Finally – a store in the middle of the city that specializes in sweet goodies and pastries such as cupcakes, cakes, cheesecakes and cookies. The new pastry shop is called The Sweet Shop. It opened on July 8, which was a Friday afternoon, and is now fast becoming a heaven for all sweet tooths.

The Sweet Shop is a small air conditioned café located at the right side corner of Park Café – which is at Plaza Divisoria, right in the middle of the city.

With its see-through glass walls, clean white chic interiors, wrought iron chairs and scrumptious pastry displays, The Sweet Shop is a saccharine heaven in the bustling city, where you can sit down and indulge in sugary bliss, unmindful of the sweltering heat and the busy world outside – even for just a couple of minutes.

Here are some delectable goodies to check out at The Sweet Shop:

• Vanilla Vanilla Cupcakes – Cupcakes have become more and more popular lately. However, they’re usually available only for bulk orders. The Sweet Shop allows you to enjoy cupcakes anytime of the day –and you can order as many or as little as you like. Their delectable cupcakes are decorated with sweet and colorful frosting, making it a perfect hit among kids!
• Carrot Cake With Crème Cheese – Another favorite cupcake from The Sweet Shop is their carrot cake, which is topped with cream cheese and a carrot-like icing design.
• Chocolate Oblivion Torte – A bestseller among customers. The Chocolate Oblivion Torte is an overload of chocolates that melt right in your mouth.
• Raspberry Walnut Rugelach – For people craving something new other than cupcakes and cakes, the Rugelach is a crescent-shaped pastry filled with delicious raspberry and walnut goodness.
• Chocolate Chip Rugelach – Another Rugelach version, this pastry is filled with chocolate chips.
• Banana Tea Bread –For those who want something more simple, their banana tea bread is a good choice. It’s perfect with coffee!
• Sugar Cookies – The Sweet Shop sells sugar cookies that come in a number of shapes and colors, such as gowns and dresses, bags and the like. These should be instant hits with the kids.
• Strawberry Shortcake – Fresh strawberries and cream in between and over two slices of cake. This delicacy is a heaven among all other sweets!
• Toblerone Cheesecake – Another twist to the famous cheesecake, the Sweet Shop’s Toblerone Cheesecake is simply delicious. It’s a baked cheesecake delicacy filled with delicious Toblerone chocolate.

These are just some of the delights that you can expect to find at The Sweet Shop. Their pastries and cakes vary daily and weekly, so you might find something new once you visit. Enjoy their delicacies with juice or coffee from 10 in the morning till 10 in the evening everyday!

-Justine B. Raagas-

Last April, while everyone was busy celebrating Easter Sunday, the usual mix of motion and calm that graced the streets of Divisoria was disturbed as fire broke out along a chain of restaurants and other establishments somewhere along the corner of T.Neri St. Luckily, the fire was put out way before it spread across the entire block, which could have resulted to a lot of damage.

However, the fire did burn a few of the city’s best food establishments to the ground; one of which was Barkadahan Grill. This fastfood restaurant has been one of the most prosperous food chains around the city; not only because it’s strategically located at the heart of the city, but also because of its appetizing menu, affordability and great service. The food chain is known for serving a wide variety of grilled dishes (including chicken, pork and fish), soups, burgers and sandwiches, as well as desserts.

Having gained a number of loyal consumers, a lot were dismayed when news of the establishment being burned to the ground was aired in the local news. So to catch up with the demands of their loyal customers, Barkadahan Grill has now relocated to the Divisoria Arcade, the new building complex located near Dunkin’ Donuts, just a few steps away from where Barkadahan Grill was originally built.

The new Barkadahan Grill at Divisoria Arcade.

The new Barkadahan Grill branch opened last June 18, 2011, a Saturday. Although the new branch appears to be a bit smaller, the establishment has easily bounced back from the incident after only a few weeks. The business is now back to serving its regular and new customers. They still serve the same delectable dishes: chicken Inasal, kinilaw, pork BBQ, grilled squid and their bestselling desserts (shakes, Buko Pandan and Buko Halo-Halo).

