10 must-eats at DoVa Brunch Cafe

Inside DoVa Brunch Cafe in Megaworld. Image source: DoVa’s Facebook page


Brunch lovers or just about anyone who craves for a satisfying dish will be treated to varied delicious and cooked-to-perfection selections at DoVa Brunch Cafe.

DoVa sprung from owner Miguel Cordova’s love for brunch and his experience of Cambodia’s brunch culture. Impressed with the different brunch cafes in this southeast Asian country, Miguel yearned of putting up one in Iloilo City. At that time, he was already running his two successful restaurants – Afriques and Escas.

“It took me two years to realize my dream of opening a brunch cafe,” Miguel said, referring to DoVa’s La Paz branch which Ilonggos welcomed with open arms, or better yet, eager taste buds. The second branch, DoVa Megaworld at the Iloilo Business Park, opened this year.

At DoVa, brunch is always a good idea

One fine night, Miguel gathered selected Iloilo bloggers to have a taste of what DoVa has to offer. It was my first time to step inside DoVa but I already heard that their food is utterly divine but pricey. But after experiencing it myself, I could say that the pricing is reasonable especially if one prefers to eat specially prepared and flavorsome food and have endless conversations with loved ones in a setting that is comfortable, cozy and tastefully designed.

The top 10
DoVa offers brunch, pancakes, waffles, burgers and sandwiches, brick-oven cooked pizza, pasta, Filipino breakfast, entrees, appetizers, soups and salads. “We serve English, American and Filipino fare to cater to everybody,” Miguel said, adding that Iloilo is home to many expats.

However, there will always be the bestsellers and my favourites, as follows:

Braised Beef Brisket 


Top 1: Braised Beef Brisket
Miguel shared that Braised Beef Brisket is one of their bestsellers. It consists of tender braised brisket, gravy, vegetables and brown rice pilaf. I always lighten up when it comes to eating beef but this dish is irresistible, one cannot help but get a second helping.

Crispy Soy Ginger Chicken 


Top 2:  Crispy Soy Ginger Chicken
Polenta fried chicken, zucchini fries, cabbage slaw and chipotle dip meal. Polenta refers to the paste made from cornmeal.
The Big Brunch Plate 


Top 3: The Big Brunch Plate 
The brunch treat for the king in you includes baked beans, sausage, bacon, toast, fries and tomatoes.

Sticky Pork Ribs 


Top 4: Sticky Pork Ribs
Glazed pork ribs with mashed potatoes and greens, a truly full-flavored dish you wouldn’t want to miss.

Deep Fried Cheese Balls 


Top 5: Deep Fried Cheese Balls
With chipotle swirl, marinara sauce and side salad

Eggs Benedict 


Top 6: Eggs Benedict
Farmers ham, poached egg, brioche ham, hollandaise and potatoes

Backyard Barbecue Pizza 

Top 7: Backyard Barbecue Pizza
DoVa’s brick oven pizza

Grandma’s Meat Loaf 

Top 8: Grandma’s Meat Loaf
Intensely divine, this entree includes two meatloaves, gravy, tomato sauce, vegetables and baked potato.

Greek Quinoa Salad

Top 9: Greek Quinoa Salad
Of course, every meal should have a healthy feature. This nourishing salad includes mixed greens, organic quinoa, feta cheese, olives and Spanish onions, balsamic vinaigrette. Quinoa is a grain that is known for its health benefits because of its high fiber content as well as magnesium, vitamin B and E, iron and other antioxidants.

