A Different Planet Within Planet Earth; Discovering Planet Grapes, Cebu

Okay before you judge my corny blog post title, hear me out on my thoughts about Planet Grapes (Cebu) and its idea of 'Wine Without the Drama'. 

 I've been meaning to try this place for as long as I can remember but it wasn't in my city so I had to make sure that when I get back to Cebu, I'll not miss my chance. 

I love wine so much but just a disclaimer, I'm not a wine connoisseur or something. I just happen to like it as much as I love cheese. (haha I know the connection is also a little odd right there). 

But anyway, it has been an ideal date for me ever since- to have a glass or bottle of wine to celebrate good times and special occasions. And on my latest Cebu shindig, and to celebrate my birthday as well, we thought of having a glass or two at Planet Grapes.

Location talk: It's strategically situated in a relatively convenient area. And an added bonus: the view. (I mentioned on my previous posts that I'm a huge fan of sky lounge settings and anything with a good view). And upon entering, you'll really feel the wine-friendly kind of atmosphere they have.

True to their concept, "Wine Without the Drama", it was the fusion of wine and food from traditional pairings such as cheese or cured meat to comfort food such as grilled chicken barbeque and sisig. 'Street food meets wine', that is.

Planet Grapes features their state-of-the-art Italian wine machines that allow customers to try different wines by sip, half-glass, and full glass sizes. Surely, regardless of one's knowledge of the drinks, you'll get to discover wine- one grape at a time. 

Now for the food, don't get me wrong but it was really (add another 'really') delicious! I may be exaggerating this but it was really tasty. A little price-y but it's all good and worth-it.

BBQ Pork Spare Ribs @ 395php

Sun Rice Chicken Barbeque with Adobo Rice & Fresh Mixed Salad @375php

 For the service: It's excellent. The crew were more than happy to assist us in all our needs especially with the wine pairings; setups; photos and some things I'm currently forgetting. (bad blogger! LOL)

Poor lighting and camera quality. Not complaining though.

 All in all, it was a very good experience. Definitely coming back to continue with my journey to discover the world of wine. So if you want to give it a try as well and still looking for a sign, then this is it. And as they say, life is too short for cheap wines. - and even shorter not experiencing the world through wine. Have a great journey, too. Cheers!

xoxox,

Faye

Planet Grapes in Cebu is located in Ayala Mall, in the L4, New Wing.

We had our dinner reservation in the morning.

SML for Circa 1900

SO MUCH LOVE INDEED.
CIRCA 1900, Sanjercasvil Road, Gorordo Avenue, Lahug Cebu

 On my latest trip to Cebu, I managed to inject another quality time-lunch time that is, to my shopping-infused itinerary. It was my birthday weekend so I thought of having a well-deserved shopping-spree. (reasons! haha)

 But anyway, We had lunch at Circa 1900 and it was one of the best lunch(es) I've had to date. The place was really home-y, 'inviting' would be an understatement. Such a welcoming place with very warm and accommodating crew. No wonder it has a lot of good reviews online.

 

 For the food, it was really heavenly. In fact, despite my sickly condition when I got there, I still finished my meal since it was too good to pass. Though I may have tried a few dishes only, I'm definitely going back to try some more. I really loved their Malunggay Potato and Camote Gnocchi Balls Dish. Since I'm a big fan of gnocchis, theirs did not disappoint-plus their herb cream was the bomb. It was so much worth-it at P350. Their Tenderloin was also promising. You can really taste the flavor of the pepper sauce without overpowering the whole dish-which is the main reason I really liked it as well.

And as for the dessert, their Maja Blanca was uniquely good. It was not the typical-made ones and it was having just the right kind of creaminess. Its unique cheesecake cup made it extra special to the taste-buds too.

