CAGAYAN de Oro City is a place known to many domestic and foreign tourists as an adventure destination. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit CdeO just for the whitewater rafting alone. Adventure-seekers also find more exciting activities a few minutes away from the city.
Not many, however, would come to CdeO just for its delicacies (except maybe for the ham), since CdeO has never been known as a foodie stop. Unknown to many, a lot of the family-owned businesses in CDO are related to food, mainly because Kagay-anons appreciate good grub.
Lately, a number of quirky restaurants have sprouted all over town. In Divisoria alone, unique places to eat can be found in almost every corner, where the ambience is as interesting as the menu.
The newly opened Backyard Grill is one of the restaurants that serve affordable grilled fare, with a lot of their meals at P99. Aside from the usual silog meals, it also serves meals on a hot plate: sizzling Sisig, sizzling (spa)Ghetti and even sizzling Brownie Ala Mode! Its hefty serving of baby back ribs will keep you coming back for more. Backyard Grill is located at Marfori Compound, Gaerlan St.
Among the new restos, Good Fellas Pizza is another sure winner. A mafia themed pizza place inspired by the ‘90s De Niro movie, Good Fellas serves beer-battered pizzas all named after Mafioso characters. Mickey White is a four-cheese pizza, Joe Piney is a Hawaiian pizza, Danny has a sunny-side up egg right at the center, and Wild Bill has chorizo and jalapeño. The best-seller, Big Joe, is topped with sausage, pepperoni, beef and bacon. Good Fellas is at 2/F Sweet Leaf Café, Pabayo cor. T. Chaves Streets.
Sentro 1850 is a long-time favorite among the locals, and has often been the preferred venue for business meetings, family gatherings, and even dinner dates. Its 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. Pair this with the sweet, spicy and crunchy Squid Sotong and you are set for a scrumptious meal. Also serving yummy burgers and sandwiches, Sentro definitely has something for those who love to eat. Sentro 1850 is on Velez St.
These are only a few of the many local restaurants 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 the 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 taken root.
Local tourism and businesses such as these local restaurants are getting a boost from wireless and Internet technologies. The use of social media to connect with clients has become essential for establishments. When visitors or locals post about their new experiences, the tech-savvy traveler gets to discover holes-in-the-wall, places not yet in the mainstream radar, but certainly worth visiting.
For these food stops, getting liked, tweeted, or IG’d on social media allow them to reach more people without having to resort to more expensive marketing ploys.
You too can share your stories about your hometown via “Doon Po Sa Amin,” the annual online mapping competition of wireless leader Smart Communications Inc. (Smart).
Now on its seventh year, the DPSA, which used to be open to students only, has a new category that allows everyone to submit entries in animation, music video, short film, and documentary form. The best entries will be plotted on a virtual map provided by Here, which can be accessed via the Web. For more details, visit www.doonposaamin.ph.
“Being digital natives, using online and digital technologies is natural to the youth. While they are young, we want to make them see technology as a tool that can be used to contribute to the development of the society,” said Smart Public Affairs Head Ramon Isberto.
"In the case of DPSA, what we want is to encourage them to generate and share their own content to instill love for one’s country, help promote their hometowns, and at the same time learn to use technology for learning." (PR)