Cashew Brittle Salad 


Top 10: Cashew Brittle Salad
Mixed greens, cashew brittle, green apples, diced peaches, strawberries, strawberry balsamic cream

With these choices, it is easily to forget about one’s diet and health. But don’t fret, DoVa is here to stay, so you can always come back to try more. They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. To get updates from them, follow their Facebook page: DoVa Brunch Cafe 

At DoVa, brunch is always a good idea./Kathy Villalon

You may contact the writer through Iloilo Updates 

Quiche me baby, quiche me again

Check out these popular posts, too

The San Lorenzo Wind Farm and a brighter future for renewable energy

Image
The Province of Guimaras is home to the first wind farm in the Visayas  -- the San Lorenzo Wind Farm which is seen to reduce the region’s greenhouse gas emissions and serve as a tourist attraction at the same time.
The 54 MW San Lorenzo Wind Farm generates 54 megawatts of power and provides such to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) which then distributes it to many power utilities in Western Visayas, Negros and Cebu.
This Department of Energy-supported wind farm has 27 wind turbines that stand approximately 123 meters tall. Each wind turbine generator (WTG) produces 2 megawatts of power, thus resulting to a total generation capacity of 54 megawatts.


HOW IT WORKS "All the power from the WTG is brought to the sub-station. Each turbine produces electricity at 690 volts. Electricity then passes through a transformer which steps it up to 22,800 volts and later, to 69,000 volts. All electricity produced is transmitted through the 69KV overhead transmission line to Zal…
Read more

New Executive Sous Chef heats up Seda Atria's kitchen

Image
With exceptional skills in a wide range of cuisines and kitchen management, Chef Gary Landicho, the new Executive Sous Chef of Seda Atria will be introducing exciting additions to the hotel’s menu while improving food and beverage operations.

Forty-year-old Chef Gary is a native of Bacolod, but grew up and studied in Manila. He developed his culinary expertise through 16 years of experience working on various cruise ships. He was the Sous Chef of Disney Cruise Line for 5 years before coming home and joining the hospitality industry for the first time as the Executive Sous Chef for Seda Atria since September 2018. 



Traveling and exposure to diverse local and international fare have enabled Chef Gary to nurture his love for food while honing his culinary skills.  

Chef Gary’s cooking style is defined by the use of fresh ingredients to create a seamless fusion of Western and Asian culture. 

He is set to introduce new mouth-watering dishes at Misto.  These recipes were inspired by his travels…
Read more

Miag-ao hablon weaving

Image
Buying, using, giving as presents and promoting our local products are ways to help the local economy. One of these recommended products is ‘hablon’ because this is not just a commodity but this is also a reflection of a community's culture and dreams.
Hablon came from the word ‘habol’, a local word that means ‘weave’. Thus, hablon refers to the weaving process and the finished product that is common in places like Miag-ao, Villa and Antique province, all in Panay island in the Philippines.


During  a media and bloggers' trip to the town of Miag-ao in southern Iloilo, we visited their showrooms  (one is at the town proper and another one is at Brgy. Indag-an) where hablon products such as shawls, barongs, gowns, clothing material, accessories and storytelling dolls wearing hablon dresses, among others, are on display. No less than the town mayor, Hon. Macario Napulan welcomed us.


Tourist Attraction Mayor Napulan shared that Miag-ao is known for two things. One is the Sto. Tomas de…
Read more

Sino ang panalo? Ang bully or ang api?

Image
“Shayne” told this writer that a child in their boarding house always gave him a hard time.

“Ralph grabbed my toys and when I asked him to give them back, he punched me,” Shayne said.


There were times when Ralph pushed Shayne and called him ugly names. But, it was found out later that Ralph’s father physically and verbally abused him. So, the boy bullied by his father has become a bully to another child.


Even adults are not spared from bullying. Just last week, 50-year-old parent was verbally abusing his 30-year-old son. At times, her “requests” to do household chores were delivered in a negative tone. It was enough to make the son feel hurt, defensive and irritable. He expresses his anger by answering back or shouting at his children. 


A bully can think of all kinds of ways to make another person feel hurt, afraid, uncomfortable, or just plain miserable. It can be physical, verbal, or emotional. Often bullies torment a victim over a long period of time, increasing the victim's sense …
Read more

Manny Librodo photography: a landscape of emotions

Image
Many of award-winning photographer Manny Librodo’s students told him they wanted to be like him.
His response? “Be your own photographer. Find your own style. People will always remember you. Work with a lot of passion.”
Manny Librodo, a native of Lambunao, Iloilo used to be a nobody in the photography world but he was already looking at beautiful photographs in airline magazines, wishing that he, too can become a good photographer.

