Golden Prince Hotel & Suites: on its 10th Year Anniversary

I had an opportunity to get an invite from Cebu Blogger's Network (thanks to Fleire Castro) and Golden Prince Hotel & Suite's Bulawanong Dekada blogger invitation.

Golden Prince Hotel & Suites is on its 10th year anniversary and they have a month long of activities in store for everyone. 

Photo Credits: Golden Prince Hotel and Suites FB Page

Photography and Speech competition had recently concluded however, you have until September 18, 2016 to avail their Deal of the Decade for P2780. Plus more events in the coming weeks.

Photo Credits: Golden Prince Hotel and Suites FB Page

Aside from their cozy rooms, Golden Prince Hotel and Suites also offers comfortable dining places for a wonderful golden experience on food and beverages. 

They have the:

Le’mon Restaurant - that offers all-day dining buffet restaurant with their Modern Cebuano Fusion. 

Q Cafe - that offers their exceptional coffee and unique pastries such as Puffy Otap and many more. 

Kabilin Heritage Lounge - that let you experience a cultural Cebuano tradition Royal merienda.

Lanai Restobar - that offers a Cebuano twist cocktails and mocktails.

Bulawan Grills & Wines - that showcase German cuisine with a touch of Cebuano flair plus a beautiful view of the Cebu. 

Have a Cebuano Royaly treatment, visit Golden Prince Hotel and Suites :)

Akita Japanese Restaurant Cebu - What to Expect

Really a big fan of Japanese food and culture. Something about how they meticulously prepare their food and how art is combine to present a beautifully crafted meal is interesting. It has been my favorite ever since. 

When Cebu Food Bloggers (CBC Foodies) were invited by Akita Japanese Restaurant, I make myself available and ask Kalami Cebu if I could join. The invitation was well fitting since its been awhile that my tastebuds haven't eaten on a Japanese meal

Akita Japanese Restaurant, which recently open last April 2016, is located at the ground floor of GND Building, along F. Cabuhug, Kasambagan, Cebu City 6000. GND Building is few blocks from Sykes. You'll never fail to miss it because of its bright green color. The theme color seems to attract those who are health buff as it depicts healthy food :)

So together with the Cebu Food Bloggers (CBC Foodies), here's what we feast at Akita Japanese Restaurant: 

Salad

Because of its modern vibe, they offer salads like Chicken Salad and Mediterranean Salad, both at Php180 per serving. Perfect for vegetable lovers.

Finger Foods

They also offer Gyoza (Japanese Dumplings) at Php150 and Kakiage (deep-fried vegetables) at Php200. Best eaten when dip in their tasty sauce. 

Chicken

Their Chicken Karaage (deep-fried chicken) is at Php220. Tender and juciy chicken with thinly shredded cabbage salad.

Ramen

Chashu Miso Ramen, at Php300, was the best noodle broth topped with vegetables like bean sprouts, carrots, corn and onion leaves. I like that it is less spicy yet still flavorful with al-dente noodles. Soup is not salty too considering its a miso soup. They also offer hot and spicy ramen to your liking.

Rice Bowls

The Buta Don Shoyu's thinly sliced roasted pork is so tasty and tender. At Php260, sulit for those who meat lovers.

Bento Meals

For a price of Php350, you can feast on Salad, Kakiage, Chicken Karaage and Gyoza and with a bowl of rice. 

Place

The place is a casual dining setup which can cater 20 to 30 person for intimate dining experience. 

Prices

Prices ranges from Php100 to Php380, which is cheaper, compared to other Japanese restaurants within the city.

Overall --- Akita Japanese Restaurant offers flavorful food at reasonable servings and price.

It was one big feast indeed and it was made possible by Akita's manager, Ms Jackie and staff. Thank you also to Mr. Toshiro Ishihara for sharing with us their offerings and my gratitude for Sir Carlo Olano of Kalami Cebu for letting Cebu Food Bloggers (CBC Foodies) enjoy the feast.

Akita Japanese Restaurant is open daily

Lunch Time between 12nn-2pm

Dinner Time between 5:30pm-10:30pm

SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 2016

20% Discount from June 6-30, 2016 (food only)

Expo Mom 2016 Goes to Visayas & a Motherhood Journey Giveaway

Mommy Mundo, a community dedicated to educating, inspiring, and empowering moms with useful, relevant, and up-to-date information, shines again as it bring Expo Mom: The Motherhood Journey to all mommies around the Philippines.

