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Eats in Cebu: Ralfe Gourmet and The Chocolate Chamber

A few years ago, a quaint house in the quiet neighborhood of Casals Village in Mabolo opened its doors to offer a decadent buffet that showcased surprising creations with chocolate.

Since then, Ralfe Gourmet Chocolate Boutique paved the way for the company’s retail arm, The Chocolate Chamber. A charming addition to Cebu’s dining landscape, the café elevates the concept of chocolate beyond the usual sikwate and champorado concept, and does so with a little bit of flair.

Ralfe Gourmet Inc.’s The Chocolate Chamber (Photo by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, July 2014)

Ralfe Gourmet Inc.’s The Chocolate Chamber (Photo by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, July 2014)

All their offerings have a touch of chocolate in one way or another. Ralfe Gourmet Inc. produces the local tablea from cacao beans, which they use for their dishes—from the chocolate-infused bread for the sandwiches, to the mole sauce used to cook the sausage for the pizza. Of course, the more conventional ways of eating chocolate, such as cookies and by itself, are also available on the menu.

The grilled sausage pizza platter is just one of the many surprising creations with chocolate. (Photo by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, July 2014)

The grilled sausage pizza platter is just one of the many surprising creations with chocolate. (Photo by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, July 2014)

The bread on the beef pastrami sandwich is infused with chocolate, which adds an interesting flavor. (Photo by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, July 2014)

The bread on the beef pastrami sandwich is infused with chocolate, which adds an interesting flavor. (Photo by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, July 2014)

The Chocolate Chamber made Ralfe Gourmet Inc.’s sinful creations accessible to more people, yet as fans of the early chocolate buffet could attest, the experience was unlike any other. Following a series of private events offering the chocolate buffet, proprietor and Chocolate Queen of Cebu Raquel T. Choa decided to bring back the chocolate buffet this year. “I realized I needed to do this so I can relax,” Raquel says. “Imagine, I get stressed and I throw a chocolate buffet!” she adds with a laugh.

The truffles and hot chocolate station at a private chocolate buffet held in November 2014 (Photo by Micah Almazan)

The truffles and hot chocolate station at a private chocolate buffet held in November 2014 (Photo by Micah Almazan)

Certainly no complaints there. For the moment, the chocolate buffet will happen on a monthly basis with dates yet to be announced, yet for those who can’t wait, The Chocolate Chamber is the golden ticket to this chocolate factory.

RALFE GOURMET CHOCOLATE BOUTIQUE
3349 Topaz St., Casals Village
Mabolo, Cebu City
http://www.ralfegourmet.com/

THE CHOCOLATE CHAMBER
President Quirino cor. Magsaysay St.
Barangay Kasambagan, Mabolo, Cebu City
(+63) 917 628 7661

by Patty Taboada

Read more about The Chocolate Chamber in Zee Lifestyle’s July 2014 issue.

Business

bai Hotel Cebu named 2024 PH’s Leading Business Hotel at World Travel Awards

bai Hotel Cebu VP Operations and General Manager Alfred Reyes with World Travel Awards Founder and President Graham Cooke.

bai Hotel Cebu has emerged victorious as the Philippines’ Leading Business Hotel at this year’s prestigious World Travel Awards. Standing out among the nine other contenders from across the country, bai Hotel Cebu claimed the coveted title, solidifying its position as a premier business hospitality destination in Cebu.

The award was presented to VP Operations and General Manager Alfred Reyes Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Carlo Rivera in an awarding gala ceremony held last September 3, 2024 at City of Dreams Manila.

Held at the City of Dreams Manila, the award was handed over to VP-Operations and General Manager Alfred Reyes and Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Carlo Rivera last September 3, 2024 at City of Dreams Manila. 

This accolade, being the first of many this year, reaffirms bai Hotel Cebu’s steadfast commitment to providing world-class Filipino hospitality. “I would like to thank our guests for continuously supporting and for patronizing bai Hotel Cebu,” GM Alfred Reyes said. “This win is also yours as your loyalty inspires us to deliver the exceptional service bai Hotel Cebu is known for,” he continued. 

bai Hotel Cebu’s department heads celebrating its accolade as PH’s Leading Business Hotel.

Operating since 2018 with 668 rooms, 8 restaurants, and over 13 function halls, bai Hotel Cebu has established its presence in the industry having just been awarded as Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Tourism Standard Awards – ASEAN MICE Venue (Meeting Room Category). 

We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to the country’s Department of Tourism headed by Secretary Hon. Christina Garcia Frasco for being recognized as Asia’s Leading Marketing Campaign award for its “Love the Philippines” campaign and as Transformation Leadership in Tourism Governance. 

