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On Eating Classy: Coffeeshop 129 – Big Eat at Big 8

February 20, 2016February 21, 20161 Comment

Hi there, burpers! From now on, I’ll call my readers, burpers. It’s kinda cool, right? HAHA!

It has been a while since I posted another one. This week was really a hard one. There are a lot of tasks to be done and classes to attend and I was sick. 😦 That is why. I’m sorry.

Anyway, today, I’ll be blogging about the Coffeeshop 129. I’ve been going here in this café since time immemorable. No, that’s an exaggeration. LOL. I mean I’ve been visiting this café quite a lot. First, because I love the ambience because it feels so solemn here and also, the couches are heaven. I will be dwelling more on that in a bit.

You can find the place easily. It is one of the resto run by Big 8 Company and is inside the Big 8 Hotel. Big 8 Hotel is /located at AH26, Tagum City, Davao del Norte. Do you know what’s AH26? The “AH” stands for Asian Highway, a network of highway routes of international importance within Asia. It covers over 141,000 kilometers of roads across 32 countries. In short, its Daang Maharlika or National Highway. Do I sound like Kuya Kim already? Haha. 🙂 Kidding aside, the place is just so accessible. More so, Big 8 is just so prominent here in the city because of its class and being a 4-star hotel, the highest in Tagum, I think. So that’s a plus point.

The atmosphere inside the café is quite peaceful. You can have a noise-free environment. Then, if you are looking for a place to relax and unwind, and of course, to eat, 129 Coffeeshop is perfect for you. I love their lightings because it’s not plain yellow, nor plain white. It’s the combination of both. Their interior too is modern. As what I’ve said earlier, I really admire their couches. I feel comfortable on their couches plus, they have a lot of power outlet to be utilized, especially me having a fast-lowing-battery phone. Also, one of the strength of this café is they have a generator since it is located in a big hotel. I can still remember when the city has a total blackout for 12 hours, I opted to stay here for the entire day because I have some projects on my masters degree and I don’t want to be bored whole day. Their comfort rooms are also comforting. Haha. They have complete necessities for a comfort room, like tissue, napkins, liquid soap, bidet, mirror, etc. Thus, this place is for business meetings yet circle of friends can also hang out here.

The service crew of this café is excellent. What can you expect on a four-star hotel? Other than being polite, they are serving with heart. What a phrase! Haha. They are not just taking orders but they are communicating the clients. In that way, customers may feel relax and comfortable. They also wear their sweet smiles, too. That’s really something to the customers.

Now, let’s proceed to my favourite part – the eating! ❤ ❤ ❤ Honestly, I’ve tried a lot of dishes, desserts and coffee in this café. But during those days, I still don’t have a blog that is why I don’t put into my memory the tastes of those food. That’s why, for this time, I will be talking about the CALZONE PIZZA, PASTA MEDITERRANEAN, BUFFALO WINGS, CAFE LATTE and their BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE.

I already tasted their Calzone Pizza before because somebody suggested it to me for its amazing presentation, this pizza is folded! Not just that, they say it tastes good! And it’s true! The fillings complement each other. So palatable! Furthermore, their PASTA MEDITERRANEAN taste so classy. The best I’ve tasted tomato-sauced pasta. Anyway, I love tomato sauce. ❤ The sourness of the tomato sauce suits the flavor of the shrimp and the pasta. Additionally, the shrimp is peeled and deveined so it’s not hassle to eat. Their Buffalo Wings is only average for me. Though it is easy to eat and can be a short order but the chicken wings are undercooked. I don’t like undercooked food. Neither you, right? But their fries are one of the best. It is crispy and not sloppy. Their fries can compete on some fast food chain! On their drinks, I tried the Cafe Latte. All I can say is they really deliver a classy approach on everything. They offer creamer and sugar and let you mix your own taste. Most of the cafes here in Tagum do not do that. That is why I love it. The only thing I don’t like is their mug. It feels so cheap having the Big 8 logo instead of a classy one. It’s not instagramable. Hahaha. Other than that, I’m really satisfied with it. On their dessert, the Blueberry Cheesecake is pure love. This is the taste of Blueberry Cheesecake I’ve been waiting for. You must try it.

Here is the menu and some pictures of the cafe.

So that’s it! If you want classy and a peaceful place to chill on, try Coffeeshop 129.

Summary:

Location: 9/10
Ambience: 10/10
Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Price: 6/10

That’s it! Love Love Love!

Sabroso Café Bistro – The Game Changer

February 14, 2016February 21, 2016Leave a comment

Hello! Good day! To all my readers, thank you so much for the appreciation. Feel free to message my FB page or comment in every post I have here if you have some questions, reactions, suggestions and some non-violent reaction regarding to all of these. Let’s spread LOVE. ❤ ❤ ❤

Last night, I visited this resto named Sabroso Café Bistro in the west part of Tagum City. The decision to eat on this place was really unplanned because that time I was really tired and very hungry since me and my volleyball friends played some action. Shoutout to them!!! Anyway, I bet this writing is a timely one because I just recently started my blogging and it was my first time to eat on this place, too.

