for a reservation. But the area is neat and clean and very quiet and I love its very comfortable environment.

My friend told me that Pork Marinara (Baked Spaghetti topped with Pork Chopped) is one of the best in the menu  but I am not into Pork anymore so I chose the Oriental Chicken meal. And yes, it was great! Boneless chicken marinated in delicate herbs and deep fried, very crunchy and tasty, tastier than Jollibee or McDo's fried chicken. The order costs P116.00 but you will be satisfied because it has 6 big chicken strips plus almost one and a half cup of rice.

Oriental Chicken with Rice (P116.00)

Pork Marinara (Baked spaghetti topped with Pork Chopped)

Blueberry Cheesecake P85.00 per slice

I also tried the Baked Spaghetti ordered by my friend which has the best mixture compared to other baked spaghetti in town, packed with lots of melted cheese! We ended the meal with a dessert---Blueberry Cheesecake, I chose the big slice hehehe while my friend selected the smaller, rounded size but the "pie" cut is better and tastier than its smaller cousin. I loved it!

You must try it for yourself! Lachi's foods are great, none of its customers blurted dissatisfaction after trying their foods, everything in the menu is so terrific and you don't need to wait for ages for your orders to be served, they have cooperative staff. I would love to come back at Lachi's and try Teriyaki.

Chicco's di Caffe

Chicco's di caffe is located along Roxas and artiaga streets in Davao city. It serves European concoctions, mostly Italian, their coffee and smoothies are some of their most-prized menu. I and a good friend, gone there several times for our "business brainstorming". The place is very relaxing and comfortable.

We chose it because it is more accessible and the wifi performance is great. The sofas are very comfortable too and privacy can be enjoyed because it is rarely visited by people.

It is located in one of the noise-free streets in the city, so the environment is relaxing and very quiet. One of my favorites at Chicco's is Brazo in durian delight, such a yummy and sumptous dessert to die for! Accompanied with one mug of hot green tea with honey, Brazo is one great food I cannot simply resist. I am not into coffee, so green tea is always the best option when I am in coffee houses.

Another favorite at Chicco's is Garlic bread (left photo) which is traditionally serve with potato chips. Each bread is stuffed with  ham and cheese. The price is P100.00 but it seems like you are eating a full-blown meal because of its "bulk".

Chicco di Caffe is conveniently located within downtown Davao (not far from Ateneo de Davao University) and it is along the highway so taking a ride is not difficult. Relatively larger, in floor area, than Fagioli in Quirino and Cafe Demitasse in Torres, Chicco's provides a spacious environment for private conversation or business meeting.

Sangkai Japanese Restaurant

Located along Jacinto extension and Arellano street in Davao City (infront of Central Bank), Sangkai is one of the best Japanese restaurants in the city. The place is so quiet, clean and cozy, it's like you are just eating in the comfort of your own home. Opens daily from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, then 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, the restaurant is not really crowded during the day so you have plenty of time to relax and eat.

It sets against the backdrop of a family dining room complete with wall frames, interior art collections and divider. Unlike other Japanese restaurants, customers at Sangkai will have to sit in a proper chair just like in a typical Filipino household. If you are not into chopsticks, you can request a spoon and a fork from the staff.

California Maki

Yakisoba and Ramen soup

The service is great and the foods are amazing. One of my favorite foods in the menu is California Maki, the taste is simply great with seemed-like rice paste wrapping each roll. The prices are also affordable, ranging from P100 to P400 in the food menu. Before the foods are served, customers are treated with appetizers. When I and my friend gone there for my birthday, the appetizer consists of rolled pechay, which is very strange but tastes good.

Hot Tea

With its very homely ambience and nice service staff, Sangkai Japanese restaurant is one great place to bring family together, it is also a perfect place to relax with friends while enjoying Japanese foods. Aside from California Maki, Sangkai has the best ramen vegetable soup and Tempura. Another food I like at Sangkai is Gyouza.

For people who are bringing their cars, Sangkai has a comfortable parking space area. The moment you enter Sangkai, you can easily feel the comfort and serenity surrounding the place. One of my classmates said that this restaurant offers the most authentic Japanese foods in town. So don't miss it!

Cafe Demitasse

If you are looking for a place away from the maddening crowd in the city which offers sumptuous pasta, cake, panini and coffee with a touch of European elegance, Cafe Demitasse is a perfect destination for you.

Demitasse is a French word meaning small cup or espresso cup. 

Conveniently located along Torres street in Davao City in a section free from noise and cars, this elegant cafe house exudes a very relaxing environment where one can truly experience peace of mind and serenity while sipping espresso and devouring pasta. Unlike other Cafes in town, Cafe Demitasse is a two-storey building with a beautiful secluded function room on the second floor that can cater up to 125 people exclusively. It is a wifi zone area.

 Monte Cristo at Cafe Demitasse

Mouthwatering cake at Cafe Demitasse

The ambience is delightful and very cozy with beautiful sofa spread downstairs to relax and unwind with friends. The prices also are very reasonable. It ranges from P65 to P245 on the food menu while coffee concoctions range from P40 to P140.00. Pesto chicken, cake, Belgian fries, Monte Cristo and Creamy carbonara are some of the yummiest foods served at Cafe Demitasse. 

Whether you want to catch up time with friends, hanging around or doing business meeting, this cafe house is just a perfect place for you.

Kangaroo

Photo from www.lakwatseraako.blogspot.com

Kangaroo is a coffee shop located along Tiongko and Mapa Streets, Davao City (walking distance from Central Bank). This is one of the most comfortable cafe shops in the city I'd ever visited and one of my favorites because of its calm, clean and quiet environment, away from the chaotic surrounding of the city. It has a very homely and neat ambience, perfect for people who want to study, do assignments or simply looking for a temporary place for respite. It is a wifi zone so you can bring your laptop and surf the net endlessly.

My favorite food at Kangaroo, fish fillet with Lemon-Butter sauce

Passionfruit Iced Tea

I'd gone there several times with my classmates, brainstorming for our marketing plan and doing some homeworks. The foods are great and the concoctions, smoothies are simply amazing! My favorite is the fish fillet menu which has a lemon-butter sauce. Passiofruit Iced Tea and Coffees are also great. What I love about this cafe shop is its typical home-like area. The comfort room has a relaxing design with lots of magazines and books piled on each corner. This place is styled similar to a typical house setting with books around the corner.

Cake and pastries at Kangaroo. Photo from www.lakwatsera.blogspot.com

Members of the service crew are all nice and accommodating, and I think they have lots of patience for customers who stayed longer.hehe! During Araw ng Dabaw, while still working our initial concept of our marketing plan, me and my group mates stayed for 11 hours but we never heard them  enough dragged chairs or bungled plates, haha!

Anyway, over-all, Kangaroo is an excellent cafe shop to visit and relax.