Paradise in Mactan: An Abaca Boutique Resort + Restaurant Review

Abaca is a popular dining destination in Cebu. Known for its superb bakery that serves mouthwatering and picturesque breakfast staples, Abaca eventually grew into a restaurant group that also owns and manages Maya, Tavolata, Red Lizard, Phat Pho and Luncheonette. For years, Abaca has been synonymous to great meals. But not many know that this Cebu gem also manages a boutique resort in Mactan. And it was like discovering paradise.

Hello, Abaca Boutique Resort + Restaurant.

I was so excited to visit Abaca's resort after reading great reviews of this place on TripAdvisor. From butler service to scrumptious food, many guests claim this place to be close to paradise. 

When in Cebu: Shangri-La Mactan

The Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has been synonymous with stellar service. Having it as one's accommodation during a vacation almost equates to a wonderful and memorable trip. However, with boutique resorts offering more personalized service and more attention to detail, can big hotels like Shangri-La compete? 

Hello, Shangri-La Mactan.

Shangri-La Mactan is one of the popular resorts in Mactan. With its massive lot housing two wings, Garden and Ocean, plus numerous restaurants and amenities, it is not surprising for this resort to be packed with guests, local and foreign alike.

When in Cebu: The Pig and Palm

We often associate Cebu with its world famous lechon. But Cebu grew to become more than just a capital of roasted pig. It has blossomed into a more complex foodie destination with the opening of several homegrown and foreign restaurants. And one of the most anticipated restaurant openings a few years back was The Pig and Palm.

Hello, The Pig and Palm.

The opening of Michelin-starred British chef Jason Atherton first restaurant in the Philippines created much buzz in the foodie world. They opted to open it in Cebu as it is his wife, Irha's hometown.

When in Cebu: Sans Rival

I am a sucker for local sweet stuff. I always find myself hoarding various delicacies from my trips down to Visayas,  especially Bacolod. One of the first things R and I buy is silvanas from Sans Rival, not the one from Dumagete but from a local mart that resells it. I even fell for its charm when I was in Mactan airport only to find out that it is being sold more than twice expensive. But I didn't care and grabbed a box in an instant. But I discovered a new place to stock up on my favorite at a more reasonable price... at Sans Rival full service restaurant in Robinsons Galleria Cebu!  

Hello, Sans Rival!

I literally jumped and twirled like a little girl who saw her crush when I read an article mentioning that Sans Rival opened a branch in Robinsons Galleria. But my heart sank when I read the next word... Cebu. 

Love at First Bite: The Oriental Spice Gourmet

Cebu has become a foodie destination with awesome local restaurants and cheap finds. One of the restaurants that seem to be off the social media radar is this Asian restaurant that is known by, surprisingly, expats, as one of Cebu's finest gems.

Hello, The Oriental Spice Gourmet.

It is easy to miss this restaurant located along Maximo V. Patalinghug Jr. Avenue as it's huge signage simply says TOSG, the initials of the restaurant. But thanks to Waze, we didn't miss our stop.

First Bite: Cicada Tapas & Bar

It is always fun to visit Cebu as it is turning into a foodie destination with new concepts opening here and there. But there are a few classics that I missed out from my previous trips and I made sure that I’d drop by a few of them during my last Cebu visit. And for R’s late birthday celebration, we opted to have lunch at Circa 1900. 

Hello, Circa 1900!

We were greeted by beautiful two ancestral homes (turned dining halls) as soon as we entered the restaurant's huge compound. 

Unfortunately, Circa 1900 was closed when we visited and will be closed throughout our stay in Cebu. On the bright side, its tapas restaurant, Cicada was open and we could dine there instead. 

An Imperfect Paradise: Les Maison d'Itac

An imperfect paradise would best describe Les Maison d’Itac, a humble resort located at the less popular part of Cebu.

Hello, Les Maison d’Itac.

