Gio’s Mongo Grill in Tiongson Arcade, Lagao

Last Tuna Festival Culniary Expo, our friend in the food industry, Allan Sanidad, owner of Abi’s , was gracious enough to host a dinner for our judges in his newest resto in Tiongson Arcade, Gio’s Mongo Grill. Since I was so busy that night that I was not able to join them for dinner, I decided to check it out with my family.

Tiongson Arcade has become a wellspring of new restaurant themes and one of the best places to get your great tasting Gensan barbecue.

Gio’s Mongo Grill is located on the same side as Euro-Kitchen and Gusteau’s (who served our chefs big, tasty, sinful crabs!). Your dining experience starts before you get in the door.

That’s because you have to choose what goes into your Mongolian bowl.

For our first bowl, I chose beef with loads of vegetables. Our second bowl had chicken teriyaki, fresh noodles and vegetables. Each bowl costs only P 15o! It’s good for two or three persons. You get 200 grams of meats or seafoods and fill up the rest of the bowl with vegetables and noodles. Then they ask you if want sweet and spicy or sweet only.You can watch while they cook your food.

I will say that the food was really good and healthy too! Fresh vegetables and simple flavors in that bowl are a refreshing break. (I know the food is good because there was nothing left on the platters.) On the business side, it’s one of the simplest food business models that does not say mediocre either. The service is good, the servers know what questions to ask and they are attentive. (Good job Allan!)

Gio’s Mongo Grill is located in Tiongson Arcade, Lagao.

Thank you from TFCE and GSC Tourism Association

After probably three of the most stressful weeks  of my life, the Tuna Festival Culinary Expo was successfully staged last August 29 to 31, 2009 at the Atrium of the Gaisano Mall of Gensan. Looking back, I honestly don’t know how my partners in crime, Ate Kring Macion and Chiclet Rillo and I, got to pull it all together. Despite the stress, I am happy the event turned out really well and I have more guts for next year *smile*

Although we have already sent out our thank you letters and post-event reports, I would like to thank the following people profusely.

To God for all good people He sent our way and for the strength of heart, mind and body,

To Kring Macion and Chiclet Rillo for the additional lakas ng loob LOL,

To our husbands who were our drivers and sometimes, kargadors,

To my assistant, Kim,

To the very industrious students of ACA Sargen who were our marshals,

To Marasa Grill staff for helping us with the event even if it’s not part of their job,

To the active members of GSC Tourism Association, Tita Nits Velasquez of Arnevel’s Catering, Roy of Nadie’s, Russel of T’Boli Hotel, Gladys Golingan of Family Country Hotel, Rachie of Avis Rent A Car, East Asia Royale Hotel, for the support and the attendance in meetings,

To our distinguished judges, Jill Sandique, Datu Shariff Pendatun, Christine Nunag, Rose Hatulan and Gay Carillo,

To our major sponsors, Local government of General Santos City, GSC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tuna Festival Council, Kikkoman, Magnolia, Safi UFC (Nutriasia), Minola Oil, Lisa’s Tender Lean Meats, RDEX Food International, Unilever Foodsolutions and Dole Philippines,

To the participants  and winners, East Asia Royale Hotel for live cooking, Grab a Crab for table setting and Brokenshire College which won in both the live cooking and table setting for students (it sure is a happy year for them), congratulations, guys,

To Gerardo’s Cakes and School of Culinary Arts, Shellane and La Germania for our cooking stations,

To the rest of our sponsors, Silver Swan, SN Widereach Marketing, Fiesta Appliance, Marasa Grill, Jun Ador and Shop and Tell for our welcome display, Ms. Tess Napala and Gregoria Printing, our marshals from ACA Sargen Foundation, Chewee and the rest of the guys from ACLC Gensan, Kablon Farm, Mark dela Cruz of NDDU’s Sarimanok Dance Troupe, Kristan Educational Supply, MP Princess Digital Solutions, City Art Printing, our media partners, Wild FM – 99.1 and www.gensantos.com,

Our partner restaurants and hotels, T’Boli Hotel, Six’ Blings (now Icons), Red Tent Steakhouse, Mix n’ Magic, Nadie’s Chicken Haus, Allan Sanidad of Abi’s and Gio’s Mongo Grill, Gusteau’s for the crabs, Fuentespina House of Cashew, Sarangani Highlands and Red Ribbon,

Thank you all. Till next Culinary Expo!

