Poppy Coffee & Cupcakes

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It's funny that the boyfriend and I were like tourists during our short trip in Dumaguete City. Although I've been to Dumaguete countless of times, since my folks are currently living in Bayawan City, I've never been really knowledgeable with the streets in Dumaguete. So, when we spotted this little poster on the street that has cupcakes on it, I bugged my friend Nikki to take us there.

Poppy's is a dainty cafe at Silliman University's West Portal. You'll immediately see it before SU's entrance. They had a really nice and comfortable interior, which makes it great for students. A single cupcake at Poppy's costs P35. This is still more affordable compared to the usual cupcakes here in Cebu. Poppy's cupcakes reminded me of SLT's, which is by far my favorite. They have a  number of different cupcakes available and their presentation was similar to that of SLT's.

We chose the blueberry and red velvet, which are our favorite flavors. Their cupcakes are really cute and looked so yummy. Poppy's cupcakes taste really good. However, it wasn't enough to wow me. It tastes good but not as good as the other cupcakes I've tried. Their icing is sweet and is just right. I think it would be best if the cupcakes were served chilled. Nevertheless, I like their cupcakes. It's really good for its price. 

Unfortunately, the thing with Poppy's is that don't have their own toilet. You would have to climb up to West Portal's second floor to pee. It's a bit of hassle, to be honest, but it's better than nothing. Overall, Poppy's is a really interesting and nice cafe. Their staff is friendly and accommodating. I'll try to visit Poppy again next time I'm back in the city. Hopefully not when I'm too full to splurge on some sugar. Maybe, next time. :)

Sweet Indulgence and Bubble Pop

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Being travelers in Dumaguete City, the boyfriend and I were looking for some affordable treats. So, we went to Lee Plaza where you can find a milk tea place in Dumaguete. Unfortunately  we didn't really know the exact location of the cart so we went through every floor before we realized that it's probably near the grocery.

So, we did find Bubble Pop at the lower ground floor of Lee Plaza along with the other food carts. We were also surprised to find a cupcake stall, Sweet Indulgence, there. Unfortunately, there weren't chairs. You would have to stand up and place your food and drinks in a high table while eating.

Bubble Pop is really affordable, unlike most milk tea shops here in Cebu. They also have limited flavors, which isn't really a big deal. The boyfriend and I got honeydew and wintermelon milk tea for P48. Just P2 cheaper than Heart Tea's. Their milk tea was good but not really that good enough for you to rave. However, I think it's okay for the price that you are paying. I also noticed that they were using powdered milk teas more, instead of syrup, which probably is the reason why it wasn't that good.

red velvet and tiramisu.

wintermelon and honeydew.

Sweet Indulgence was also shockingly affordable. Every cupcake costs P25, which is half the price of the usual cupcakes here in Cebu. I tell you, the boyfriend and I went on sugar high because all the sweet goodies were budget-friendly. We ordered red velvet and tiramisu from Sweet Indulgence and paired it with our milk teas. I really love the icing on top of the red velvet. It was sweet and yummy. The boyfriend, however, found it to be overpowering. Their tiramisu was also good and soft. I like the the texture of the cupcake. Their cupcakes were really good enough for their price. However, they're not really something that I would rave about.

I definitely enjoyed our short food trip in Dumaguete. Unfortunately we were a bit limited with funds and time so we weren't able to look for more cheap finds in the city. The boyfriend and I are planning to have another food trip in the city soon, when budget permits. Dumaguete is definitely more affordable compared to the usual restaurants and shops in Cebu, which makes it great for foodies like us. ;)

OT: Gabby's Bistro

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There's a little haven in Dumaguete that will take you to Italy without having to pay for the pricey airfare. This haven is called Gabby's Bistro. You can find Gabby's in Florentina Homes, which is like Italy. They have colorful walls and porches with flowers. My friend, Nikki, and I have been planning to go there last June when I visited Negros, but I never had the time. This time, I figured I have to visit Gabby's no matter what.

Their interiors is really cool and filled with cutesy little knickknacks everywhere. There are planes on the ceiling and mini gas pumps on their tables. Their walls have intricate details. I wasn't able to hold myself as I gaze every wall and ceiling. It is a really happy place. The interior was consistent with the exterior design. I so looove the place. What sparked my interest was that their paper placemats can be colored. You can even ask for crayons. Nikki and I hurriedly colored and wrote stuff on our own placemats. You can get yourself busy while waiting for your meals. It's also great for kids.

dory, dory. makes me think of Finding Nemo.

golden chicken.

We got dory in tomatoes (I'm not quite sure if that's the correct name) and golden chicken. We were shocked that they had big servings. Even their rice servings are bigger than those I commonly see in restaurants here in Cebu. I definitely enjoyed my dory. It was soft and the tomato was perfect with it. I even felt the rice on my plate wasn't enough. The chicken was also delicious and tender. I love how generous they were with their side dishes. Their prices are reasonable for the size of their serving. You'll definitely be full after your meal and it's totally worth it.