We chanced upon this resort while checking Deal Grocer for our Cebu hotel accommodation. Since we saved a couple of thousands from our airfare and figured that a 3D2N accommodation with full- board meals and transfers for PHP15,000 sounded like a steal, we bought a voucher the same night we saw the deal. 

When in Cebu: 10,000 Roses Café

 I always look forward to my Cebu visits as it means pigging out and indulging in some cholesterol-filled lechon. I also love that most of the new Cebu restaurants pay attention to ambiance and not just offering good food. But one café stood out and outdid everyone in the ambiance category when it filled its front yard with 10,000 roses. 

Hello, 10,000 Roses Café.

This place is at the end of Cordova and the last two to three hundred meters are not accessible by car.

First Bite: Abacá Baking Company

Abaca is not a foreign name to those who frequent Cebu. As one of the popular restaurant groups in the city, a visit to any of Abaca Group’s restaurants is a must. I’ve been to Maya, Abaca’s Mexican joint last 2015 after my trip to Bantayan Island and I was impressed by its nachos and very flavorful Asada Fajitas. This time around, I made sure to drop by its cafe counterpart, Abacá Baking Company.

Hello, Abacá Baking Company.

Located a few steps away from Maya, this place has a very chill and New York bakery vibe. 

Since there are only high stools on the ground floor, we decided to head up to the second floor. I was hoping that some of the staff would help us carry our luggages (as we were on our way to the airport then) upstairs but we didn’t get any assistance from anyone even when some were just idle when we arrived. 

We were approached by a server with a very red nose and handed us menu. With hoarse voice, she mentioned their bestsellers and we decided to go for Tomato Soup (PHP195), Skillet Breakfast (PHP495) and Calamansi (PHP55). For dessert, we went with Fresh Fruit Tart (PHP225).

When in Cebu: La Vie Parisienne

Cebu is slowly turning into a foodie paradise with new restaurants opening here and there. One of the restaurants that captured my interest is La Vie Parisienne. It is not particularly new but it has a romantic ambiance and I figured that it’s a great place to spend a night with R for his post birthday celebration. 

Hello, La Vie Parisienne!

I am aware that this place is more of a bakery than a restaurant but I didn’t know that they have quite a limited selection in terms of heavier, dinner appropriate dishes. 

When in Cebu: Crimson Resort and Spa, Mactan

Since it’s Thursday, time for a throwback post! Okay, I just missed out on this entry which truly deserves to be posted.

Hello, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan! (Whew, that’s a mouthful!)

It was quite a trip from Bantayan Island to Crimson, Mactan. It took us roughly 4 hours just to go back to Cebu City and another 40 minutes or so to Mactan. We were weary from the hot ferry ride and crowded bus trip. And we were famished too since we skipped lunch. But this made us look forward to our stay. True enough, we were so delighted to see our room and the spacious bathroom (which was 6 times bigger than the bathroom in Kota Beach, Bantayan Island).

After freshening up a bit, we decided to head down to the beach area but sadly, it was already closed. So we just took a quick dip in the crowded pool (there was a Korean-Chinese event during our stay and the resort was PACKED).

While lounging, our tummies reminded us that we haven’t had a meal since 10am. And since it was happy hour, R and I ordered Mango Shake (I recall it was around PHP150 per glass) and a plate of Tuna Tataki (PHP220).

The mango shake was sour. Perhaps it was no longer in season. We also noticed the shortage of buko in the island. Bananas too! We heard that a huge company bought most of these fruits hence the shortage.

When in Cebu: Rico’s Lechon

Cebu is known for its lechon and a trip to the land of La Marea is not complete without a trip to a restaurant that specializes in lechon. This time around, we visited Rico’s Lechon.

Hello, Rico’s Lechon!

The place was packed when we arrived. We had to wait for about 20 minutes before getting a table. And this was on a Monday with the restaurant not even being near offices. It must be really popular like CnT, I thought.

