ART AT THE QUEEN CITY | CEBU TRICK ART MUSEUM | EXPERIENCE [PHOTOS]

Having a blend of modern/contemporary art plus optical illusion and some masterful poses and angles equals a debonair interactive artwork. And all can be found in the newly opened Cebu Trick Art Museum.

Opened just recently; the site of the said museum is in the 3rd floor of J. Centre Mall, A. S. Fortuna Mandaue City, Cebu, beside N.B.I.

For an affordable price of P 200.00 peso as entrance; you can have 57 interactive experiences with the artworks that pop! Just bring your own camera so you and your friends can have an exciting, fun and entertaining moment while being creative, romantic and comedic, all at the same time.

Feeding a Zebra at Cebu Trick Art Museum

Why does it look like 3 dimensional and life-like? It’s because the painters of the 57 art pieces rendered their masterpiece carefully into 3D-like effects that tricks they eyes and lens of the camera that results into a deceptive art piece. With a perfect angle, you can have the perfect conjunction of painting and reality.

I also like the fact that people there assists you to take pictures in correct angles.

TIP: Bring a tripod if possible for a more stabilized photo.

Find your angles now and practice different kinds of expressions that complement the artworks!

Dog catch at Cebu Trick Art Museum

SCHEDULE:

J Centre Mall hours 10:00AM – 9:00PM

CONTACT:

(032) 260 – 0777

Or

Their Facebook Page

RATINGS: 4/5

Angel wings at Cebu Trick Art Museum

[UPDATED] A PARISIAN DELIGHT – LA VIE PARISIENNE | WINE | BAKERY | SOCIALITE JUNCTION [PHOTOS]

–          ★★★★★

Salutations! Un délice parisien en ville. Perfectionnez pour n’importe qui qui aime tout français. Venez vous joindre à moi.

(Cross fingers that Google Translate didn’t give me wrong translations hihi)

LA VIE PARISIENNE

Besides Greece being one of the top of the list in my best places I want to go while still living, which the restaurant CYMA-Greek Taverna gave me that glimpse of experience; Paris is still on the pedestal of my dream places I want to go.

Every girl’s dream is Paris… well that includes rainbow people of course!

And Paris doesn’t just collocate with Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or the wonderful top-view scenery; but also the restaurants with pastries and wine!

And if Paris-like experience is what you’re looking for; then La Vie Parisienne is perfect for your taste.

La Vie Parisienne cork

WHERE?

Located at Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City; beside the Pink House Restaurant which is also Parisian inspired, La Vie Parisienne is a bakery and winery that offers pastry treats and variety of delish wine flavors. The store is carved to look exact like a French winery, especially on the inner part where you can sit down with all the wine on the curve shaped walls that looked really fancy!

inside La Vie Parisienne winery

Yet, when my partner and I came there, the outer part of the shop was still renovating, focusing on their wooden floors; but you can see the potential in giving customers the French garden ambiance and giving that socialite junction experience. With the surrounding greenery and night light lanterns; everything must look perfect day and night!

PRICE RANGE

The offers are good taste and affordable! They have their croissants that cost only P25.00 and it really tastes so good for a normal pastry. They also have Macaroons in different colors that are offered in sets. Also their wines that vary from sparkling wines, that costs only P200.00 and above which are good for teens and light drinkers, to the expensive yet rich wines.

Bread and Croissant in La Vie Parisienne

EXPERIENCE

The experience was lacking because of the obvious renovations in front of us, but the potential when it’s done is what I’m excited about! When it’s done by December 2013, then it’s the perfect place for the perfect mood of Christmas.

La Vie Parisienne sparkling wine

Their offers vary from affordable to pricey, where they may imply that everyone can afford.

SCHEDULE

7:00AM – 12:00AM

CONTACT

(032) 260-4388

Or

Visit their Facebook Page

RATING

THE STORE AND THEIR OFFERS – 3 ½

Vive!

