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The six dessert places to visit in Cebu

Who doesn’t love dessert after (or even before!) a meal? We know we do!

dessert places to visit in Cebu

Who doesn’t love dessert after (or even before!) a meal? We know we do! And sure, people say too much sweets would be harmful to one’s health, so instead of exercising too much restraint, might as well make your sugar fix count with Zee Lifestyle‘s recommendations for the best places to have great desserts in Cebu.

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Gelatissimo

dessert places to visit in Cebu

For those hot days, rainy nights, movie marathon afternoons and midnight snacks, ice cream has always been there for us. With so many exciting flavors to choose from like Pistachio, Chocolate Truffle and Salted Caramel, Gelatissimo reminds us of strolling along the beautiful streets of Rome and the sun on our shoulders.

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Streetscape, Maria Luisa Road, Banilad
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Marisse Patisserie

dessert places to visit in Cebu - marisse

Homebaked and fresh are two things that are hard to find in cafés these days. However, a little side trip to 32 Sanson in Lahug lies a hidden gem with a relaxing ambiance. Offering freshly brewed coffee and baked goods right from their kitchen, Marisse Patisserie has become a sweet getaway in the heart of Cebu.

32 Sanson Road, Lahug
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Delice Recipe

Photo courtesy of Doyzkie Buenaviaje/iLuvCebu

Photo courtesy of Doyzkie Buenaviaje/iLuvCebu

A short climb on the highlands of Cebu rests a beautiful paradise away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Delice Recipe features a first hand experience of Cebu’s beautiful skyline as well as their must-try Quattro Leches – a spongy chiffon cake soaked in 4 kinds of sweet milk. Pair that with coffee or tea and that’s a one-way ticket to dessert heaven. You’re welcome.

Busay, Cebu (before Tops)

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Tymad Bistro

Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2013

Photography by Robo Formacion/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, November 2013

Crepes are a must-try at Tymad Bistro, a French café in Banilad owned and operated by a French chef. We recommend topping it with anything that tickles your fancy, whether its Nutella or Mango and Whipped Cream. If that’s not up in your alley, macaroons, cheesecakes and parfaits are also ready for devouring.

Maria Luisa Road, Banilad

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Abaca Baking Company

Photography by Jessica McYorker/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015

Photography by Jessica McYorker/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2015

With fresh breads and coffee in a Parisienne feel, Abaca Baking Company is quickly becoming the trendiest place in Cebu. The place is great but do not be fooled, the food is even greater. All food and drinks are whipped up right from the kitchen with the freshest ingredients they can get their hands on.

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Crossroads Mall, Banilad
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Marco Polo Plaza

Photography by Cloise Abordo/Zee Lifestyle

Photography by Cloise Abordo/Zee Lifestyle

There’s the famous Malicious Cookies but aside from that, we highly recommend Marco Polo Plaza’s Earl Grape Iced Tea. The tea is served with elderflower-infused ice cubes and Earl Grey Tea poured over seedless green grapes. Along with a freshly baked lokum or Turkish delight, the drink is surely the perfect cool down for the summer heat.

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Cebu Veterans Drive, Nivel Hills, Lahug
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Arts & Culture

Chaos and Clarity: Zen Aesthetic in Oj Hofer’s Art

by Jing Ramos |

Oj Hofer, our fashion contributing editor, is a Fine Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines. Though he began painting at the age of eight, his artistic journey took a transformative turn in 2013. While volunteering as a costume designer for Siddhartha: The Musical, he encountered Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-Stroke Calligraphy, sparking a deep devotion to Japanese sumi-e painting and kanji calligraphy. Over the years, he refined his craft, using his art to share the Dharma through exhibitions while supporting the Hsing Yun Educational Foundation. In 2022, his spiritual path deepened at Nan Tien University, where he embraced Zen and Humanistic Buddhism, shaping his artistic philosophy.

“Plum Blossoms in Moonlight.” Serigraphy on abaca.

In his recent works, Hofer merges traditional calligraphy with serigraphy, drawing inspiration from his friend Charles Lahti—an internationally recognized New York-based painter and printmaker. Lahti, known for his collaborations with post-war American artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Donald Judd, Andy Warhol, and LeRoy Neiman, introduced Hofer to silkscreen techniques. Through a workshop Lahti conducted in Cebu—arranged by their mutual friend Greg Urra—Hofer integrated silkscreen into his Zen artworks, particularly those on abaca.