Their staff were also nice and friendly. They are also accommodating  which I really like. They, however, take time to serve you. The good thing is they have bells on tables, which you can use to ring the staff when you're ready to order.

sign that leads you to Gabby's Bistro.

I can't wait to be back in Gabby's Bistro next time. I wasn't able to try their desserts because we were already full. I won't miss it next time I'm back in Dumaguete City. Hopefully, I'll try to leave more space in my stomach for more food. ;)

Sans Rival (Main Branch)

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I've written a post about Sans Rival, a famous pastry shop in Dumaguete City, last year. However, that was about the Sans Rival branch in Robinsons Place Dumaguete. I've always wanted to visit the Sans Rival main branch and last month, I just did that. I had a short vacation in Negros last month and decided that I shouldn't miss going to Sans Rival main branch, especially when it was the boyfriend's first time in Negros. We went there together with my friend Nikki and her boyfriend, Jano. 

Sans Rival looks like a quaint cafe. It is located near Dumaguete's boulevard. You can ask the tricycle driver to take you to Sans Rival near the boulevard if you don't know the place. What we did was walk down the boulevard strip to find to look for Sans Rival since we don't know it's exact location.

spaghetti.

silvanas.

red velvet cake.

blueberry cheesecake.

bruger.

They have pasta and other quick meals for merienda (snacks). If you're bringing some pasalubong for family and friends back home, you can ask their staff for the frozen silvanas which is good for a six-hour travel. You can get a box of silvanas, with 10 pieces, for P110. 

When we got there, we ordered red velvet cake, blueberry cheesecake, spaghetti, burger, and some silvanas. Sans Rival is definitely affordable. I'm sorry I forgot the prices, I forgot where I placed the receipt. Anyway, their cakes are super affordable and cheaper compared to the cakes here in Cebu. My schoolmate even thinks the same way.

interior.

blue lights. :)

oops, that's me.

Their cakes are good, however, not too good that you'll go crazy for them. They are good for their affordable price. The same thing goes for their burger and their spaghetti. However, their silvanas and Sans Rival butter aren't to be missed. These are my ultimate faves from Sans Rival.

If you're visiting the main branch, be prepared for the long queue of customers. Even when you're there in the morning, there are lots of people there for their coffee or for some pastries. However, this is to be expected since they have a lot of loyal customers.

I also like the homey ambiance of the cafe. The place is just comfortable and perfect for a little chat with friends. We'll definitely be back on our next Negros trip and I hope we can already try the new bistro, as well. :)

Sans Rival: A Side-trip to (Second) Home

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I am really from Cebu but my parents are staying in Negros Oriental specifically, Bayawan City. My roots are really from Cebu. My mother decided to work in Bayawan and focus on my grandfather's farm seven years ago. So, I'm studying in Cebu while they are in Negros.

My brother and I went to Negros three weeks ago to visit my then sick grandfather. He was still alive back then. Before going directly to Bayawan City, I spent my an afternoon in Dumaguete City with Nikki, a high school classmate.

I wanted to try out a local cafe so she took me to Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries. We were just in Robinson's Dumaguete at that time so we went off.

Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries in Robinson's Dumaguete.

This was the Sans Rival branch in Robinson's so it wasn't that big. I like the cafe primarily because it was all blue (insert bias here). Anyway, I like the ambiance of the cafe. Like another coffee shop, it was a good place for conversation and for catching up on old times.

Nikki just got herself coffee while I ordered Sans Rival butter and Silvanas which were their specialties. I personally don't have any idea how any of those tasted prior to my visit. I first tried their Silvanas, which I thought were somewhat like Baye-Baye, a delicacy of Bayawan. To my surprise, Silvanas were just like small round cookies. The Sans Rival Butter were thinner than I expected.

Silvanas. 

Silvanas tasted so good. The butter cream filling inside oozed with every bite and the sweetness overtakes you. I only ordered one at that time and was too lazy to make another order. I just had lunch so I was too full to eat. 

Sans Rival Butter.

The Sans Rival butter also tastes good. It has some nuts on it and strips of butter. I like its sweetness and how the nuts seem to give neutralize it and give it more texture. But, I loved the Silvanas more.

I like B-L-U-E and flowers.

Sans Rival also offered different pasta, sandwiches and other beverages. What's amazing is that they offer everything at such affordable prices. Their Silvanas only cost P12 per piece or P105 for a box of ten. Sans Rival Butter cost P26 per slice and 195 for a whole. Their coffees only range from P65 to P100. You can dine here even with a limited budget.

The box of Silvanas I bought home.