There is a new buzz in town; a pizzeria that serves the latest food craze to hit Cebu—the classic neapolitan-style lean dough pizza. While still on its soft opening La Nostra Pizzeria Napoletana continues to draw curious crowds and A-listers to try its good Italian stuff prepared by, no less than, italian chefs themselves.
A neapolitan pizza is a classic pizza in its simplest form. It is made from a lean dough: a mixture of flour, water, salt, and yeast. It has no oil, no sugar, nothing. The flour is generally a high-protein flour, often of the Italian “OO” type. Simple and few ingredients but complicated preparations —the slightest mishandling of the wood-fired modern brick oven that should be kept at blazing hot temperature would mean adverse impact on the product. La Nostra had already got the hang of it.
It was rather a quiet Wednesday night —maybe because of the gloom and drizzles —when we visited La Nostra. An hour before they will close at 11:00 PM, 3 out of the approximately 12 tables were occupied. The menu is straight forward with 5 courses: pizze (P480 – P560), pasta (P210 – P350), main dish (P350 – P440), desserts/gelato and drinks. It is limited, they explained, because they are still on their soft open. Some items, like the star pizza, are not even on the menu but you may ask the servers for their availability.
Our order came fast in less than 15 minutes —a surprise for us since most friends who already tried La Nostra were complaining about the waiting time. Pizza was delivered at the right temperature and the wine was poured on time.
We had Pizza La Nostra (P520/2) half ‘n’ half with Quattro Formaggi (P550/2), Pizza Nutella(P260) and a glass of wine. I was from a meeting an hour ago where I had to eat, hence, I was very conservative with my order.
La Nostra literally means “ours” while Quattro Formaggi means “four cheese”. Pizza La Nostra is the house’ very own creation. Ham, butter and basil with Flor di Latte and cream sauce on top the Neapolitan-style pizza lean dough. Four cheese is a combination of flor di latte, gorgonzola, ricotta and asiago with olive oil.
Their pizza came thin (but not very thin) spotted with small dark spots surrounded by paler dough —it must have been from a good charring in the oven— with an aroma distinct to a classic pizza. It was crispy on the outer crust but was moist and chewy on the interior. The flavor of the dough compliments the toppings either the ham or the Nutella.
Everything we ordered was perfect. The Ham was great and excellent with the basil —no wonder La Nostra Pizza is their best seller. I will definitely come back for the Ham. And, of course, you can’t go wrong with Nutella. Just by its name, it’s already instagram worthy.
La Nostra Pizzeria Napoletana is located at Streetscape, Paseo Saturnino, Ma. Luisa Road, Banilad, Cebu City. They are open on Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. For reservation, you may call (032) 3507872.
If you want an apt summer ender, Waves is definitely a perfect ode to a bright summer. It narrates how summer heats up two hearts but left them cold in loneliness when finally they’ll realize that everything was just a mirage.
Waves is an independent film with Cebuano roots that marks the directorial debut of Cebuano Don Gerardo Frasco. It will be shown in theatres nationwide starting today, June 24, 2015.
Official 2nd trailer of the movie:
#EthysMovieReview:
“Waves reminded me of Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy (Before Sunrise – 1995, Before Sunset – 2004, and Before Midnight – 2013) — a look at modern love with flair for naturalism. It is an eavesdropping on the intimate conversations of Ross and Sofia who both plunged into love by taking impulsive detours and catching chancy tides, which unwittingly brought them to their feet at the shore. It swells with an unspoken confusion that rippled from the characters, especially that of Baron Geisler’s— in his stellar performance in years. His persuasive and empathic facial sobriety kept the movie alive.” Read more here.
Waves’ Movie Poster
Screening Schedules:
June 24, 2015
I. METRO MANILA
1. Robinsons Galleria
2. SM North 9 (S – After the Ball)
3. SM Megamall 12 (S – Burying the Ex)
4. SM Sta. Mesa 6 (S – Film Fiesta)
5. SM Fairview 10
6. SM Bacoor 8 (S – Film Fiesta)
II. LUZON
1. SM Clark 3 (S – Jurassic)
III. VIZ/MIN
1. SM Lanang 2
2. Gaisano Starscene Davao 6 (S – Kruel)
3. SM Cinema 6 (June 24-26; 7:15pm & 9:00pm)
I live for the day when our most valuable possessions—our homes, our vehicles and even our own bodies will be linked together, when products will come with a new wave of “smart” applications designed to study our habits and get to know us better than ourselves; each will helpI live for the day when our most valuable possessions—our homes, our vehicles and even our own bodies will be linked together, when products will come with a new wave of “smart” applications designed to study our habits and get to know us better than ourselves; each will help us offload the complications of daily life, and when I don’t have to turn off the AC in the middle of a deep sleep because it is raining and it is cold. Samok, di ba? An AC that is sensitive to real-time weather, that is #SmartLife.
