According to Wikipedia, Halal ( ”lawful”) is a term “designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law”. The term is used to designate food seen as “permissible according to Islamic law” (Sharia). The opposite of this word is Haraam.

A Halal Certification therefore would mean that practitioners of Islam may now purchase Aunt Ludi’s Bakeshoppe famous cakes and healthy delicious breads with no fear of breaking the Sharia.  It also pertains to the fact that the bakeshoppe has passed a rigid cleanliness and sanitation standard deemed worthy for its products to be sold internationally.

This one is definitely for the record books!  I just hope our other establishments follow suit considering the significant Muslim population we have in South Central Mindanao.

Aunt Ludi’s Bakeshoppe has branches at the Robinsons Place GenSan and at the J&G Propriedad Bldg., Nunez Street, Purok Malakas, San Isidro, General Santos City.  Like Aunt Ludi on Facebook by CLICKING HERE.

The main dining area was still as spacious as I remembered it,  more so by the fact that only one table was occupied by a couple enjoying their lunch.  There was nobody else around aside from them and I had to call out for the waiter who was then busy having his lunch in one dimly-lit passage beside the counter. Found out that this waiter was also the cashier.

I immediately ordered what I came for and took my seat near the entrance with its good vantage of the street.  While waiting for my food, the big clunky TV hanging on the ceiling showing an old Regal movie starring Babalu and Redford White tried to entertain me.

Halina Restaurant looks like it needs a major make-over.  The walls and the ceiling cry out for a repaint and the decor or what looked like figurines seemed headed for antique shops. The package airconditioning unit near the door has a big sign which says, “OUT OF ORDER“  and I had to plug in the only stand fan I found inside near my table to cool me.

I remember that Halina Restaurant used to be the choice venue for weddings, parties, conferences and seminars because of its location at the heart of the city and its attractively priced food packages.   It was also a favorite hangout of students and young professionals since they served the one of the best chicken barbecues in GenSan and other short orders at very popular prices.

Article:  GenSan’s 5 Best Chicken Barbecues

My personal favorite though was their papait and its melt-in-your-mouth slices of goat’s meat and innards minus the “goat” taste and smell.   It was so delicious that I always order it for snacks since lunch or dinner was reserved for their Mongolian Chicken Barbecue.

While reminiscing Halina’s glory days, the waiter cum cashier arrived and served my Mongolian Barbecue with Java Rice!  God!  It smelled sooo inviting and looked so appetizing!  I had to take its photo first before helping myself to it with my bare hands.

Upon taking my first bite out of the chicken leg, memories of pleasant afternoons shared at Halina with my old friends came rushing back!  The taste was the same as I had imagined and remembered it.  No fancy flavors, no overpowering spices …. it is still Halina’s old, home-grilled style delicious juicy and tender chicken!

The yellow java rice, although oily now for me for comfort is still the Mongolian Chicken Barbecue‘s perfect foil!

Next came the Papait which still came served piping hot in a small bowl just like the old times.

I nearly burned my tongue at my first sip of the Papait’s soup.  I felt it needed more ooomph but then again, I remembered that it was actually Halina Restaurant’s original version of this goat dish – not too strong and minus the pungent smell.  The big vertical slices of meat were still as tender as only Halina could serve them and tasted as heavenly as before.

In less than 15 minutes, I devoured everything, with my mind set at returning once more before the week is over!

By the time that I was paying for my bill, four more tables have been occupied by other diners, all of them ordering Halina’s still famous-as-ever Mongolian Chicken Barbecue, a testament to a lesson that I have learned today to “never ever judge a restaurant by its looks alone but by the food that it whips out“.

Halina Restaurant’s Mongolian Chicken Barbecue is priced at P90 while its Papait will cost you only P40. It still has not jumped into the “unlimited rice” bandwagon of GenSan’s ubiquitous chicken restaurants.

Just proceed to the KCC Mall of GenSan, walk down to their Kainan sa KCC Foodcourt anytime between 2:00pm and 5:00pm and avail of their super cheap MERIENDA BUFFET!

The whole thing will cost you only P79.00 which entitles you to eat all the snacks they have available.  Aside from Pinoy favorites like kakanin, they will also be serving guinataan, pancit, palabok, spaghetti…. just look at their poster above to see what we mean.

KCC’s Food Court has just undergone renovation and everything now looks cleaner and orderly.  Wish they had a bigger space though since with the volume of people shopping there everyday, they would need a dining area the size of a basketball court to accommodate all their patrons.

Kainan sa KCC’s Merienda Buffet is available everyday, from Monday to Sunday!  Check it out!

Set for four days, from October 28 to 31, 2011, this is a good chance for foodies to check out and savor Asian Tongue‘s varied Oriental offerings as much as you like!

Below is their OctoberFEAST Buffet schedules:

• Octoober 28, Friday     –  Desserts and Snacks Eat-All-You-Can @ P99.00
• October 29, Saturday   –  Eat-All-You-Can @ P199
• October 30, Sunday    -   Dessert-All-You-Can @ P79
• October 31, Monday   –   Eat-All-You-Can @ P199

To entertain their dining patrons, Asian Tongue will be featuring live bands and fashion shows during these buffets, which are very welcome treats for these guests actually!

Now you and your families wouldn’t have to worry on where and how to spend the long holiday weekend in GenSan!

Asian Tongue which has teamed up with Occasions First Events for this, is offering their OctoberFEAST promos from 4:00pm to 12:00 midnight.  To get your tickets in advanced, you may visit Asian Tongue at its location along Roxas Avenue, fronting the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Calumpang residents, make way for BeeStop Restaurant!

BeeStop Restaurant opens today, October 18, 2011 and will be offering FREE UNLIMITED RICE to all diners!!!

Read:  BeeStop Restaurant offers not just chicken.

It is located a little past the Makar Bridge in Puting Bato, Calumpang and across PENBank.

Hope to see you there!

You do not have to go downtown anymore to get your Jollibee fix!  The city’s second Jollibee Drive-Thru Branch will open on October 30, 2011 along the National Highway in Barangay Calumpang, right beside Rowell Canning Corporation, at the corner of the side street leading to the Antonio Acharon Sports Complex.

To be known as Jollibee Calumpang, this store is the seventh Jollibee outlet in the Tuna Capital!