Based in London and established in 1993, the World Travel Awards is dubbed the Oscars of the travel industry that acknowledges, rewards, and celebrates excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. It is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

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Events

A Feast for the Senses

Crimson Chefs - Masahiro Kinoshita, Naoki Eguchi, Daniel Johnston, Javier Garcia, Allan Barios, Andrew Simpson
By Joanna Cuenco 

June 8 – Mactan, Cebu | For one of its biggest dining events of the year as part of the highly anticipated Cebu Food and Wine Festival, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan curated an epicurean journey that brought guests on gastronomic flights of fancy, fine cuisine. A Feast for the Senses showcased the creativity and excellence of the resort’s culinary team through a dine-around event at its four dining destinations that invited guests to sample the best that each restaurant had to offer: international cuisine at Saffron, Spanish at Enye by Chele Gonzalez, Japanese at Aka by Naoki Eguchi, and desserts and more drinks at Azure Beach Club.

Maria Paz Perdices, Ambra Anzani, Ema Onda,Kate Anzani, Kumiko Onda, Daisy Barns

Tamsin Booth, Didier Belmonte, Frances Siao, Celeste Miranda, Bert Miranda, Bob Booth

Spirits were high and beverages flowed freely the whole evening, thanks to Philippine Wine Merchant, A Wine Company, The Wine Club, Don Revy, Sommelier Selection, Engkanto Brewery, M. Lhuillier Food Product Inc., Future Trade International, Happy Living Philippines, Equilibrium Intertrade Corporation, and Bauhinia Brewery.

Allan Barios at Saffron dessert station

Ulysse Jouanneaud

Margarette Lhuiller and Perl Jacalan

For the after-party and entertainment at Azure Beach Club, renowned mixologist Ulysse Jouanneaud took over the bar, crafting cocktails with Bacardi, Don Papa, Cointreau, and Sula Brands. Chef Allan Barrios presented a dessert spread that included key lime pralines, vanilla bourbon truffles, honey coconut cryos, and tiny flower-potted bamboo shoots that turned out to be made of pistachio. These little works of art were planted alongside vibrant green foliage, smooth stones, and a faux fog effect that created a tropical rainforest diorama out of the dessert table.

Lechon belly station at Saffron

Dessert display at Azure Beach Club

Yellowfin tuna tataki

Grilled mackerel with laksa boullabaise

The night sky and the distant lights of neighboring islands were the perfect backdrop for a high-energy LED dance performance and fantastic fireworks display that left guests in awe and applause. 

Rose Hudson

Chele Gonzalez

Brava potato with chorizo at Enye

LED and Tron Dance

Aka Private Room

The Cebu Food and Wine Festival is supported by the Department of Tourism – Philippines, Visit Central Visayas, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Business Month, and Cebu Pacific Air. 

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Events

The First NUSTAR BALL

Janine Taylor, June Alegrado, Jackie Lotzof, Frances Siao, Ina Ronquillo and Christine Pelaez

The NUSTAR Ballroom, a magnificent venue at the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu, sets the stage for last night’s first-ever NUSTAR Ball.

Black was the color of night at the Zee table.

Glamorous guests from Manila and Cebu converged at the NUSTAR Ballroom, an exquisite venue within the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu. The evening unfolded with a seated 5-course dinner. The opulent feast started with Beetroot Salmon Gravlax, adorned with caper berries, caviar, set with delicate edible flowers; and a main course of Compressed Pork Belly with Crackling Skin and Baby Scallops. Another highlight was the auction of coveted items like Dior and YSL handbags, a limited-edition Bulgari watch, and an exclusive 2-night stay in Nustar’s opulent 3-bedroom villa—complete with a private pool and a dedicated butler. The charity evening benefited the Cameleon Association, an NGO based in Iloilo City created in 1997 that developed a global approach to act on the causes and effects of sexual violence against children.

Nora Sol, Beth Go, Frances Siao and Marylou Ong

Ina Ronquillo, Maryanne Aboitiz and Jackie Lotzof

Designers Jun Escario and Philip Rodriguez

Philip Rodriguez with NUSTAR Malls two power ladies: May Adolfo and Joanna Salazar

Lana Osmeña with Mariquita Yeung

PJ Castillo and Kaye Abad with Cary Santiago

Drew Sarmiento with LV Manager Adrian Decuigan

Cary Santiago with Eva Gullas

Manila socialites Julie Boschi and Ching Cruz with June Alegrado

It was a night of elegance, luxury, and unforgettable memories as ladies in long gowns and gentlemen in black ties danced the night away.

 

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