UPDATE (3.3.14)

FrenchPark?

La Vie Parisienne is now a cherry blossom wonderland full of the said trees, only faux, but none-the-less exciting and wonderful. Now, the place which started from the La Maison Rose (The Pink House) is now a French Park, filled with excitement and worldly surprises. There’s also two new treats at the park; World Pizza which offers different kinds of pizzas from 80 countries! Yes, you’ve read it right, 80 countries. And if you read my blog about it, you’ll be excited to try it too. Also there’s an ice cream stand called Healthy Icy that offers different kinds of healthy and natural ice creams that you’ll have the will on your own flavour composition.

See the Photos Below and visit the Parisian Park.

UPDATE  (10/23/2014)

DOME

I’ve been to La Vie Parisienne once again because they have another upgrade with the place and it’s beyond awesome. The lights are brighter and the design is fashionably Paris. I only wished there was an Eiffel Tower anywhere near. It’s nostalgia. It’s Paris. It’s Instagram-worthy. (Sorry guys for the watermark, I’ve learned my lessons from online plagiarism.)

Although it’s colorful there, the burger really looks sad for P75.00.

CUPCAKE IT OUT! | CUPCAKE AVENUE | PASTRIES | EXPERIENCE [PHOTOS]

Cupcake Avenue Panorama

–★★ ½

Besides My partner and I getting hooked to our favorite sitcom, 2 Broke Girls, and besides their indefatigable hit punch lines; we also fancy cupcakes, just like what the lead characters in the sitcom do as their sideline/business.

Being gay does justify the fact that I love anything fancy; and loving cupcakes is not an exception especially for My partner and I.

CUPCAKE AVENUE

Cupcake Avenue has not yet hit the ‘buzz’ around town, and that’s a great thing for both of us, so we can discover anything good and publicize it using my blog. And Cupcake Avenue was one of the few we’ve been who deserves to be known to the public.

Located at E-Zone, Panagda-it, Mabolo, Cebu City; Cupcake Avenue is a novice for cupcake ventures in Cebu.

VENUE

The cupcake store, which when we entered was really, really tiny. I had a hard time filling in the seat gaps to pass. We also noticed the canteen feel of the store; not because of the small space, but because of the wooden counter which was for us a bit inappropriate for a cupcake store.

Cupcake Avenue

We would love to see the bended or slanted glass counter/machine/stand that is usually used to display cupcakes and all their merchandise.

And the store is located at the back most parking lot of E-Zone. You have to walk thoroughly and look at the small sign in order for you to see it because if you don’t, you’d end up walking back out of E-Zone.

I am not BASHING, I’m just suggesting… for the benefit of the store. *wink

CUPCAKES

There are a variety of cupcakes to choose from, and you’d be enthralled by the variety of choices out from different flavors that suits your taste buds. They offer from chocolates to anything mixed but truly exciting!

I’ve had too much thinking time on what will I choose, so was my partner, yet I ended up on a chocolate which did surprise me having a marshmallow burst from inside the topping which I thought was pure chocolate only.

Chocolate Cupcake treat at Cupcake Avenue

My partner chose the S’mores that has a topping of Hershey’s chocolate on it that looks too much fancy! But my partner knew about S’mores having marshmallows on it but was not present; instead, he said that it was cream at the top rather than the common marshmallow but nonetheless, tastes good.

S’mores Cupcake at Cupcake Avenue

What I also loved about their cupcakes was the fact that it was softer than what I experienced in Café Caw. Also, I would commend the playful aspiration of cupcake decorations, but I would love to see more unique and enlarged cupcake without hurting the price (if I were to own).

MORE OFFERS!

Cupcake Avenue offers drinks too! And in our case we ordered something yummy.

One is a rocky road treat that is a common taste but for me is OH-SO-DELICIOUS! Is it just me, or I really, really love chocolate.

