Zabadani Cafe In Layers And More

This is not the first time that I blogged about Zabadani Cafe. It is one of my favorite places in the city and whenever something new comes out I would definitely be sharing it.

Aside from the relaxing ambiance, the place is also serving spectacularly delicious dishes.Their menu mostly offer Mediterranean cuisine with a touch of Pinoy taste. In addition to that, their drinks are also one of a kind. When we (Filipinos) eat out, most of the time we partner our main dish with a cold drink aside from water. Zabadani Cafe is just the right place to have it all together. They basically have the "drinks trio" (an invented term of mine). These are coffee, soda and tea.

Let's start with the coffee. In the city of Davao, coffee shops are all over the place but mind you, their coffee drinks taste all the same. They just differ in their container I guess *wink*. However, Zabdani Cafe's coffee drinks are all but unique to all of them as it comes in layers coined as Layered Coffee. It is actually the first product that they offer when they opened as an internet cafe/coffee shop sometime in 2008. This amazing way of serving coffee is the first of its kind. According to what has been written in edgedavao.net, Wadilkhaery W. Mutia, or simply Glen, the owner of the place believes that it is not available anywhere else in the country. "We're the only one producing layered coffee in this part of the globe, and we are glad that we have developed our own niche," he said.

Here is an example of the Layered Coffee (Layered Mochachino)

Now let's talk about the soda. Among the 'drinks trio', soda is the most popular one. Having this drink together with any meal will give us that strange yet satisfying feeling of being full. It is popularly known as cola in our country. In most cases it is being served in cans or in bottles. However, in the Zabadani Cafe, these soda drinks are placed inside a tall glass. Of course, the twist would always be there as the soda drink, just like the coffee, comes in layers. Layered Soda, as they what they call it. Just imagine your soda combined with your favorite "berry" flavors (strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry and a whole lot more). You can have this very drink in Zabadani Cafe.

Here is an example: Layered Soda (Strawberry Apple)

And let's welcome the newest member of the Layered family, the Layered Bubble Milk Tea. It is yet another breakthrough of the cafe. According to its description in their Facebook Page, this Layered Bubble Milk Tea is an intense combination of premium black tea from Europe, creamy milk and gummy tapioca. Well of course next to water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, the very reason I believe why it should be included in the Layered family of Zabadani Cafe. 

Here it is: Layered Bubble Milk Tea

I've tasted their 'drinks trio' and all are equally yummy most especially the Layered Bubble Milk Tea. I believe I'm one of those who tasted it first as it happened to be my prize for winning the fill-in-the-blanks contest that they had for the Eid ul-Fitr, Shukran!. Zabadani Cafe is a Halal Food Establishment by the way... 

These delicious drinks only occupy a portion of their huge menu booklet indicating that the cafe has more to offer. Simply visit the place and you'll know what I'm talking about =). Zabadani Cafe is located in Ponciano Street, Davao City at the back of the University of Mindanao, Bolton Campus.

Note: All photos are courtesy of Zabadani Cafe's Facebook Page.

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Touchdown Syria; The Zabadani Cafe Experience

Who would have thought that a local resto would be able to fulfill one of my ultimate dreams. Such dream is to be in two places in one time. Zabadani Cafe it is, the place wherein you could experience the lavish food of Syria without even leaving the country nor the city.

Zabadani Cafe is located along the most accessible street of Davao City wherein almost all public utility jeepneys pass by. Getting there isn't going to be a problem at all. It is located along Ponciano Street at the back of the University of Mindanao Bolton Campus.

One of my friends in college mentioned this cafe to me 3 years ago but his directions on how to get into the place wasn't that clear so I just ignored it. It's just recently that I happen to see the face of that college friend in one of the photos of the cafe's Facebook group page. 

Then came 2010 when one of my officemates brought us there. That was the moment that I first tasted my favorite Beef Squares. 

It is just one of the sumptuous meals that they are serving. Here is a snapshot of their menu that I got from their Facebook Group Page.

Here are some of the photos of their food shared by the increasing number of Zabbers (Zabadani Cafe eaters, fans, enthusiasts) in the city.

• Syrian Kebab (beef, fish, chicken)

   

• Falafel (beef, fish,chicken) 

                                                              

• Bruschetta

                                                                         

• Qatayef

                                                                 

• Hot Tea (Teekanne)

• Pita Shateerah

  

• Layered Mochachino                                                                   

                                                               

• Layered Soda (strawberry apple) 

                                                       

Add up the free wifi connection that they are offering as you indulge the above foods and the cozy ambiance that would really let you feel like you're eating in Syria.

                                 
The very cute Persian cat Ramadeey is also here!

