Culture
Have you been to Cebu’s nicest cantina?
An ordinary carenderia, Isidra Comfort Cantina is definitely not. Chef Lor Torres’ passion project takes comfort food to the next level.
![](https://zee.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1440_isidra.jpg)
“Chef Lor’s food at that price!” is the usual winning argument that convinces people to head over to Isidra Comfort Cantina. ‘Chef Lor’ is, of course, Lor Torres—she of the taste buds behind the famed dishes at Vudu, Politics Café + Public House and Formo among others—and she puts her best food forward with her newest venture.
![Warm lighting and comfortable seats make Isidra Comfort Cantina anything but your usual carenderia (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)](http://res210.servconfig.com/~zee/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Zee-74.jpg)
Warm lighting and comfortable seats make Isidra Comfort Cantina anything but your usual carenderia (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
Named after Lor’s maternal grandmother, Isidra brings comfort food in a casual, cool setting at the heart of the city. Business partner April Rama calls it a canteen more than anything, but as far as canteens go, you can’t get any better than this.
Comfortable seats, warm lighting and air conditioning create a relaxed yet plush ambiance that makes it a perfect setting for Chef Lor’s take on comfort food such as the crispy chicken wings that are fried to a golden brown perfection served with sour cream and onion batter, the twice-cooked adobo, stewed first before being baked; and the deep-fried mascara—pork face boiled tender and deep-fried to crispiness.
Isidra is also the only cantina that offers options for the health and body conscious— the fish fillet, open-faced ham and egg sandwich, and Thai prawn salad, to name a few. These offerings make it relatively easier to indulge in Isidra’s unique and delectable dessert selections, such as the crowd-favorite calamansi custard meringue—perfect with the hazelnut French press coffee.
![Isidra Comfort Cantina's crispy chicken wings is one of Cebu's best. (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)](http://res210.servconfig.com/~zee/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Zee-39.jpg)
Isidra Comfort Cantina’s crispy chicken wings is one of Cebu’s best. (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
![Hailing from Luzon, gising-gising is a spicy yet creamy appetizer best paired with bagnet. (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)](http://res210.servconfig.com/~zee/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Zee-41.jpg)
Hailing from Luzon, gising-gising is a spicy yet creamy appetizer best paired with bagnet. (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
![Must-have to cap off every meal at Isidra Comfort Cantina: The calamansi custard meringue (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)](http://res210.servconfig.com/~zee/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Zee-71.jpg)
Must-have to cap off every meal at Isidra Comfort Cantina: The calamansi custard meringue (Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015)
While we certainly miss Isidra’s daily lunch buffet (at Php 149 with varying themes throughout the week, how can we not?), the cantina remains the perfect venue for the veteran chef to experiment with different flavors and keeping things interesting for patrons. Come back from time to time and you’ll see new additions on the menu… or you can talk to the Chef herself and ask her to whip up something special for you. Seriously, Chef Lor’s food at that price indeed, you know you can’t go wrong.
GF Oftana Bldg.,
Don Mariano Cui cor. Jasmin Sts.,
Capitol Site
6332. 263 1101 | Facebook
photography Robo Formacion
Culture
Cebuano Pride: The National Museum of Cebu
![](https://zee.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/NATIONAL-MUSEUM-CEBU-NMP-CEBU-22.jpg)
Pride of Cebu
By Eva Gullas
photos courtesy of DOT
![](http://zee.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/image3.jpeg)
Cebu City Tourism’s Neil Odjigue, Cembeth Hortillano and CCTC Chairperson Joy Pesquera
![](http://zee.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/image2.jpeg)
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Writer Eva Gullas beside Elmer Borlongan’s Battle of Mactan
Culture
The Uncommon Traditions that Mexicans and Filipinos share when celebrating the Day of the Dead.
![](https://zee.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/251144311_4534823613273419_5142916094837224124_n.jpg)
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+
![](https://zee.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/MV5BZTRhNzg0ZTgtZmMyYy00Yjc5LTkyNTAtNzEzODIyZDE5NTNmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDM2NDM2MQ@@._V1_.jpg)
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+
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