Cebu: Food Trip

I haven't been able to post as often as I wanted to because of the crazy few months that I've had but anyway, to cap off my Cebu trip, I'm posting food photos.

Our first meal is at Cafe Cesario, the restaurant at the domestic airport with insanely priced meals.

P100 beef rice and it might look big in the photo but this is one small cup, just about three large spoonfuls

P280+ for half a bangus and rice

A Cebu trip wouldn't be complete without trying their famous Cebu Lechon which we immediately had as soon as Ayala Mall opened. 

CNT's Lechon (I was surprised that there's no Mang Tomas but the meat was tender and very flavorful, you can totally do away with the sauce)

Affordable grilled meats and seafood for dinner at AA BBQ. Great value for money! Everything was priced just right and they were all very satisfying.

To cap off the night, we headed to Ilaputi. The restaurant had cool interiors, a live band, alcohol, affordable dishes (although with quite small portions) and they're open 24 hours! What's not to like?

The next day is a visit to another Cebu icon, Casa Verde. Home to their famous humongous ribs. Do stick to the ribs when paying a visit there as our other orders were mostly misses. 

"Huge ribs"

"The steak was tough, dry and really bloody in the middle while burnt outside"

"Melted cheese slices on top of chicken fajitas"

We then had desserts at La Marea, famous for their brownie cups. Pretty okay stuff and I do like how they serve their coffee. 

We also discovered a great tasting lechon at one of the small night markets there. I daresay it's even better than CNT's, Seven's Boneless Inasal Lechon.

Our last meal would be lunch at Quest's Puso Bistro and Bar. The buffet is value for money, we got dining credits for our overnight stay there so we ended up paying just about P500 for 3 buffet meals. 

The spread is quite generous as well so make sure to check it out if you're in Cebu. 

Cafe Cesario

Mactan Airport, Cebu City

The Original AA BBQ

Salinas Drive, Cebu City

Ilaputi

IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City

info@ilaputi.com.ph

Casa Verde

The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu

IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City

info@casaverdecebu.com

La Marea

IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City

lamarea_itpark@ymail.com

Puso Bistro & Bar

Quest Hotel

Archbishop Reyes Ave, Cebu City

cebuinfo@quest-hotels.com

Crown Regency Hotel and Towers, Cebu

I chose Crown Regency Hotel and Towers in Cebu for only one reason and that is the Extreme Adventures that they have. I didn't even bother to read reviews of the hotel so I wasn't expecting much when we got there.

I didn't do a lot of research on the hotel but by the looks of it, it appears that the property acquired the building beside it and turned it into the hotel's extension. If this is true, this would explain why the elevators are confusing as you have to make certain transfers to get to the other parts of the hotel and why the floors are not level.

Lobby

The lobby is quite small for such a big hotel and it does get very crowded especially as they "park" all the luggages of guests there and also since wifi is only available there. 

Room

The room is a surprise as it is very spacious, even the toilet gives you plenty of space.

If you need an ironing board, you need to call housekeeping to see if there's any available, which we did. We were informed that they'll send one up but it never came. There are no bathrobes and sockets are quite few as well.

Their towels are also old and are in dire need of replacing. 

Breakfast

What I was most disappointed about with my stay here would be breakfast. You need to wake up a bit early as the restaurant can't handle the capacity of the guests staying at the hotel. There are queues snaking and there can be quite a bit of a wait to get seated unless you come in really early or quite late.

There's a row of dirty tables when we got there and not one of them got cleaned during the entire time that we were having breakfast.

Food is also just so so and I have to point out the bananas that they were serving the the fruit station. Really sad.

Pool and Gym

They have several pools, the 9th floor has 2 pools, a lap pool and one free form. They have an aqua fitness pool on the 17th floor similar to ACE Water Spa but the hydrojets were no longer working.

The gym is quite big and is well equipped.

Other Hotel Facilities

The hotel's main draw is, of course, the Extreme Adventures from the 37th to the 42nd floor - The Edge Coaster, Skywalk Extreme, Zipline, Wall Climbing and the Cliffhanger.

Apart from those mentioned above, the hotel also has other interesting attractions such as the Dimension, a disco cafe at the 43rd floor, a 4D theater and playzone for kids and a "theme" restaurant.

Location

The hotel is located right beside a Robinson's mall and is a few steps away Fuente Circle. Jeepneys outside take you directly to Ayala Center Cebu and the other tourist spots are less than 15 minutes away by cab.

Overall, the hotel feels a bit chaotic. I can recommend this hotel to families with kids or if you are traveling with a big group, otherwise, you'd be better off staying elsewhere.

