The Lost Bag of Oatiekin Bars from Tsokolat Bakeshop in Dumaguete City

UPDATE: The Tsokolat store sign might not be there, but you can still get these oatiekin bars. It’s not on display anymore but just ask the employee in the shop if you want some. For orders, contact Francine at 09178639443.

November of 2009, I spent a week in Dumaguete City in order to learn online jobs. It was a nice break since I never really had a long vacation from work. My leaves were usually spent as added days off from my normal rest days. While in the City of Gentle People, I was advised by a friend to check out oatiekin cookie bars from Tsoklat Bakeshop along Hibbard Avenue.

Tsokolat Bakeshop
Dumaguete City

oatiekins tsokolat
Oatiekin Chocolate Fudgy Bars
photo credit: michellephilippines.blogspot.com

Oatiekin Chocolate Bars – fudgy chocolate cream bars wrapped between oatmeal blankets.

I couldn’t remember the actual note posted in a red cutout paper. But it sounded something like the description above. This was recommended to me on Facebook and a few people at the office requested me to buy these rich choco bars for them. Below is a conversation on my Facebook wall.

facebook dumaguete
Great how technology works, no?

Prior to our online chat, I had to visit the place in order to see how their pastries tasted. The bakeshop wasn’t hard to find as it was located near a house where we lived when we were still staying in Dumaguete. Besides, the city is small so everything is easily accessible.

I arrived after lunch time and was welcomed with a quaint store between a water station and a laundry shop – really multifunctional. The bakeshop sold a number of desserts with peculiar names such as chizmosa, lanky chews, mango tango, kalamanji, hooters and so much . Pretty odd labels but still looked interesting.

tsokolat bakeshop dumaguete
Tsokolat Bakeshop Bread and Pastries
Where Sweet Dreams Come True

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Cambodia Trip: A Guide to Eating Cheap Khmer Food in Siem Reap

During our stay in Siem Reap, we mostly ate on the streets and nearby eateries. Because of having a limited budget, food is one of the things we had to compromise when eating in Cambodia.

We spent 3 days and 2 nights there but we did not starve ourselves during that trip. However, we didn’t splurge either. Average food costs around 2 to 2.50 USD but we really went in for those cheaper alternatives such as 1 dollar meals.

Breakfast Meals in our Guesthouse
Breakfast food were already provided during our stay in Bousavy Guesthouse so we saved a lot considering we had three meals in total.

What I like best is that they always have a banana and some pineapple slices on the side to go with the breakfast. A simple meal can look great when you know how to present it. With the big servings, my friends were not able to eat it all so lucky for me, I got to take the remaining portion of their food. hehe.

bread omelette khmer fried noodles cambodian
Omelet with Bread (Baguette) | Stir-Fried Noodles with Vegetables and Meat

cambodian pancake waffles ice tea cambodia
Pancake with maple syrup | Iced Tea

Dinner Meals at Bousavy Guesthouse
Apart from the free breakfast meals, we took advantage of a package that included one free dinner meal of our choice. It was great that we were able to choose from a wide set of choices. I apologize if I was not able to write down the actual names written on the menu.

fish soup
Milk Fish Soup | Pork Curry

khmer cuisine
Pork Meat in Coconut milk — not sure if this is Amok

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Selling Tumbler’s Homemade Ice Cream last Sinulog 2011

I didn’t get to take a lot of pictures last Sinulog 2011 because I was busy selling homemade ice cream; even if it was raining!

Last year (Sinulog 2010 blog article), I took part on the street parade and took a number of photos which was a blast because I got to practice my skills in photography. However this year, I only took a few. You can blame it on the bad weather as the water poured hard during lunch time.

tumblers cebu
Tumbler’s Ice Cream in Cebu

Weather predictions were clear that it was going to be a wet Sunday for Cebuanos but it never hindered the people from going out on the road and party. I went out with a couple of friends until I stopped by a former colleagues’ ice cream stall somewhere in Mango Avenue.


crowded

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Confessions of a First-Time Balut Eater

“You’ve never eaten balut?” – people were asking in unison as if I’ve committed a crime and were waiting for me to explain myself. But I didn’t know how to respond in defense. Rather than coming up with a lame excuse, I surrendered in admission.

I confess, I’m a Filipino but I’ve never eaten balut.

I get these dazed looks from people whenever I disclose this information. A silent pause is what comes next which serves as a signal for me to clarify the statement on why I’ve never tried this famous Philippine delicacy. I tell you this is a great ice-breaker during conversations.

balut eater
crack it open

BALUT is a popular (if not the most) Filipino street food which is a fertilized duck egg or chicken egg with an almost-developed embryo that is boiled and eaten in a shell. It has been considered as a trademark of Filipino culture because they say you can’t call yourself Filipino unless you’ve eaten one.

