26th – 30th December 2022
Where to start with Cebu. It was a bit of a rocky ride and on the second day we both started with severe food poisoning, so we were in bed for a couple of days. As such, I haven’t included anything we ate before the onset of symptoms i.e. the possible culprit!
One major lesson learned that we should have cottoned on to here, but didn’t fully put the pieces together until later was that – ‘Plant-Based’ does not mean vegan in the Philippines! It’s one of those grey areas where it could be an ambiguous phrase. I am would think it refers to food that is solely is of plant origin – so vegan! Here it seems to just mean the absence of meat and fish – so vegetarian. Which means that, to our disappointment the Plant-based burgers in 7/11 are not vegan friendly! They contain egg and milk. We noted plant-based being used in various menus after this too, to refer to vegetarian (not vegan) dishes.
SM Seaside Mall
Cebu South Coastal Rd, Antuwanga, Cebu City, Cebu
On the fourth day in Cebu we were feeling better but sought the comfort of the air conditioned mall so we got ourselves to the massive mall called SM Seaside Mall. There were a good few places to eat and we eased ourselves back into eating.
Orange Brutus
Ground Floor, SM Seaside Mall, Cebu
We started off the day with simple gulay lumpia served with plain rice and sweet chili dip. Tasty and fresh they were a good breakfast.
Giligan’s
Ground Floor, SM Seaside Mall, Cebu
We had spotted a veggie section on this restaurant’s menu, though we were back to our eyes being bigger than our stomachs again. Also the prices were so good, that we didn’t expect each portion to be absolutely huge!
We had pancit, rice, pinakbet – sauteed vegetables, usually with a fish sauce (we were told this one wasn’t) and kare-kareng gulay -– aubergines and green beans in a peanut sauce (traditionally this would be with a meat as well). It was all good, I wish we’d been more selective with what we’d ordered as we were really overfaced!
Kit’s Kitchenn
Rustan’s, Ground Floor Ayala Mall, 125 Level 1, Rotunda Level 1, Paseo Verde Level 1, Paseo Ciudad
We had read Kit’s Kitchenn was on the third floor of Ayala Mall and when we eventually found it located in Rustan’s supermarket in the basement – where the grocery section is, it was closed. The day before we left we took our chances and went back and to my excitement it was open and trading.
We got a cookie, muffin and a couple of donuts. We had them as our snacks for the ferry the following day. They were rich and a great treat, well worth the seeking out it took!
Shops
Rustan’s
Ground Floor Ayala Mall, 125 Level 1, Rotunda Level 1, Paseo Verde Level 1, Paseo Ciudad
Rustan’s had some options – a good variety of plant milk, though some soya milk is mixed with cow’s milk. On the left – Veega range, almost vegan but product ingredients include egg, another instance of plant based not meaning vegan.
7/11
Several all over the city (and country!)
I would normally avoid Unilever products but at least we had an option of ice cream from 7/11 and an advert for one of the plant based burgers we were fooled by!
What was on our wishlist but we didn’t get to:
Vegan Wholefoods Plant Based Café – Looks like a great variety of vegan dishes and cakes, we went along on the 26th but it was closed ☹
Best Ramen Sachi – another option in SM Seaside Mall on the first floor – spotted a vegan yasai tempura ramen option!
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