Wandering Barefoot: Food & Tales

Kung Hei Fat Choi! It’s Chinese New Year and for those who weren’t able to fulfill their New Year’s resolution life throws in a second chance cause you can absolutely start doing what you were supposed to do about 23 days ago.

Speaking of Chinese New Year watch out for my blogpost about celebrating the first day of the Year of the Water Dragon in Marco Polo Plaza Hotel. I still have to find something red to wear. 

And to open the year, I’m glad that the guys from Zerothreetwo have been constantly publishing my food articles/posts. Yippee! Check out my SumoSam entry here! 

I seriously owe you guys kwento about my January, which was super busy but interesting all at the same time. January is the ultramegasuperkadooper busy month of the company I’m working in thus explaining the tipid blog posts. So here are some photos of what I have been up to lately.

Finally, the long overdue dinner with my Highschool best friends - Jorine and Swanie. We had dinner at 30’s kitchen (my first time) and the reviews were definitely right, the food was superb!

I heard that their Constantine Panini sandwich was a must try and so I ordered and was not disappointed at all. 

Philly Steak strips with cucumber, tomatoe, onions and this really yummy dressing that explodes with awesomeness. 

Tantan ordered their Kani Salad.

Semi spicy buffalo wings with blu cheese dip. The batter was different, gave the wings a different texture but all in all it was delicious!

We then had desserts at Fudge but I wasn’t into desserts so I ordered their Fudge Brownie (I actually pointed out their mint brownie but since they placed the vanilla ice cream on top already, I couldn’t change my order) which was… okey.

This is jorine’s order, I forgot if it was Caramel or butterscotch but it was just too sweet for my taste.

I ordered Food for the Gods, I loved them especially my Tita Chit’s version, I always request for it during family gatherings but it was really disappointing that Fudge’s version was just too sweet. 

This was taken last December when we visited our relatives in my mom’s side. Yes, friends that’s my mom with my cousin (who exactly looks like me when I was her age) and my brother. I know friends you’d be shock that I posted a photo of my mother online, I never do that but since it was Christmas let’s make an exception.

Dinner with officemates and company Christmas gathering. 

Dad’s birthday dinner at Parklane.

Better late than never. Sinulog2013 with my purple friends minus tio, Ariel and afternoon til dawn drinking. Oh yes, we’re all grown up now. haha

Miss Cebu visit at our SM Atrium selling area.

Me playing around

Mango Avenue crowd at 3AM during Sinulog

My close buddy Anther just got crowned Miss Cebu. 

Jorine and I during the Miss Cebu Coronation night. She slept 3 times during the show. hahaha 

Lupon Anduyo drum beaters at our SM Atrium display

Random Coffee with HS Friends

Kna’s recent Cebu trip

Someone’s surprise

Homer and I at Ila Puti

I’ll have to cut this post here and make a part 2 of my Decemeber-January happenings. I have to get going now. See yah!

Thanks Sir Alex ‘Phatboy’ Lim for putting me in his guest list. It’s happening this saturday, excited to see TAKEN BY CARS and URBANDUB. 

Hope to see you guys at the zerothreetwo.com Sinulog street party! =)

Because of her joining the pageant there were times when we’d fight about plans that had to be pushed aside because she had to make this her priority. I’ve read several comments about how she didn’t deserve the crown or that the pageant was “lutong macau” but if you only knew the reason why she joined and how she worked hard to be at her best during the whole competition you’d know how deserving she is to be crowned this year’s Miss Cebu. Very much proud of things she has accomplished and will accomplish. 

Wish I had a photo of her during that night but I had to leave right away (cause of work). Congrats pare!

P.S. You finally nailed the walk! hahaha

A few days to go and it’s gonna be SINULOG, a much awaited festival in Cebu honoring the Sr. Sto. Nino. And for those of you, who will be joining the rest of Cebu and its visitors in the streets, check out these awesome tips from Islands Souvenirs and Zerothreetwo!

P.S.

Been extremely busy that’s why it has been quiet around here. After Sinulog, I’ll be back to blogging. =)

I know most of you are munching on last night’s leftovers and swearing to start dieting tomorrow, well, I’m gonna play the devil’s advocate and tempt you with this MALICIOUS treat from Marco Polo Cebu’s Cafe Marco. Crispy and delectable cookies smothered with white chocolate and choco chips plus a secret ingredient that makes you wanna finish more than enough!  

What is the secret ingredient? No one knows, in fact this cookie right here doesn’t even have a name yet so they call it MALICIOUS Cookies, interesting right?

