FOOD: Where to eat in Bacolod City!

This topic is actually a silly thing to write about because believe me, you can practically eat ANYWHERE in Bacolod and still have a satisfied belly on your way out. You can also splurge into ordering two to three meals off the menu because food in Bacolod is fairly cheaper compared to prices here in Manila.

So let me just put it this way. Since I was only able to spend a night at Bacolod, this blog post could be classified as a guide for a "food quickie" around the city. Based from my experience, these are probably the restaurants and meals that you shouldn't miss out if you're just planning to do a side trip to Bacolod. So without further stalling, here's my rundown:

(L) Chosilog (R) The very cozy interiors of Bascon Cafe

Bascon Cafe
This is the first restaurant that I went to in Bacolod City, and boy, was I NOT disappointed. The ambiance was pretty cozy which makes me remember dining in at any cafe in Baguio. Their meal choices was very simple, but then you're in for a shock once you actually get your food in front of you. For instance, I ordered a Chosilog, short for chorizo, sinangag and itlog. The meat has this sweet taste to it and is just perfect to match with the sinangag and itlog. This was my very first meal in Bacolod and the entire experience just made me more excited for other meals lined up for the day! 

They said that there are more choices of Chicken Bacolod Inasal in Manokan Country.
I'll probably go there on my next visit!

Nena's Rose
I can say that I would never percieve a Chicken Bacolod Inasal meal the same way again after dining here at Nena's Rose. Our host said that this brand of Bacolod Chicken Inasal is one of the pioneers within the city. I've also learned that the native chickens in Bacolod have smaller frame thus the meat seems to absorb the marinate more. Hence, the yummy flavors in every bite! 

(L) Special La Paz Batchoy (R) Molo Soup from Iloilo

21 Bar and Restaurant's Kare-Kare! It's my first time to see a Kare-Kare dish presented this way. Excellent!

21 Bar and Restaurant
This is said to be the home of the best Special Batchoy in Bacolod City. And yes, it is indeed. I was also surprised because the prices of the entrees are rather cheap considering that the place has a very "sosyal" ambiance. If you're planning to dine in here, I would also recommend their Molo Soup (originally from Iloilo) and their very avant garde Kare-Kare! 

(L) Love the rainbow colored stained glass of Cafe 1925, (R) Sirloin Sandwich 

Cafe 1925
For me, this restaurant seemed to be pulled out from Cubao Expo and shipped all the way to Silay City. I love how its interiors give a very organic and "real" vibe. We got here around merienda time so I ordered their Sirloin Sandwich, one of their best sellers and a Vanilla Milkshake. The Sirloin Sandwich was really something else! I loved every bite of it! 

(L) Lots of cake selections at Calea, (R) Tired with all the road trips but still excited to eat my Lemon Merengue!

Calea 
Calea. Calea. Calea. I've never seen so much cake in one room in my entire life! Just by looking at the cafe interiors and big refrigerators with delectable cakes cures me of my monthly mood swings for a year! Its definitely a sugar merry wonderland! If you're the type who wants something that's not too sweet, try Calea's Lemon Merengue. It's still sweet but it has this tangy lemony after taste in every bite. It's also best to pair this with their brewed coffee with cream and mascuvado. (And on a side note... I was also very pleased to know that the owner of this place is a fellow Kulasa! Woot! Woot! Represent!) 

I know this is the worst food shot of a lamb burger (or any dish for that matter) but I was so excited to munch on it! 

Pepe's Restobar 
Pepe's Lamb Burger literally contains meat that melts in your mouth. Topped with melted cheese, cushioned with soft yet slightly toasted buns and served with a hefty amount of feta fries -- its one intense foodgasm in a silver platter if you ask me! This is also by far the cheapest lamb burger that I've purchased in the Philippines which is about P180.00 per order. Worth every penny!  

But of course, with all the great food that I got to eat during my stay in Negros, I would want to take home a few bites for my family. Here are the pasalubong centers that you shouldn't miss out:

Virgie's Homemade Products
Virgie's is known for its Tarts, Barquillos and Piayas. Or just get all sorts of sweets and worry about the excess baggage later on! HAHAHA!

Pendy's
This is the home of the very thin piaya! Very delicious! You should also try their other sweets! I love 'em as well!