Rocky Road Treat at Cupcake Avenue

Then another is their Nutella treat which was a not a common flavor but we do really loved it. I also love the fact that the topped Nutella dripped on the side of the glass which you can see in the picture, which My partner and I also licked for it not to spill over. *wink *wink

Nutella Treat at Cupcake Avenue

VALUE FOR MONEY

The cupcakes range from P49.00 and above. It’s really affordable and it taste so good which I can say; it’s worth it for what we’ve paid.

Their drink treats also ranges from P100.00 and above.

VERDICT

Just a little bit of modification here, and a little bit of class there; this cupcake business will be objectively a chill-out place for the many, with their good offers and great materials (the wall decors and cupcake chairs which was love-love-love); it will be loved by plenty. And YES, I’d love to go back there soon, especially when the owner was really smiley.

They even cater for events too! So, if you have one, their contact number is just below.

SCHEDULE:

Cupcake Avenue opens at 2:00PM-10:00PM from Monday-Sunday.

CONTACT:

Cellphone Number: 0922 823 2981

or

Email: cupcakeavenue23@gmail.com

or

Like their Facebook Page

RATING

OVERALL – 2 1/2

MORE PICTURES!

Cupcake Avenue

Cupcake Avenue

Cupcake Avenue

Cupcake Avenue

Cupcake Avenue

SUNDAY 2PM CAFÉ | KOREAN INSPIRED | WONDERFUL PRE-BIRTHDAY EXPERIENCE [PHOTOS]

Sunday 2PM Cafe at Sarrosa International Hotel

With no halls barred, GO THERE AND EXPERIENCE A WONDERFUL PERSONAL CAFÉ EXPERIENCE!

That’s how -My partner and I loved it there.

My 23rd birthday post-it note

It was on the eve of my 23^rd birthday when My partner and I decided to spend it in a café house at Sunday 2PM, because lately, we are discovering some goodness in the Queen City of the South and the said café has lately been a buzz… but not ‘Café Noriter’ famous YET.

How to get there

Sunday 2PM Café is another Korean owned café that is located exactly on the ground floor of Sarrosa International Hotel, at F. Cabahug Street, Cebu City. Accessibility is with ease: when you have a car, you can park anywhere just as you’re along or within the vicinity of the Hotel; if you don’t, you can ride a jeepney with the number code 03A, which is from Colon down to Mabolo Church to the new BBQ Boss which is still in Mabolo; that is along the intersection with one path going to Ayala, another path is going to I.T. Park and the other is going to Sarrosa Hotel.

The Café

When we arrived and looked at the façade of the Café which is part of the hotel itself; we then concluded that the place was tiny. You can prejudge by the size of the outer glass covered with post-it notes on the inside. And our judgment wasn’t wrong when we stepped in.

It was small, yet truly inviting.

Inside Sunday 2PM Cafe

We were greeted gladly by the waitress behind the glass counter, and upon looking in their cubicle; I found how small it was. Yet, the smile of the waitress on that Sunday evening did not fade, instead she welcomed us by grabbing the notebook which was the menu and we seated.

The café was full of things, toys, crayons and post-it notes scattered and placed nonchalantly all around the area. There are even strings above us with pictures clipped ensuring joyful memories stay in the café. And so there’s a lot going on in there, yet you can really feel the warm disposition.

Coloring Materials at Sunday 2PM Cafe

You can read all the notes placed on the walls, cabinets and tables that translate a wonderful time being there. A rendezvous for lovers with post-it and pictures all over the place. And unrequited dreams that are yet soon to happen.

A post-it note with an earnest dream long to happen

The effervescence of randomness enticed and gave me enthrallment while being with the one I really love.

Treats

I loved how they presented their Menu which was in a notebook form. And when you opened the first page, they explained how they got to the Sunday 2PM café, and it was heartwarming. But it’s for us to know and for you to discover what’s written on that very page.

Chocolate Treat

There is a variety of treats to choose from; you could start with the hot and cold offers to their bites that ranges from P100.00 – P250.00.