To tell you honestly, even if it was my first time eating here, it wasn’t my first time to visit this place. It’s just that, when I first came here, this café bistro had been a victim of the rotational brownout here in the city. It’s too bad to use ‘victim’ on this. Haha. That’s why we opted to transfer to another place since they don’t have a generator set and we aren’t the ones who enjoy candle-lit dinner. But luckily, on my second visit last night, no circumstances happened. Location-wise, the place is a bit far from the ‘centro’ of Tagum City. You need a five-minute trike ride in order to reach this place. You can visit them at 0235, Pioneer Avenue, Manantan Highway, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

As soon as you arrive in this place, you can hardly see the signboard. I can still remember the first time we went here, we were lost because we can’t find any Sabroso signage! We even reached the Provincial Capitol. Hahaha. If you’re from Tagum, you can tell that’s really far. The driver, too, is not that familiar about the place. So, all of us were lost. But internet saved us from that dilemma; Google Maps to be precise. You know why we can’t find them? Their signage was being blocked by a tree. Like srsly? Yeah. Just look at this picture. I hope they can fix that in no time. It’s really hard to guess where and how to get there not seeing any signages. Additionally, even if they don’t really have a parking lot, customers can use the sidemost part of the highway to park since the highway is wide enough.

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset — They have books and board games available to be used while enjoying a meal here in Sabroso.

The ambience of the place is good for chilling and relaxing with friends but not more than five in a group. They really have nice ideas on their business plan. They have books and magazine if you want to read and they also have different board games to play on! This place is really for friends and families! Here, you can bond with whoever you are with. Not mentioning, when I asked the server if they have wifi, she just pointed this sign (look at the picture please). See? They are anti-social networks. Haha.

Just kidding! I admire their technique on not having internet connection because it will invoke personal communication with the diners and also, it will somehow lessens their expenses by not paying any internet plans. Clever! The only downside in this place, in terms of the interior, is the size of the place. The dining area is so small that will make the path narrower. They too have small tables and small chairs. It makes me feel a little bit of discomfort. Also, some of their tables and chairs are semi-worn out. It’s repairable that’s why it isn’t a big deal.

File_000 — Pork Tunkatsu on the lower left and the rest of the order

Now, let’s get in to the eating part! We ordered PORK TUNKATSU and THAI SWEET AND SOUR FISH for main dish. We also ordered PESTO SHRIMP SCAMPI for pasta, CHEESECAKE IN A JAR for dessert and STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE MILKSHAKE for drinks. We also added POOR MAN NACHOS. As with the PORK TUNKATSU, the sauce tastes like genuine. If you love a sweet approach on a sauce in a Tunkatsu, you better try this. On the other hand, the THAI SWEET AND SOUR FISH hasn’t really gave me an impact. The fish was breaded and the bread was slightly overcooked. It is hard to bite especially me, having braces. The sauce also is too sweet. I’m searching for the sourness since the name itself says sweet and sour. The PESTO SHRIMP SCAMPI is rather better than expected. There is an extra kick on this because it’s a little bit spicy and I love spicy. But. But. But. The picture in the menu is really different from the actual course. Haha. You know, it’s a little bit frustrating if you expect something and your expectation isn’t the one you’re expecting. Quite a twister. LoL. Also, their shrimp scampi is unpeeled and undeveined. Peeling a shrimp is a rigorous job especially if you are already eating. About the CHEESECAKE IN A JAR, again, the image in the menu is quite different from the actual dessert. But it’s forgivable, the foamy texture of the cream and it’s sweetness is just enough to enjoy the moment. The blueberries are also enjoyable since I love blueberry cheesecakes.Meanwhile, the STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE MILKSHAKE is love. It’s really sweet in a nice way. I bet children and children-at-heart will enjoy and will satisfy their sweet tooth with this. The POOR MAN NACHOS, though we laugh at this because of its name (no offense), is giving justice of being a nacho. Their nacho is one of the thinest and it’s east to bite. The toppings are also superb including its cheese. Though, it has named as Poor Man’s, the well-offs can also have enjoyment eating this.Price-wise, they really maintain their affordable menu but not compromising their food. They are one of the cafés here in the city which delivers cheap but expensive taste. You can see their menu on the gallery below.

I will be going back on this place next time to try their other offerings like crepes, coffee and burgers. See you soon!

Summary:

Location: 7/10
Ambience (including space): 4/10
Food: 7/10
Service: 6/10
Price: 9/10

Love. Love. Love!

P.S.