"JOLLIBEE DRIVE-THRU CALUMPANG'S FRONT EXTERIOR PERSPECTIVE"

Jollibee Calumpang will be operated by the Teng Family, the same people behind Jollibee-Highway Drive-Thru and Jollibee Robinsons.  If the people’s response in the area is highly favorable, the outlet might operate on a 24-hour basis after a few months.

Take note that Jollibee Calumpang will be serving the heavily-populated barangays of Calumpang, Tambler, Fatima and a portion of Labangal.  It will also cater to the needs of the tuna industry workers of the city stationed nearby, which is basically the backbone of GenSan’s economy.

And what more, for people rushing to the airport, they can just pull into Jollibee’s drive-thru lane which has two entrances (National Highway and the Sports Complex road) and treat themselves to their favorite Jollibee take-outs!  OR, they can park their cars for a while in their 18-slot parking grounds and take a quick bite inside their sunrise-facing dining area!

"JOLLIBEE DRIVE-THRU CALUMPANG'S RIGHT SIDE PERSPECTIVE"

And here’s more great news!  Jollibee Calumpang also will be offering the following Opening Salvo Promos cleverly timed during the Kalag-Kalag or Halloween… (Uhaw Cemetery is just nearby)…..

October 30, 2011:

• Free Jollibee Umbrella for the first 200 Dine-in and Take-Out Customers with Chicken Joy or Chicken Barbecue BUCKET Purchases
• Free Jollibee Umbrella for the first 200 Drive-Thru Customers with Chicken Joy or Chicken Barbecue BUCKET Purchases

October 31 – November 1, 2011 (Halloween)

• Free Thermal Tumbler for the first 200 Dine-in and Take-Out Customers with Chicken Joy or Chicken Barbecue Bucket Purchases
• Free Jollibee Car Shade for the first 200 Drive-thru Customers with Chicken Joy or Chicken Barbecue Bucket Purchases

With all these in store for the people of Calumpang, hopefully, in due time, this store will turn out to be the most profitable Jollibee outlet in the city!  PROMISE!

Currently though, Q Restaurant and Bar, which is it’s real name is trying to attract another market, other than its after six habitues.  It has started serving lunch and boy, for sure, they will be soon be the toast of GenSan’s noon time crowd once news about it goes viral!

One must-try specialty of Q Restaurant and Bar is its endless chicken! Aside from that, it serves a whole lot of Pinoy, Oriental and Western cuisine which are very affordable by GenSan standards.

One of the problems of the “generals” is eating out during lunch because of limited choice.

With Q Restaurant and Bar opening its doors from 11am to 2pm at Sun City Complex, that will never be a quandrary again.

You may call Q Restaurant and Bar and order their Greaseless Fried Chicken or Angus Steaks in advanced by calling them at (083) 554-3202.

Just very recently, they have started officially offering their clients take-out orders for their famous Razon’s Halo-halo!

The Original Razon’s Halo-Halo which hails from Pampanga is different from other halo-halo since it only comes with a simple fruit-mix, banana and macapuno topped with super delicious and sweet leche flan.  It may now be taken home as pasalubong inside a covered plastic cup.

Aside from that, customers may also opt to take-out their Original Razon’s Pancit Palabok!

The Original Razon’s Halo-Halo and the Original Razon’s Pancit Palabok to be eaten and savored right at the comforts of your home or as  refreshing snacks at your office?  Love it!

Check out The Original Razon’s at KCC Mall of GenSan now!

Razon’s Halo-Halo & Pancit Palabok (Lug-lug) started in 1972 in a small town of Guagua in Pampanga. It was from the ideas of three spinster sisters named Severina, Elena & Virginia. Originally the Halo-Halo & Luglug was only for the consumption of the large Razon Family. But the delicate, creamy, delicious taste of Razon’s Halo-halo spread in the town of guagua and became a destination snack area in the province. The Halo-Halo consist only of 3 main ingredients namely Macapuno, Saging and Leche Flan. Critics says that the simple concoction is the secret recipe for the taste and success of Razon’s Halo-halo. And now it is helm as the BEST Halo-Halo in the country.

Effective last week, Bee Stop softly introduced their PANCIT FIESTA platters to the public!

So now, other than their fried chicken, inasal, chicken barbecue and lutong bahay ready-to-eat offerings, people who are into noodles or pancit may now have them at Bee Stop.

The new variants (Bijon, Canton, Bam-i, Lomi, Palabok, Mami) come in Orders good for 2 persons and 4 persons.   If diners still want chicken with their pancit though, then they can order the Bijon platter or Canton Platter which now contains one fried chicken plus a glass of Iced Tea and costs only P129.00!

Bariles ordered the Canton Platter when he was there for lunch the other day and was almost afraid that he could not finish off the whole thing because there was just so much canton that came with it!  It is actually a meal fit for two persons! Good thing that the canton tasted so good and is comparable to Chow King‘s that he was able to forget about his diet and consume everything without the guilt.

Next target for Bariles is their Bihon Guisado Platter!

Right now, Bee Stop’s delicious Pancit Fiesta is offered from morning to night time at their RD Building outlet at Santiago Boulevard below the Pag-Ibig Office.

Check it out now guys!  Tell them Bariles sent you!

Now, Zagu, the country’s #1 producer of Pearl shakes is offering along with its delicious and refreshing drinks their own style of Mantou, a whole new selection of yummy stuffed bread sticks! (CLICK HERE to check out Zagu’s latest pearl shakes flavor.)

Zagu’s Mantou Stuffed Bread sticks which it sells at P16 a piece has a lot of super yummy meat fillings to satisfy your cravings for light, affordable snacks.  Check out from these meat fillings: Cheese Burger, Chicken Ala King, Chicken Burrito, Country Ham, Classic Sampler, Introductory Sampler, and Mushroom Chicken Pesto!

Other fillings which will make you try more of Mantou are Pepperoni and Cheese, Tuna and Cheese, Roast Beef and Mushroom, Smoked Bacon and Mushroom, Beef Kebab, Beef Taco and Bolognese!

There is certainly something for every kind of meat craving!  Grabe!

Bariles himself recommends the Chicken Ala King and since he goes for Midwestern food, the Beef Kebab!!!

Each Mantou stuffed bread stick is sold at P16 only.  It is available at Zagu Gaisano Mall of GenSan!

