Culture

Here’s where you’ll find the best Eggs Benedict in Cebu

A charmingly quaint café in the heart of the city is where you’ll want to have breakfast all day.

Alyssa Lao, for as long as I’ve known her, has been very picky about how her Eggs Benedict are done. “The egg has to be cooked perfectly so that it’s just runny enough,” she’d told me once, after I recommended another brunch spot’s version of the dish that she hadn’t been impressed with. “There also has to be the perfect ratio of the hollandaise with the rest of the dish. It’s all the little parts of it that come together.”

Birdseed Breakfast Club’s Eggs Benedict (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

The cozy interiors of Birdseed. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

It’s easy understand, then, why Birdseed Breakfast Club + Café‘s Eggs Benedict is pretty good stuff. Drizzled with a generous serving of hollandaise, the yolk is rich and thick when it breaks open, spilling over the homemade bacon, wilted spinach and toasted English muffin.

Having opened earlier this year, Birdseed has been tempting diners with its hearty breakfast favorites throughout the day, and many have been giving in. The items on Birdseed’s menus are hearty enough meals for any time of the day, and explore flavors that some dinner outlets may be afraid to tread.

Kimchi silog. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

The Chicken Log is bacon-wrapped chicken breast, stuffed with Japanese mushrooms, cashew, red pepper and spinach—a filling but incredibly tasty combination that works well with the brown rice pilaf its served with. The Beef Brisket and Kimchi Silog brings spiciness by way of the kimchi fried rice with toasted sesame, while the US beef brisket itself is slow-cooked and is so tender that it’s easily pulled apart with a fork.

The eggs at Birdseed, of course, are masterpieces in themselves. They’re sous vide at 63 degrees, so each one spills perfectly into your rice for what seems like optimal yolk flavor. It’s even more perfect with the Mom’s Beef Tapa Silog. The restaurant’s best seller—and for good reason—the dish features tender and flavorful slices of the Filipino breakfast staple, a family recipe that Alyssa says her mom keeps strictly under wraps. “I have no idea how to make it actually,” she admits, sharing that her mother makes all the tapa herself.

Third-wave artisanal coffee. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

For something sweet, have the waffles. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

For something sweet, Birdseed’s chocolate waffles is the way to go. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)

Breakfast isn’t complete without a cup of coffee, and Birdseed serves up drinks that are strictly third-wave, meaning high-quality artisanal coffee. With beans from Plain Sight Coffee for their espresso blend and EDSA Beverage Design Studio for their drops, the restaurant has all the usual coffee-based drinks but follow a strict standard for how it’s made. Their cold brew, created via a fancy-looking three-level contraption at the bar, takes 32 hours to make by steeping coffee grounds in room temperature or cold water.

Wrap up the meal with the Chocolate Waffles, where not only is the treat topped with Chantilly cream, shaved chocolate and toasted cashews—it’s also stuffed with chocolate ganache. If every day started like this, then there’d be no problem about getting up early. Birdseed Breakfast Club + Café makes me especially thankful that Alyssa Lao is such a breakfast snob.

Axis Entertainment Avenue
Escario Street, Cebu City
6332. 254 9463 | Facebook

photography Nath Ybañez

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Culture

Cebuano Pride: The National Museum of Cebu

Pride of Cebu

By Eva Gullas

photos courtesy of DOT

“With the National Museum of Cebu, the cradle of Christianity in the country, we open the doors to a temple in history and culture, inviting tourists and locals to witness our archaeological and natural treasures. The NMP-Cebu is not just a museum but a bridge to our past and a window into our future,” declares Christina Frasco, our Secretary of Tourism, at the ceremonial opening last July 28.

Located at the heart of the city’s historic port area, the former colonial Customs House, built in 1910, was transformed into an elegant edifice worthy of the city’s place in history. It was in Cebu where the Spanish conquistadors first landed in 1521 and where Magellan met his end at the hands of the local chieftain Lapu-Lapu. Starting August 1, the National Museum of Cebu will open its doors daily from 9 am to 5 pm except Monday.

Cebu City Tourism’s Neil Odjigue, Cembeth Hortillano and CCTC Chairperson Joy Pesquera

Worth checking is the first floor, where a few art pieces from national artists like Cebu’s own Martino Abellana, Fernando Amorsolo, and Jose Joya take pride of place. On the right wing are finds from archeological digs found all over the islands. Called Ang Karaang Sugbo or Old Cebu, they include a gold death mask and ancient vases from China. There’s also Kinaiyahan: Cebu’s Natural Wonders, which features an impressive wall containing the different layers underneath our soil. There is also a display case that interactively showcases the various elements around the area, like gold, copper, and gypsum. Another wing is Paglawig: Cultural Movember Across the Seas, showcasing the islands’ maritime history and sea bounty, including rare shells.

Museum Director Jeremy Barns, Maryanne Arculli, Andronik Aboitiz and wife Doreen, Amanda Luym

Some of the abstract art from the New York collection

It is on the second floor, though, where the museum shines. Up the grand staircase, guests are greeted by Elmer Borlongan’s massive Battle of Mactan, facing a facsimile of the Sta Maria galleon, Magellan’s flagship. Then on to a limited-time exhibit on loan from the Philippine Center New York Core Collection of 1974, a treasure trove of almost 90 paintings collected by former First Lady Imelda Marcos, including Ang Kioks, Sanso, Manuel Rodrigues, and many more representing both avant-garde and classic Filipino masters. The New York collection is only available until March 2024 and is not to be missed.