After its successful run in Manila last April, Expo Mom 2016: The Motherhood Journey will make a stop on June 18, Saturday, at the Ayala Center in Cebu City and on to Negros on June 25, Saturday, at the North Point Mall in Bacolod City.

At Expo Mom, moms will be delighted to discover practical solutions as well as relevant propositions to their most pressing problems and issues. Aside from bringing in expert resource persons to facilitate workshops and group discussions, Expo Mom will also be showcasing the latest mom, baby, and child-oriented products in the market.

Additionally, Cebu and Negros mommies get a chance to win a Mommy Mundo Passport + Journey Box Bundle by sharing their #themotherhoodjourney stories.

Sharing mom stories online helps mommies learn from each other and get inspired and find comfort that every mommy sails on the same adventure called motherhhood... and fatherhood too with daddies giving help and support.

Here's the Contest Mechanics:

1. Follow Mommy Mundo on FB, IG, and Twitter (1pt)
2. Follow Expo Mom on IG (1pt)
3. Share your motherhood story by posting a personal photo and telling us about your motherhood journey. Tag @mommymundo and @expomom. (3pts)
4. Share the Expo Mom poster, and say that you are going to Expo Mom Cebu or Negros tag @mommymundo and @expomom, and invite 3 of your mom friends to come with you (2pts)
5. In all posts, use these hashtags #themotherhoodjourney #expomom2016 #mommymundo. Make sure to set your account to public until June 25.

Terms and Conditions:

1. 10 winners will be selected randomly via Rafflecopter. Winners can get the Mommy Mundo Passport + Journey Box Bundle!
2. Contest is open to all residents of Cebu and Negros.
3. Posts will be counted and awarded points manually then raffled off via Rafflecopter
4. Winners will be asked to pick up their prizes at the event venue and will need to present 2 valid IDs. If they are unable to pick up personally, they must provide the representative with an authorization letter and the two valid IDs.
5. Prizes must be picked up at the event venue on June 18 and 25. Prizes may be sent via courier or delivery but costs will be shouldered by the winner.
6. Unclaimed prizes after 60 days will be re-drawn for a new winner

Expo Mom 2016: The Motherhood Journey is co-presented by Caltrate Plus and Belo Baby and supported by Sun Life and Downy Baby Gentle. Creative Juice Communications is its logistics partner.

Entrance at Expo Mom is free of charge but a donation of any amount will be accepted for the Mommy Mundo MomShare fund. Proceeds of the fund goes to literacy projects for the street children of Childhope Asia and public school kids under the Alpabasa program.

For info and queries on Expo Mom, email info@mommymundo.com

UPDATE: Winners of the ExpoMom2016 for Cebu and Negros:

Strategies for a Fast & Light Backpacking

Going outdoors! 
Connecting with nature!
These are one of the best things I want my kids to experience.
Because I know the feeling when you reach your destination goal after a long dreadful walk and view that beautiful scene or get to feel the refreshing water from the falls. 

Growing up, I was able to take a long walks from my lola's house to another lola's house. Had a chance to climb their sineguelas trees and stay on the tree eating the sineguelas while waiting for lola's angry voices. I was able to hike the hills of Malasag, CDO or swim together with the carabaos along Agusan river or had an overnight at the mountain range of Manticao, Mis. Or. 

It was fun and again I want my kids to experience it too.

The husband is hesitant towing young kids (toddlers) in this type of adventure. He worries on the possible accidents on younger kids or the possibility of getting sick. Most of all, he worries bringing all the necessities of a young kid's needs from milk formula, milk bottles, diapers, clothes, blankets, pillows and the list goes on. 

For ultimate pleasure we wait.

Until we thought we can handle it.

This coming March 5-6, 2016, we will be joining Outpax HealthCamp in Moalboal and we will be bringing with us our 9yo and 5yo kiddos. 

Photo Credits

Don't get me wrong, we travel a lot since out families live in the southern part of Philippines but this event is different. We don't have any idea what to bring or worse don't have any camping gear suited for it.

Thus this event is fitting!

Photo Credits

I decided to join and listen to Mr. Leo Glenn G. Lao's talk held at Ayala Active Zone last February 12, 2016 about Fast & Light Backpacking. The talk is about new strategies to lighten up one's load. New strategies in the sense that new techniques and technologies come hand in hand to help backpackers enjoy the trip without tiring oneself from carrying loads half the weight.