Here are some snaps I managed to take before we devoured them all. :)

                                                                                                                             

Meatloaf bites. (Complementary food)

Malunggay Potato and Camote Gnocchi Balls with Wild Arugula, Roast Garlic and Fresh Herb Cream Sauce

Char-Grilled Local Beef Tenderloin with Laing, and Creamy Pepper Sauce

From top: Maja Blanca & Rosquillos Cheesecake; and Red Velvet Tower (Complimentary dessert)

There you go. I may not be perfectly food-trip ready that time, but I guarantee you that it's really worth every penny. Sure it may be a little price-y, but spending on good food is never money-wasted, right? RIGHT! ;) 

After we had our meals, I had my lookbook ootd taken. And to be honest, the entire place is so IG-ready! There was no shortage of fancy floors (perfect for your shoe selfie); backgrounds that are so vintage-ly good (if there's such a term. haha); and the lighting (hands down to the lighting). Giving this place a 10.

Yup, it's the first 10 I've ever had a review of. BUT--it was midday when we visited so it might entirely change at night or if a lot more people are also dining because in my case, we were the only ones dining inside. So just manage your expectations if you've got plans on visiting too.

The good lighting I was talking about. One take, no filter. ;)  (and messy hair.lol)

 Alright, there you go. Such a happy dining place. SML. Let me know what you think about my newfound happy place by commenting below or emailing me.

And hey, to be sure that your next visit is hassle-free, it always works to give them a call, (032) 239 6265 or 0923 279 5616. 

XX,

Faye

MISC.

Menu

Sky Lounge Dinner: Blue Elephant at Apple One

BLUE ELEPHANT at Apple One

I’ve always been a fan of sky lounge setting especially dinners. I’d love to dine while enjoying a good view of the city. I don’t really mind if it’s the highest floor or the tallest building-I’m all for the unique dining setup it brings.

On my latest trip to Cebu, I wanted my visit to include a dinner or a lunch date with a sky lounge setup so I browsed through various places offering what I wanted. Among my ‘places-to-try’ are: Lantaw, Blue Elephant at Apple One, and a restau from Crown Regency Hotel.

Given the unruly weather when I got there, I didn’t consider going to Lantaw anymore since I heard it was a little hard going up there. And being left with two choices, I chose Blue Elephant because it was strategically nearer than my hotel and Ayala Cebu. (In fact, it was right beside the mall!)

I had a table reservation for dinner and as soon as we got there, I instantly had a lot on my mind. Pros and Cons. I suggest in dining up there, one should reserve your expectations as it can go from what you expected to a total opposite setup.

The place was totally blue. The lights and the whole setting. It was a cozy lounge-perfect for coffee/wine in the afternoon. However, it was relatively small for a restau serving dinner (although, there was a VIP lounge, an indoor and an outdoor area that you can choose from).

For the food:

It was really good. Dishes were unique and had a different take on the mix of Asian cuisine. It’s also budget-friendly and the serving is huge. Despite the bipolar weather trying to ruin the outdoor setting, the food made up for it.

Korean Premium Back Ribs

Frozen Iced Tea

Bagoong Fried Rice

Buttered Fish Fillet with Garlic

All in all, the experience was good. I got my sky lounge fix; a great view of the city; and good food. It was a great date after all.

Although a little pointers if you’re planning on dining there too:

• It gets really crowded at night so make necessary reservations ahead.
•  If you’re very vain with your hair, choose the indoor setting as the wind gets tough up there. It might ruin your date if you’ll fuss about it all night.
• IT MIGHT RAIN. So again, indoor setting is your best bet.
•  EDM songs are usually played outdoors-that’s up to you to decide. But there are live bands to entertain you in some days so ask away upon reservation. 
• If you’re in Ayala Cebu, forget the cab-you can walk going there.
• There's a cover charge of 350php per person for those who wants to eat at the VIP Lounge, and 300php per person for the roof deck. Both charges are consumable.

That was my Blue Elephant experience at Apple One.

 A little crazy but it was still worth it.

XX,

Faye

***

Blue Elephant at Apple One is located at AppleOne Equicom Tower, Mindanao Ave, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu.

Open from 5PM till midnight daily (except on Fridays and Saturdays when it closes at 1AM

Call them at  511-7600 for more inquiries or reservations.

SWIM SESH WITH THE GENTLE GIANTS

Capping off my summer 2015; and another check off my bucket list, is a day well-spent swimming with the gentle giants.