For deliveries of either Mantou stuffed bread sticks and Zagu Pearl Shakes please call Zagu Gaisano at 0942-7166115.

It’s their deliciously satisfying “Choco Orange” flavored shakes!!

Zagu’s Choco Orange Pearl Shakes is available only from July 1, 2011 to October 31, 2011.  Bariles was fortunate to try it and was floored by the unique combination of two of his favorite flavors – chocolate and orange.  It was a perfect shakes blend mixed with its heavenly chewy pearls made of yam and tapioca.

Zagu’s Choco Orange Pearl Shake is available in three sizes – Baby Z (P38), Regular (P45) and Grande (P53) at its Gaisano Mall of GenSan and KCC Mall of Koronadal outlets.

Soon, Zagu Pearl Shakes will open at Fitmart Tacurong so watch out for it.

First place went to Santa Cruz Seafood and their frozen milkfish belly v-cuts from full-sized milkfish grown on the seawaters of GenSan, now turning out to be one of the country’s leading areas for aquaculture exports.

The yearly Trendy Awards is a project of the Dept. of Trade & Industry (DTI) through the Center for International Trade Expositions & Missions (CITEM) to search for local innovations in content & packaging of new food products & applications and those which exemplify succesful adaptation to consumer lifestyle and preferences, and its readiness for the challenges and requirements of the global consumer.

Sta. Cruz Seafood’s frozen Bangus Belly V-cuts lorded it over a crop of 22 shortlisted IFEX exhibitors whose new food products or applications were judged on newness of the idea, product innovation, packaging design and innovation, and market demand.

Sta. Cruz’s milkfish belly cuts which were bigger than the usual freshwater bangus and have a firm texture do not have the “muddy” aftertaste.

Judging the entries were were renowned personalities including famous culinary great Nora Daza, Philippine Star lifestyle writer Cecil Zamora, CIBO resto’s Margarita Fores, Cook Magazine’s chief editor Nancy Reyes-Lumen; Via Mare’s Glenda Barreto; Bale Dutung’s famous chef Claude Tayag; food writer/designer Ige Ramos, food writer and designer; and DZBB news anchor Raul Virtudazo.

All the entries had to undergo a preliminary screening process by a technical screening committee made up of food and packaging experts from the Food Development Center (FDC), the Dept. of Science & Technology-Packaging Technology Division (DOST-PTD), the Philippine Trade Training Center (PITC) and the San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation (SMYPC).

2nd and 3rd place winners were Bacolod’s Herbanext Inc.’s Sweet Roselle Chips, a lightweight snack made from the sun-dried petals of the tropical roselle plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa) and C.O.P. Pili Sweets & Pastries’ Garlic with Chili variant of its YNut Roasted Pili Nuts.

From us here at GenSan News Online Mag, our heartfelt congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Joel and Patrice Santos, owners of Sta. Cruz Seafood, and the same couple behind the now famous GenSan View Resort!  Joel himself is a great grandson of the city’s founder, Gen. Paulino Santos and a brother of Tito, one of the owners of premier tuna pasalubong favorite, Pacific Seas Seafood Market.

2011 is truly the Year of the Champions for General Santos City!!! Mabuhay ang mga Generals!

For tomorrow, June 19, 2011 only, they are giving away a special gift to diners whose bill reaches P700.  Check out  Bigby’s Cafe and Restaurant’s promotional poster for Father’s Day below.

Bigby’s Father’s Day gift is actually what they are calling a “Best Daddy Advice Tumbler“, similar to the one featured on their poster.

The tumbler looks nice and worth keeping together with your collection of swags from other companies!  Now if only Bigby’s Cafe and Restaurant could sell their excess tumblers at a much cheaper price after Father’s Day to their clients here in General Santos City, then that would surely be a really good treat for their customers!

For all Fridays in June, they have come up with”Asian Cuisine Eat-All-You-Can” Buffet!

For only P350, guests can eat as much as they want of a “five -course dnner and other tasteful entrees” – Chicken Asparagus with Quail Egg Soup, Sushi & Maki, Fish Potato Salad, Crispy Fried Chicken with Mango Cream Dip, Korean Pork Ribs, Beef with Sweet Red Pepper & Chili, Thai Noodles with Beansprouts & Peanuts, Fish Fillet with Corn Sauce & Fish Roe, Dolean Fried Rice and Mango Gulaman Delight.

There will be an acoustic band serenading the diners.  Everything starts at 6pm.

This highly succesful Buffet Series of East Asia Royale Hotel started with May’s Piyestang Pinoy, and before that, April’s Spanish Treats, March’s Chinese Buffet, and February 14′s Japanese Valentine’s Buffet.

To find out why this is so, reserve your tables for this Friday at The Royale Lounge and call East Asia Royale Hotel at (083) 553-4119 and 553-4124.

For the months of June and July 2011, GenSan’s premier themed boutique hotel, Ice Castle Hotel Experience Hotel is opening “THE SALAD BAR” and is putting out all stops to make sure you get one healthy delightful culinary treat!

As their poster above is saying:  Eat all you can! Pick all you can of all the freshest vegetables and fruits that GenSan can offer.  PLUS you get to concoct your own salad dressing OR choose from an array of fresh salad dressings available.

The Ice Castle Experience Hotel’s THE SALAD BAR will be made available on all Wednesdays of June and July, from 10am to 2pm and from 5pm to 10pm.  As you can see, you may have it for snacks in the morning, lunch, late afternoon break or dinner!! And just imagine eating all the salad you want for a measly P125.oo!!!!

Wow!  I hope they offer this other than Wednesday because we have a dearth of dining establishments in GenSan offering a healthy alternative just like this one!

Anyway, for reservations to The SALAD BAR, please call telephone #s (083) 554-4423.

The Ice Castle Experience Hotel is located at GLEX Business Center, Ambassador Provido Village, Aparente Avenue, General Santos City!

Now for all the Fridays of May 2011, they are inviting everyone to their Fiestang Pinoy:  An Eat-All-You-Can Buffet!

So expect Royale Lounge’s delicious Kare-kare which is prepared by owner Rombar Bartolome’s wife, Aymie to be served alongside other mouth-watering Pinoy dishes like LECHON KAWALI and the like!