Now that it’s so popular, how come I haven’t eaten one? Probably because no one has really forced me so. I also haven’t forced myself too. When I finally had the chance to try it because this was the topic of our Facebook Group’s Blog Carnival, I was able to satisfy my curiosity.

philippine balut
veins

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JoEd’s Lutong Hapon: Affordable Japanese Food in Cebu

Craving for some CHEAP Japanese food here in Cebu? I suggest you try JoEd’s Lutong Hapon in Mabolo.

I first read about this small eatery on Carla’s blog which was also what an office colleague also mentioned in random. I was able to check a thread of this store in a local forum on how you can really find value for your money because of how affordable the prices are.

Japanese Cebu
JoEd’s Lutong Hapon in Cebu

I’m not a big fan of Japanese cuisine but I like to try out different food places when they’re new; most especially when they’re cheap. So during our lunch break, my officemates and I headed to Juan Luna Extension from Asiatown IT Park.

california maki
California Maki – 65 Php per plate

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Cebu Red Ribbon Crispy Chicken, Choco Fudge Cake and Black Forest

Pardon my ignorance but I thought Red Ribbon was only limited to cakes, pastries and some pastas. I know my older brother always ordered their Palabok platter whenever a special occasion arises. Little did I know that they also have rice meals available to whet the appetite of the Filipino eater.

red ribbon menuRed Ribbon menu at Cocomall branch

red ribbon store  Cakes and rolls display at Red Ribbon

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Cebu Zugboi Roasted Liempo and Roasted Chicken

If you’re in Cebu and you’re craving for some roasted liempo, I suggest you check out Zugboi Roasted Liempo and Roasted Chicken.

Zugboi Roasted Liempo and Roasted Chicken is owned and managed by Chef Alvin Kwan who earned his Culinary Arts diploma in Singapore. I arrived early and while I was waiting for my friends, Alvin, discussed about why he set up this business and his plans on expanding in the near future.

roasted pig liempo capitol
Zugboi Cebu at Capitol

cebu roasted liempo  chop chop.

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CoffeeCat in Cebu Asiatown IT Park

CoffeeCat
Ground Floor of EBloc Tower Building
Asiatown IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City

One weekend, Doi and I decided to visit Cebu’s newest coffee shop, Coffeecat in Asiatown IT Park, in order to check out their coffee and yogurt offerings. We wanted a place to hang out and finish our freelance jobs as we still had some pending tasks to work on. We were there a day after their grand opening and the cafe was packed but we were able to find a free spot inside to sit.

Coffeecat cafe is a lifestyle coffee shop idea which is owned and managed by Coffeecat Corporation. This place originated in my hometown which is in Davao City and it has now arrived in the shores of Cebu at the eBloc Tower Building.

coffee cat menu coffeecat logo coffee cat
Coffee Cat menu, Yogo Yogurt Menu, Coffee Cat is now open in Cebu IT Park

cebu coffee cat coffee cat cebu coffee cat ed
Coffee Cat at the JP Morgan Chase & Co. Building, checking out the menu

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Chilling at Coffee Cat in Asiatown IT Park

Enjoying some food at CoffeeCat at the Asiatown IT Park. This is a new cafe that just opened and I later realized that this new wifi Cafe in Cebu originated in my hometown which is in Davao City. They branched out to the Cebu market which is actually a great move. Will blog more about … Read more

Coffeecat Opens in Cebu

Coffeecat cafe will be opening in the eBloc Tower building in Asiatown IT Park, Cebu. The name sounds new to me and I plan on visiting the shop when I drop by over the weekend to see what the place offers. At least now I have another place to hang out while enjoying a cup … Read more

Green Leaf Kitchen: Cherry’s Home Cookin’

Been helping out my next-door neighbor with her cooking. Colleagues were requesting for her services to come up with some dishes that they picked from a magazine for mother’s day. Green Leaf Kitchen is a home project which I believe will prosper since Cherry (the cook) loves to prepare food. Because of this, I get … Read more

Hebrews: my little wifi corner in Asiatown IT Park

Hebrews is a wifi haven! IT Park is turning out to be a haven for wifi surfers. Given that it’s an IT zone, the whole place should have internet connection available. Because it would still be costly, there are only a few establishments that offer wifi service, One of the normal days where I usually … Read more

Familia Restaurant at the Imperial Palace

This is the continuation of the Imperial Palace Weekend post in Mactan last November 28, 2009. Because of being too tired from all the walking and sliding and picture-taking and checking out the different parts of the waterpark, we were already tired that at 7pm, we were already hungry and ready to attack the buffet … Read more

Mabolo Shawarma

Shawarma at Mabolo I was accompanied by Doi and Audrey as we were scouting for a second-hand table and chair for me to place my laptop in the boarding house. We went Sen Ryu in Talamban and Barracks in Archbishop Reyes but we checked that the furniture were expensive. I soon got tired and we … Read more