What are you waiting for? Better visit Zabadani Cafe now!

-niceurdaneta-

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My Abreeza Ayala Mall Experience

May 12, 2011, the entire community of Davao City has been talking about the soft opening of one of the biggest and now the newest mall in city, the Abreeza Ayala Malls. It is place wherein malls are built together in one place. This establishment is a 5 billion Ayala-Floirendo property which is a replication of the Ayala Mall in Makati City.

The place is built not just for shopping but for the shoppers to have a place to bond as well. When I went there this afternoon, I can observe the wide facade before you enter the main building. There is also a vast space which I believe to be developed as a park-garden like area wherein shoppers can stay and bond with their companions after they shop. What happened last Thursday was just a soft opening and not all stores are opened yet. Even some of the landscapes outside aren't done as well.

“We expect the mall operation to be very viable and confident on the cash flow even on the first year of operation. Abreeza Mall is branded as Ayala Malls like Glorietta, Greenbelt, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, TriNoma,” said Antonio Aquino, CEO and president of the Ayala Land, Inc. Davaoeños should expect BPO centers, hotel and residential condominium to open in the next three years.

I didn't join the crowd in the soft opening last Thursday because I know very well that traffic would be very heavy and it is not advisable for a dust-allergic individual like me. I'm already planning  to visit the place this weekend but I realized that the number of people going there would be more than number during the soft opening because most of them are one their off days already. Two days passed and I just can't help it anymore, I'm so curious of what it looks like and what are the new stores inside. Davao City malls aren't that complete yet when it comes to Branded stores that can only be seen in the vast number of shopping centers in Luzon and Visayas. 

After meeting someone in Gaisano Mall, I decided to go to Abreeza.  It took me a 20-minute jeepney ride to get there. 

Here is a picture of their events area taken from the 3rd floor. This is only a portion of the entire place and as you can observe, there will be an up coming program and people are starting to position themselves in the corridor. Maybe a celebrity would visit, I'm just not sure who and I didn't bother to ask.

I'm not promoting any stores in this post but I just took pictures of those stores that excited me because finally they are already here. 

First and foremost is the famous coffee shop in the world which is the Starbucks Coffee. The one inside Abreeza is the first Starbucks Coffee shop in the city and it is one of the most crowded place inside.

Then I spotted is Max's. We had Max's before in Gaisano Mall but suddenly it just disappeared due to reasons that I don't know. Their chicken meals are my favorite most especially their signature fried chicken.

And here comes PowerMac, the renowned seller of Apple products

Book lovers of the city would be happy seeing Fully Booked is finally here, but the store isn't finish yet. Sorry for the blurry picture.

The succeeding pictures are stores of signature items that I don't see in the existing major malls in the city.

Like what I said in the first part of this post, it is an establishment wherein malls are built together in one place because I spotted this shopping center inside.

I also spotted this stall in the center of the hallway right before I entered the main building. It is a local pastry shop near my place and their cakes are so delicious. Now they are inside Abreeza.

There are still a lot of unfamiliar stores inside based on my knowledge. Maybe for others they aren't new but I'm pretty sure existing malls in the city don't have them. 

Abreeza Ayala Malls is a nice place. I can foresee that it is going to be the biggest and most famous shopping place in the city. It isn't finish yet but people are already all over the place. Most of them are just curious while others are excited to buy those signature items that can only buy when they travel to other big cities in the country.

-niceurdaneta-

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Tastes Like Heaven; Smells Like Hell

The fruit that marks Davao City. It is called Durian. August is the Kadayawan month wherein Davaoeños are giving thanks for the year's good harvest. It is also the time wherein Durian fruit would be flooding in the city. Some people just don't like it, maybe because of the smell but once you've tried it, you'll never stop eating it. Happy Kadayawan!

Durian has the scientific name of Durio zibethinus. It popularly grows in cities of southern part Mindanao, Philippines such as Davao City and Tagum City. The meat of the fruit is being enclosed with a thick and sharp peeling. Durian farm owners often tie the fruit to its branch as it reach harvest period for the safety of by passers and farm workers. When this fruit hits you, it's a sure thing that you be in a serious situation.

During the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City during the month of August, this fruit is really in abundance. It can be purchased for a slow as 20php/kilogram. People would love to it by the street during the festival. I comes in different varieties and among the popular ones are Native, Chanee, Cob, Aransilio and a lot more.

Hypertensive people are not advised to eat too much of this fruit because it could really increase blood pressure. Local beliefs are spreading recently that this fruit could increase platelet count. A solution for those suffering dengue. However, this belief has not been proven yet medical experts.

  

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