Bacolod Food Trip 2nd Time Around

By Ysabel Villafor

I always welcome any opportunity to go back to a place with good food with good friends AND football. 

On my second time there, there were repeats to Calea, Manukan Country, Pendy's and Pala-pala... Just so we can reminisce the taste it left us last time we were there. (click HERE for 1st Bacolod FoodTrip)

It's not hard to love Bacolod... and to discover more places to eat is always a good thing.  Here are a couple of places I tried for the first time on the 2nd time around with my friends. :)

1. Felicia's Steak

As soon as I landed, my friends Che, XP and Ida asked what I would like to eat.. There's no better way than to erase the horrible experience of waiting for the longest time at the airport, hungry and annoyed than with good food.  I met them at the Felicia's that was situated in Ayala.  I got in so late that  my friends already had dinner and I didn't expect that the restaurant would still cater to me but fortunately, I got in just in time before last orders were sent to the kitchen.

I ordered the Filet Mignon (Medium Rare) with grilled Zucchini and a very tall glass of Coke while my friends entertained me with their stories that day over their dessert and coffee.

The verdict? I forgot about the 8 hour flight delay.  I was happy with the way the steak turned up. I was at first skeptical on the doneness but as soon as I cut into the meat, they got it just right. Not too crazy with the gravy though, I left it untouched as I finished my meal. I felt that a good steak doesn't need much going on to make it good. And Filet Mignon had bacon, so...it had two good things going on.

2. Bob's

We had decided to eat at Bob's the very next morning of my arrival. However, the first Bob's we went to didn't serve breakfast so we moved to the other Bob's which was near Colegio de San Agustin.. and we hit the jackpot.

I ordered the Blueberry Waffles. It was pretty uncommon in those areas..so I went for it. My friends ordered waffles too with the exception of XP who ordered Spanish omelette.  I was asked if I wanted the blueberries in my waffle or on the side.  Some people say that it isn't really a blueberry waffle if the blueberries weren't in the waffle so I kindly told the waiter to have it in the batter.

The verdict? I'm having that Blueberry Waffle next time I'm back.  It was golden, sweet, and crunchy. I loved it! At first, I had an issue with how runny the syrup was since I was more used to the thick kind, but the syrup worked well with the waffle and it didn't overwhelm the taste of things like thick syrups do.  It was the perfect place for breakfast.

Che, finally! 

My Blueberry Waffles. Ain't it pretty? Tastes awesome too. 

How was the Spanish Omelette, XP?

As you can see, my friend Ida has her hungry face on.

3. Fresh Start Organics

That night, we didn't want to go far and we wanted something light and different. One of our friends Jaron, suggested we try out this organic restaurant just near our hotel. 

We found the restaurant in a remote part of Robinsons, near the fountain and the parking lot. The ambiance was casual, and welcoming.  There was a wall full of products locally made and sourced in the Philippines. The prices too weren't as expensive as we thought (taking into consideration the comparison with some organic shops in Manila)

So while we enjoyed looking at the products, we ended up ordering a bottle of organic Bignay Island Wine and Nachos while waiting for our friend Ida. It wasn't the kind of Nachos you'd expect: it was goat cheese, vinegar and milled taro chips.  Nonetheless, the Nachos were interesting.  I got myself a Pumpkin Soup with Malunggay leaves (Moringa) because I still felt full from lunch. 

If want something different, light and healthy, then this is a nice option.

The Menu

The Nachos

My Pumpkin and Malunggay Soup. A little on the bland side but nothing a little salt and pepper could fix.

XP's Quesadilla.

Che's Adobo rice! 

Ida's Chicken Sandwich was yum!

The wall of products ranging from massage oils, balms, scents, organic rice, tea, honey, Sagada salt etc..

Veggies fresh from Bacolod farms.  On the upper rack you can see Bogsbrew - a locally brewed beer from Bacolod.

4. MOOON Cafe
This Cafe is all around Cebu but I never got the chance to try it.  So when we didn't know where to eat that particular day, Mooon Cafe presented itself to us as we were walking around. Why not?  It served Mexican food... and my friends and I love Mexican food!

The ambiance was casual and warm.  I got the Tostadas, XP got the Chicken with Cheese while Ida and Jaron got the ribs.  I don't mind trying the other things from the menu though.

My Tostadas were awesome, but it was difficult to eat without destroying the vessel (the taco shell) or that some parts of it ended up on my nose. But, I'd still give this place a go next time I'm around.

My Tostadas! My dilemma. 

XP's Chicken with cheese. 

Ribs were good according to my two friends

5.  Cafe 21

Last time we were in Bacolod, Ida, Che and I were able to try out 21 on Lacson. It was an awesome experience. When I found out that 21 had a cafe in our hotel (we stayed at Go Hotels-- more on that in my next article), we just had to try it out. (And we didn't have a choice, it was the only thing open at 6am)

Ida and I had a quiet breakfast of toast, bacon and eggs. Not exactly mind-blowing but was good enough for a round two if I had a next day in the hotel.