And you know what?  Everything can be had for only P350!!!  Soooo affordable if you have a big appetitie!

We have some great news for you and we are certain that this will excite your palates even more!

The OLD SOUTH MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE, which specializes in Mediterranean Food and Steaks  is back and they are better than ever!

For those who have not experienced The Old South when they first opened, check out our blogpost about it from the past by CLICKING HERE.

Anyway, according to Atty. Onie Baliao, the man behind The Old South, they have improved on the menu by concentrating on the best-sellers and adjusted their prices to make them more affordable.   They still did not scrimp on their ingredients though and still utilize authentic Mediterranean herbs and spices and the freshest meat from their suppliers.

Here below is their new Menu.

NewMenuDesign7(1)

See?  Reading their NEW IMPROVED MENU alone, makes you want to go and drive to their address at Romana Estate II, New Mabuhay-Klinan Road, City Heights Gen. Santos City.

To give you an idea of what these items in their menu are, here is a quick lesson on Mediterranean Food:

• Koftas are grilled ground meat mixed and marinated with Middle Eastern spices.

• Brocolli with Cheesy Tahini consists of broccoli florets with tahini sauce. Tahini is a ground sesame seed paste. It is creamy, oily, and smooth nut butter rich in calcium.

• Cigarette Borek is Labneh Makbus wrapped into spring roll sheets and then fried to perfection. Labneh Makbus is a soft cheese ball made from yogurt.

• Sultan’s Rice is buttered rice with raisins, cashew nuts and saffron threads.

Aside from these, they are offering the following deals:

• 10% price off to senior citizens;
• 10% price off to student barkadas every Saturday. Privilege cannot be used in conjunction with any discount card or promotion.
• 5% price off to KCC Card Holders. Privilege cannot be used in conjunction with any discount card or promotion.

To find your way to The Old South Mediterranean Cuisine, just study and follow this map below.

Now sporting a new youthful logo with what looks like a cloud, Coffee Dream is set to reconquer the patronage of the Tuna Capital’s discriminating coffeecionados.

The whole old cafe was overhauled and in its place is a minimalist set-up, less the bulk, minus the clutter… giving the place more room for customers to maneuver and breathe.

As for their concoctions, their chilled bestsellers are still there…Frosticcino, Fro Reo, Irish Latte and Bariles fave Frothy Caramel!

Bariles opted to taste their new hot TSOKOLATE though and it was pure chocolate heaven!   But for those who prefer cold non-caffeine drinks, Coffee Dream’s line of revamped frosties are sure to delight even more… Creamy Irish, Strawberry Chill, Mango Chill and Green Tea Chill!

To go with his drink, Bariles ordered their Tuna Sandwich and had to look twice at its size when it was served a little later!!!  Although on a diet, he was able to finish it off in a jiffy!  The tuna spread was tangy, not too sweet and had just the right creaminess. What’s also great about it is that it used yummy WHEAT BREAD, the healthier option!  Bariles made a mental note that when he comes back, he will try their Corned Beef Sandwich.

As for its wifi, the speed was pretty decent and Bariles was able to quickly check on his Facebook status and answer a few emails in the process.

Basically, the new Coffee Dream at KCC Mall of GenSan has continued the tradition of its old self plus more!  Service is still tops and if news of their reinvention reach their old habitues, for sure, they will start flocking back to reclaim Coffee Dream as their own again.

Thanks to Ric and Sheng Dumalay for the 2nd photo above.

Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish served in a fish-based or meat-based broth, seasoned with soy or miso and topped with almost any sort of meat (fish, fowl, beef, pork).

Whether at Rairaiken‘s branch at the KCC Mall of GenSan or at the Robinsons Place GenSan, Bariles always go for their GOMOKU Ramen (Mixed Seafoods with mixed veggies, topped with fresh egg and chasyu), since he finds it healthier! He visits any of these outlests at two times a month, bringing a friend or two to let them discover the joys of partaking Rairaiken’s sumptuous ramen dishes!You can just imagine his delight therefore, when he checked into Rairaiken KCC and found that that there’s a 50% Discount on ALL THEIR RAMEN dishes!

So, Bariles fave giant steaming bowl of Gomoku which used to cost him P180 can now be enjoyed at a mere P90 only!!!!    THAT’S double the reason of visiting Rairaiken KCC or Robinsons then!

For the rest of their ramen dishes plus other Japanese goodies, here is their menu.  Please click on it for an enlarged view.

For reservations, please call Rairaiken KCC at (083) 552-0160 or Rairaiken Robinsons at (083)

Ladies and gentlemen and faithful readers of GenSan News Online, here is Jo-Ann Bakeshop‘s new LECHON BREAD!

Jo-Ann Bakeshop’s Lechon Bread as its name suggests, is a one and one half foot-long bread shaped and baked to look like a lechon de leche (roasted suckling piglet).  At P50, it is worth a steal since it also tastes good similar to the taste of the ubiquitous monay or twin bread.

Compared to a whole loaf of bread which costs P40 these days, Jo-Ann Bakekshop’s Lechon Bread should be the better choice since it is way much bigger!

And you know what?  This Lechon Bread even has a bigger variant at P140.  You should however give them a day to bake it after you order it from their main outlet along P. Acharon Boulevard.

Jo-Ann Bakeshop’s Lechon Bread is a fun and affordable way to celebrate small events and a great gift to give for all occasions!  With Bariles’ birthday fast approaching, he’d better be receiving this from any of his millions of readers.  Besides, it would be healthy for him.  (wink)

Lola Mading Deonoso who is actually his godmother, has produced the best pastillas in town  since 1956 and used only the freshest cow’s milk for her obra maestra.   When Bariles left for college in the 80s and worked elsewhere after that, he forgot all about his favorite pastillas.

Imagine to his surprise then, when at one time he dined at the Zheztah Chickens and Burgers, he found out that Lola Mading’s Pastillas are still available and being sold there.  Zheztah is operated by Lola Mading’s beauteous grand daughter, Dimpie Zuzon, from his daughter Girlie.

Lola Mading’s Pastillas, especially when freshly cooked, are as soft and chewy as can be and a mouthful of its mildly sweet flavor is pure heaven.  It’s a good pasalubong for travellers and could make a unique and delicious gift for your loved ones with sweet tooth.

