Exploring the Food in Singapore

In my visits to Singapore, one of the things I like the most is the food. It is true what they say that Singaporeans love to eat. Of course we wonder why true blue Singaporeans remain thin and  fit despite their love for eating. Hmmm. they might know something I don't. just kiddin. 

But the food choices here are endless. And to be truthful, quite intimidating. Singapore’s multi-cultural diversity is reflected in the variety of local cuisine it has to offer,

Blugre Coffee - Mindanao's Pride

With the emergence of foreign owned coffee shops in and around the entire archipelago, Blugre Coffee comes as a breath of fresh air. We take pride in knowing that this coffee shop is Mindanao's pride having originated from Davao and owned by Filipino coffee connoisseurs. Husband and wife team Gatchi and Larcy Gatchalian both Davaowenyos founded the coffee shop with their first branch in Davao year 1998.

Cafe Mita's All Day Comfort Food

Cafe Mita is the newest addition to Gensan's string of restaurants. Yep you heard me right, it is not just a cafe, but a restaurant. As its tagline suggests, Cafe Mita boasts of serving "All-day Comfort Food", so you get to enjoy your breakfast fares of choice anytime during the day!

Its intimate and cozy interiors remind me of home, so  eating at the restaurant was literally like having a meal at home. My family and I readily felt comfortable. I just feel that this will be my favorite hang-out place if I want to have chitchats with my girlfriends over a meal or over coffee.

The food was worth the wait when it was served to us. Hubby ordered the Pork Salpicao. It was delectable and very tasty. A hint of spiciness due to pepper I think but then, it was of no consequence since even my little girl loved it. Be prepared to shell out only P135 for this dish.

For me, I ordered the Roast Porkloin with Grilled Pineapple. The pork was cooked just right although I would've loved it even more if it comes with a sauce on the side since some portions of the meat when cut comes out as a bit bland but nevertheless, still an enticing dish for only P135 for a solo meal.

And for my daughter, she loves pasta so we ordered the Chicken Liver Bacon Pasta for her. It is a penne type of  pasta with red sauce coupled with bits of chicken liver and bacon, garnished with parmesan cheese (lots of it may I add) with garlic bread. It was an instant hit with my little girl. It was to my amazement that she cleaned her plate of pasta, we just had to stop her from eating else she decides to eat the plate as well! hehe. This particular dish will set you back for a measly P135.

The Lychee Iced Tea was also divine and it was a different twist to ordinary iced tea so we would definitely be ordering that again next visit.

They still have a number of scrumptious dishes on their menu which we intend to try on our future visits. And they also sell sugar-free peanut butter, cookies and other pastries. Hmm.. might have to try those too next time. :)

Cafe Mita is located at at the ground floor of PG Building, below M. Tanoy Showcase, National Highway – Roxas Avenue Junction (beside the entrance to Queenie’s Love Village, GenSan. For reservations or catering needs, you may contact them at 083 552-8338      Business hours is between 8AM till 10PM, and for more info on the restaurant's delectable dishes, visit the Bariles' blog here. 

Bo's Coffee Invades GenSan

With the advent of coffee shops in the city, coffee drinkers such as myself find it hard to pin down a favorite. Maybe it comes down to taste, the robustness of the coffee bean used or the perfect blended frappe that is singular to the discerning palate of consumers. But then, whats more important at this point given the myriad of choices is to patronize a brand or a coffee shop that is proudly Filipino. 

Bo's Coffee takes pride not only in the fact that they are wholly Filipino owned but a huge percentage of their coffee beans are sourced from local growers in Bukidnon, Sagada, Benguet and Mt. Matutum in South Cotabato.  

The newly opened store at SM City General Santos also serves breakfast as soon as they open doors at 8AM and you can enjoy your coffee till 11 o'clock in the evening. 

Press Release from Bo's Coffee:

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Bo’s Coffee Opens its First Store in GenSan

Craving for a caffeine fix in GenSan?