Well, that's about it! These aren't even half of the good restaurants in Negros! But I hope this could help you find your quick fixes when you visit the region! 

Would you also like to visit The Ruins when you visit Bacolod or Negros? 

Here's my post about it to jumpstart your trip planning!

TRAVEL: The Ruins at Talisay City, Negros Occidental

The Ruins at Talisay City, Bacolod

The moment I saw images of The Ruins on photos and social networks, I vowed to myself that I will visit this magnificent place before I die. Lo and behold, I was very fortunate enough to fit a side trip to Bacolod in our eventful Cebu escapade. 

My experience was rather embarrassing. Really. I was literally screaming my lungs out at the sight of The Ruin's chimney. Apparently, I was also shouting out phrases that I didn't know were inside my freaking mind! A sample phrase would be "Gusto ko na magpakasal! Now na!" ("I want to get married right at this very moment!") and other embarrassing statements that I choose not to disclose in this blog. HAHAHA! I was thankful that none of my friends (and also the parents of our host whom I just met a few hours before I started acting all possessed) who were with me inside the car didn't disown me or condemned me to death. 

Anyhoo, before I go berserk with excitement again let me tell you the top 10 interesting facts that I learned about The Ruins:

1. The beautiful mansion was owned by Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson and his first wife, Maria Braga Lacson. It was the biggest structure in Talisay City at that time and it housed furniture and home items from different parts of Europe and Asia. 

2. The owners originally had an azucarera (sugar plantation) within their lot hence the sight of the tall and beautiful brick chimney in front of the mansion. 

Superb building and construction skills, people! Two thumbs up! 

3. The mixture of cement used to build the the mansion had eggshells on them. That's probably why its walls will still feel very smooth when you touch them.

4. During World War II, the locals together with the Americans burnt the mansion down so as to prevent the Japanese from converting it to their very own headquarters and fortress. The other house that the owners evacuated to was also taken down together with the nice furniture and most of its photos, hence you will never find a photo of the mansion in its full form. 

These steps used to have thick planks of wood. It was mentioned that even the bolts and screws used here are made out of wood. 

Would you believe that the embellishments of the structure was able to survive 3 days of burning?

5. It took approximately 3 long days to burn the structure down primarily because of the wood used in building the mansion. Despite the long hours of burning the mansion down, its main frame and some of the intricate details are still present. Just imagine how sturdy are the materials used in building this house!

Love that would last for eternity! It's written all over The Ruins!

6. Cheesy fact: If you look closely at the mansion's pillars, you will see patterns that would resemble a letter "E" and a number "3". These are actually two letter Ms facing each other which stands for the first letter of the first names of the owners, Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson and Maria Braga. It was believed to symbolize their eternal love and adoration for each other. And as cheesy as it sounds, the pillars and its markings are still here and will forever stand the test of time. Aaaawww... 

7. It was also mentioned during the tour that the children of the mansion owners had to move out right away if they choose to marry. Marrying also voids the children's shares and ownership of the mansion and other land properties. 

The facade of the mansion naturally emits romance and passion. 

8. You can actually rent out the place for pre-nups, weddings, events and concerts. Woot! Woot! And yes, when we were there I mentioned (like a hundred times) that I want to have ONE OF MY pre-nup photo shoots at that place. HAHAHA! 

9. Mr. Ramon Hofileña, by far the best tourist guide I've ever met, helped discover and revive this landmark a few years back. He said that he found this spot all cluttered with a few informal settlers within its premises. He insisted to do a clean up and actually turn it into a tourist spot. Good job! 

10. At present, The Ruins is considered the "Taj Majal" of Bacolod and is recognized as one of the best ruins both locally and worldwide.

In any angle, The Ruins just seems very perfect to me. I love it! 

For me, this landmark is beyond the elegant structure, greenery and ambiance. Its all about the energy that you get from the stories of glory, downfall and redemption wrapped around its premises. Its walls just seems to house so much emotion and culture that naturally inspires me to fall in love with life altogether. :)

Blogoblab Tip: If you're planning to go and visit The Ruins, it's best if you rent out your personal vehicle and driver since its situated inside a village. Make sure you also check the schedule of the tour first so that you won't miss out on the explanations and stories about the landmark. For more information, you can visit their website here.