In line with convenience and “smart” applications, may I recommend iFlix app. It has a huge collection of TV shows and movies that you can watch whenever, wherever. Try the 15 day trial, bid goodbye to hazy movies and say hello to HD quality movie on your phones.
Since its conception, we all love Vispop. Now on its 3rd volume, Vispop releases the lyric videos of the 6 finalists. We arranged it from what we think is best to good.
1. PANGANDOY
Written by John Stephen Cadelina and Irving Ladanan Guazon
Performed by Daryl Leong
Back-up vocals performed by Daryl Leong and Irving Guazon
All instruments arranged, performed and recorded by Jad Bantug at 1032 Recording Studios
All tracks recorded and mixed by Jad Bantug at 1032 Recording Studios
Produced by Jude Gitamondoc
Lyric video produced by Pads Animation
2. BOK LOVE
Written by Felipe Anjelo Calinawan and Therese Marie Villarante
Performed by Therese Marie Villarante and Kurt Fick
Back-up vocals performed by Daryl Leong
All instruments arranged, performed and recorded by Felipe Anjelo Calinawan at 1032 Recording Studios
All tracks recorded and mixed by Jad Bantug at 1032 Recording Studios
Produced by Jude Gitamondoc
Lyric video produced by Pads Animation
3. BRGY. BLUES
Written by Andy Calope
Performed by Earl Andrei Ornopia
Back-up vocals performed by Earl Andrei Ornopia and Kenneth Corvera
All instruments arranged, performed and recorded by Jad Bantug at 1032 Recording Studios
All tracks recorded and mixed by Jad Bantug at 1032 Recording Studios
Produced by Jude Gitamondoc
Lyric video produced by Draft Creative Group
4. BUWAG BALIK
Written by Lourdes May Maglinte
Performed by Lourdes May Maglinte
Back-up vocals performed by Daryl Leong and Lourdes May Maglinte
All instruments arranged, performed and recorded by Jad Bantug at 1032 Recording Studios
All tracks recorded and mixed by Jad Bantug at 1032 Recording Studios
Produced by Jude Gitamondoc
Lyric video produced by Draft Creative Group
5. LQ
Written by Adam Niel Corvera
Performed by Eugene Corpin of Aggressive Audio and Julyann Uy
Back-up vocals performed by Eugene Corpin, Julyann Uy and Adam Corvera
All instruments arranged, performed and recorded by Felipe Anjelo Calinawan at 1032 Recording Studios
All tracks recorded and mixed by Jad Bantug at 1032 Recording Studios
Produced by Jude Gitamondoc
Lyric video produced by Draft Creative Group
6. TUG TA TUG
Written by Earnest Hope Tinambacan and Jerry Angelo Catarata
Performed by Earnest Hope Tinambacan
Instruments arranged, performed and recorded by Jerry Angelo Catarata
Additional instruments arranged, performed and recorded by Kerryl Demeterio at Backyard Project Studio
All tracks mixed by Jad Bantug at 1032 Recording Studios
Produced by Earnest Hope Tinambacan, Jerry Angelo Catarata and Jad Bantug
Lyric video produced by Draft Creative Group
Vote for your favorite VISPOP 3.0 song.
Like Vispop Page (Failure to like the page, disqualifies the vote.)
Vispop 3.0 Finals Night will be on June 26, 2015 7:00PM at SM Cinema One. Tickets are sold at P200.00 and P150.00. You may send a private message to the Vispop Facebook page for reservations.
An ampersand (and per se and) is a logoram “&” representing the conjunction word “and”. Like the & sign that connects two words, the Amoersand Restaurant connects two entities may it be two persons on a date or a group of friends on a Friday nightout. It is the newest and most exciting venue for a stylish dining experience in Cebu.
Ampersand also has a deli section, a bakery and a full bar, perfect for any after-dinner chill.
Edit
I had visited the restaurant twice already since they opened on March 2015 and somehow I already have some favorites from their menu, as my usual order, but for tonight, on this by invitation cursive dinner with blogger friends, I let the chef to surprise me.
