Where Locals Dine (or my own version of Surigao Eats)

The new (and not so new places to eat) in my hometown. A low-down of where I usually go to whenever I am back home (there's also places I'll never come back, or hopefully these guys improve their offering):

DINNER AT LOTTY'S AKA SAME PLACE

I say this so many times, my favorite place on Earth is barbecue at home. Yep, no matter how sad, how stressed or happy I am, I always go back to this place for barbecue. I've tried loads of them but I always go back to this place. Formerly known as Lotty's, this place since changed its name to "Same Place". Since I was in high school, this was my "go-to" place for dinner, snacking and even those much needed

"pick me up" meals. It might look like your typical carinderia but this place already has around 6 branches around the city (there's one in front of Gaisano- near the airport, two in the city -other one near Trade Center, two in Bilang-bilang near the port).

I I love this ate and the other one who cooks in their original branch. Their prices remained competitive and the food? tastes exactly the same.

Don't forget to request their "sweet sauce" whenever you have their barbecue. Aside from the marinade, the secret to their perfect barbecue is in the grilling. (Naks this is the part where I need to quote Rex's words): "The fire burns evenly into the meat. No sudden bursts of flames which creates uneven burning on the meat. Ate seems to know how to cook the meat well as there is enough burning without causing the meat to be overcooked.

The damage to your wallet? Not so much. For Php100, you are so good to go.

BREAKFAST IN THE PUBLIC MARKET

 I remember my room mates hating me for finding all seafood meals in Manila underwhelming. Who can blame me when I can have fresh and deliciously cooked creatures back home? Affordable and most of the time never a day's old, these babies are always guaranteed to make great meals at home.

 

 A man's average catch!

 Seafood Section

It's always a good option to buy your pasalubongs here. Just get an icebox before your flight and fill it up with these goodies:

The crab's really good with your home-made version of Alavar sauce and we usually get this huge shellfish turned to soup. Meat's tender and juicy in a not so hotdog way. :)

Another option you have is eating at Babielyn Kitchenette.  This one has to be my folks' favorite. This is one tough feat. Many of my friends know, my dad can be so meticulous on Filipino food. Since he cooks i himself (and quite well actually), he can have such high standards on how fresh and "simple yet well cooked" it should be. My mom usually goes here for fish soup. I love their fresh lumpia here. The owner is very hands-on. Best to head here in the morning and have your market finds cooked here. Better than most eateries found here. The place is located at the back of the market, the second eatery.

(image from Open Rice)

LUNCH AT TT'S FOODCOURT

Pardon me, but that is really the name of the place.If you find yourself near the port (or you just fancy frolicking around Borrromeo Street), head off to their foodcourt for affordable (and yummy) meals.

                      

                             Steamed Rice with Pork             L-R Chicken Feet, Mushroom and Quail Egg Siomai. 

Not in the picture is my favorite Sizzling Beef Teriyaki. They also serve Cassava Cake.

Merienda: HOME BAKER

Sadly, when I came back they already delisted my favorite "Pineapple Bread". Its a 6 inch bread stuffed with pineapple chunks inside topped with melted sweet milk. Not recommended for the diabetic :) There's no other way to have your merienda with this and some Chocolait. :) You can also request the cheese version of this, plus its made with Eden (peak through the boxes inside their kitchen). 

(We managed to order a box of it) Its located near Miranda Hospital (along Km. 2)

The not so quite in my list.

I never diss restaurants just cause there's always room for improvement, and hey if they're still running today they must be doing something right. Who am I to judge other people who eat at this place more and pay for their food? Taste can be so relative anyway.

We ate at this restaurant beside the Provincial Gym. I forgot to note the name since it was my first time to eat at this place. The food was a tad overpriced considering I'm used to affordable, good meals whenever I am in the city. Relatively priced around Php200-300. You might think, but Em? How can you be so cheap? Just head off to Babielyn's, they've got bigger servings and food tastes so much better.

 

Let me start off by saying, I love neighborhood coffee shops. I do. I even love the owners here since they're family friends. The place? It's conveniently located near the City Gym and whenever you had too much partying at Club Alcatraz, you can easily relieve yourself from coffee and dessert.

But I really hated every bit of that sugar coffee I just drank. I hated the gelato, which reminded me that I'll never go back to Italy soon to have or why I should've bought Magnum than this. And why coffeeshops just don't seem to get why they should always, always use Philadelphia Cream Cheese on their cheese cake. I know its just "affordable" cheesecake, but please its cheesecake, never scrimp on my cream cheese or you'll end up tasting like gelatin.

The saving grace? This banana cream pie. I admit hating Banapple's meals but I can never fault them for their Banoffee pie. So here's their version of it. Not the best of the bunch, but hey its a start.

I'll leave you folks with my not so graduation picture this year. This one's for them since without this stint I had I would never have headed off back home. 

PS Special thanks to M' Tabar for making me love History and M' Bonono for scaring us so much that it seriously improved our Tagalog vocabulary :D