Enjoy and Experience the Best of CDO Food Tour

CDO Bloggers with Best of CDO Food Tour Team

The month of August is quite exciting for the people of Cagayan de Oro City as they prepare the celebration of their feast day every August 28 in honor of their patron saint, St. Augustine.

So expect that beauty pageants are held within this month, major sales events are offered by big stores during the weekends, there will be concerts, parades and firework displays that would take place days before the fiesta and so on and so forth.

And in line with Higalaay Festival 2016, BQFC team launched the Best of CDO Food Tour for the very first time where they invited the CDOBloggers. I joined the tour and it was indeed fun and a huge success as well. I guess I will just let the pictures below do the talking:

1st Food Stop: Bigby’s Cafe and Restaurant
Branch: Centrio Mall

1. Rack-a-Bye-Baby (My personal favorite)
- Finger-licking goodness of premium cut smoky barbecued pork ribs,

2. CDO Sinuglaw - The award winning “sinugbang baboy” and “isdang kilawin” recipe with a twist by adding “dilis” toppings
- It is also an Urban Life nominee as one of the best Filipino dishes

Bigby’s was first introduced in CDO in December 8, 1998 and now has 7 branches across the archipelago. The menu, the interior design and service style were created to position the concept midway between fine dining and fast-casual dining.

2nd Food Stop: Missy Bon Bon
Branch: Rosario Arcade, Limketkai Center (Flagship Store)

Gelato

Pastel and my share of Gelato

1. Gelato - Creamier, smoother and silkier than any ordinary ice cream.
2. Pastel - A sweet filled bun that won the hearts of every Kagay-anons, now with 3 flavors Durian, Yema and Chocolate bun.

- Awarded as the Urban Life - Mindanao Gold Star Daily Award 2016’s Best Delicacy of the Year

Missy Bon Bon Bread shop opened its kiosk in CDO in December 2009 launching its first line of breads and gelato. In April 2010, it opened its flagship store in Limketkai Center. Missy Bon Bon is a hip, cozy, and relaxed world-class bread shop serving healthy, natural, and freshly-made bread onsite with unique fusion interpretations of local bread products, gourmet comfort food and custom gelato mixes.

Third Food Stop: Boy Zugba Kusina Bisaya
Branch: Corrales Ave. - Ramon Chavez St., Cagayan de Oro

1. Bandihadong Karne - All your favorite meat in one bandihando Liempo, pork BBQ and the Cheezzy Chorizo
2. Cheezzy Chorizo - Organic-fed meat stuffed with cheese 
3. Pancit sa Pulis 
4.  Dessert: “What’s your plan, Leche Flan?”

Boy Zugba Kusina Bisaya opened in Corrales Ave. - Ramon Chavez St., CDO in February 8, 2015. It serves the best Kagay-anon home-cooked meals that a city has to offer, but up scaled a bit to create a new dining experience. Boy Zugba boasts an array of grilled food items, as well as meals that we normally see in karenderias or eat at home.

Last Food Stop: The Nest
Address: Corrales Ave. - Ramon Chavez St., Cagayan de Oro Brands: Maison de Bonbon and Giuseppe Pizzeria & Sicilian Roast
Highlights/Must-try: Maison de Bonbon Cafe and Restaurant

1. Burger Américaine - U.S beef burger patty on a sesame bun with crisped bacon slices, sautéed Shiitake mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, melted gruyere cheese & fresh green lettuce. Served with seasoned salt French fries.

Giuseppe Pizzeria & Sicilian Roast

2.  Calzone - Folded pizza with spinach, ham, sausage, mushrooms, bell pepper, and black olives.
3. Salsiccia Siciliana - Pizza with tomato, mozzarella, mushrooms and Sicilian sausages.
4. Quattro Formaggi - Pizza with four Italian cheese


CDO Bloggers at The Nest with the Best of CDO Food Tour

The Nest welcomed its first batch of patrons in June 2016, bringing the best of renowned European culinary masterpieces that won the hearts of every Kagay-anon. The Nest, carrying two brands, Maison de Bonbon and Giuseppe, delivers the finest of both French and Italian Sicilian cuisines.

