Food at Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort

Aside from the good service and picturesque landscape, another thing I appreciated about Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort is the satisfactory food it prepares for guests. 

Breakfast is included in the room rate and we got to choose from a Japanese, American, or Filipino plate. Best value of the lot, we feel, is the Japanese meal of grilled fish, rice, and eggs as it includes a cup of miso soup.

Japanese 

American

Filipino 

When we arrived at Bluewater, we were hungry and tired so we ordered from room service. The pizza and burgers were good and filling while everybody loved the lechon kawali. We also made sure to try the famous banana bread recommended by friends but it was average at best. 

Pineapple & Ham Pizza 

Sumilon Burger

Lechon Kawali

Banana Bread

For dinner, we ate at The Pavilion which houses the restaurant of Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort and had a feast of mainly Filipino classics.  The succulent lechon kawali from room service was such a hit that we reordered it. If there's one dish to avoid, it's the grilled tanigue because it was overcooked and not fresh.

Shrimp & Papaya Salad

Grilled Tanigue

Grilled Squid

Lechon Kawali

Sinigang

Nasi Goreng

To those wondering, pricing of food is reasonable for an exclusive island resort. Be prepared to pay Manila rates.

Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort is located at Sumilon Island, Bancogon, Oslob, Cebu, Philippines. For more information, call (32) 318 3129 or 0917 631 7512. Email the resort at sumilon@bluewater.com.ph or click here for their website.

Century Never Gets Old

Most Fil-Chi families troop to Century Seafood Restaurant for a no fail Chinese lauriat experience.

Here's what we typically order during a Century outing:

Appetizers

Assorted Barbequed Meat (600php)

Prawn Salad (1,200php)

Vegetable with No Name

Braised Shark's Fin with Crab Meat Soup (2,250php for medium order)

Steamed Lapu-Lapu (depends on market price)

Fried Pigeon (350php per piece)

Steamed Crabs (depends on market price)

Braised Seafood with Assorted Ingredients (450php)

 Coconut Topped Balls

Buchi

Century never gets old and I always look forward to a meal at Century because it has managed to maintain excellent food quality over the years. 

No wonder it's packed every night!

The Century Seafood Restaurant is located at G/F Century Park Hotel, 599 Pablo Ocampo St. Malate, Manila.  For more information, call 5241821.

Legendary Lolo Dad's

When I was young, my idea of fine dining was based on stories my cousin told me about Lolo Dad's.  

He said that every time he wanted to impress a girl, he would bring her to Lolo Dad's even if it would cost him an arm and a leg because the revered Manila restaurant was in a class by itself, offering exquisite food, excellent service, and the perfect ambiance.

Open Kitchen

Since then, I've always wondered what it was like to have dinner at Lolo Dad's and it sadly took a million  years for me to know the answer.   

Complimentary Bread

and Butter

The bread was not even warm.

Double Espresso of Tomato and Mushroom Soup

We were given complimentary shots of  two of the most famous soups of Lolo Dad's. Both were flavorful and interesting, but I loved the tomato more.

Gratinated White Onion Soup (340php)

Not the best version I've tried. It was salty and didn't have the sweetness I was looking for.

Oyster with Foie Gras (145php)

The foie certainly made this a winning appetizer but I wished for a fresher oyster.

Raspberry Sorbet

Before the entree, this was served to cleanse the palate.

Halibut with Sauteed Prawns (990php)

The fish and shrimps were perfectly cooked and seasoned well. I also enjoyed the truffle flavored pasta and potato cake that accompanied the proteins. 

My very thoughtful friends surprised me with this chiffon cake since it was my birthday. This Lolo Dad's chiffon cake was fluffy with the right amount of sweetness. Delicious!

Here are the dishes my friends ordered: 

Degustation Plate 1 (2,800php)

Degustation Plate 2 

Degustation Dessert 1

Degustation Dessert 2

Pork Belly Cooked in Sage Fat, Apple Tart, Herb Jus (965php)

Grilled Halibut and Baby Lobster (1,190php)

Herb de Provence Crusted Rack of Lamb (1,340php)

Steamed Chilean Sea Bass (1,380php)

Roasted Beef Tenderloin (1,390php)

Sadly, we were all underwhelmed by the food at Lolo Dad's. The servers also lacked the finesse that one expects from a fine dining restaurant. 

I hate to say it but Lolo Dad's is past its prime.  

Lolo Dad's is located at 899 President Quirino Avenue, cor. Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila. For more information, call 2522294 or click here.

Victor's in Tarlac

If Pampanga has Mely's, Tarlac has Victor's!

Similar to Mely's, Victor's Barbeque and Lechon Manok is a hole in the wall eatery situated along  a national highway. It's further up north though and is a good 3 hour drive from Manila.

It was not yet the lunch hour when we arrived, but a lot of cars were already parked outside Victor's. I guess it goes to show how popular among the locals this establishment is. 

For those who will have trouble finding Victor's, let the tempting aroma of its grilled specialties help you find the way.

Famous Lechon Manok

For the Sisig

Victor's is no frills and it is no different from most restaurants found in the provinces. Ambiance is non-existent as the owners let the food do the talking.

 Bulalo Soup

No complaints about this free soup!

Sawsawan

A grill outing is not complete without the dipping sauce.

Pork Barbeque (20php per stick)

Tender and tasty. 

Paldeot or Chicken Tail (25php per stick)

I can't help but compare this with Mely's and it paled in comparison.

Grilled Tilapia (50php)

This was very very fresh making the meat of the fish so sweet and soft. I almost single-handedly finished this dish. 

Sisig (130php)

The first step in ordering sisig in Victor's is to choose from the grill, the components you want to be included in your sisig. I think we just had basic pig cheeks, heart, and brain.  The secret of the sisig is in the onions as it perfectly highlighted the flavors of the meat mixture.  Less is certainly more as this turned out to be so tasty.

For those interested, here's Victor's menu:

Victor's Barbeque and Lechon Manok is located in Tarlac along MacArthur Highway.