18th Mindanao Business Conference in Koronadal City

All set for The Tuna Festival Culinary Expo 2009

The General Santos City Tourism Association is once again making preparations for the biggest food show in Socsksargen, The Tuna Festival Culinary Expo 2009.

The General Santos City Tourism Association is a private association of hotels and restaurants in General Santos City that has been spearheading various activities to promote tourism and assist member companies in their overall operations through trainings and business opportunities.

One of their major projects is the Tuna Festival Culinary Expo which will be held on August 29-31, 2009 at the Gaisano Mall of Gensan Atrium.

This year, Tuna Festival being a FOOD festival, the Tuna Festival Culinary Expo will be packed with activities that will promote dining in Gensan in general and benefit hotel and restaurant and foodservice operators like culinary competitions (Live Market Basket and Table Setting Contest), daily cooking demonstrations and Food and Hotel Trade Exhibition. Big prizes await winners of the culinary competitions. Distinguished chefs and food writers from Manila have already confirmed attendance to be judges to the culinary competitions.

The TFCE 2009 is organized by the GSC Tourism Association under the leadership of Kring Macion and Chimes Concepts Event Management. Our supporters: The GSC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Tuna Festival Council and the City Government of General Santos.

Our thanks to our sponsors: Magnolia Cheezee, Dari Crème, Star Margarine, Magnolia Nutri-oil, Jelly Ace, SAFI UFC, Kikkoman, Unilever Food Solutions, La Germania, Shellane, Marasa Grill,  Generals Brew, Kristan Educational Supply and  Family Country Hotel.

Please also visit our media partner, Bariles’ Online News Magazine, www.gensantos.com.

To know more about how to be a contestant, exhibitor or sponsor to the TFCE 2009, you can call 083 5524628, 09159806462 or email tcegensan@gmail.com.

I’m on Smile Magazine!

This may sound a bit pathetic but hey, I’m on Smile Magazine, the inflight magazine of Cebu Pacific Air!

Yup,  it’s a small pic of me on the General Santos City section of the magazine in theirAugust issue. Ms. Maya Calica, editor for Smile, asked me if I could be the Gensan local for Smile and answer the questionnaire. I was more than glad to say yes!

Just glad to share my short media exposure.

To see it online, just click here.

Checking out the new kid in town: Red Tent Steakhouse

Finally, after a long time of planning and yayaan, hubby and I went to try Red Tent. It’s actually one of the nearer restaurants from our house but got to visit it later than those in the downtown area.

Red Tent is a relatively new restaurant in Gensan which serves australian steak as their specialty. I would have to say it sure is their specialty.

Steak was tender (rare as usual) and flavorful not because of additional seasonings but just that of the beef. Their calamares was not so much a winner as it was a little bit salty. The service could really be better though although the waiters were courteous and the effort was there. I would have also loved if the menu was not basically the same as “the usual” in gensan.

Red Tent is literally a red tent. The place is cooled by fans so I wonder how it is on warm nights.

The ambience is simple, with colored lamps as accents and red almost everywhere. Will we go back? Yes to try out their other dishes.

Red Tent is located along Mabuhay Road corner Yumang in the same compound as the Shell gas station.

Sunset Cafe at East Asia Royale Arcade

So far we have gone to a handful of restaurants looking for the best steak in Gensan. On one of our dinner dates, my husband and I went to Sunset Cafe in the East Asia Royale Hotel Arcade. We didn’t know that they had steak so we ordered them when we saw it on the menu. Aside from the porterhouse, I also ordered for churros.