“The Circle of Harmony” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.

Hofer’s cross-disciplinary approach challenges conventional Zen aesthetics. His layered paintings on abaca may seem far from tranquil at first glance, but closer contemplation reveals a meditative core. His serigraph of an Enso circle, for example, initially appears chaotic, filled with Tang Dynasty poetry and overlapping, repetitive forms. Yet, by focusing on a single calligraphic element, the viewer experiences a moment of clarity—a glimpse of awakening within the visual complexity.

“Monkey Mind” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.

Even more engaging is his diptych Monkey Mind. At odds with the traditional Zen emphasis on negative space, this piece is deliberately busy, reflecting the restless nature of the mind. A distracted viewer may struggle to find a focal point, but one attuned to emptiness and presence will perceive clarity amidst the seeming disarray.

Ink and intention—creating calligraphy in support of one of my advocacies.

By fusing Zen philosophy with the discipline of serigraphy, Hofer invites his audience to look beyond surface impressions and discover stillness within movement, balance within complexity. His art does not merely depict Zen—it embodies the paradoxes at its core, offering a path to mindfulness through the act of seeing and the experience of doing.

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Arts & Culture

What is Sappia? The Rice Myth Goddess of Bohol Who Helped Feed the People During a Great Famine

by Emma Gomez

The story began when the people of Bohol started to experience hunger and famine. All the livestocks were inedible and the fields were dried out leaving only weeds planted on the ground. The people prayed to the goddess of mercy, Sappia, to ask for food.

Sappia, the rice myth goddess of Bohol

Sappia, from the heavens, heard the cries of the people. She saw the dense population of weeds and offered to help them. Sappia thought of nourishing the weeds to be edible and healthy for the people of Bohol. Straightaway, she sprinkled the weed with milk from her bossom. She emptied each breast until blood came out. Before she left, she whispered to the weeds that they may be nourished and be able to feed the people.

When harvest season came, the people of Bohol quickly gathered the nourished weeds. They observed that the ones sprinkled with milk were white, while the other were red. They called the new plant rice and they replanted these in honor of Sappia, and for the people to devour.

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Arts & Culture

Kimsoy’s Canvas of a Lifetime in Full Display

by Diana Gillo

There is nothing more fascinating than seeing an artist’s lifetime of work in one room. Such is the experience in Jose “Kimsoy” Yap’s third solo exhibit entitled “Kimsoy: Episodes of Mastery,” at Galerie Raphael Cebu. This serves as the truest form of homage to his enduring journey, showcasing works that span over decades.

Kimsoy with his student and muse, Zhara Rivera Mercado, at the entrance of Galerie Raphael

The exhibit speaks greatly of Kimsoy’s evolution as an artist, with his shifting mediums and remarkable variety of subjects. His creations range from heartfelt portraits of individuals he encountered along his journey to detailed landscapes inspired by the different walks of his life. The room’s layout carries the weight of his years of craft with one wall lined with pastels, another with watercolors, and another with oil painting. 

As the River Flows Onward by Kimsoy Yap 2020 | Oil on canvas | 82×48 inches

The exhibit transcends beyond just the commemoration of Kimsoy’s masterful periods. It wanders more into a sense of intimacy reflecting Kimsoy’s life’s journey—from his roots as a young boy in Negros Oriental, through his pursuit of greater artistic mastery in New York, to his prominence in Cebu’s art scene. All his work freehanded, created both with his left and right hand, depicts the ways in which we all leave traces of ourselves in our work and in the world.

A Friend of Mine 1979 | watercolor on paper | 24×18 inches

In a Relaxed Mood 1977 | water color on paper | 16×19.5 inches

The opening ceremony featured Ambassador Jose Mari Cariño, alongside special guests Ivy Ang Gabas, Paolo Li, Angbetic Tan, Laurie Bouquiren of the Visayas Art Fair, and Valerie Go of Galerie Raphael Cebu. The exhibit is open until March 21, 2025.

 

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