The moment we were seated we were served with their signature concoctions that includes Hendrix Drive, Cebu Sour and Canine. Mine was Canine, rum mixed with kalamansi and lemon liqueur, so potent that instantly I realized that I’m in for some serious business.
Edit
Their Focaccia Bread is baked in-house, they are always served fresh. The bread is crusty, crunchy outside and chewy inside served with a really good olive oil.
The appetizer is Salmon Squid Tartar. It is fresh and light. The interplay of subtle saltiness of the fish and sourness of the mango and cucumber teases my mouth.
My soup was the creamy and hearty Kalabasa Soup. It’s very filling especially that I paired it with bread. At this point, my mind already prompted me that I am already full.
Our main course is consist of:
Lemongrass ginger and turmeric chicken over stir-fried vegetables and baba ganush.
500 g Rib eye steak.
Thyme and cumin marinated rack of lamb on couscous and vegetables.
Risotto Nero, King prawn, squid, salmon and tuna with creamy spinach.
Ampersand is not really a steak house but certainly it has one of Cebu’s best steaks. I will definitely will go back for the rib eye.
Our dessert is a spread composed of citron greentea cheesecake, double chocolate fudge, pavlova, and the one that stand out among them, the chocolate ganash.
Ampersand also serves draft beers.
They offer discounted drinks too on themed nights:
Mojito on Mondays,
Tequilla on Tuesdays,
Wines on Wednesdays, and
Vodkas on Thursdays.
On Fridays they have an acoustic band to keep the Friday night vibe and a DJ on Saturdays. The restaurant morphs into a bar at 10:30 PM everyday.
Ampersand is located at Banilad Town Center. For reservation you may call 09214107763 or 09157748308. For updates of their promos and events you may follow them on Instagram (@ampersand.cebu).
This is a “semi-spontaneous” long weekend trip to Anda and Panglao in Bohol in celebration the Philippines’ Independence Day. Our plan was just to have fun and our itinery is basically just “come-what-may”.
From Cebu we took off at Pier 1 via Supercat/2Go. Very conspicous was how Pier 1 has improved alot since it has been renovated. It’s probably one of the best in the country today, it is even better than some country’s small airports.
After an almost 2-hour ride on board the Supercat we reached Tagbilaran City. The construction of their new port is still on-going as their old port was destroyed by the October 2013 earthquake that rocked the whole island. We docked at the makeshift port and proceeded to hail a tricycle that will take us to Dao Terminal where we can ride a bus going to Anda. However, while we were haggling for the fare we saw a good number of taxi cab queing and we thought of hiring one instead to take us to the terminal to avoid the oppresive sun. Since there are 3 of us, the fare is relatively the same. Again, because this is a come-what-may travel, we accepted to the offer of the taxi cab driver to take is directly to La Petra Resort in Anda for P2,000.00 instead of just in Dao Terminal. The driver also kindly suggested that we take a stop over to one of the places frequented by tourists and he will just wait for us. That was pretty good offer, of course we took it.
We were not really hungry when we arrived at Loay River Rio Verde Floating Restaurant but still we availed of their lunch buffet. There were si many costumers, were glad we somehow came ahead of them. We got the regular buffet for P399.00.
The menu includes: In the salad bar, Manga with Bagoong (Green Mango w/ Shrimp Paste) Atsal/Puso salad (Banana Bud Salad) Guso salad ( Seaweed Salad). Main courses were Buttered Chicken, Pork Barbeque, Pancit Special, Fish fillet in sweet and sour sauce, adobong buko-buko (a cetain kind of squid) Adobong Kangkong (Water Spinach Cooked Adobo Style) Ginataang Langka (Jackfruit in Coconut Milk) and Shrimps. Desserts are some of filipino favorites like puto cheese and puto kutchina together with some tropical fruits. It was ordinary but really good tasting.
Loay River cruise is a 45 minute tour in the beautul river with ine stop over at the Tribe Ali. Compared to the more popular Loboc River, Loay is cleaner and more untouched.
Anda is 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Loay. When we arrived at the hotel, we were served with welcome drinks and assigned to a native hut with an ocean view. After a short nap in our room we asked to be transferred because the AC seems not working. We were given a bigger room near the pool. It was better!
Anda is still untouched, maybe because it is secluded. Anda has a long stretch of white sand beach. It would have been perfect if only the beach floor directly fronting our hotel is not “muddy”. The beach at Poblacion, Anda were better. We enjoyed the beach alot since it just us, we have the sea all for ouselves. Here are some of our beach photos.
