Davao’s Kangaroo Coffee Company

Starbucks is not the only coffee place in the world with free wifi. Incidentally, this wonderful coffee place in Davao City serves the same quality coffee and desserts that you can find in your neighborhood Starbucks and even more. While the free wifi isn’t the only crowd-pleaser, the coffee is too, most especially the civet coffee or the Kape Balos which has been rumored to be the best-tasting coffee there is. And it comes from civet dung. For those with a flair for the exotic and new, Kape Balos may just be the right pick-me-up for you. In Luzon, it is generally...

Davao’s Ah Fat Seafood Plaza

See the seal at the lower right side of this image? This is practically a government guarantee of satisfaction not seen in all restaurants in Davao City. Truly, this restaurant came up each time I asked a local as where I could sample some of Davao’s famous seafood. Being from Manila, seafood is somewhat too expensive for us to have anytime we want. However, I was not going to let this opportunity pass me by when I stayed in beautiful Davao City. And indeed, my wish was granted; I craved no more. Notice the nice cars parked in the area? All kinds of people, rich...

Davao FAT: Day 2

Lunch for Davao FAT Day 2 was at Pepper & Peppers. It is a quaint little place in the heart of the city (Central Convenience Store Compound, E. Jacinto Extension corner V. Mapa Street, Davao City) where you can sample their specialty, the Iberian Chicken. They get a whole chicken, then marinate it with their own special herbs and spices, lavish it with olive oil and grade A potatoes then pop it in the oven. True to the owner’s description, it really did deserve a special place in the table. Pepper & Peppers opened late last year, 2008 and already this...

Davao FAT: Day 1

Upon arrival yesterday, we checked in to our hotel and I was not at all disappointed. Before leaving for Davao I had prepped myself for possible scenarios that might stem from ignorance of this sorely misunderstood city. In Manila, I was told by a lot of people not to go because of the “situation” in Mindanao. Being in Davao now and talking to some locals, I wonder what “situation” it was that they were talking about. Was it the cheap bargains, the warm and friendly people, the overly accommodating restaurants or maybe the wonderful sights and...

When Galunggong is King

Please excuse the Knorr seasoning powder in the background. This isn’t meant to be a promotional post of Knorr, it’s Noreen cooking, not Claudine. However, I also need to acknowledge the one ingredient that was cheapest and had the biggest impact on the taste of the dish. Every once in while, we all crave for the brand of homestyle cooking that no restaurant can offer. It’s messy, no presentation, no food styling involved and served on ordinary plates with no regard for etiquette. So what? I’m home, husband of the chef, and I’m the only...