My partner’s Yogurt Treat

Although, I have to admit, the treats are quite expensive, but what greatness happened to us there cannot be paid by dosh.

The Waitress

What my partner LOVED ranting about the café was their nice waitress: he keeps on saying how the place was much more worth it after the cozy and delicious treats because we were being handled majestically by her. We never got the chance to know her name, but the way she treated us beautifully and warmly gave us the impression that she’s really a nice person. I mean, I most of the times get grumpy at work, but she kept that energy level, even it’s already late at night.

I remember asking her if we were allowed to use our brought fountain candles which were supposed to be placed atop of a bite treat we bought, but we feared to give danger in the café since we don’t know whether the fountain candles would create huge sparks and maybe worst will happen.

Yet she came back from her counter telling us that across the hotel, there’s a store that sells small candles so that we could still celebrate my birthday. And after my partner bought the candles, she then even gave us match sticks to light it. And not just that, she even grabbed a camera and took a snapshot of me holding the toasted treat we bought with the finally ignited candle atop of it.

She even laughed hard after when I blew; the flame grew out again, realizing that it was the sparklers candle which the candle you can’t blow off.

And right after the whole crazy and enjoyable moment, she came back with the camera again and asked if she could take a picture of us, and who are we to say no? She gave us a wonderful time there.

KUDOS to her, whoever she may be, I salute you for giving good service to customers. I have seen her interacting with Korean customers too and she was well rounded, really. And she made us feel like we deserved to be treated very well which don’t usually happen to every spot we were at.

According to my partner, she was like the owner of the café and us as her special guests that should be treated very well, like what Filipino house owners do to their guest of honors at home. A true hospitality.

Thank You so much for not being rude and temperament!

The Experience

In totality, the place was really small that could hold up to fifteen people at max or less: but I guess the small space has its advantage as what my partner said to me; the interaction between customer and staff was more personal and hands-on rather than running around with the rowdy crowd which most of the times ignores you ending up not serving you well.

Also, they have a working WIFI! Thank God and it’s fast! My partner who usually uses data didn’t have to tether and share his WIFI for me that saved his battery life.

And speaking of battery life, you can bring your charger there and charge your phones for free.

Toast treat at Sunday 2PM Cafe

I’d love to come back there and taste some of their refreshments and have another wonderful café experience, and I would like that nice waitress to share with the wondrous memory while we’re there.

You should visit Sunday 2PM Café with no reservations needed.

Contact Details

(032) 520-5174

Schedule

Mon to Saturday: 10:00AM – 11:00MN

Sunday: 2:00AM – 11:00PM

Rating – 10

Visit their Facebook page for more details.

MORE PHOTOS!

Sunday 2PM Cafe at Sarrosa International Hotel

Sunday 2PM Cafe at Sarrosa International Hotel

Sunday 2PM Cafe at Sarrosa International Hotel

Sunday 2PM Cafe at Sarrosa International Hotel

Sunday 2PM Cafe at Sarrosa International Hotel

Sunday 2PM Cafe at Sarrosa International Hotel

Sunday 2PM Cafe at Sarrosa International Hotel

Sunday 2PM Cafe at Sarrosa International Hotel

PITOS | Sutukil | Camotes Island | Experience [PHOTOS]

One of the best things in our Camotes Escape (click here for the blog post) was the fact that there are plenty of resort and home restaurants. And due to the fact that the island is situated afar from Cebu itself raises the toll on the expense.

Yet, you have to be like Dora, an explorer, to garner exquisite pigging experience!

And since we stayed in Santiago Bay Garden and Resort, which costs us nearly P1, 700.00 per night (gush), we need to find a nearby restaurant that will not extract huge amount from us, yet will give us sumptuous breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not that we don’t have money, but it’s wise to be thrift especially when you are travelling.

