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CAGAYANLifestyle TIMES Weekly de Oro
Volume 2 | No. 66 | Cagayan de Oro City | November 15-21, 2014
CDO’s emerging foodie trail F
By Judee Dizon-Chaves
or more than a decade now, I’ve lived in Cagayan de Oro City, known as one of the country’s adventure destinations. Every year, hundreds of thousands visit this city just for the white-water rafting, and adventure-seekers can also find more exciting activities just a few minutes away from the city.
Chingkee Tea has become more than just a tea place. It’s an art haven.
Not many, however, would come to CDO just for its delicacies, since the city has never been known as a foodie stop. Unknown to many, a lot of the familyowned businesses in CDO are food-related, mainly because Kagay-anons appreciate good grub. I am not a certified foodie, but I do love discovering new places to dine in. One thing I've loved about the city lately is the emergence of quirky restaurants around town. The thing about CDO is that the downtown area is fairly small. You can walk around Plaza Divisoria and nearby streets on foot and you would find unique places to eat in almost every corner, where the ambience is as interesting as the menu. The newly-opened Backyard Grill serves
The Backyard Grill’s walls are as interesting as their dishes, with stenciled quotes on the walls and art pieces that are simple and hip.
Sentro 1850’s Hungarian sausage sandwich is sure to satisfy – just one of the mouthwatering options off of their diverse menu.
Minindal’s velvety dessert, Devilish, is a tempting dessert of custard and cream.
affordable grilled fare, with a lot of their meals at only P99. Aside from the usual silog meals, they also serve meals on a hot plate: Sizzling Sisig, Sizzling (spa)Ghetti and even Sizzling Brownie Ala Mode! Their hefty serving of baby back ribs will keep you coming back for more! Their walls, with stenciled quotes and hip art pieces, are the perfect backdrop for the crowd of students that frequent the place. [Backyard Grill, Marfori Compound, Gaerlan St.] Just across the street from the Backyard Grill is our favorite tea place, Chingkee Tea. This cute spot is an arts and crafts haven, with all things creative on walls, ceilings, tables and chairs, and where milk tea concoctions are fantastic. I was never a milk tea aficionado - this is my only exception. Must-trys are: Blueberry Cheesecake, Java Chip and, my all-time favorite, Wintermelon Milk Tea. You can add pearls, egg pudding or even ice cream for an even yummier drink! [Chingkee Tea, Marfori Compound, Gaerlan St.] Among the new restos, Good Fellas Pizza is another crowd-drawer. A mafiathemed pizza place inspired by the ‘90s De Niro movie, Good Fellas, it serves beerbattered pizzas all named after Mafioso characters. I love their Mickey White, which is a four-cheese pizza. Joe Piney is a Hawaiian pizza, while Danny has a sunny-side up egg right at the center, and Wild Bill has chorizo and jalapeño. The best-seller, the Big Joe, is topped with sausage, pepperoni, beef and bacon. The place has a cool hangout vibe and I love the gray walls where they’ve hung mafiathemed prints and knick-knacks. [Good Fellas, 2/F Sweet Leaf Café, Pabayo cor. T. Chaves Sts.] A few blocks away, is Sentro 1850, a long-time favorite of mine. I love to come here for business meetings, family gatherings, and even dinner dates. The place is simple, the vibe casual, and the food
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