6. Calea

You haven't been to Bacolod if you haven't tried Calea. And on my 6th (7th? or 8th?) I have yet to fall out of love with this place.  There was always something new to try with your favorites (Mud Pie is my favorite). This time around, I tried the following -- and none disappoint!

They call this "Island Float" but this is really Canonigo - Meringue with Custard and Caramelized Sugar on top. My favorite for that trip.

My friend tried out the Mango Torte and it was good too!

A friend of mine, Ceres, told me to try the Key Lime Pie but unfortunately, they didn't haven't it. The closest one was this Lemon Pie with Custard and Marshmallow top. I love it!

7. Green Tree Gelato

It was one heck of a hot night when we decided to try out this gelato shop. It seemed like the right decision at that time.  And couldn't go wrong with the free wifi too. :) 

Espresso Gelato with chocolate bits

END NOTE:

I can't wait for my next trip to Bacolod! 

So many yet to try.

Definitely in 2014!

Thank you to:

Che Billones

Christian "XP" Cruz

Ida Torres

Jaron Genota

Cedelf Tupas

Ceres Lina

BACOLOD FOODTRIP 2013

By Ysabel P. Villaflor

Specialty Restaurants

1.       21

From the outside, 21 looked like a fine dining restaurant– with tall glass windows, drawn curtains, the wait staff in bowties and the Menu off its website lists American-French fare: wine and steaks.  

Imagine our surprise when we got there.  Not only is the place nice and the food awesome, the price was not as pricey as anticipated. In fact, it was reasonable! Our steaks for dinner didn’t cost more than Php350 each: Tenderloin for me, Pepper Steak for Che and Roast Beef for Ida. We spent the rest of the night having mature conversation with our Plantation Iced Tea and admiring the place.

21 is the place to bring someone on a date.  Good food, great ambiance and wonderful wait staff.

Plantation Iced Tea - 21's version of Iced Tea with Pineapple Juice.

Our friend Cookie recommended we try the Gambas! 

Yummy Pumpkin Soup 

My friend Ida ordered the Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes and Caramelized Fried Onions 

My friend Che ordered the Chef's recommendation: Pepper Steak.

I ordered the Tenderloin Steak. Medium Rare, please! YUMMMY

2.       Pendy’s

A lot of the foodie blogs listed Pendy’s as one of the best restaurants to try in Bacolod. (One even mentioned Pendy’s as one of his 8 Best Restaurants in the Philippines)

Only a restaurant having longevity and following can have the cajunes (balls) to come up with a mishmash of Filipino, American, Japanese, Thai, Singaporean, Spanish for a menu.  For me, as long a restaurant can deliver on its promise to provide awesome food, that little indiscretion can be ignored.   

As you enter this establishment, you get that confident feeling of a restaurant who knows its own greatness. A pasalubong center welcomes you to the fore, and tables and chairs fashioned after garden chairs.  It was very charming.

To top it off, our waiter, knew what to order for us. We followed his lead and we were not disappointed. Everything we ordered was delicious.  From the Batchon (Batchoy with Lechon – Beef Noodles in Beef broth with Pork Crackling and Roasted Pig bits) to the Encrusted Snapper in some sort of Tao Si sauce, to the Korean Beef Stew and the famous Half Moon Cake. It was an unforgettable brunch.  We finished EVERYTHING.. and our waiter got a very nice tip.

The best time to go to Pendy's: after lunch! To avoid the crowd.

 

Someone's excited to try the Batchon! :) Yes, and the portions are good to share too!

My Batchon share. Sooooo goood!

Korean Beef Stew. One of Pendy's most popular dishes.

This Peanut Parmesan Encrusted Snapper in Special Brown Sauce with Cilantro and Bok Choy is amazing!

Half Moon Dessert - Pendy's Original  and most famous dessert.
Sponge Cake with Yema  (Butter, Sugar and Milk) Frosting. This little piece costs Php40 a pop!

This is sooo good. Brazo De Mercedes (Meringue Roll with Egg Custard filling)

And the final bill....

3.       Ruins Café

The Ruins is a well-known Bacolod landmark. However, little is known about the Café just across its lawn.

If you want a mellow, laid-back experience or in our case, a spot to wait until the sun sets to get that “glow” picture from the Ruins (or get a few drinks), the café is a unique choice. 

The Ruins is not just the draw to this place.  Thin crust pizzas and the locally brewed beer (which we bought from a vendor inside the Ruins) are just 2 of the things that can make the Ruins experience better.

View from the Cafe

Chorizo and Mozzarella Thin Crust Pizza - Php 280

The locally brewed Beer - Bogsbrew.

The tables and chairs laid out in the Ruins where any one could hang out and have their drinks or snacks.

  

Hole-In-The-Wall

4.       Aida’s Manukan Country

A trip to Bacolod wouldn’t be complete without trying out what it is known for.  Bacolod’s Chicken Inasal (Grilled Chicken) is salty with a bit of a sour note (courtesy of the sinamak marinade).  The mixture of Sinamak (Bacolod’s spiced vinegar), Calamansi (Philippine Lime) and Soy Sauce is the preferred dipping sauce which, in my opinion gives this Chicken its unique taste.