Armed with passion and a point and shoot camera, he took photos of Bangkok (where he resides now) and his European travels and posted them online. These photos have gone viral without his knowledge and before he knew it, he is already famous.
“I posted on pbase.com and waited daily for comments from viewers. I received feedback including suggestions to join competitions. There was even a time when my photo would earn about one million views in a day. Without the internet, I won’t be where I am now,” he told bloggers covering his exhibit “Landscape of Emotions”…
Read more

An anxious Ilongga’s refuge in a mall

Image
There was a time whenever I go to a crowded and noisy place, I would have an anxiety attack - sudden fear, trembling, hot flash, palpitations and shortness of breath.

One unforgettable experience was when I went to SM City Iloilo to buy something. It must have been the combined sound of loud music and simultaneous chattering of the crowd that triggered my anxiety. As soon as I felt the symptoms start, I wasted no time and looked for an escape - SM Southpoint.

Thankfully, there’s an open area with faux grass and a bench near a steakhouse on the second floor. There, I did some breathing exercises until the anxiety goes away.

(Tip: an anxiety attack happens when a person least expects it. It’s not like one goes to a place and starts to think “this place is crazy, I am going to have an attack”. When your companion is having an anxiety attack, stay with him/her but do not attempt a conversation, let the person sit and breathe in silence until ready).



FINDING REFUGE One Sunday morning found me …
Read more

Gary Sintin: Born for Fashion

Image

It’s human nature to sometimes treat with nonchalance things that we encounter on a daily manner.
This was the case with Gary Surmion Sintin when he was growing up.
He’s the son of Heidi Arguelles Surmion–Sintin, a dressmaker in Brgy. Baclayan, Lucena, Iloilo but it was in dancing and singing that he had passion for.
He was champion during the Super Ferry Kampeon sa Kantahan Zone 5 competition, a Blue Pass finalist in Philippine Idol, a performer in GMA Iloilo’s ‘Bongga’, recording artist of the album ‘The Soul of Magapa-Suage’ by the Panay Rural Development Center, Inc., a conductor and teacher in music in Oton National High School, a voice coach and a dance choreographer.
“Before, I never paid attention to designing because I considered it as a common thing that I encounter everyday at home,” he said.
But if you were born to a certain kind of trade, you naturally imbibe the skills because you were exposed to that your whole life.
“I helped my mother by giving a critique on what …
Read more

15 Must-Try Dishes at Live by Healthy Kitchen

Image
“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.” - Thomas Edison
According to the Royal Geographical Society, life expectancy has increased and this can be “attributed to a number of factors including improvements in public health, nutrition and medicine.”


In Iloilo City, the “healthy living” concept has caught up as well. We have seen the opening of restaurants that serve natural and organic food, much to the delight of everyone.
One of them is Live by Healthy Kitchen, which was founded because of its owner’s love for food and health.
“I  want to contribute positively to our society so what I can do, in my own little way, is to start educating or introducing different health food that not only tastes good but could also contribute to one's overall health and wellness,” said Myka Perlas, owner of Live by Healthy Kitchen which has branches in Atria, Robinsons Place Jaro and SM City Ilolo and soon, in S…
Read more

The family behind Jo’s Chicken Inato

Image
Eighteen years and still counting.
That’s how long the Jo’s Chicken Inato has existed since couple Jesse and Josephine Bejar-Ng opened their first branch in Dumaguete.
Their famous chicken, whose name is inspired by the Cebuano word “inato” meaning, “aton-atong lang”, has enjoyed a good following because of its homestyle cooking.

The demand has led the couple to open another branch in Bohol. Then, more demands for the chicken dish in other parts of the country paved way for Jo’s Chicken Inato restaurant to become a family affair.
In Iloilo, the branches were founded by Josephine’s brother Nowell and his wife Regina while the branches in the Mindanao area are owned by their relatives.
“My mother Regina and my father Nowell are both hands-on in the business. In fact, when we started the business here in Iloilo City way back in 1992, my parents worked as the cashiers. They also did the marketing everyday. And since our house is just at the back of the restaurant, it was easier for them …
Read more