Writer Eva Gullas beside Elmer Borlongan’s Battle of Mactan

The National Museum Cebu has been years in the making, and this cultural milestone has finally been made possible under the new administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who famously said during the inauguration, “I am a museum fan, and I can stay in art museums for hours and hours.” He added, ” museums are considered valuable natural assets to a nation as they build a sense of community, document history, inspire creativity, promote tourism, and unite people through a shared heritage.” Kudos to the National Museum Board of Trustees, chaired by Andoni Aboitiz and Museum Director Jeremy Barnes, for this cultural gift to Cebu!

Culture

The Uncommon Traditions that Mexicans and Filipinos share when celebrating the Day of the Dead.

Dia de los Muertos

By Allain Dumon Fonte

The 2nd of November is All Soul’s Day, a holiday that is very important to many Filipinos to remember our loved ones who passed on. This is also widely celebrated in Mexico as “Dia De los Muertos” or in English, “The Day of the Dead”. And Mexicans celebrate the 2nd of November grander than they celebrate Christmas. Well, you can witness it from the Disney movie, “Coco”.

As All Soul’s Day or Dia de los Muertos is about to end, here are some interesting traditions and superstitions that Filipinos and Mexicans share:

1. IT IS NOT ON THE 31st OF OCTOBER

Dia de los Muertos or All Soul’s Day is not practiced on October 31st or on the Hallow’s Eve as many other western cultures practice; but we celebrate it on the 2nd of November. We celebrate November 1st as All Saint’s Day or the Day of the Holy, while in Mexico they call it Dia de los Innocentes or Dia de los Angelitos to commemorate the children who died too early in life.

2. THE RITUAL

Both in Mexico and in the Philippines, we visit the grave of our loved ones and we clean it well. This is a ritual to honour their resting places and to let them know that they are never forgotten.

3. FLOWERS INVITE SPIRITS

In Mexico, they believe that the scent of flowers attract spirits. So the flower offerings are invitation to their dead loved ones to visit the living families. While in the Philippines, we believe that flowers offered to the dead exalt the souls and somehow fill in the sadness that we feel when missing our dead loved ones.

Most of the time, Filipinos choose all-white flowers to offer because white is the absence of colour, which means the absence of Joy and happiness. White also symbolises purity of soul which we hope our dead loved ones will attain as they journey to heaven. While in Mexico, they have the yellow Mexican marigolds as the official flowers of the dead that will guide them in their journey to the afterlife.

4. THE LEGEND OF THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

Both cultures believe that monarch butterflies are dead loved ones who visit us and show their appreciation that we have not forgotten them. A presence of monarch butterflies also means that our dead loved ones are always there guiding us and looking after us.

5. A PICNIC IN THE GRAVEYARD

Spending a night at the graveyard and picnicking with the rest of the family may sound very creepy to many; but to both Filipino and Mexican cultures, picnicking and spending a night at the cemetery is a must to show our love to our dearly departed. It is the only time in the year that families gather and tell stories of the dead loved ones and how colourful or how great their lives were.

6. FOOD FOR THE DEAD

In Mexico, they have what they call “ofrendas” or an altar where the pictures of their dead loved ones are displayed and offered with flowers, candles, and their favourite food. Very similar to the Filipino culture of cooking the favourite food of our dead loved ones and everyone in the family enjoys the food for dinner.

My family tradition involves me driving all the way to Colon street and buy that famous Snow Sheen’s “pancit canton”. This is my granddad’s favourite snack. Sadly, the old Visayan Restaurant is no longer there. My late uncle and my late grandpa love their sweet ad and sour fish. We also set up an “ofrenda” on their graveyard and eat their favourite food while picnicking in the cemetery. We do not spend a night in the cemetery; but while we are picnicking there, we usually play the songs of Pilita Corrales and Susan Fuentes that my late grandpa used to listen every afternoon while enjoying his coffee, pan de sal, and pancit canton.

What about your family traditions? Share your thoughts by commenting to this article.

MODEL: Michael Joseph Mortola Enriquez & Alexis Wingfield
PHOTOGRAPHER: Gianne Paolo Anciano
HMUA/DESIGNER: Hazel Ocaba
STYLING: GPA Lifestyle + Clothing

Culture

Catch Ted Lasso the Emmy Award Winning Comedy Series on Apple TV+

Catch Ted Lasso the Emmy Award Winning Comedy Series on Apple TV+

Rating: *****/ *****

The multi award–winning comedy series airing on Apple TV+ is one of my favorite shows. Ted Lasso starring Jason Sudeikis is about a fun good-natured American football coached hired by a British soccer club (AFC Richmond in London) to become their new coach. In spite of the fact that Ted has no experience or knowledge about British football/soccer, his positive demeanor and charm helps him overcome the animosity of the team’s players, staff and fans. Eventually Ted wins over the team and the locals as they fight for position in the English Premier League.

The show won the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and 7 Emmy Awards in its 2 seasons and Season 3 is just around the corner. You can catch Seasons 1 & 2 of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+