We were famished when we sat down so we immediately ordered Baked Scallops (PHP180) and half kilo lechon (PHP310). R also got Watermelon Shake (PHP70) while I tried the Halo-Halo shake (PHP110).

First served was the baked scallops and I must say, it was a generous serving of scallops! If I order it here in Manila, I would only get around 7-8 scallops.

Cebu Food Stop: La Marea

I make sure that every time I visit Cebu I stop by La Marea. The café known for its warm brownie cup is a must-visit place for foodies and chocolate lovers.

Hello again, La Marea!

Since we were still full from our Maya dinner, R and I opted to share one cup of Classic Warm Brownie Cup (PHP110) and a slice of Frozen Brazo de Mecedes (PHP85) and Classic Sylvanna (PHP17.5).

First to arrive was the brownie cup. As always, it was a wonderful contrast of warm chocolate brownie and cold vanilla ice cream. It was delectable!

Next served was the frozen Brazo de Mercedes and sylvanna.

The sylvanna was nothing extraordinary and the cake was just okay. I still prefer the one I had from Spätzle. 

La Marea is located at Crossroads, Banilad Cebu City.

Cebu Food Stop: Maya Mexican Restaurant

Cebu has become a foodie haven with restaurants serving delectable dishes. And with its more casual and laidback vibe, I wouldn’t mind living here stuffing myself with lechon. Anyway, since we wanted to maximize our last night in Cebu, we decided to head out and visit Maya Mexican Restaurant. Honestly, I wasn’t keen on leaving Crimson Hotel in Mactan for some fajitas but when they said that it’s beside La Marea… let’s just say that I changed my mind.

Hello, Maya Mexican Restaurant!

The Book of Life inspired restaurant sure screams Mexican vibe with its display of colorful skulls and masks.

I browsed Frannywanny’s blog about this place and since she raved about Asada Fajitas(PHP695), I decided to order that. Other dishes we ordered were Nachos (PHP395), Tinga Quesadillas (PHP295), Carnitas Quesadillas (PHP295) and Mini Tacos (PHP335 for 3 mini tacos). We ordered one more dish but I totally forgot its name and they could not accommodate our request for additional guacamole because they ran out. :(

First served were the quesadillas and I loved the crispy pork confit (carnitas) quesadillas more than the chicken (tinga) quesadillas. Both are filling though with its warm roasted tortillas with charred onions, cilantro and sweet pepper for crunch.

The nachos were served next and it was a beautiful mess. I loved the generous serving of cheese, refried beans and salsa! It was a great dish for sharing. 

You have to eat it fast though if you want your nacho chips to stay crispy.

I went to fajitas heaven with the Asada Fajitas. The grilled Angus beef was delectable. The soft and scrumptious beef tasted even better with the frijoles (beans), Mexican rice, peppers, and onions.

Cebu Food Stop: Sunburst Fried Chicken

Every time I tell my friends that I’ll be visiting Cebu, they always tell me to eat lechon for them. But when I’m in Cebu, I eat chicken. Crispy chicken skin.

Hello, Sunburst Fried Chicken!

Conveniently located at SM Cebu, this casual dining place is one of my favorite places in Cebu. They serve simple yet crispy fried chicken but it has this appeal that I find irresistible.

R and I shared a Classic (3pcs) Sunburst Fried Chicken (PHP198) and Chick’n Crackers (PHP198, large). We also ordered a glass of buko juice and buko shake.

First to arrive were our drinks. My buko shake wasn’t that sweet making it a good thirst quencher. It was also perfect as it was really hot that day!

The chicken skin and chips were served next and it was L-O-V-E. 

R loved it and kept eating while telling himself that it’s a sinful dish. The crispy skin dipped in vinegar was delightful! My sister would have loved this dish too.

Cebu Files: Zubuchon

Feed me lechon and I’m all yours. Well, at least till the next 48 hours or so. 

 

Right after my month long trip, I found myself all buckled up again to be Cebu-bound for three days. Oh hello, land of lechon (roasted pork)!