At night…
Dinner was happiness. I didn’t realize happiness could be that cheap too, a seafood platter of crabs, shrimps, clams and fish for only P400.00. La Petra food is really good and their serving is generous. We almost couldn’t finish it.
Day 2
Complimemtary breakfast which comes along with our accommodation was served at the restaurant of La Petra. iur hearty breakfast meal imcludes bacon, egg, sandwich, salad, ampalaya with rice, juice, coffee and milo. We felt the effort the staff had put in the give us a pleasant stay in their hotel. We really appreciate it, and even more when they offered us to drive us to Guindulman where we can hire a bus to Tagbilaran City on the wat to Panglao.
The bus ride was comfortable except for the bumpy parts if the road in Tagbilaran. The 105 peso fare was worth it, it was a long 2 hour ride.
We got ourseleves a month minibus to Panglao. We were booked at Cherry’s Home Too since it was the cheapest with a high rating of 7.7 in Panglao. After we were settled in our room, we rested from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM and proceeded to our late snacks at Tarsier Botanika.
A free shuttle at the Tarsier Botanika in Alona Beach will take you the main branch, around 2 kilometers from where we stayed.
Tarsier Botanika has been operating for almost two years already but it was only now, after they renovated, when people discovered its charm. Unfortunately, only its restaurant is open, their park and villas are still under construction.
This is a welcome addition to Bohol’s attraction. It’s awesomeness can only be described in photos.
We were so full when we went back to the hotel. We decided to take our time and rest before we shall check out Panglao’s night party scene.
A walk in the beach leads me to a massage area where massuers will massage their clients by the beach. Of course, I have to avail it. Massage is one pleasure I couldn’t resist.
We partied at the by the beach chill out area of Bugsy’s. I got so tipsy that recovery food is imperative. We look for a Bulalo place and found, Abotanan. They served barbecue, bulalo and batchoy. Food was okay, at least they are open 24 hours.
We wrapped up Day 2 at 12:00 midnight as we need to park early for our 5:30 AM call time the next day.
Day 3
Upon our arrival on Day 2 at Cherry’s Home Too, we saw an ad about an island hopping tour for 1,500.00. We inquired further details about the tour and booked ourselves the next day (Day 3)
The call time is quite early at 5:30 in the morning in order to catch the playful dolphins of Panglao. We went down from our room at exactly 5:30 AM. We are greeted by our boatman who guide us to the boat at the shore of Alona Beach.
There will be three stopovers: Dolphin Watching, Balincasag Island, and Virgin Island a.k.a. Isole de Francesco.
20 minutes from where we took off, we were already playing hide and seek with the dolphins. The boatman must be quick should possess some good intuition based on the patterns of the dolphins. We saw around 30 dolphins.
Balincasag Island is a marine sanctuary, we paid P150 per person upon entry. We alighted from our banca and was transfered to a smaller paddle boat. A guide will be assigned to you for P150.00. We snorkled and surveyed the fishes and corals around 10 meters from the beach. There were big and small fishes but the corals are not as colorful as I expected, althought, they are still alive.
After an hour of snorkeling we went to the beach in front of Balincasag Island Dive Resort, the water on that area is very clear and tempting. You can’t say no.
We asked the local abour our next stop, the Virgin Island. They adviced that we should go there at low tide so that we can see the whole white sand bar while it is not submerged. They said low tide will be around noon, probably 1PM. Unfortunately, we were running out of time we booked ourselves to Henann Resort’s Buffet for lunch. We decided to leave Balincasag for the Virgin Island around 10AM.
We left from the island at around 11 AM, so ready for the lunch buffet and if we still have time for some foot massage before we shall leave Panglao at 3:30PM to catch our fastcraft leaving Bohol at 5:25PM.
While I have higher expectations for the movie that were scarcely met – awesome but not in the way I want it to be — I am very much delighted with how it delivered a top notch technical production in terms of effects and animation, the dinasaurs, the park, and the chase are so real.
It must be the technology, the new addition in the formula in both production and storyline and with little hints of humanizing the ferocious beasts.
Go ahead, call the gang, apply those “Dog Whispherer” techniques and be the alpha, drag the pack to the theaters.
Actually, it was like watching a crossbreed between “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” and “How to Train Your Dragon” in a more realistic exhibition.
