The scrumptious side of Cagayan de Oro City

CEBU, Philippines – Every year, thousands of visitors come to Cagayan de Oro City. They come mostly for the white-water rafting in the city. Although, there are many other exciting activities just minutes away from the city center.

Because Cagayan de Oro has never been known as a foodie destination, seldom does a visitor go there for its food.  Yet, unknown to many, there are a lot of food-related businesses in the city, most of them family-owned. And the Kagay-anons just love digging on the plate.

Having been living in Cagayan de Oro for over a decade now, I know quite a lot of the good eats around. I am not a certified foodie, but I do love discovering places to dine in. I particularly love the quirky restaurants that have cropped up around town lately.

The city's downtown area is fairly small. One can go around Plaza Divisoria and nearby streets on foot and find unique places to eat at almost every corner. Often the restaurant's ambience is as interesting as its menu.

The newly-opened Backyard Grill, at Marfori Compound along Gaerlan St., serves affordable grilled fare, with a lot of their meals priced at below a hundred. They have the popular "silog" offerings, and also serve meals on a hot plate: Sizzling Sisig, Sizzling Spaghetti and even Sizzling Brownie Ala Mode!  Their hefty serving of baby back ribs keeps customers coming back for more!  The resto's interiors have walls covered with stenciled quotes and hip art pieces, the perfect backdrop for the crowd of students that frequent the place.

Just across the street from the Backyard Grill is our favorite tea place, Chingkee Tea.  The cute spot is an arts-and-crafts haven, with all things creative on walls, ceilings, tables and chairs, and where milk tea concoctions are fantastic.  I am not a milk tea aficionado - but this one is tempting. They have Blueberry Cheesecake, Java Chip and, my all-time favorite, Wintermelon Milk Tea. Pearls, egg pudding or even ice cream may be added for an even yummier drink!

Another crowd-drawer is the Good Fellas Pizza, at 2/F Sweet Leaf Café, at the corner of Pabayo and T. Chaves Sts. The interiors take inspiration from '90s De Niro movie, “Good Fellas.” They serve beer-battered pizzas all named after Mafioso characters.  The place exudes a cool hangout vibe with the gray walls, where they hang mafia-themed prints and knickknacks. I love their "Mickey White," which is a four-cheese pizza.  There's also "Joe Piney," a Hawaiian pizza; "Danny," with a sunny-side up egg right at the center; and "Wild Bill," with chorizo and jalapeño. Bestseller is the "Big Joe," topped with sausage, pepperoni, beef and bacon.

A few blocks away, along Velez Street, is Sentro 1850, a long-time favorite of mine. I love to come here for business meetings, family gatherings, and for dinner dates too. The place is simple, the vibe casual - the food is delicious!  The Ima's Kawali (Lechon Kawali) is one of the best out there, while the Balinese Swordfish with Ginger Sauce is perfect for those who are trying to eat healthy.  I always pair this with the sweet, spicy and crunchy Squid Sotong.  Scrumptious!  Also serving yummy burgers and sandwiches, as well as other Filipino, Asian and international dishes, Sentro 1850 definitely has something for those who love to eat.

Now, when I am craving for something cool, sweet and local, I head over to the La Favorita Scooping Station at Divisoria Arcade, R.N. Abejuela Street, across Magsaysay Park. The recipes for this homemade treats have been handed down from generation to generation since 1956.  The Avocado Ice Cream is very rich and undeniably avocado; the Mocha Chip Ice Cream - my favorite - has a rich coffee flavor, with chocolate chips in every bite.  The Caramel Swirl is creamy and sweet; Caramilk and Halea de Ube flavors, specially made with carabao's milk; and sugar-free variants, for the sweet-tooths who need to watch their sugar intake are also a delight to the senses.

These barely scratch the surface of the dining scene around Divisoria.  Several others are just as distinct and delicious: from Minindal, a furniture showroom-cum-restaurant; La Tegola, a cozy Italian bistro; and Red Tail Shrimps, a seafood place where you eat with your hands; to Bagong Lipunan, which serves classic pancit canton; and Butcher's Best Barbecue, an unpretentious barbecue joint for the diner on a budget.  In other parts of the city such as Limketkai Center, Corrales Avenue and J.R. Borja Extension, numerous cafes and restaurants have also sprouted up and taken root.

Tourism businesses such as these local restaurants have been getting a boost from wireless and Internet technologies.  The use of social media to connect with clients has become essential for restaurants, both old and new.  When we post about our new experiences, the tech-savvy traveler gets to discover holes-in-the-wall, places that are less-famous but certainly worth visiting.

Finding something new every time I go around the city brings out the tourist in me.  Someday soon, I will bring my camera and take photos of things around this city that has become my home.