Here is the Tried and Tested Fast & Light Principles shared by Leo:

A. Eliminate "nice to have" and "not needed" items
     Do you need to bring a book? mp3/mp4 players? tablet? pillow? portable speakers? extra batteries on an overnight event? And if you are already familiar with the place, do you really need to bring a map or a compass? Assess!

B. Choose the smallest, lightest gear suited to the purpose
     Use LED headlamp instead of bigger, conventional headlamps; Use spork instead of spoon and fork; Use alcohol stove instead of multi-fuel stove; Use alkaline batteries with lithium;  Use 3/4 length sleeping bag instead of full-length model. The point is if there is much lighter gear that serves the same purpose, then it is much preferable.

C. Bring a gear that serves multiple uses to avoid redundancies
     Spork serves as spoon and fork at the same time. A pot can serve as a mug or plate. If you have a cellphone, then its no use bringing an alarm clock. A bandanna has many uses too. A garbage bag can be uses as a raincoat, pack cover, trash bag, food bag or flotation device. 

D. Modify your gear to make it lighter
     Apply heat-resistant/flameproof paint to increase the heating absorbency and lower cooking time. Shorten straps or pegs. Drill holes to make it lighter.

E. Take only the amount needed
     Don't carry a lot of food and snacks (this is difficult :D) Avoid bringing a lot of extra clothing. Minimize the amount of toilet paper, duct tape, soap, insect repellent, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, toothpaste..etc 

F. Try teamwork or share gear
     Make friends. Ask for a possible sharing of gears to avoid redundancies. 

G. The more you reduce weight, the more you are able yo reduce more weight
     Self explanatory :D

H. Refine, Research and Practice
    The key is to get outside frequently and understand what does and does not work in certain situations. and discover what works best for you.

As a courtesy call: 

It is advisable to to meet local leaders in the community before you assault any mountains. This is to officially inform them of their undertaking. Local knowledge and information is very vital in the success of your climbs.

More details is available from Leo Glenn Lao's team. They have Fast & Light Backpacking pamphlet available with them as your reference.
Good thing I joined and it was a great opportunity to learn.
Thank you for the opportunity Outpax and Mr. Leo Glenn G. Lao.
And I hope we are ready :D

Eat Like Royalty at Le'Mon Restaurant, Golden Prince Hotel & Suites

At an affordable price!

I always hear Golden Prince Hotel & Suites jingle on a local FM Radio station. Seen a lot of its hotels here in the city. Can't help but wonder how they fair with their rooms, their facilities and amenities, their service or their food.

But then, I wondered no more as last December, the Cebu Blogging Community were privileged to be invited to Golden Prince Hotel & Suites' re-launching of Le'Mon Restaurant. No, I was not able to try their rooms, not yet...but for starters it is already a delight to get acquainted with their food. 

Le'Mon Restaurant is "Cebu's Next Best Native Food Destination" which offers modern Cebuano Fusion. They offer local and foreign influences with a twist to suit best local as well as foreign diners. 

Le'Mon Restaurant offers Daily Eat-All-You-Can Buffet for only:
Php350 - Breakfast (Mondays to Sundays) --> 6AM to 10AM
Php298 - Brunch (Mondays to Sundays) --> 11AM to 3PM
Php350 - Dinner (Mondays - Thursdays) --> 6PM to 9PM
Php250 - Late Dinner (Mondays -Thursdays) --> 9PM to 11PM

We were able to try their Php298 Brunch Buffet and these are their offerings: 

- Salad station that will greet diners upon entering the restaurant. Vegetarians need not to fret as they have healthy choices to fill in their plate. 

- Bread, Cold Cuts and Cheese.

- A variety of sumptuous dishes that will definitely satisfy every Filipino's palate. It really is tasty. Sir Thadz of Wonderful Cebu said, chefs of Le'Mon Restaurant was able to craft their dishes at the right blend of sweetness and saltiness. Sure did. 

- Tempura station popularly known as EBiSaya buffet. Not just shrimp tempura but also vegetable tempura is available. 

- Barbecue, Noodles and Siomai station. See how Local and Chinese foods are incorporated in their menu. Who says street foods can't be served in a fine dining experience. I love their barbecue sauces.