They have self-service water serving :3

Estrella’s Kitchen and Café

February 12, 2016February 13, 20161 Comment

This is one of kitchenettes here in Tagum City that my friends and colleagues talked about so much. Their reviews and opinions regarding their food are really spectacular that I was so eager to try. I think it has been months since the Estrella’s Kitchen and Café was being open for business before I tried them. Maybe because the place isn’t that captivating, since the place is at the top floor of a three-storey building – that’s quite a climb. Phew. LoL. Plus, the entrance is not that grand. Not that I’m looking for a grand entrance, but for a good resto, you want to be welcomed by a nicely-designed door and a spacious veranda to feel as a special guest. As for me, I felt a little awkwardness entering the building because it has the feeling of entering a law or an accounting firm. Additionally, if you do have a more-than-two-wheel vehicle, parking is a hideous job. The parking space for this place is only for public parking of the entire building. Not mentioning there are a quite of tenants renting in the building. Anyway, you can find them at 3rd Floor, RENO Building, Osmeña St. (Beside DW Electronics), Tagum City.

On a positive note, the ambience of the entire third storey (they are renting the entire floor) is really peaceful and homey. Their yellow-tinted lights are really a thumb up. (y) Hooray for the hepa look! Just kidding. 😉 Yellow lights are frequently used on coffee shops and restaurant to have the feeling of calmness. They have a modern rustic interior which is unique for a resto. The dining area is separated into two different places. One is air-conditioned, one is not. Different style of chairs in each table are used. I find it odd in a good way though. Their pillows contributed a lot in having a homey feel too. Even so, I doubt they overcompensate on the pillows because it makes the long chairs look and feel crowded, more so, that I have a huge bag that time and I don’t know where to put the extra pillows surrounding me. But that’s forgiveable. I still love their pillows. And their designs too. Not mentioning their pillow smells great! But I suspect the greatness of the smell of their pillows will not last longer. There is no barrier or a division separating their kitchen and the dining area. Though they have a huge exhaust, the smell of their cooked food still lingers the atmosphere of the room. But it has also an advantage, we can vastly see how they cook our food! Plus, they do have a really appealing white brick-looking tiled wall which can pitch cleanliness of the area.

IMG_4699[1] — White brick-looking tiled kitchen wall. Quite a description though. Haha. They have differen chair designs, too.

People-wise, their servers deserve five stars. They really are. Trust me. They are really polite, humble and calm. As soon as we reached the place, we felt their welcoming aura. More importantly, the lady server who took our orders was very polite plus she bears a sweet smile. They are really knowledgeable about their menu, the services they can offer and the pronunciation of those hard-to-pronounce recipes, too. I gladly say their people are their greatest assest next to their food.

Speaking of food, as soon as I tasted theirs, the expectation of my friends and colleagues didn’t let me down. It tastes so legit! By the way, I ordered PORK CHOP WITH PEPPERS and BAKED FISH for the main menu and tasted AFFOGATO and HOT CARAMEL MACCHIATO. The PORK CHOP WITH PEPPERS is superb. The chopped jalapeños on top add the savory taste of the pork chop but it’s not spicy at all. Since I love pepper, I love the idea of garnishing it to the pork. The pork alone is really big. That’s a feast! Yey! As for the BAKED FISH, since this is the rarest time I’ll be trying a baked fish, I was overjoyed watching it covered in a piece of baking paper(?). A fish in a paper. Haha. It sounds funny, though it taste better than expected! The olive is making the difference here. I really don’t like the taste of olive alone but here, I never doubted to eat it. The lemon soured the fish a little bit, leaving the tomato do the job. The fish I think is a Lapu-Lapu, if I am not mistaken. I forgot to ask that stupid question since the menu only says “fish of the day”. It’s not the question that is stupid rather, it’s me. LoL. It’s not that tasty compared to the baked fish I tasted from my cousin’s house but its juiciness, which I think is the fish oil, is giving a sauce-like presentation and savor. Let’s go now for the dessert – the AFFOGATO. I really haven’t fully recognized entirely the taste of a legit affogato but this is not for the children. Though it has a vanilla ice cream but the bitterness of the espresso is giving it an extra kick. Lastly, since I really am a coffee lover, I will not hesitate to comment on their CARAMEL MACCHIATO. Comparing it to other caramel macchiato in Tagum City, theirs are the strongest. I asked their coffeemaker how much coffee did he put into it, he said two (2) shots. Though the caramel neutralizes the coffee, it’s still too bitter for my tounge. As with the proportionality of the price with the size of their coffee, theirs was the smallest. I bet it is a little lesser than eight (8) ounces

Since I already talked so much about all the things about the place and the food, let’s proceed lastly, to the price. Truthfully, they are not the cheapest cafe in town. I can say they have a little higher price than any cafe but I assure you, your money is well spent. They deliver a gastronomic indulgence that makes you go back and try their other recipes. And that’s I will be doing soon. I’ll be coming back and try new food in this kitchen and cafe. See ya!