Right now, Lola Mading’s Pastillas are sold at P20 per pack of 10′s and are available at Zheztah Chicken and Burgers.

For bulk orders, please call telephone #s (083) 301-9425.  Tell them you read about it at GenSantos.Com.

]]> http://www.gensantos.com/2011/01/05/lola-madings-pastillas/feed/ 4 http://www.gensantos.com/2011/01/04/leeonga-mongolian-seafoods-grills-delights/ http://www.gensantos.com/2011/01/04/leeonga-mongolian-seafoods-grills-delights/#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:59:56 +0000 bariles http://www.gensantos.com/?p=11116 General Santos City’s residents’ taste buds have always been known to adapt to new trends and fads in the dining scene easily.  It is then no wonder that more and more restaurants have cropped up the past year offering something for just about everyone.

At the new SunCity Complex, Leeonga Mongolian and Seafoods Grill has been packing them in ever since it opened at the 3rd quarter of 2010.

As its name suggests, Leeonga Mongolian and Seafoods Grill serves Asian food but with emphasis on grilled fare.

For its Mongolian Barbecue (actually a stir-fry dish, not Mongolian, and not a barbecue), one can have a choice of paying for its ALL-YOU-CAN-FILL BOWL for only P130 or EAT-ALL-YOU-CAN MENU at P200.

All the ingredients and condiments – garnishes, meat, sauces, veggies and noodles for its Mongolian Barbecue are situated in a buffet table at the farther end of its spacious dining area, overlooking its busy state-of-the-art kitchen.

"THE MONGOLIAN GRILL TABLE & ITS CHOICES OF INGREDIENTS"

Bariles chose the cheaper  Mongolian Barbecue alternative at P130 and started filling up his small bowl studiously, concentrating on the meats, seafood, fishballs and veggies and spicing it up  with chili and soy sauce, carefully arranging them so as not to fall.  This is how it looked….

"BARILES' MONGOLIAN BARBECUE TOWER, READY TO BE STIR-FRIED."

After a few minutes, the MONGOLIAN BARBECUE came out and served to him piping hot, smelling good and ready for the eating.

Since Bariles was with a group of visiting bloggers from Davao and Tacurong cities, he ordered a few more dishes, as suggested by Leeonga’s attentive manager, Ian Lumasag, which were immediately served one after the other.

First, was the Clam Shell Soup which came smoking hot in a native chinese clay pot….

Then, as part of its appetizers was the CRISPY SHRIMPS which also came hot from the wok and was crackling at every bite…

Next to be served were two mouth-watering slabs of GRILLED TUNA BELLY….

Then came their sinful and appetizing GRILLED LIEMPO….

Their exclusive GRILLED PALIKPIK NG MALASUGUE was next, meat so tasty and juicy especially behind the fins…

This was followed by an emerging aqua-culture product of Soccsksargen, also grilled – PANGASIUS.

And what is a seafood feast without GRILLED PUSIT?

And of course, the ubiquitous GENSAN TUNA KINILAW… fresh, soft and sour from the vinegar that Bariles poured himself…

It was a good thing that Bariles and his blogger friends were famished that time and so they were able to finish everything off before one could say, “Happy New Year!”  For sure, Leoonga Mongolian & Seafoods Grill will now be on the top of their list when on the lookout for dining establishments that GenSan can truly be proud of.

For reservations and inquiries, please contact Leoonga Mongolian & Seafoods Grill at telephone #s (083) 552-8778.  Leeonga Mongolian & Seafoods Grill can be found at the 2nd floor, Center Building, Suncity Complex, National Highway, GenSan.

]]> http://www.gensantos.com/2011/01/04/leeonga-mongolian-seafoods-grills-delights/feed/ 9 http://www.gensantos.com/2010/12/22/pork-steamed-rice-de-cebu-is-now-in-gensan/ http://www.gensantos.com/2010/12/22/pork-steamed-rice-de-cebu-is-now-in-gensan/#comments Wed, 22 Dec 2010 07:09:52 +0000 bariles http://www.gensantos.com/?p=11044 Each time Bariles drops by Cebu City, he makes sure that he dines in any of the restaurants still offering his #1 comfort food – PORK STEAMED RICE.

When he was still a student at the University of the Philippines College Cebu at its Lahug Campus, not a month passes without him going up the elevator to this small restaurant in downtown Colon named Ding How Dimsum to partake of their delicious and hot off the fire, saucy rice toppings with pork bits and green peas.  He usually orders this with a small platter of lumpia shanghai or spring rolls and pork sweet and sour served with super tasty sweet and sour sauce.

That monthly pilgrimage stopped when he graduated and relocated back to Mindanao in the 80s.  His love affair with Pork Steamed Rice continued however.

Every visit he makes to Cebu City is not complete without dropping by Harbour City Dimsum or any other place offering Pork Steamed Rice de Cebu.  He later discovered two years ago that in Davao City, a DING HOW DIMSUM Restaurant has also opened at V. Mapa Extension, serving as his solution to a sudden craving for this addicting dish.  But then Davao City is 150 kms away and his visit to the Durian Capital are not that frequent.

That is why, when Bariles found out that WILD BOAR SPORTS BAR along Santiago Boulevard started offering DIMSUM in their menu on December 13, 2010, including what they have been hawking in their announcement streamers as “PORK STEAMED RICE DE CEBU“, he lost no time in visiting the place last weekend!

Wild Boar Sports Bar at the 2nd floor of a Convenience Store at the Shell Gas Station at the corner of Santiago and Laurel (fronting the SM City GenSan lot) has  gone several incarnations since it opened two years ago.  It has changed management ever so often confusing a lot of people.  But by going into Dimsum this time, would things turn out for the better?

First, the verdict on their PORK STEAMED RICE…

The look is basically the same as that Cebu’s, even the bowl is of the same size!

When mixed together, this one has even more sauce in it and thus, looked a little like congee… but in a good way since Bariles liked it that way.

The taste is OH MY GOD….. so very near to the original Pork Steamed Rice de Cebu, with even no more need to season it with soy sauce as Bariles usually does with his meals.  They could change their supplier for green peas though since they do not seem fresh at all anymore.

And at a price of P45, this is one is really a steal compared to the prices of the existing Dim Sum Houses in GenSan!