The Nest embodies the best aspects of globalization by bringing the sumptuous food of Europe to the dining tables of the inherently sunny people of Cagayan de Oro, be it the families looking to bond through opulently-served entrees, or the individuals that yearn to unravel from work by being fed food bursting with zest and flavor.

It is a sanctuary in the midst of the noisy, fast-paced, and bustling streets of Cagayan de Oro.

Thank you so much Best of CDO Food Tour Team for the wonderful accommodations you extend to us, the CDO Bloggers. Shout out to the team and the owners of Bigby's, Missy Bonbon, Boy Zugba and The Nest!

*** All pictures were taken (and removed) from my other blog: chroniclesofcookie.com

My Dad's Turntable

During the early 80's, turntables still exist in every household. Boom boxes came yet some still have this old-fashioned gadget and we were one of those people :-) My dad had a turntable and it was even kept after he died in 2001. Actually, even up this time, that gadget is still at my mom's place but will not play anymore.

Right now, turntables still exist but are already upgraded just like the numark ttx direct-drive turntable. You can check sites for this and see the features they added. I now wonder if my late dad's old Beatles collection would still play on this turntable.

Our High School Reunion

Sharing a picture of me on our 25th Silver Jubilee Homecoming last July 1, 2016. We had a Coachella-themed party and looking for something to wear on that day was somehow exhausting. So I ended up wearing this boho-inspired dress. Thankfully, I was able to keep the earrings I bought from years ago because it saved my night :-)

So, how do I look?

Quite uncomfortable with my rarely dolled-up face, lol

She's Finally Interested!

The other day my daughter talked to me that she wanted to learn on how to play the guitar. She is more of a piano person but I am hoping that she will develop interest in playing the guitar. Her dad is a good guitar player and so are her uncles. I also played the guitar but not that good. And I really hope that my kids will learn on how to play this instrument. So, it was really a big sigh of relief for me when my daughter started the conversation about guitar. I even suggested to her that she could look from YouTube to learn about plucking and a lot more. 

But of course she needs a new guitar because what we have is an old one. I might check online because they have a lot to offer. And of course, with the use of coupon code, I hope to get a good deal. I can't wait for my daughter to start in her guitar lesson ;-)

S&R Membership Shopping is Finally in Cagayan de Oro!

The much talked about S&R Membership Shopping finally opened here in Cagayan de Oro last July 28, 2016. It is located at Zone 5, Barangay Kauswagan, Butuan-CDO-Iligan Road, Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental. S&R is described as a treasure hunt of shopping values but you can only enjoy these if you are a member of their establishment.

There are 2 types of membership cards:

• Gold Membership - available to individuals 18 years old and above Membership fee is P700, valid for 12 months from the date of enrollment of primary cardholder. Gold member may add one extension card at P400 fee.
• Business Membership - available to business owners and managers; allows the purchase of products for business, personal and resale use. It costs P900 with one (1) free add-on card, valid for 12 months from the date of enrollment of primary cardholder. You can add 3 additional cardholders to existing business membership account.

Once you are a member of S&R, you can enjoy a lot of benefits and perks not only in Cagayan de Oro but to all S&R branches. You also get to enjoy exclusive deals and discounts including imported items. Also, when you sign up for membership, they will give you the value coupon booklet with more than 65,000 in shopping values.

Prior to their opening, S&R invited members from the media and I was fortunate to be a part of it. We were given a tour of the site by the VP for Operations, Mr. Greg Keyer. After which, we had a brief press conference.

I bet some of you already visited S&R but to some of you who did not go there yet, let me show you a picture video I made. I hope this will help you decide which items to buy when you are going to shop at S&R.

My friend from Ozamiz City went shopping at S&R last weekend and told her to send me pics of some stuff she bought. She sent me this pic instead, just 2 carts full of goodies! She said she will shop for more and hope we'll see each other at S&R when she comes back :-)

And oh, by the way, did it ever occur to your mind what S&R stands for? I was thinking it was all about Shop and Retail but I know it was not correct. So I googled it and found the answer. It actually stands for the name of the founder: Sol and Robert Price, founders of the Price Club, which has since merged with Costco. Costco is actually a part owner of S&R. So there, now we know ;-) 

Have Fun Shopping guys!

Yours truly at S&R