During my lunch at Cafe Marco, the chef was awesome enough to bake us a fresh batch, just in time to match the free coffee served after our meal. 

So I’m interested, what would you name this mysterious cookie? Tell me or tweet it to Marco Polo’s official twitter account. (@5starincebu)

Thanks to new followers and those who have dropped messages in my tumblr site! =) 

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year where ever you are in the world!

Photos by: Tina Cantos

Cebu is a place of good food but for good buffet, Marco Polo Cebu Hotel’s Cafe Marco tops it! And in this season of merry making and celebration, Cafe Marco presents its Festive Buffet, the perfect mix of festive eats and treats! 

Last Christmas until the New Year, dine at Cafe Marco and experience gastronomical fireworks as it takes you to a culinary journey of the best desserts, international cuisine and the grandest and most festive dishes - beyond your wildest dreams! (of every foodie ofcourse!) 

Miss Yumny of Marco Polo’s E-Marketing Department was glad to host us to a hearty lunch buffet at Cafe Marco and just by looking at desserts,  I knew the word “festive” was an understatement. 

Ohhh…. Now didn’t I just make your mouth water? Cafe Marco’s Marble Cake topped with fruits. 

According to Miss Yumny, for those who want to spend their New Year’s Eve and N New Years Day with a little bit of oomph, Marco Polo Hotel has prepared their Festive Season Buffet with more jazz as you dine with live entertainment and free-flowing standard drinks.  At Php 1,700.00 net per person, it ain’t band to start the year with a grand, festive buffet at Cafe Marco. 

So I’ve mentioned that Cafe Marco’s buffet, is for me, one of the best so what sets the Festive Season Buffet apart? Cause it took the bar higher by serving celebration dishes like Cebu Lechon, Turkey, Roasted Beef, Roasted Chicken and many more.

Now, that is food porn don’t you think?

They also made their usual buffet treats special to make it sparkle by adding new colors and flavors.

Liver wrapped in bacon.

Prepare your palette with these delicious festive appetizers. They’ve got roasted pork strips in glaze, Chicken Relleno, Chicken Galentine and many more.

You can also start off with their variety of bread, specialty cheeses, deli and soup.

For those who prefer it light, they have a salad bar where they serve fresh and crisp greens with tons of toppings like anchovies, olives, fresh tomatoes and salad sauces to choose from. You have the choice to have it tossed by the chefs or combine it on your own. There are a variety of mixed salads available like the bean-curry salad, several kinds of kimchi and much more.

For the entree, you can have it your way, either you want it something grilled, steamed, Chinese, Japanese, Italian - the choice seems endless. 

They have the favorites, California Maki, Japanese & Veggie Tempura and Tuna/Salmon Sashimi. For the festive season, they made rolls in different colors like green, red, yellow and black - how cool is that? 

Not your usual Lumpia (you can tell by that interesting thing that protrudes from the wrapper) 

Filipino favorite, Caldereta.

Mixed Seafood, the perfect balance of sweet and spice.

Lightly buttered Fish Fillet that melts in your mouth. 

Beef - nothing specified what kind it was but it was gooooodddddd.

Vegetable Lasagna and Ganocchi. - Personally loved the Lasagna.

Mixed Veggies for the health conscious diners.

Pritson - Pritong Lechon

Succulent and fall off the bones, Ribs. YUMM!!!

Pecking Duck matched with their special Hoisin Sauce or your choice of sauce (they offer a variety of sauces to fit your preference)

These photos are just half of what the buffet offer, they’ve got crab meat, Marco Polo fried rice, Chinese Chorizos, Dimsum favorites, noodles and pasta served in your preference, Chicken and Tamaride pepper glaze, sausages and seafood that you can have grilled, oysters and seriously more.

I’ve been using the word more quite often in this post, that is because Cafe Marco has so many dishes to choose from, you wish you had two stomach so you can taste them all. 

Now, for desserts…

Cakes and pastries of different forms, Chocolate fountain, Halo-Halo, Crepe and Ice Cream stations.

I’m telling you, the photos in this post did not cover all the dishes available and served at the buffet. And if this does not entice you to go and take your loved ones and friends to Cafe Marco’s Festive Season Buffet (SERIOUSLY?!), I don’t know what will. 

This is how buffet should be - varied, grand, festive and most of all DELICIOUS! 

Cafe Marco is open for Lunch (11AM-2PM) and Dinner (6PM-10PM)

Cafe Marco is located at Marco Polo Hotel in Nivel Hill, Lahug, Cebu.

Visit them at www.marcopoloplazacebu.com 

Photos by: Tina Cantos