There’s a new coffee shop in town you’ll definitely want to check out. It’s the recently opened Bo’s Coffee in SM City, GenSan! Go ahead, treat yourself to a well-deserved cup of homegrown brew.

Did you also know that they only serve freshly roasted beans from the Philippines? This means that not a single bean in the store is grinded and brewed has lasted a month at most, ensuring the best coffee experience every time.

Aside from great coffee, Bo’s Coffee gives plenty of reasons for you to drop by its new GenSan store. World-class beverages are up for you to discover and love: from perky Espresso Beverages, healthy and toothsome Green Tea Matcha Freeze, sweet Ice Blended Cookies and Cream, fruity Mixed Berry Freeze, and even tropical freshly-brewed Dalandan Iced Tea!

For quick snacks, healthy bites, and filling meals, Bo’s Coffee GenSan also has an array of food products and pastries for you to try. You can choose from Breakfast options such as hearty Bacon, specialty Sausage, and fluffy Omelette Sets. In the mood for pasta? Then have a try of these picks: meaty Bolognese, tasty Carrittiere, and traditional Aglio e Olio.

Grab a bite of these crusty sandwiches: Bo’s Turkey Club, Grilled Chicken BLT, Grilled Italian Veggie, and Tuna Salad. For dessert, why not have delectable cakes such as indulgent Blueberry Cheesecake and Supermoist Chocolate Cake. For a delightful bite, have a frosty Carrot Bar, zesty Lemon Square, or sweet and nutty Food for the Gods.

There are surely a lot of selections for you to try at the new Bo’s Coffee GenSan branch. It’s just not your usual coffee shop. Its wall interiors are even inspired by homegrown craftsmanship, accented by earthy and organic coffee sacks. The coffee lovers’ cozy nook gives homage to Philippine-origin coffee. 

Your entire coffee shop visit of course won’t be complete without the service of friendly Bo's Coffee baristas who view coffee preparation as an art. So come over and visit the newest Bo’s Coffee store at General Santos City!

With over 60 stores and counting all over the Philippines, Bo’s Coffee guarantees that homegrown, freshly-roasted coffee taste that Filipinos surely love. For more details, visit www.boscoffee.com.

Fagioli Coffee Club

Twice a week my little girl has scheduled Kumon class works, which gives mommy a reason to visit Gensan often. And during those times, I have the pleasure of having precious  time for myself - away from the headache of running the store... the piles of dishes to do and the amount of cooking that has to be done at home. In these valuable "me" times, I get to enjoy my time at one of my favorite coffee shops -  the Fagioli Coffee Club  (as often as you can say caffeine).

What can I say, caffeine gives me the relief and the boost i sometimes need to perk up my boring day. At Fagioli, they provide the ambiance that's cozy and welcoming and they play the most wonderful light jazz music that really gives me the enthusiasm to write and plan my week (i'm a plan-freak..i always plan my week including the menu at home, etc, etc). :)

One of my favorite fraps to order is their original blend of Mocha Java  with Mint (P110). The sweetness for me is just right with just the right amount of creaminess. They have a number of cold coffee concoctions to choose from such as the Irish Cream Ciocolatta (P90) or the Choco-Banana frappe that I order if I have my little girl along with me.

At times when I really want a stronger dose of caffeine, I go for their espresso coffee. A bit strong but just fine for my taste. The Cafe Mocha with Peppermint  is a must try for those who have the sweet tooth and crave for something minty. I dont know why but peppermint really goes well with either coffee or choco. It brings out the richness of the coffee or cocoa taste. And this particular type of concoction is one of my favorites.

For the non-coffee drinker, they also offer a variety of choices from different flavored iced and hot teas to chocolate drinks. They also have a selection of yummy desserts and cakes to pair with your favorite coffee or tea drink.

The Fagioli Coffee Club is located at the Ground level of KCC Mall of Gensan and another at Kare Petron Service Station along Jose Catolico Avenue, General Santos city.