Best of CDO Food Tour: Celebrating higalaay, city’s great food

It is once again the time of the year that this city celebrates another joyful season of celebrating the gold in friendship. Higalaay Festival is fast approaching. It is when visitors coming from other places – far and nearby alike – would choose to visit Cagayan de Oro.

And what’s the first and basic CDO would offer them is to get to know about the city itself. Might be encouraging them to purchase local products and produce, visit heritage spots or bringing them to Tatak CDO restaurants and introduce the delicious, savouring dishes that could be tasted ONLY in Cagayan de Oro.

It is overwhelming to learn though that Bigby’s Food Corporation has levelled up initiatives that would cater visitors with great food and unravel the Best of CDO. Just recently, they introduced that Best of CDO Food Tour, which aims to showcase the best of Cagayan de Oro food.

I am so fortunate that I was given the opportunity to experience its first ever leg, with my colleagues at CDO Bloggers.

In the food tour, we made food hops at Bigby’s in Centrio Mall, Missy Bon Bon near Limketkai Drive, Boy Zugba, and The Nest CDO within four hours and used “rela” (means of transpo famous in the city) as transportation.

We were also given passports where we will be pasting stamps of each restaurant once we get there.

1st Food Stop: Bigby’s Cafe and Restaurant

Branch: Centrio Mall

Bigby’s was first introduced in CDO in December 8, 1998 and now has 7 branches across the archipelago. The menu, the interior design and service style were created to position the concept midway between fine dining and fast-casual dining.

I tasted their signature dishes, CDO Sinuglaw and Rack-a-Bye-Baby. CDO Sinuglaw is the certified Bigby’s favourite. It is a “sinugbang baboy” and “isdang kilawin” recipe with a twist by adding “dilis” toppings, recognized by Urban Life Awards as one of the best Filipino dishes.

The other Rack-a-Bye-Baby is another Bigby’s favourite, a finger-licking goodness of premium cut smoky barbecued pork ribs.

Second Food Stop: Missy Bon Bon

Branch: Rosario Arcade, Limketkai Center (Flagship Store)

Missy Bon Bon Bread shop opened its kiosk in CDO in December 2009 launching its first line of breads and gelato. In April 2010, it opened its flagship store in Limketkai Center. Missy Bon Bon is a hip, cozy, and relaxed world-class bread shop serving healthy, natural, and freshly-made bread onsite with unique fusion interpretations of local bread products, gourmet comfort food and custom gelato mixes.

This is their signature dessert – Gelato. I tell you, it’s creamier, smoother and silkier than any ordinary ice cream.

Showing you the MBB Frozen Factory.

Famous also at Missy Bon Bon is their Pastel – A sweet filled bun that won the hearts of every Kagay-anons, now with 3 flavors Durian, Yema and Chocolate bun.

Third Food Stop: Boy Zugba Kusina Bisaya

Branch: Corrales Ave. – Ramon Chavez St., Cagayan de Oro

Boy Zugba Kusina Bisaya opened in Corrales Ave. – Ramon Chavez St., CDO in February 8, 2015. It serves the best Kagay-anon home-cooked meals that a city has to offer, but up scaled a bit to create a new dining experience. Boy Zugba boasts an array of grilled food items, as well as meals that we normally see in karenderias or eat at home.

On Tuesdays, 7PM is the Trivia Night and Fridays, 7PM is the TGIB or Tara Go It’s Beernes” with stand-up comedians and a guest band.

These are their signature dishes:

Bandihadong Karne. All your favorite meat in one bandihando – Liempo, pork BBQ and the Cheezzy Chorizo (Organic-fed meat stuffed with cheese)

Pancit sa Pulis
Dessert: “What’s your plan, Leche Flan?”

Last Food Stop: The Nest

Address: Corrales Ave. – Ramon Chavez St., Cagayan de Oro

Brands: Maison de Bonbon and Giuseppe Pizzeria & Sicilian Roast

The Nest is a sanctuary in the midst of the noisy, fast-paced, and bustling streets of Cagayan de Oro. Freshly opened, it brings the best of renowned European culinary masterpieces. It carries two brands: Maison de Bonbon and Giuseppe, both deliver the finest of French and Italian Sicilian cuisines.

The Nest embodies the best aspects of globalization by bringing the sumptuous food of Europe to the dining tables of the inherently sunny people of Cagayan de Oro, be it the families looking to bond through opulently-served entrees, or the individuals that yearn to unravel from work by being fed food bursting with zest and flavor.

If you decide on visiting there, I suggest you should have these must-trys:

Maison de Bonbon Cafe and Restaurant

Burger Américaine. U.S beef burger patty on a sesame bun with crisped bacon slices, sautéed Shiitake mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, melted gruyere cheese & fresh green lettuce. Served with seasoned salt French fries.

Giuseppe Pizzeria & Sicilian Roast

Salsiccia Siciliana. Pizza with tomato, mozzarella, mushrooms and Sicilian sausages.

Quattro Formaggi. Pizza with four Italian cheeses.

And the other one I forgot to take photo on was Calzone. It is a folded pizza with spinach, ham, sausage, mushrooms, bell pepper, and black olives.

For those who want to try the Best of CDO Food Tour (which I really encourage you to do this fiesta season), they conduct it every Saturday! Plus, you can avail it at fiesta promo rate of 999.00Php ONLY! Just register at http://bit.ly/cdofoodtour or call 0917 632 3007 for your ‪#‎BestOfCDO‬ inquiries.

More info as well at: http://bigbyscafe.com/, http://missybonbon.com/, http://boyzugba.com/ and http://thenestcdo.com/.