We did not have good expectations of the steak but wow!, it was actually good! It was cooked the way we want it -rare- and the taste was comforting – juicy, tender and perfectly seasoned. The churros was a tad too sweet but I ate it all up so I couldn’t complain. The servings were good for two so basically those two were all we ordered since I came from a meeting so I was still a little bit full.

I actually like eating at Sunset because of the cozy interiors and because I love cafe settings. It is one of the few restaurants where I don’t eat the same food everytime because they have a lot of tasty treats. In previous visits I have tried their fried balut, chicken ala king on bread, scampi and others.

Briefing about the Tuna Festival Culinary Expo

To all restaurant owners and managers, hoteliers, foodservice operators, caterers and foodservice suppliers, the General Santos City Tourism Association invites you the briefing on its upcoming event, the Tuna Festival Culinary Expo 2009.

The briefing will be held in Marasa Grill, Kadulasan St., General Santos City, July 30 (that’s tomorrow) at 2pm. There is no fee if you want to attend the briefing. The brieifing is for you to know more about how you can participate in the expo and the contests that we will be having.

To confirm your attendance, please call 5524628 or text 09159806462.

7th National Vegetable Congress in Gensan

From Ms. Rue Ramas by email. See you all there!

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The 7^th National Vegetable Congress will be held in Gensan on July 14-16, 2009.  Official venue is the Family Country Hotel Convention Center.  The activities are:

July 14 – 8:00 A.M.  Registration of participants at the Family Country Hotel (2,500/person)

8:30 A.M.  Motorcade to Malungon, Pacman Farm

Day’s activities at Pacman Farm:  (No ID, no entry)

Vegetable Derby by 6 vegetable seed companies

Opening Ceremony of the Congress

Luncheon

One hour photo session with Pacman

6:00 P.M.  Fellowship Night at Family Country Hotel hosted by the City Mayor

July 15 – 8:00 A.M.  Plenary at the venue

Exhibit at the Family Country Hotel atrium by 30 companies.  This is open to the public. (whole day)

5:00 PM   Fellowship Night at Isla Parilla hosted by the Provincial Governor

July 16 – 8:00 A.M.  Farm visit to Seminis/Monsanto Research Farm

Farm visit to Felicidad Orchard and Garden Organics

Plenary (rest of the day)

Open exhibit (whole day)

Categories of company exhibits:

(The 2-day exhibit on July 15-16 is open to the public, free.  The companies will showcase the following latest hi tech products and technologies. Please invite your friends, planting enthusiasts, students, to this very rare event in Gensan)

1.           Agri-Ecology

2.           Agricultural Machinery

3.           Biotechnology

4.           Greenhouses

5.           Vegetable Marketing and Export Services

6.           Plant Propagation Materials

7.           Plasticulture

8.           R&D

9.           Turnkey Projects and Knowledge Transfer

10.       Fertilizers and Chemicals

11.       Fork Lift & Handling

12.       Farm Equipment

13.       Farming

14.       Irrigation & Water Management

15.       Organic Agriculture

16.       Packaging Material

17.       Plant Protection

18.       Post Harvest Treatment

19.       Vegetable Seeds

Sarangani Highlands’ 2nd Takdol Mexican Festival on July 10

I am inviting you all again to the 2nd Takdol (Full Moon) Festival of Sarangani Highlands. For those who supported us during the first Takdol Festival, thank you so much!

Date: July 10, 2009, 7pm
Featured Cuisine: Mexican
Entrance Fee/Consumable: P 200 only! consumable for food and beverage
Entertainment: Los Pobres Band (Thank you SMB!)

Enjoy your favorite burritos, fajitas, tacos and more! Party under the full moon!

Reserve for your tickets now at 3040752 or 5533509 or by emailing saranganihighlands@gmail.com.

See you all there!