Here’s the tip: if you are staying in Santiago Bay Garden and Resort, there’s this family owned restaurant which is called Pito’s Sutukil. Worry not, for the said restaurant is just located within the shoreline of the resort.

Calamares in Camotes Island, Pitos SUTUKIL

Sutukil means Sugba, Tuwa, Kilaw which means Roasted (Pork), Fish Stew/Soup, Ceviche respectively. Pito’s Sutukil offers a menu of delicious food, good for plenty! Take note, plenty! Serving is enough for 2-3 people; even both of us couldn’t finish one dish!

On our very first time there, we ordered Tinuwa (Fish Stew), Calamares and my new favorite Sinuglaw.

Sinuglaw (Modified Ceviche) in Camotes Island

You should try Sinuglaw which is a modified version of Kinilaw/Kilaw (Ceviche), that has raw fish cooked under the battling taste of sweet and sour vinegar plus added with onions and some spices. What makes a Sinuglaw unique is the added Sinugba (Roasted Pork) onto it.

I think it’s the best food I ate while I stayed in Camotes, although the dish can be found in Cebu. (Which I tried weeks after the Camotes escapade, but Pito’s is really different) But I love how the taste bombards to all of the taste buds in my mouth, down to my throat. It offers a variety of battling flavors, in a good light. I can really tell especially when I took my first mouthful, a salivation process takes part. It just gives me those feels.

I guess what differs in Pito’s from the way I tasted it in the main land Cebu was that they used a different vinegar.

Pito’s also offers breakfast meals that are way cheaper and affordable than those in the restaurant.

While on the road on our second day, we took our lunch at the Island’s marketplace which offers barbecue, enough to carry on for the rest of the tour. Moreover, while on the Island, we only ate at Pito’s restaurant and tried their Pancit which upheaves flavors, away from the usual bland taste from the city.

CYMA | Greek Taverna | Restaurant Review [Photos]

Amazing geographic peninsula. Inter-island amazement. Rich history. Extravagant culture.

OPA! Greece is what you name it. From its grand blue and inviting waters to Homer’s Greek Gods and Goddesses with their equivalent grotesque structural houses; definitely, you’ll come and visit the mysteries of Greece. (And I can’t go on with this review if I keep talking about the wonders of one of my dream destination. Hehe)

In the city, CYMA is a Greek Taverna located at The Terraces, Ayala Mall that invites customers who desire a Grecian inspired ambiance. Opened on December 2008; five years strong and still operates well to give that wonderful pigging experience.

CYMA offers a variety of dishes that encapsulates Mediterranean experience specifically Greek. The Grecian inspired restaurant allows making you feel like you’re not in the Philippines, but in Greece.

Well, technically.

The restaurant itself gives a feel due to the Grecian color palettes which are Blue and White. I love how the chairs are painted blue too. But, truth be told, the huge glass windows differ from anything Greece. I definitely have the knowledge that the Grecian tavernas walls are stone and white with (sometimes) not very angular in manners and windows are undeniably small square/rectangular. I only wished they stood by the thought of ‘Greece’ and revamped all interiors to Greece-like.

But I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that they needed those huge glass windows for customers to see the full view of the restaurant from the outside.

The counter is a true touch of Grecian taverna with a huge blackboard marquee that tells their ‘specialties’ and some links to social media accounts, great.

Now the food.

Filipinos are rich in spices and extremely precise in tasteful dishes, and Mediterranean dishes offer usually the same.

One of the best things I learned about Greece is their Gyros. I read about it some time ago, and watched a travel show on TV which is some kind of Shawarma, a roasted meat with lots of spices wrapped in a pita. In CYMA, they have their specialty, the Chicken Gyros. Costing at about P160.00; Chicken Gyro gives you a taste of goodness. Offered as an opening for the dinner My partner and Ihad and sliced in two halves; the food simply wows me due to the fact that it’s not too much salty; a little bit bland that differs you from the displeasure sense right after mouthfuls (Pu-ol, sawa), resulting to disgust. With a spicy side sauce; you can never get away from the tasteful firework of flavors.