Golden Prince Hotel’s Prince Fusion Gourmet is now offering seafood dinner buffet every Friday and Saturday for only P420.00. Included in the menu are fresh tuna, large prawns, crabs, rock lobster and cheesy baked oysters. The price is really insane it made me think if they really want to make money on this offering. Sushi is also regular on their menu.
At the helm of the kitchen is Chef Marlou Almasco who designed not only the seafood choices but also the cebuano fusion recipes like grilled native chicken and pork belly, beef salpicao (really tender) and spicy squid. An interactive pasta station is also included for those who can’t shake off their carbs.
No buffet would be complete without desserts. For Prince Fusion Gourmet it’s a spread of red velvet mini cakes, leche flan, fruit salad, sago gulaman and the must-try creamy halo-halo — a concoction of creamy ice shavings, fresh buko, langka, saging, leche flan, cereals and a scoop of ube ice cream. This I can really say it’s a yummy halo-halo with no hints of preservatives from canned ingredients.
Golden Prince Hotel’s Prince Fusion Gourmet Dinner is open every Friday and Saturday from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM. You may call (032) 233-8660. It’s an intimate venue with 32 pax seating capacity, reservation is advised.
Insider info: On September 2015, Gold n Prince Hotel will open it’s expansion tower. It means additional 120 rooms on its existing 57 rooms at Tower 1.
It was late in the evening, around 10:00 PM, when we were undecided on what to have for late dinner. My self-imposed rule is that when in doubt, the Japanese knows better. Hence, we went to LightSite, A. S. Fortuna for some Japanese ramen quick fix at the newly opened ramen house, Ramen Sora.
Their modern wooden-tile floor compliments their 17 wood tables and chairs, diners are instantly transported to a zen place while waiting for the delivery of their orders. In our case, it was a short one.
The sky was the inspiration behind the recipe of Ramen Sora which, literally means “Noodle Soup” and “Sky”. It is a collaboration of 2 seasoned chefs one from the east (Sapporo, Japan), Chef Tomio Takada and the other, from the west (Las Vegas, USA), Chef Yoshinari Ichise. The result is a ramen with light and playful flavors in an aromatic soup that spouts a good kind of funk.
Our order was their famous miso ramen (deluxe). Ramen Noodles with Pork Chashu, egg (tamago), preserved bamboo shoots (menma), spring onions (negi) and nori in a traditional japanese miso soup.
The noodle is the best noodle I had in Cebu, they have to import it from Sapporo Japan.
Our order arrived on time at the right temperature. The serving is huge, one serving could in fact feed 2 persons, not bad for a ramen with a price tag of 405 pesos. They also serve shio and shoyu soups.
We also ordered the best pair for our ramen, the quintessential gyoza. They were fresh and good but would have been better if mildly spiced.
Ramen Sora is open from Monday to Sunday 10 AM to 11 PM on weekdays and 12 midnight on weekends.
You may call 520-3331 for reservations. They usually have a long queue on Sundays.
On May 24, 2015, the biggest and probably the best modeling workshop every summer culminates with a grand fashion show, “A Summer Dream”, featuring Ayala Mall’s retail brands and some of Cebu’s fashion gurus, Yves Camingue, Jian Lasala and Stylissimo and AD Models founder Dexter Alazas. “A Summer Dream” is spearheaded by the creative mind of Cebu’s AD Models, Dexter Alazas, a fashion designer who’s passion for fashion encompasses not just design, but one who discovered many visible faces in the country’s modeling circuit , who started their budding carriers locally , in what we call now the Beauty Queen City of the Philippines, Cebu. Verns Buckley , Ford Supermodel of the World Philippines winner and male model icon Vince Canizares , Miss Intercontinental 2014 2nd runner up Kris Tiffany Janson , and the newly crowned Bb Pilipinas Supranational 2015 Rogelie Catacutan all started their modeling stints under his tutelage .
“A Summer Dream” is part of Ayala Center Cebu’s signature workshops held every summer that educate the next generation fashionistas with proper training and mentoring to improve their walk on the runway, poise and posture through the posing techniques with photographic modeling.
International models Zeus Lorez and Alexia Barton will also sachet on the catwalk with the graduates as they make their personalities stand out by applyibg the practical beauty pageant tips and unleashing their inner self confidence that is essential in developing their individual potentials.
The 12-Day Summer Workshops kicked off last April 6, 2015 with a separate weekly session for teens and kids.
#NindotKaayo 