If you haven’t checked out their new location yet, you can visit them right at the ground floor of the Divisoria Arcade building. It’s located right at the back of Jonie’s Sizzlers and Roasts, and just several steps away from the La Favorita Ice Cream cart.

-Mara Jayne Tismo-

(Photo by Mara Jayne Tismo)

After rafting through the Cagayan de Oro River for several hours under the scorching heat, you finally reach the end point where your lunch and your luggage await. Finally, the excitement wears off – but wait – you see a wide pool with inviting clear waters! Or you see someone rolling inside a Zorbing ball. The excitement starts to wax again. Welcome to Cabula River Grill.

Cabula River Grill is the end point for a lot of white water rafting adventures, but what’s great about it is that once your water rafting adventure ends, another one is bound to begin.

Located in Sitio Cabula, Barangay Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro, the Cabula River Grill is a recent development that is focused on adventure and fun. The venue is reminiscent of several parks in the vicinity, such as the more popular Dahilayan Adventure Park or the newly developed ones such as Jatico in Bayanga, Cagayan de Oro or Kampo Juan in Diclum, which is also in Manolo Fortich.

While Cabula River Grill is an adventure park in its own right, do not expect it to be as huge or as full of adventure possibilities as Dahilayan Adventure Park. After all, you’ve already been through one thrilling and adrenaline pumping adventure (water rafting). However, there are still some things to look forward to in Cabula River Grill, and these include:

• Swimming Pool – Cabula River Grill houses a huge pool, which would be akin to a small lake. The pool starts at two feet deep on one side; but as you move further, it can get as deep as seven feet, making it a great pool for kids and adults alike.
• Clean Toilets and Dressing Room – Imagine being soaked wet after a long rough river ride! The Cabula River Grill has clean changing rooms and toilets where you can change and get out of your wet clothes or swim wear.
• Tables and Cottages – If you’re planning to stay there after cruising the river, or if you just want to hang out without having to go white water rafting at all, the venue has tables and cottages where you can sit down, place your belongings and have lunch.
• Food – The venue serves great food, such as Grill seafood or pork meat. If you start your water rafting in the morning, you’ll arrive at the grill just in time for lunch!
• Adventure – For those hungry for a bit more adventure, Cabula River Grill has some tricks in the bag, too. There are two zip line courses – one of which allows you to fall directly into the pool. Now that’s a different take on the diving board! They also have those big zorbing balls, which allow you to roll downhill inside a giant plastic zorb.

Indeed, the Cabula River Grill is something that you should look forward to at the end of your white water adventure. However, you can also enjoy and have fun in the venue without hopping on a raft. The venue is located at Sitio Cabula in Lumbia, just minutes away from the city airport. The venue entrance can be seen right from the road, so you surely won’t miss it. So go ahead and have fun at Cabula River Grill.

-Justine B. Raagas-

The dining scene in Cagayan de Oro is always bursting with excitement. From the popular eating and nightlife spots in Rosario Arcade and LimKetKai, to the long strip of kamayans and sugbahans at J.R. Borja extension, to several individual restaurants and cafes all over the city – there is always something new for you to discover.

Gerry’s Grill

One restaurant to look out for in the coming months is Gerry’s Grill. Gerry’s is a chain of restaurants based in the Philippines. With 44 stores all over the country and 3 branches in the United States, Gerry’s is one of the largest chains of restaurants to date. Don’t confuse this with fast food chains, though. The restaurant specializes in Filipino food, especially grilled seafood and meats.

The restaurant is known for its blue marlin delicacies, a specialty that is very much emphasized by the company logo. Other food items to look out for are their best-selling Sisig, char-grilled chicken, tuna belly, squid, pork belly and pork spare ribs.

The restaurant will occupy a part of what used to be Café Laguna at Robinson’s Mall and is set to open anytime this month or in July. The Cagayan de Oro branch will be the third one in Mindanao, as there are two Gerry’s Grill restaurants operating in Davao City.

TGIFriday’s

A TGIFriday’s branch recently opened in Davao’s Ayala operated Abreeza Mall, and, continuing their expansion in Ayala-Operated malls, it is set to open in Cagayan de Oro’s soon-to-rise Centrio Mall, which is also Ayala operated.