In a scale of 1 to 10, Bariles is rating Wild Boar’s Pork Steamed Rice de Cebu, an 8.5!

Bariles also ordered the other Dim Sum Dishes and this is his take on them.    Their 3-piece siomai meal is ok but too smallish for comfort.  The chicken feet are quite overcooked and thus, spongy.  Lastly, the spicy pork spare ribs at P48, although flavorful came in a very pitiful small serving.

If only WILD BOAR could do something about the size of their servings, then pretty sure, going Dimsum and offering a surefire bestseller in their PORK STEAMED RICE DE CEBU would entice more customers and new habitues to their restaurant.

By the way, Wild Boar Sports Bar now has an acoustic band providing entertainment to its clients.  Dart games are still available too.

In the 70s, Ceballo’s Kitchenette used to stay at the lot now occupied by the four-storey building which houses the Land Bank of the Philippines branch along Pioneer Avenue. Then in the early 90s, it transferred to their property at the Osmena South Avenue where it stayed there until it closed shop before the start of the new century.

But now, it is back bearing two names (!) , the original Ceballo’s Kitchenette proudly displayed at its frontage and  M. Ceballo Mini-Restaurant found at small menu tarps inside its new “hole in the wall” location beside the Iglesia ni Cristo along Aparente Avenue in Purok Malakas, Barangay San Isidro.  Later, Bariles found out that apparently, M. Ceballo is a daughter of the original owners.

Ceballo’s served only pinoy noodles or pancit during its heyday.  Bariles remembers that his dad used to take him there on special occasions to feast on their fragrant, saucy and delicious pancit canton or pancit guisado.  At times he would dine there with his high school classmates on their heavenly lomi.

If there is one comfort food for Bariles aside from Joan’s Bakeshop’s SIOPAO, then this is it!  So imagine how he felt when driving near the Satellite Wet Market of Purok Malakas, he saw that Ceballo’s Kitchenette has risen from the ashes!

The dining area is quite small this time, about 2 meters wide and 7 meters long which is just right for 5 small tables.  Anyway,  Bariles and the two girl friends he invited over to try Ceballo’s immediately ordered what he came there for with this menu tarp below as their guide. He was pleased to know that everything in it is basically the same menu fare at the old Ceballo’s of long ago.

Bariles settled for Pancit Canton Guisado (Chicken) while his two companions, Sheila and Chessy opted for Bijon Guisado (Chicken) and Lomi.

After about 20 minutes, their orders arrived one after the other….

First was the Lomi.

The Lomi at P25 was a steal.  It was served steaming in a bowl filled to the brim.  Chessy swears that it is one of the best she has tasted so far in her life and she didn’t even have to season it with black pepper or soy sauce.  It was already flavorful at the very least.

Then came Bariles’ order, the PANCIT CANTON.  This was how it looked below…

Ceballo’s Pancit Canton Guisado which was priced at P75 even tasted better than it looked and smelled.  After a spoonful of its tender but firm noodles drowned in thick tasty sauce, memories of the old Ceballo’s kept pouring into Bariles’ mind.  Yes!  It is the same Ceballo’s pancit canton he has grown to love. And the quite crunchy meatballs which they prepare themselves still stole the show along with the chicken bits and veggie trimmings.

Now for the last part, the Ceballo’s Chicken Bijon Guisado for Sheila.

This time, the taste was still spectacular as much as Bariles could remember it.  However, he felt that the noodles were too thin and less full-bodied than it should be.  Perhaps they could get another brand for this dish.  But then again, at P75, you still get your money’s worth since it was one delicious gigantic serving.   For Sheila, it was one great meal!

The trip to the new Ceballo’s Kitchenette was well worth it for Bariles and his companions.  Mentally taking note of the other dishes in their menu tarp, he swears that he will be back and this time, he will try his father’s favorite, their CHOPSUEY.

Nothing really beats roaming the streets of GenSan and discovering small culinary gems like Ceballo’s.  Makes one proud of the city’s varied fare which has something in it for everyone.

How about you?  What was your latest culinary discovery in GenSan?  Share it with us and we will gladly visit it.

Blame it on Little Dubai‘s very attentive and smart staff who surely know how to make their diners feel welcome and of course, on its exciting and delectable mix of Mid-Eastern servings which have, soon enough claimed a good number of fans.

Little Dubai Kebab Grills is also a favorite of the Soccsksargen Bloggers not only because it has fast and free wi-fi connection but due to the fact that it was a very effective venue a few weeks back for a fireside chat with Travel Bloggers from Manila and Cebu.

For the Tuna Festival Week which just formally opened, the little resto put up by a former Dubai OFW, the effervescent Cherry Odi aka Dimples has cooked up something which is sure to entice more customers and transform them into regulars.

Yes, four mouth-watering dishes, among others prepared exclusively for those who are here for the GenSan TunaFest eXperience and for those who crave for light, healthy and nutritious tuna meals.

Here they are below in close-ups, Tuna Curry, Tuna Kebabs and Tuna Salads!  Artwork is by the famous Mac-mac Pilapil of Print Depot.

"SPICY TUNA CURRY TOPPED ON STEAMING WHITE RICE"

"LITTLE DUBAI'S SUPER FLAVORFUL JUICY TUNA KEBABS"

"REFRESHING AND FRESH TUNA SALAD GARNISHED WITH OLIVES"

Now, while dining on these special dishes this week, you may want to play a game or two of JENGA with your dinner companions or with the fabulously down-to-earth Little Dubai Kebab Grills owner Dimples herself who will be glad to show you the ropes.

According to Dimples:

JENGA is a game of physical and mental skill created by Leslie Scott. During the game, players take turns to remove a block from a tower and balance it on top, creating a taller and increasingly unstable structure as the game progresses.

Bariles tried it the last time he was at Little Dubai Kebab Grills and he immediately became a JENGA ADDICT!  There are various ways of playing Jenga but the real thrill is finding out who will knock the tower of small bricks first! Then he gets to drink one glass full of water from the attentive personnel of this trend-setting GenSan restaurant as PENALTY.

"BARILES IN FULL CONCENTRATION WHILE MOVING A BRICK FROM THE TOWER PILE WITHOUT KNOCKING IT ALL DOWN."