Crown Regency Hotel and Towers

Tower 1, Fuente Towers, Osmena Blvd

Cebu City

+6332 418-8888

reservations@crownregency.com

Avenue Q The Musical and Swimming with Sharks in Singapore

Avenue Q The Musical

Avenue Q holds a special place in my heart being the first Atlantis Prod show that I bought with friends. Check out my gratitude post here. When I heard that Atlantis Productions is bringing the show in Singapore for a short run, I was beyond excited. I managed to find a schedule, a Wednesday night, that works for both Em-J and I and off we went to the theatre.


Only Rachel Alejandro from the original Manila cast was retained. I actually became a fan of hers when I saw her in this production, the way she was able to transition from one character to the next engaged in a cat fight is just amazing and I can say that she hasn't lost her touch.

The rest of the cast also transitioned from one character to the next seamlessly. I did miss Frenchie Dy as Christmas Eve but Anna Fegi was also good. Besting out Wicked for Best Musical, you can expect one great show and the all Filipino cast delivered. I felt proud to be Pinoy.

The play runs at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Theatre till Sunday, Oct. 7. Catch the show while its still playing and I assure you it's one of the best 2 hours you'll spend inside the theatre. We both left the theatre with a big smile on our faces.


Now, can I just also voice out what the rest of the fans are saying, a Manila repeat next, please.

Tip: Try to sit as close to the stage as possible, it's better to see the facial expressions of the cast.


Avenue Q, Singapore
Marina Bay Sands Grand Theatre
Fri, 8PM / Sat & Sun, 2PM & 8PM



Swimming With Sharks


I have been a fan of Pangdemonium since their first production and save for The Dealer's Choice, I have seen their every show so I wouldn't pass up the chance to watch Swimming With Sharks.

I haven't seen the movie so I read about the show a little and formed the conclusion that it's The Devil Wears Prada on stage with male characters. The similarity ends with the premise that a new hire is working for an evil boss. The play is much darker but still funny.

Clocking in at almost 3 hours (including the intermission), the actors' energy were boundless especially the two leads who were on stage 90% of the time. The material was tight and was never boring save for the first scene, though no fault of the show. I wanted it to immediately end as I was squirming in my seat because I can feel my tummy threatening to emit one of its "I'm hungry" loud, embarrassing gurgle. It was doubly hard because it was awfully quiet, there was no background sound being piped in and the Drama Centre is a bit cramped.

Adrian's talent has been proven many times over so it's no surprise that he delivers a strong performance, I am always amazed at how he falls into character with ease.

George Young is a major revelation. Being his first theatrical debut, his first few scenes seemed easy playing a timid newbie. But the second act required so much of him and he nailed it. I won't say what happens but I was on the edge of my seat. I am just amazed at how fast he transitions from looking like a train wreck to looking mighty fine in a manner of seconds.


Swimming With Sharks also runs till this Sunday.

Tip: The stage is multi-level, so choose a balcony seat. Seated at row C, I had a hard time seeing the actors when they were on the 2nd level as a bar directly covers their faces. On the other hand, sitting up close, you might just get a glimpse of something extra as wardrobe malfunctions can't be avoided in live theatre.


Swimming With Sharks
Drama Centre Theatre, National Library
Fri, 8PM / Sat & Sun, 3PM & 8PM

It's great that the theatre scene is alive and well in Singapore so do yourself a favor and have a little fun this weekend. Watch Avenue Q The Musical or Swimming With Sharks or better yet, both!


Now, just to squeeze this in, if you're in Manila, NINE is on its closing weekend as well. Get your tickets now!!!

Quest Hotel and Conference Center, Cebu City

I learned about Cebu's newest hotel when they offered their introductory rates through one of the deal sites. I had no intention of staying in the city proper at that time so I didn't give it much thought. I did find myself booking a room in Quest through last minute change of plans.

We actually lucked out as we were surprised at how nice and welcoming the people were the moment you step inside. The hotel also looked very classy. At a fraction of what a 5 star hotel would cost, this was one great deal.




Location: 

What I particularly loved about the hotel is its location, it is right across Ayala Center Cebu and the nightlife in Cebu IT Park is about a 20-minute walk away. We tried. Of course, you can take a cab as cabs are plentiful right outside. There are also several thai massage places right outside.

Room: 



The room that we stayed in, the Premiere Deluxe, if I'm not mistaken has a balcony overlooking the pool but is a bit compact.



Facilities:

There is a pool that is nicely designed as well.

There are meeting rooms, I think, right outside the pool area as well. How fun would it be to have your meetings there? Cool.



For formal meetings, there is a business floor with several conference and meeting rooms as well.




Wifi is free but is a bit weak once you're inside your room.

We were so impressed with the hotel that we didn't pass up the chance to take lots of photos.






As it turns out, Quest was also home for some of Philippine Basketball's finest for that weekend, hence, a few more photos.







Read my full review and check out more photos of the hotel here: WhenInManila, Quest Hotel and Conference Center