Chicken Gyro is probably one of the best CYMA has to offer. You definitely have to order this.

We next ordered the Katoupolo Lemonato. Costing at about (an expensive) P420.00, Katoupolo Lemonato is a Chicken offering with a side dish of potatoes, but cooked in a different manner. Once we get a taste of it; it then counterparts our opening dish (Chicken Gyros), which gives the taste of mixed sour and salty. The food is really delicious, and how they’ve done it, I have no idea. BUT one thing gives the food extra excitement: Lemon. The balance the lemon gives is what makes the offering perfect.

Katoupolo Lemonato in CYMA

But there’s one glitch of the food, after plenty of mouthfuls, it will give you the displeasure taste resulting to disgust (pu-ol, sawa). I pity the dish due to the fact that when we started to taste it; it gives me a euphoric moment because of the battling yet complimenting flavors.

TIP: The dish is good for 2, but due to the displeasure it give; I suggest you offer it to 4.

And then our last is Moussaka.

We started with Chicken Gyro that was oh-so-delcious! Then next was the Kotoupolo Lemonato that took me to heaven, but brought me down to earth just right after. Then we have Moussaka that took me from earth………….. to the deepest pit of hell.

Moussaka is Greece’s national dish that is layered in eggplant, beef, with smothering, thick white creamy sauce (béchamel sauce) and cheese at the top that looks similar to lasagna.

I am hoping that Greece wont ‘persona-non-grata’ me with this review on their National dish because I still have plans to go there, BUT I believe as a Filipino, I wouldn’t appreciate the uncomplimentary taste of beef plus eggplant plus a white sauce that spoiled our dinner. Not to disrespect Greece’s national dish, but I will definitely not suggest Filipinos should order this.

Oh good Lord, if only you can see my partner’s face while tasting Moussaka. We were truly laughing our asses off for ordering that.

Oh well, the more bad experience we get, the more I can write things on my blog.

And now, their WIFI. Definitely available and fast, I was happy. Again, internet is everything.

In a nutshell

I would love to add that I like the fact that their waiters are in costume. I asked the waiter who was in cowboy suit, and he answered me that their ‘theme’ is United Nations. One waiter was wearing a Greek God costume, and you can only see a few restaurants doing that, and it’s much appreciated.

Waiter in CYMA in full Greek Costume

And speaking of waiters, their all-male waiter (at that day and time) definitely were accommodating and F.U.N.! They have one dish there which was really interesting: I noticed the manager went near to the Korean customers saying “We will be shouting”, and I wondered what that could mean. And then the waiter with the Greek God costume was holding a heated plate with some bread-ish something on it and he grabbed a lighter and the plate started to burst in flames and everyone in the restaurant shouted “OPA!” which meant nothing in Greece but just an expression of being joyful or happy.

We were so amused with that presentation that happened twice.

In a nutshell, there are lots and lots of offerings CYMA have, and we only get a taste of three. They still have fish, pork and pasta dishes also wines, so, there wouldn’t be a prejudice here for how bad will all of their dishes be. That’s why I’ll be giving ratings to the food we ate.

In a nutshell, I wouldn’t be planning to come back anytime sooner in CYMA not because of the roller coaster ride dinner we had, but because of the price range which is out of bounds and definitely will hurt your pockets, and not to mention, no need for tip since you give a service charge of P90.00. BUT there’s one reason why I can come back to the taverna: Chicken Gyro, a definite winner.

Come visit CYMA at The Terraces, Ayala, with no reservations needed. Visit their full MENU on their website. OPA!

RATINGS:

Chicken Gyro – 10

Kotoupolo Lemonato – 8

Iced Tea – 9

Moussaka – uhm, -1? Just kidding, 2

Ambiance – 6

Service – 9

Value for Money – 7