The Comfort At Dong Juan

All of us has a comfort food.  I'm not certain anymore how I knew about this place. I'm guessing from a friend, an ex or a blog that I read somewhere.  All I remembered, I was hungry and it took me to the corners of Guadalupe area. It wasn't as popular as now.  A humble diner hiding along the complex roads of Andres Abellana (I always get lost driving there).

Working in a call center, my friend and I, whose body clocks set at Eastern Standard Time, had difficulty adjusting our time even during weekends.  Like owls we hunt food at night time.  Getting away from mall rats, we enjoyed driving the empty unfamiliar streets like digging golds that sort of fun.

Or was it my ex who lives nearby. We didn't like spotlights so we both agreed meeting in a non-crowded place.  There's a thrill in hiding. Also, away from the eyes of the unforgiving public.

Perhaps from a review.  I was scouting for good burgers in town.  In an article it was described how their burgers were so flavorful - smokey barbecue taste of the patty seemed drooling.

So this is their burger and this is how I rated it initially and I stick to my rating.

"My verdict, 5 out 5 stars. the bread crust is perfect and it chewy inside. The patty's smokey flavor and the beef is just perfectly grilled. You'll long for every bite and the sauce plays with the cheese in your mouth. Its affordable too from 150 to 200! what a perfect treat! I wish they have fries together with it."

      
I often myself there.  From comfort food to comfort diner.  Now they have several branches all over the city. You wouldn't miss to see these in my table, my two personal favorites:  Gambas Pasta and the Mozzarella sticks.

photo courtesy of Dong Juan

Those flakes that move when its served hot, I thought it was garlic, the I realized later it was shreds of dried fish.  yum!

Photo Courtesy of Dong Juan

Who doesn't like mozzarella? and I always ask for another saucer of that marinara sauce.

Last Christmas some my college friends came home from Singapore. As tradition we met for dinner.  Dong Juan recently opened a branch at ground floor Calyx Building, Ccebu IT Park in Lahug.

I'm not sure if the set was offered during the holiday season only but it was good for twelve or so I thought because there were only seven of us, the two came late and the plates were empty.  So here's what we've got.

Chorizo pasta

broccoli and mushroom 

Sizzling Gambas

Sizzling Sisig

Sizzling Pochero

Steamy Seafood - (All gone now)

This one was off the set but we were curious.

Kimchi burger

Comforting, especially when you are with your best buddies.  Our topic that night was the earthquake that hit Cebu last October. It sure was devastating but how we re-enacted how we survived? Laughter blurted out. I love these people, no dull moments.  The best food is best shared with the best people!

#noprices
#freeloader_again
#sweetlife

The Cravings At Joed's Lutong Hapon

I craved for Japanese. But when 15th and 30th of the month is far from reach, budget matters. And , its a fact that Japanese restaurants would cost a fortune.

Lucky, a walking distance from work, one can find Joed's Lutong Hapon. Located in Panag-dait Mabolo, just across Sarrosa International Hotel.

I heard good reviews about this place from friends, news feeds in FB, other bloggers.  I'm not really familiar with how Japanese cook.  I only know a few.  I just really love to eat. When my tongue affirms then I get more. So I keep on the safe side - cooked!  I don't fancy raw as much as my sisters, oh how they love sushi.

So we started with a maki.  They call it Crazy Maki Roll.  California Maki is the farthest I can go, like I mention, I don't fancy raw. 75 pesos for 10 cuts. Must be good.  I convinced my friend to take her first bite. She hesitated. Perhaps the thought and from its look.  For me, pretty fancy actually. She liked it.  She look forward to have this again.

Oyakodon - Rice bowl with chicken and eggs for 100 pesos

Among the four, my order was the best and my friends agreed.  The chicken was tender and the flavor seeps well to the meat.

Sukiyakidon - sweet simmered beef for 95 pesos

Its served hot and you are supposed to dip it in a bowl of raw egg.  Apparently it was not only me who dread the thought of raw.  My friend had the egg cooked like sunny side up style.  Funny actually!

Jumbo Tonkatso for 95 pesos - Deep fried breaded pork chop.

 Crispy in the outside and juicy from the inside generously poured with sweet and sour sauce. (more on the sweet side than sour)

Happy Buuurrrrrp Day!

The Cebu's Original Lechon Belly

Last year when I tried vegetarian, lechon was the hardest to let go.  I drooled even the smell of it.  The crispiness of the pork skin was the greatest temptation.  Eventually my taste buds had changed.  I was sucking nectar from fresh fruits and blended green leafy vegetables. I learned to let go.

When vegetarian cycle ended, I never appreciated the taste of meat that way. Like a vampire I craved for its juiciness and tenderness. Taking one bite after bite.

And of course I had long missed my favorite, lechon. Cebu is known for the best lechon in the country. Cebuano being innovative and creative made it boneless.  I heard it from friends also from some ads while doing my grocery list.  Believe it or not I just had my first boneless lechon experience some weeks ago.

According to feedback I got, they have the best boneless lechon.  One fine day, we drove to Parkmall to get this for brunch.  They open 10:30 AM yet the cashier was already queuing. They must be really that good.

They have spicy and the regular one.

We paid 500 for half a kilo spicy and half a kilo regular plus hanging rice.  Its best eaten with hanging rice and iced cold coke.

The verdict:  I'm not really into spicy because I'd sweat to death but yes the spicy one tasted better. The flavor neutralizes the greasy taste of the fatty belly. The skin was crisp just the way I want it.  It was another buuuurrppp morning!