The restaurant, popularly known as Friday’s, is a famous restaurant chain with more than a thousand branches all over the world. The restaurant offers casual dining and they serve grilled meats and seafood drizzled in Jack Daniel’s sauce. They also serve pasta and salad, as well as burgers, sandwiches and lunch combos.

Aside from delicious food, TGIFriday’s also specializes in alcoholic and cocktail drinks that friends and family can share over appetizers or dinner.

These two are just some of the restaurants you should wait for within this year and the next. For the meantime, you can also check out some new restaurants that have recently opened.

-    Prawn House. Prawn House is an open-air restaurant located at the first floor of Prawn House Suites and Restaurants, which is just a couple of blocks away from SM in Pueblo. They serve a different assortment of seafood (especially prawns) cooked in a variety of ways.

-    Agua Seafood Restaurant. Located at Rosario Arcade in the LimKetKai Complex, Agua Seafood is another seafood restaurant. Decked in blue and white, Agua looks and feels aesthetically pleasing. They specialize in seafood and Asian fusion, so there should be a lot on the menu to look out for.

-    Fat Gary’s. Fat Gary’s is located at 18^th Street, Nazareth and is a casual and cozy place for great steaks, sisig and some silogs. They serve affordable meals for professionals and students.

-    Mexitalian Cuisine. This restaurant is located in Velez Street, just two shops away from Bo’s Coffee Club. They also have a branch at the Xavier Square in Pueblo de Oro. They serve Mexican and Italian food.

These four are just several of the newly opened restaurants in the city, and they should keep you – and your palate – preoccupied until more dining options pop up to entice you and your senses!

-Justine B. Raagas-

We have all come a long way to appreciating international food, especially Mexican food. But today, Kagay-anons can now enjoy the spicy and scrumptious choices of La Taco Mexican Grill at Divisoria Arcade.

Over the years, Cagayan de Oro has slowly witnessed the rise of restaurants and establishments serving authentic cuisine, from Italian to Pakistani to Korean food. However, Mexican fares took a bit longer to arrive. More than half a decade back, Xavier University and SM Cagayan de Oro had its own taco stalls that served quesadillas and burritos, but these stalls were short lived in nature. Mexican foodies were left with no choice but to create and perfect their own meals at home.

Today, however, the search ends with La Taco Mexican Grill at Divisoria Arcade. Situated right in the heart of the city, La Taco Mexican Grill sits in between several fast food chains and is surrounded by other food stalls. It still stands out, though, because of its authentic and no-frills Tex-Mex food choices that are prepared right in front of you.

So, if you’re in the mood for some quesadillas, or some beef burritos, then La Taco Mexican Grill is the place to be.

For Tex-Mex food newbies, here’s a quick crash course on the different types of no-frills food choices that you might just enjoy.

-       Tacos

Tacos are traditional dishes in Mexico, which is made from corn or wheat tortilla. It is then rolled around a filling. Taco fillings can vary, and these can include chicken, beef, seafood, cheese and a number of vegetables, which allows versatility and variety.

-       Nachos

Nachos, on the other hand, are tortilla chips that are deep fried to provide a crunch. These tortilla chips can simply be enjoyed with melted cheese or salsa. They can also be taken with other dips.

-       Burritos

Burritos are called taco de harinas, which is a Mexican type of food enjoyed by wrapping wheat flour tortillas around a filling. The flour tortilla is usually steamed or grilled in order to soften it. The burritos are then filled with different fillings such as Mexican rice, beans, meat or vegetables or a combination of such. Burritos are also usually filled with sour cream or other sauces.

-       Quesadillas

Quesadillas are corn or flour tortillas filled with cheese and other savory mixtures. They are folded into a half moon form. Quesadillas are always filled with cheeses, hence the name, which is derived from the Spanish word “queso.”

Sounds completely mouthwatering, right? Yes indeed, and truly, the quest for the ever elusive Mexican fare ends today. So why not grab a bite by heading to the La Taco Mexican Grill at Divisoria Arcade today?

-Justine Raagas-