All these are various ways that Little Dubai has concocted to keep its customers flocking in.  With its new food line of Tuna Indulgence dishes plus the game of Jenga available for diners afterwards, would you still rather go elsewhere this week for your GenSan TunaFest eXperience?

Little Dubai Kebab and Grills can be found at the SAFI Arcade, across the KCC Mall of GenSan, Bula-Lagao Road, GenSan.  For reservations, please call (083) 552-0130 or 0922-8141010.  Please LIKE their Facebook Page by CLICKING HERE

It hosts the famous diner’s paradise, the GenSan restaurants‘ haven – Tiongson Arcade which houses specialty restos like Gusteau’s Shrimps and Crabs, Euro Kitchen and Gio’s Mongolian Barbecue plus the 10 or more stalls selling everything from barbecue to seafoods.  

 One can also find the high-end Red Trellis at Tiongson Extension there and the roadside favorite Ballena Kainan.   Not to be missed of course is the Al Fresco strip of Robinsons Place which is Lagao’s crown jewel.  

Recently, a newcomer opened its doors unceremoniously at the corner of Tiongson Street and J. Catolico Avenue.  Guys, say hello to HARVEYS, another GenSan restaurant soon to capture your tastebuds.

Harvey’s owned by partners Malot Veneracion and Didot Calma was only less than two months old when discovered by Bariles and his brother Orman.  Being meat lovers, they immediately warmed up to the place after they were seated comfortably and shown the well-layouted menu.

They first got Harvey’s grilled baby-back ribs which was superb to say the least.  The fat-less meat which was smothered with their barbecue sauce is still soft and tender and juicy.  Complementing it are the side dishes of veggies and sweet corn.  Both had to eat them with their hands and finished up all the meat to the very bone.  It was definitely their best-seller and now both the brothers know why their slogan is:  NO BOIL.  NO FRILLS.  JUST GOOD OLD-FASHIONED RIBS.

"HARVEY;S GRILLED BABY-BACK RIBS"

Amusingly enough, Harvey’s baby-back ribs come in three sizes with the following names:

• GREEDY - extra-large ribs with sidings of marble-sized potatoes or sweet corn, this one is priced at P320 and is good for three persons.
• SELFISH - large-sized ribs with sidings of potatoes or sweet corn, and prized at P165, good for two persons.

Another version of this new GenSan restaurant is their baby-back ribs was the spicy ribs sprinkled with red and green chili which had just the right bite to it but was still succulent and uber tasty.

"HARVEY'S SPICY RIBS SPRINKLED WITH GREEN AND RED CHILI PEPPER"

Then came a surprise – the Harvey’s Chicken and Shrimp Combo, also grilled and served with atchara and sauce dip.  The shrimps were big, fat and juicy and a perfect foil for the rich meats.

"HARVEY'S CHICKEN AND SHRIMPS COMBO"

Last on their radar was the Burger Steak, two home-made beef patties, served in a sizzling plate and which was a complete meal in itself.  They could hardly finish it but the aromatic mushroom gravy smothered on top of the patties was just a big temptation.

"HARVEY'S BURGER STEAK"

For all their meat products, a variety of dips and sauces are available.  There’s the tangy, spicy and super hot Super Scott and the mustard-based Big Boris.  Then there’s their version of the classic Uncle Sam barbecue sauce called Chloe’s Choice, the garlicky Kuki Kraze or the sweet-and-sour taste of Yum-O-Yokie.

There were still a few more food on their menu like their pasta dishes, burgers, sisig, and special kinilaw but no thank you, the brothers were full.  All they could muster was a promise to the owners that for sure, they are coming back another day.

Harvey’s is located at Tiongson Street corner J.P. Catolico Avenue, Lagao.  It is open to serve lunch from 11pm and 2pm and dinner until 12 midnight.  For reservations, please call (083) 552-9838.

What calls to mind when talking about dimsum are dishes like dumplings (siomai) (beef, pork, crab, quail egg, etc), chicken feet, siopao, spring roll (lumpia),  siopao, rice toppings, among others- all deliciously served piping hot and usually affordable to the average Filipino income earner.  

A testament to the popularity of dimsum among PINOYS is the proliferation of dimsum restaurants and fastfoods in the country.  Here in General Santos City, we have more than a few restaurants operating at the malls, in stand-alone stores and through the ubiquitous carts one can find in alleys of Robinsons, KCC and Gaisano.  

DIMSUM is easy to order, readily available, not complicated to eat and is served steaming hot.

So now on its 4th year and seeing the need to offer more variety in its menu and to cash in on the popularity of DIMSUM, the restaurant which revolutionized the eating habits of the generals, restaurateur Michael Wee’s  Grab A Crab Restaurant levels up and has started to serve DIMSUM dishes at its branches at Laurel East Avenue and Robinsons Place GenSan Al Fresco strip.

At the newer Robinsons GenSan outlet, DIMSUM is served readily through a small cart pushed by a waiter. The cart contains various DIMSUM dishes in bamboo baskets or small plates, still hot from the nearby kitchen.

This time, there’s no wait and hungry mouths can be fed as soon as they get seated on their tables.

Bariles has tried the dimsum dishes himself and he’s swearing that they’re one of the best, if not the best he has ever tasted.  One thing more, the servings are plentier and their siomai‘s (Bariles’ favorite) are bigger!  GOD!  SIOMAI IS KING!  And Grab A Crab’s version lords over them all!  

Credit goes to Chef Sau del Rosario, a famous cook from Manila who improved Grab A Crab Restaurant‘s menu and introduced DIMSUM.

Now, if you want to find out if what Bariles says is true, then hie off to Grab A Crab Restaurant at Robinsons which is open from 10:00am up to midnite or at their main branch downtown.  Wait for the dimsum cart to be wheeled to you but if you want more than the usual, then call them in advanced at (083) 554-2248.  Look for Rick, the manager.  At their JP Laurel East Branch, call (083) 553-5430.  Look for Arnie.

Check out the poster below to see what we mean…

Starting yesterday, June 18th and up to Father’s Day itself, tomorrow, June 20th, the following treats will be in store for everyone:

• 10% Discount on Ranchero’s famous baby-back ribs!
• 10% Discount on Pablo’s selection of Certified U.S. Angus Steaks!