- Dessert and Fruits. And who would not want desserts. They only have one dessert serve at that time - Mango Float. Its sweetness is just right and I think I finished 2 servings.

Guest and walk-in customers get to experience this royalty experience in a simple yet elegant space with contemporary designs. The crystal ball chandeliers that accentuated the buffet table is an eye-catching design.

Visit 

Le'Mon Restaurant 

Golden Prince Hotel & Suites 

Acacia Street, Cebu City 

Official Website | Facebook

When Baby Bath Time Is Made Easier

While pregnant we gear up ourselves with information of how-to’s and think that we have it all figured out but once the little one arrives, our world turns upside down.
One of the things we go frenzy with is the bath time, at first I was clueless (and I guess till now) on what to do but the good thing is, I have two great women who shared their best practice in bathing the little ones:

My Mom 
My mom uses layered towels on the table (to absorb the water) and a basin of lukewarm water on the side. The baby is laid on the towel and the bath time begins.

My Mom-in-law
Her one-hand method may sound complicated. For her, it’s easy as 123, baby on the one had - head on the palm and the rest of the body on the arm - while one free hand for the soap and water. 

Old methods maybe overwhelming but with new and old things combined we get a hassle-free making bath time a breeze for new moms. 

Baby Company, The Baby Specialist, offers a wide range of merchandise to match a newborn’s checklist --- from nursing,  feeding and weaning essentials, clothes, toys, diapers and toiletries, to furniture and carriers even educational media for the enhancement of the baby’s mental development. The good news is that it also offers a wide variety of baby bathing essentials suited to baby's age -- this includes bath tubs, bath racks, bath support, baby dippers, towels and toiletries. They even have toys to make bath time fun and enjoyable.

Photo Credits: Vanilla Housewife

More good news! Baby Company had just opened their newest branch at SM Seaside City Cebu!! With bigger place, more product options and staffs with good customer service, shopping for bathing needs would be so effortless for Cebu mommies.

For more details about Baby Company, visit their website and follow them on Facebook.
Website: http://www.babycompany.com.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/babycompanyph

Thank you Mommy Bloggers Philippines, Vanilla Housewife and Pam of HeyMissAdventures for the invitation :)

Nice Finds at Sugbo Mercado

Happy Monday!

Last September 25, 2015 was the opening of Sugbo Mercado, a weekly food and lifestyle market, where the best of the Cebu entrepreneurs gather together to showcase their local products. These gathering is strategically located at one of the vacant lot of I.T. park (beside Sky Rise 2 Bldg).

When it comes to exploring foods, you can count on me and the husband (as well as the kiddos too! when in mood. Plus, its good to explore as this is an opportunity for me to know the current trend when it comes to food business (sshhh... I'm dreaming to venture into this type of business soon... in my dreams...)

For this type of gathering, siomai, lechon belly, barbecue and puso are always present but aside from these offerings, there are other deals that somehow attracts me. These are:

MOST Institute Culinary School
- With the cake pops display and this young man of great PR, manning the booth, you can definitely stop and want to listen on what he is talking about. According to him, with quality and affordable easy payment scheme, anybody who loves to cook or bake would definitely be persuaded. Also, you can't resist their cakes pops, its free and it taste good.

Japanese Rice Cake
- Have I ever told you I love Japanese foods? Yep, I love it! except sashimis though! And I was hoping I would see and indulge on it. Well there's this Nikumaki, a japanese rice wrapped with thinly sliced pork strips with their secret sauce :) Unfortunately, I was not able to taste it since their electric stove is not yet working at the time I visited their booth. I was supposed to come back but it just slip :( Oh well! at least I have a reason to go back next friday or saturday!

Home Decors
- There are home decors displayed that I love to bring home with me... Huhuhu I just can't afford yet. Wala sa budget!

Cakes, Cupcakes and more
- Ohhh! My Achilles Heel! I love all the presentations, the decorations, the frosting! Forgive my shoots :( They all look yummy! My son ask for a chocolate cupcake and able to consume it in minutes. This made me realized that the cake and cupcake industry is already booming thus competition is so stiff :( 
Nevertheless, as long as my kids will eat my creations, I will still bake.

Sugbo Mercado is open every Fridays and Saturdays of the week from 4PM till 2AM.
Thank you CBC for the invitation :)
#CebuBloggingCommunity #iBlogforCBC