It's no secret the Baguio is my favorite City. I've grown a fondness in calling it my City of Blinding Lights, with U2 references, of course. I'm always in Baguio that's why I find it hard to make an introduction when I blog about it. It's not like introducing a new destination as I wouldn't call it that. It's also not in any way similar to introducing one's home as it's more than my home. So maybe we can skip that part and get to noticing how I've learned a new skill with font manipulation? Hahaha! I hope that's a nice segue. 

A couple of weeks ago, the boyfriend and I went to Baguio. The last time we were there was around February to visit my sister, who's studying to be a doctor at SLU. When I was in college, my allowance was P1000 for a week and I'd survive with money left for alcohol, Saturday parties and Sunday Ukay runs. And no, I'm not THAT old; cost of living is just comparatively low. But during our last visit, I noticed that the place was riddled with restaurants I haven't seen in the past. And you guys know how I love food challenges, right? With that, I challenged myself to try and create a round up of restaurants, watering holes and secret eats in Baguio to help tourists, like myself, in finding the perfect place to eat. Btw, I hate referring to myself as a tourist because Baguio is home to me. But with all the high-rise buildings and new restaurants all over the place, that might just be the perfect description. *sigh* I'll post every now and then since I always go there every month or two anyway. Hope this helps your upcoming trips. Let's begin! The places we'll cover today are the ones we actually visited through the course of that weekend. 

To be fair, this isn't the first time I'm visiting this place. But I haven't made a decent review in the past that's why I'm including it in this list. Tsokolateria is owned by the same group of people behind Pamana. Recently, they've put up a branch in Tagaytay as well. The ambiance of the place is cozy, as most Baguio restaurants are. The only struggle with this place is the Igorot stairs. There's a steep, lengthy step of stairs that you have to go through before you get to place. Other than that, everything's perfect. All of their Chocolate drinks are worth trying! Each order is good for 2 people, but it doesn't just serve a cup. It can serve up to 3 cup refills, as far as I can remember. Other favorites would be Strawberry Waffle, French Toast with Bacon and Mushroom soup! 

Budget : P250 - P300 / person 

Location : Igorot Stairs, Upper Session Rd, Baguio, Benguet

I've been dying to try this watering hole the first time I've heard about it from friends! There are actually tons of new watering holes that I've read online but I made sure to prioritize this because of all the buzz around it. Baguio Craft Brewery boasts of beautifully created hand-crafted beer. You can check out the amazing story how it came to be a business venture. 

One good thing to note here is that they allow you to taste the beer before you order it. No need to worry about paying for beer you don't really like, because here, you can definitely taste it before you pay for it. They also have a comprehensive table on the bitterness and alcohol level of each beer, as well as the specific category in which it belongs. I thoroughly enjoyed Lagud (Strawberry Beer), Keywheat (Kiwi Beer) and English Man in New York. I would highly recommend the three, plus a side snack of Onion rings..ahh! Awesome night! The roof deck was my favorite spot. They also have a live band to boot! 

Budget : P250 - P400 / person 

Location : KM 4, Marcos Highway, Baguio City

Ha! You might be wondering why Mines View is on this list. Well it is, as a matter of fact, a foodie paradise. Shown in the photo are some of my favorites : Roasted Dried Squid, Corn on a cob, Green Mangoes with shrimp paste, chili powder and vinegar, Fresh Strawberries, Organic Chico and so much more! Of course there's the always coveted Strawberry Taho with real strawberry bits. You might want to visit some of the restaurants in front of the souvenir stands. Aside from having an amazing view of the mountains while having your meal, they also serve really good coffee. 

Budget : P50- P120 / person

Location : Outlook Drive, Baguio City

Ingredients

• Magnolia Chicken, cut into small strips

• Shrimp

• Yakisoba Noodles 

• Yakisoba Sauce (included in the pack)

• Onion

• Garlic

• Carrots

• Bell Pepper

• Cooking oil

• Mushroom

• Salt/Pepper to taste

I’m down to the last destination of my Conquering Cebu series! Despite having the time of my life telling you guys about the several attractions I’ve been to, I believe the blog needs a breather. I’ve queued up some recipes for next week after I finish this entry. And, one quick summer destination you guys can go to if you’re a bit tight on budget! More on those on my next posts!

After a tiring adventure in Oslob and Carcar, we were ready to fulfill the last item on our check list. And that is to eat all the Lechon we can while in Cebu City! Of course we did some sight-seeing along the way. I’m a terrible person when it comes to documenting food that I love. I was on a mission to review all the Lechon places we tried, but soon as the meal hits the table, I forget everything I’m supposed to do! And that’s exactly what happened here. I’ll be sharing the places we went to, but unfortunately, no Lechon shots. It was so painful typing that! I felt like I’ve failed the city. Oh, well. Let’s move on to the places you can explore while in Cebu City!

I cringe every time I check my blog and see that the latest update I've made was from almost a month ago! I've been trying draft my posts so I can schedule them strategically, but haven't found the time! I should work on my time management. I have been busy, but not to the point that I can't breathe in between tasks. I really should just learn how to use my time smartly. The boyfriend went on a Euro trip which is why I tried to spend as much time with him before he left for Amsterdam. Quality time is offline time, meaning no gadgets unless it's for work or an emergency. That's why I've been quiet in social media, except for the occasional posts on Twitter or Facebook whenever I'm at work. Anyhoo, more on that on my next post. For now, let's talk about Carcar!

Carcar was one of the stops we didn't intend to make during our Cebu trip. While in Oslob, I was reading a blog about the best Lechon places around Cebu. The blogger noted that the best Lechon he tasted was not in Cebu City but in Carcar. Not only are they proud of their Lechon, the blogger also wrote that they have the best Chicharon he's ever tasted. I told the boyfriend this, and being the ultimate Lechon and Chicharon fan that he is, he told me we should go despite originally not having it in our itinerary. 

With all the calories we've burned going around Oslob, we're pretty sure we're ready to move on to the next phase of our vacation--the food trip! We took a bus from Oslob, and it took us about 2 hours before we finally reached Carcar. Aside from the food, I've read that there are also ancestral houses that you can visit. Their church is also a must-see! Too bad we didn't have that much time to roam around.