From the meek town of Oslob, comes the vast playground of whale sharks. For years, the town was just merely a stopover and a passing route going to Sumilon Island or the Tumalog Falls. It has only  been in the late years when it became a whale-shark tourism site.

Whalesharks (also known as “TUKI”), has been captivating hearts of local and foreign tourists in the place. They have been in the area, playing and swimming around without harming a single spec of humans. I find them really cute despite their enormous size.

Going there, it will take you a minimum of three hours from Cebu City, depending on the traffic and the mode of transportation that you use. I suggest you leave the city very early as the whale shark’s visibility is best early in the morning between 6AM-9AM. Also, the whale-shark interaction is only held until 12:30PM. You don’t want to rush your encounter with the main attraction so again, come a little early unless you’ll stay overnight and catch them the next day.

Being my first time to swim with the gentle giants, I must admit that I REALLY got scared at our first encounter. Sure I know how to swim, but the time I saw the baby whale shark, I think I forgot how to even breathe. Haha! The baby whale seemed as big as a typical sedan car and the mother whale was as big as a bus! (I’m not even kidding). But as gentle as they are, they were the most harmless giants I’ve come so close with; and with a few more dives, I’ve got to enjoy the whole encounter. It was one of the best 30 minutes of my life and sure it was a wonderful experience I’ve got to try all in all.

Now if you’re heading to Oslob as well, here are a few tips that you might want to consider before your Tuki encounter:

• ·         Pack light. Especially on your boat ride going the whale shark spot. The boat is not as spacious as you might think and it’s just relatively enough for your snorkel gears and a small bag.

• ·         Wear your life jacket if you don’t know how to swim. Also, you can borrow them for free, so if anyone asks you for a renting fee, you can ignore them by all means.

• ·         Bring your own mask/ snorkel gears for hygienic purposes. But you can also swim without the said gears.

• ·         DON’T wear sunblocks as they are considered poisonous to the whale sharks. Further explanation about this warning will be given at the Briefing Area.

• ·         Bring extra cash. And don’t forget to give tips for the divers that will accompany you. (OPTIONAL)

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 There you have it- my whale-shark experience. 

Can’t wait for your encounter with them too! 

Don’t forget to take loads of photos and enjoy, alright?

XOXOX,

Faye

La Vie, Parisienne

LA VIE, PARISIENNE, CEBU


Parfait-A word to sum up my la vie experience in Cebu.

      



      Of all the cultural places we've visited during our 3-day trip to Cebu, what fascinated me most was my experience at the French House also known as the La Vie, Parisienne. It was a french-inspired place having a bakery, wine house and an outdoor Al-fresco type of setting having all umbrellas, and fake cherry-blossom trees.

       Upon entering, you will really smell the freshly baked french breads especially their best-seller- the croissants. If you are to buy, you are given the chance to choose a picnic basket you're free to fill of whatever choice of bread you wish to eat. (But you have to pay accordingly! haha) Then you will also get to choose your choice of wine if you want to drink any. It will then be served in a few minutes, already chilled.

    I had a great time selecting the breads that I wanted to taste. In fact, I wanted to taste everything! From among the selection, We tried: the plain croissant, the cherry-stuffed rolls and apricot stick bread. I personally recommend the plain croissant since even with its plain base, there is already the fullness of the French flavor which I can't explain.  It also comes in a bigger size and with different fillings (peach, chocolate, etc.)

 

Prices of wine vary according to the type, brand and date of production.

           

              That's me and my friend, Aliana. We came back in the morning to buy some take-home breads and spreads. ;) I bought the little cherry jam. It tastes like money! Kidding aside, it tastes like a sweet blend of cherry, marmalade kind of sugar and butter. It's definitely a score!

Here's a photo of the cherry jam. ;)

            

          The photo above was shot during our first night in La Vie. From there, you can see the cherry blossom trees in full glow as it has the 'night lights'. The place is a bit crowded for a Tuesday night. Must be the ambiance for a relaxed and extended happy hour.

      

          Definitely visiting La Vie once I get back to Cebu again. Cheers!

Love Lots

Fayemos