"10% DISCOUNT ON RANCHERO'S ALL-TIME FAVORITE BABY-BACK RIBS SERVED WITH MASHED POTATOES AND VEGGIES"

And to top it all, all Daddies who will dine at either Ranchero or Pablo’s or Paseo del Sol on Father’s Day will receive FREE Fudgy Chocolate Cupcakes!

And while they’re at it, why not try Ranchero‘s latest menu offerings which could charm you as much as it did delight Bariles when he tried they out.  Well, they wouldn’t be the HAPAG-KAINAN NG BAYAN for nothing.

Here they are….

"THE DELICIOUSLY TENDER AND SAUCY PATOTEN COOKED IN PINEAPPLE"

The Patoten pictured above is so tender after being cooked for quite sometime that the flavorful meat easily melted in Bariles’ mouth.

"RANCHERO'S CRACKLING LECHON KAWALI SERVED ON TOP OF A HEAP OF GREEN, NUTRITIOUS & CRISPY PAKU TIPS AND ITLOG MAALAT PLUS A SPECIAL BAGOONG-BASED SAUCE"

If your dad cares for native fare, then the Lechon Kawali above served with Paku Tips and Itlog Maalat and poured over with Ranchero’s special bagoong-based sauce is a must!

"RANCHERO'S SINFULLY AWESOME AND NOT-FOR-THE-FAINT-HEARTED DINUGUANG PATA NG BABOY. NO ENTRAILS HERE."

The Sunglaos, owner of Ranchero and Pablo’s hail from Pampanga (the culinary capital of the Philippines) and therefore, an order of their new DINUGUANG PATA NG BABOY should be part of your Father’s Day feast.  It’s a well-received fact that our KABALENS cook the best dinuguan!

"FISH LOVERS SHOULD TRY RANCHERO'S SAUCY POMPANO ESCABECHE"

Ranchero GenSan is the first dining establishment to introduce the fish, Pompano usually prepared steamed and cooked in oyster sauce.  For a change, why not try their creamy POMPANO ESCABECHE as pictured above.  This is one of Bariles’ personal favorites.

And of course, for dessert, if the Fudgy Chocolate Cupcakes are not enough, then try their new TIBOK-TIBOK, a Pampango pudding-like delicacy cooked with carabao’s milk and garnished with crispy coconut latik.

"RANCHERO'S TIBOK-TIBOK IS A FITTING FINISH TO ANY FATHER'S DAY MEAL."

With all those mouth-watering suggestions we just mentioned plus the treats they have in store for daddies and their families, don’t you agree that the best place to celebrate Father’s Day in GenSan is really at Ranchero, Pablo’s Steaks and Crabs and Paseo del Sol?

For Father’s Day reservations, call them at (083) 553-9298 or 301-9298.   They are located at the National Highway, General Santos City.

Always on the lookout for GENSAN restaurants which hopefully turn out to be culinary gems, Bariles was brought to Ballena’s Kainan by his bosom friend Councilor Meg Santos who swears by its exceptional home-style cooking.

Managed by its resident cook Alvin Ballena, who took over from his mom’s old Balbacuahan, the eatery which could only fit 2 tables inside its tiny serving area spilling out into Capareda Street‘s wide sidewalk, the place has been around for more than a year now.

The place offer a variety of Pinoy cuisine ready for take out ala-turo-turo. Other than that, one can phone them in advanced and order whatever dish he fancies. In this case, before Bariles and company went there to eat, Councilor Meg already called in and ordered her favorite beef steak.

"BALLENA KAINAN'S BEEF STEAK WITH YELLOW CORN"

Meanwhile, it was lechon kawali for Councilor Ric Atendido who’s coming with us along with Councilor Nepthali Natividad.

"BALLENA KAINAN'S LECHON KAWALI WITH SPECIAL VINEGAR SAUCE"

The group was so famished that time from their stressful hosting of the National Convention of Councilors League of the Philippines that they also ordered the eatery’s bestseller, PANCIT CANTON. Being a noodle eater, Cook Alvin’s take on the favorite Pinoy staple did not disappoint Bariles.

"THE PANCIT CANTON ALA BALLENA, THE CAPAREDA ROADSIDE EATERY'S BEST-SELLER"

Soup was Nilagang Baboy and veggies was Ginataang Langka, both ordered straight out of their array of pre-cooked food.

"BALLENA'S NILAGANG BABOY FROM THEIR TURO-TURO"

"GUINATAANG LANGKA FROM BALLENA KAINAN"

The famished VIP’s immediately settled on their tables arranged out into the front yard under a makeshift tent and didn’t mind the traffic passing by.

What concerns them is that their hungry tummies are once again fed with Ballena Kainan’s satisfying fare and at that point in time, that is all that really matters.

"GENSAN CITY COUNCILORS RIC ATENDIDO, WIFE NARLY, JOANNE RODRIGUEZ, JETJET GARCIA, SANDRA SANTOS AND COUNCILOR MEG SANTOS ALL READY FOR BALLENA KAINAN'S SPECIAL FARE"

Ballena Kainan can be found along Capareda Street (KANAN), about 30 meters from the Nikki Louis College (formerly Canda School of Midwifery). For short orders of any kind, please call them at (083) 302-3393. PRICES START AT P65 FOR SHORT ORDERS.

"KEIKO KEN KAMBINGAN'S NONDESCRIPT OUTLET ALONG NUNEZ STREET IS USUALLY FULL BY 11AM - 1PM

Keiko Ken Kambingan’s serves goat dishes only but is so famous that if one goes there after 12 noon, almost everything is sold out already.

KALDERETANG KAMBING

The bestsellers like Sinampalukan, Kaldereta and Papait usually go first.  But then you still have the adobo, kilawin and sisig to feast on.

"PAPAITANG KAMBING"

Keiko Ken Kambingan is located right across the dirt road going to the ABS-CBN Compound, and is so nondescript you could easily miss it if not for its signboards.  The best time to drop by is at noon time because a long parade of vehicles are parked along the sides of Nunez Street near this famous GenSan restaurant.

What’s actually good about their goat dishes is that they don’t have that certain “goat smell” and every morsel is tender and tasty.  They start cooking everything at dawn so that the broth that comes along with the soup variants are the most flavorful in this part of GenSan!

Don’t just take Bariles’ word for it.  Visit Keiko Ken Kambingan at Nunez Street and you will see what he means.