 

As soon as we landed, we drove to Zubuchon, a pretty popular place known for its lechon being raved by acclaimed food critic Anthony Bourdain as the “world’s best whole roasted pig”. Such comment will surely intrigue foodies and encourage them to visit the restaurant. And we were among those foodies.

 

Hey ho, Zubuchon! Whazzzzaaap? (Okay, that was a bit too much.)

The place was partially full when we arrived but we were lucky to be able to find a table that could accommodate our huge party of 10. We quickly roamed around the area, checked out the knick knacks on display and settled down soon after to order. 

7 Wonders of... Longganisa

I’ve heard of this longganisa place for quite a while now. I never tried to visit the place though even though it was just near where I worked and work now (no, I do not have separation issues with locations). But one Facebook announcement finally convinced me to visit this restaurant.

I visited Sonsi around 8PM and it was pretty dark around Madison Square. Armed with my thermos to protect myself (hey, it’s better to be paranoid than… well, unconscious), I asked the guard for help since I am practically blind at night. I was led to the left side of Madison (if you are coming from Pioneer St., you have to go down a bit to reach the place). No wonder it was a bit hard to find.

When in Cebu eat Thai food

We were pretty clueless as where to go during our first night in Cebu for Entrepreneur Networking Night the following day. To play safe, we decided to go to Siam, a Thai restaurant in Ayala Cebu. (Btw, Ayala Cebu was such a beautiful sight.)



Tom Yum

Some of my colleagues were brave enough to slurp down the Tom Yum Prawn Soup (PHP240) which never fails to make me choke till I cry. I tried it still since we all get a cup each and I still can’t finish a cup—not even one spoonful.

Finally the other dishes arrived. We also ordered Bagoong Rice (PHP180), Chicken Thai Yellow Curry (PHP220), Thai Crispy Pata (PHP330)—yes, apparently there is a THAI version, Sautéed Prawn in garlic (PHP220), and Chili Prawn (PHP230).

Bagoong Rice



Chicken Thai Yellow Curry

The Bagoong Rice was nothing spectacular. It doesn’t have a very strong taste and it worked for us since we also ordered curry. The Chicken Thai Yellow Curry on the other hand was delicious. I’m not very fond of curry and this one doesn’t have the strong taste (and smell) of curry. It was just right. It reminded me of Simply Thai’s version. It was really good. Moving on.

Sautéed Prawn in garlic

 

Chili Prawn

The Chili Prawn and Sautéed Prawn in garlic were goooood. The prawns were big and fresh. I prefer the Chili Prawn over the one sautéed in garlic as it was richer in flavor. What made me in love with it was that it wasn’t very spicy. In fact, it was quite mild. The one in garlic was like your typical dampa type. Fresh and garlicy.

Thai Crispy Pata

Lastly, the Thai Crispy Pata. Well, it tasted like… crispy pata. Crispy skin, tender meat, really good with soy sauce with some onions.

Too bad there’s no Siam in Manila. But now I have more reasons to frequent Ayala Cebu on my next visit.

You are invited!

Are you based in Cebu? Would like to establish a business in Cebu or perhaps already has a business but interested to venture on another business? If your answer is yes to these questions, then you must attend ENTREPRENEUR PHILIPPINES NETWORKING NIGHT this June 17, 2011 at the Radisson Blu Hotel from 6pm to 9pm.

We have invited several speakers: Jay Aldeguer of Islands Souvenirs, Manny Osmeña of Manny O. Wines, Joseph Gandionco of Julie's Bakeshop, and Rey Calooy of RNC Marketing to talk about establishing a business in Cebu and making it big not only in Cebu but in other parts of the country and even worldwide. 

This will be one night where you can mingle with your fellow entrepreneurs, rub elbows with the speakers, and meet the Entrepreneur editorial team. 

To RSVP: Contact Kieffer Nonato at 09228993465.

See you all there!