There are numerous hole-in-the-wall Inasal places in Bacolod but Aida’s In Manukan Country remains a favorite among locals and visitors alike. It is one of Esquire Magazine’s Best Restaurants in the Philippines in 2012. And we totally understand why. Aida’s is no fuss, affordable and delicious food in unpretentious surroundings.

Welcome to Aida's!

The Menu. Unpretentious, good food.

Ida's excited to eat! :)

Our order: Paa (Leg) Pakpak (wings) Inasal, Chorizo, Isol (Chicken Ass), Chicken Liver, and Pork Barbeque

the best match to inasal- Garlic Rice

5.       Bacolod Palapala on 18^th Street

Palapala is Paluto-Style seafood restaurant:  the customer selects his raw seafood and then sends it to the cook with instructions on how he wants it cooked. 

I was curious when all the blogs which covered this place seem to feature the Scallops in Garlic and Butter.  And after trying it out, it deserves ANOTHER feature in this article. It was fresh, sweet, and absolutely yummy! It was sooo GOOD. ‘Nuff said.

Airy and wide.

These guys take your order.

Scallops and Talaba (Oysters)

Scallops in Garlic Butter Sauce! The BEST!!!

This Garlic and Butter Shrimp seem to be missing something...

Me and Che. See that soup? It's sinigang with Tanglad (Lemon grass) It's sooo good.

For the Sweet Tooth

6.       Calea

Almost everyone I asked who have been to Bacolod told me to go to Calea. So having high expectations couldn’t be helped.  Just what is it with this little bakeshop?

My question was then answered. And the result? We went to Calea every day. Every after dinner. If I could stop by every after meal, I would. It was the perfect ending to any day.  And yes, it ran away with my heart (in this case, my tummy).

This was my happy place in Bacolod. It had so much sweet goodness that it just can’t be contained in just one type of cake but in everything they had to offer. We had a different cake each time we were there.  I would run away with the chocolate syrup if I could but I had to contend with hand-carrying the Chocolate Cake with Yema Custard to Manila. If they had a way of shipping that Ice Cream Mud Pie, I’d gladly pay for the freight. Sigh.

Bacolod's Sweetest Pride: CALEA.

Everything looks and tastes good here!

The decors are quirky, feminine, shabby and chic.

The best part about Calea cakes? It's big enough to share. :)

DWith Cedelf and CheThanks Cedelf! :) And Congrats! (Yihee)

Day 1: After Dinner Delight: Top: Chocolate Pudding, Left: Chocolate Cake with Yema Custard, Right: Triple Berry Cheesecake

Triple Berry Cheesecake with Pineapple.

Chocolate Chocolate Cake with Yema Custard

Chocolate Pudding with Raisins and Chocolate Chips Ala Mode

Day 2 After dinner delight: Top Left: Chocolate Covered Muffins with Strawberry Jam, Top Right: Tiramisu Cheesecake, Bottom: Chocolate Mud Pie with Chocolate Frosting and Powedered Oreos and Shaved Almonds. 

We got so curious with this one that we ordered it.
It was Chocolate Muffin covered in Chocolate. With Strawberry Jam inside. Talk about. Chocolate overload..

This Tiramisu Cheesecake looks unassuming... that was our first mistake.  It is yummy!

My favorite Cake from Calea. The Chocolate Mudpie. Chocolate Ice Cream with Crushed Oreos and Shaved Almonds.  The best part? That Chocolate Frosting. I'd fly back to Bacolod just to try this one again.

Calea Hot Chocolate -- not too sweet. Surprisingly goes well with the cakes.

The best pasalubong? Calea cake.  They have ready-made brown boxes for those who want to bring a piece of Calea home.

7.       Felicia’s

A couple of my friends recommended this. Unlike Calea, which already has its own following, Felicia’s can be another option. 

My friend, Timothy De Belen, suggested we try the Banofee Pie: which sort of perplexed us for a moment since it didn’t look as we expected. It was a fluffy Caramel Crepe with stuffed with Cream and Bananas, sprinkled with Toffee on the sides. It was so yummy, it was the first one to go.

We ordered a plateful of Macarons.. And I would order the Chocolate ones in a heartbeat. It went down perfectly with my Lemon Tea.

I bought their Almond Thins as pasalubong – and they ran out as soon as I gave them to my siblings.

Quaint, intimate and sweet.

The Banoffee Pie - perplexed but good.

I love this hot Lemon Tea.

I'd order the Chocolate Macaron with my Lemon Tea please.

Sizing up Felicia's for our merienda (afternoon snack) then off to dinner!

This part of the shop becomes a steak place at night.

 

END NOTE:

I don’t mind going back to Bacolod. I don’t mind just eating when I’m there. For sure, there are more places to discover :) Bacolod found it's way to my heart... and definitely my tummy.

Special Thanks to my foodie friends: 

Che Billones, 

Ida Torres, 

Cedelf Tupas, 

Cookie Caliao, Tim De Belen and Dianne Somera  

love, Ysabs