CDO Food Fest

CDO Bloggers explore the best lokal flavors at SM CDO Downtown

Text & Pictures by CDOBies Food Crawlers

Cagayan de Oro City’s premier bloggers group recently undertook one of its primary advocacies by teaming up with SM CDO Downtown to promote local brands to the world.

Tagged as the CDO Food Fest, the half day food crawl organized by SM Information Officer Carlston Barcenella Maglangit,  explored the best local flavors and award-winning dishes from the following regional brands: Arturo’s, Backyard Barbecue, Bud’z Cafe, Bugsay Seafood Restaurant-CDO, Out of Nowhere Kitchen CDO, Panagatan Restaurant, POPS Buffet CDO Cagayan de Oro, and Ribs & Bibs.

“SM Supermalls coordinated this CDO Food Fest in recognition of CDO Bloggers as the longest running bloggers organization in Cagayan de Oro, promote CDO with more creative content, and in support of Pres. Karen Chayne Sanchez,” Mr. Maglangit said. “We also did this to promote our local restaurants in SM CDO Downtown as a show of support for our tenants, knowing CDO Bloggers have many followers which could help promote their latest offerings.”

The CDO Food Fest was joined by the following  Food Crawlers from CDO Bloggers: Aj Pajaron Tv, Around CDO, CDO Lifestyle, CDO Vibes, Cookie’s Corner, Journaling Mom, Ladysoda, Metro Cagayan de Oro, Mommy Lav, Scribblescdo, ShaiTalks.com, and Tsada Lokal.

“I’m was stunned to say the least about the creativity and excellence of our local brands,” noted Metro Cagayan de Oro’s “Tito Mike”. “The Crispy Ulo from Arturo’s, Daddy Backribs and RnB Sampler from Ribs & Bibs are simply out of this world! And the Kinilaw and Buko Halo from Salo-Salo sa Panagatan may sound mundane, but it’s no wonder they are their  all-time favorites, in much the same way Backyard BBQ’s Texan Burger and Chicken Fingers are. I will definitely recommend these in my blog and in Metro Cagayan de Oro Times!”

Aside from the “Chada Lokal” brands, CDO Food Fest also featured favorites from two outstanding regional brands: Out of  Nowhere (OON) originally from Tagum City, Davao del Norte, and Bugsay Siargao from the Surfing Capital of the Philippines, also voted as the Best Island in Asia in the 2021 Conde Nast Travelers Readers Awards.

Bannered by its signature Asian Grilled Skewers, OON spread a veritable feast for us food crawlers with their Grilled Scallops, Chili con Nachos, Seafood Aligue Pasta, Seafood Chowder, Asian and  Caribbean Chicken, and Pomelo salad.

Not the least, for the digestif, we were treated to a drip coffee pouring of single origin Typica Arabica coffee by no less than the owner of Bud’z Café, Edward Asok. Matched with what must be some of the best croissants in town baked by his brother Emman, ‘twas a perfect ending to a perfect afternoon.

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