Eat, Pray, Run in Dumaguete – Part 1

To run in Dumaguete is in my bucket list.  Quennie and I visited this city in 2006 and we wanted to go back again for another vacation.  Maybe visit Apo Island and Siquijor like what we did before, especially Siquijor.  But this weekend, it was just a trip in the city for the food and the Dumaguete 3Q Marathon.

While in Dumaguete, I was reading and watching the movie Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.  My trip and run in Dumaguete was like that.  Part 1 is the EAT.

Most fast food chains are here in Dumaguete.  It’s easy to go to places in the city since they are very close to each other.  You won’t get lost here even without a map.  I would eat at the fast food restaurants for a quick lunch or dinner.  But if I am not in a hurry, I would walk several blocks to check for some good food.

Here are some of my food discoveries in Dumaguete.

Sans Rival.  It’s a home grown restaurant in Dumaguete.  I believe the first shop is the one near Rizal Boulevard.  They had a branch at the Robinson’s Mall.  I stopped by for dessert and ordered, what else but Sans Rival, plus a Carrot Cake.  Their Sans Rival comes in a portion of a sliced loaf.  It is more compact than the cakes here in Manila and I instantly loved their chewy meringue.  One of the best Sans Rival I tasted.  However, I find the too sweet for both the Sans Rival and their Carrot Cake.  Still, I bought two boxes as pasalubong.

Sans Rival like no other.

Carrot Cake Icing was too sweet for me.

Cafe Laguna.  This restaurant just opened in August here in Dumaguete.  Originally from Cebu, Cafe Laguna serves Filipino dishes.  I was looking for some carbo loading dishes and looks like I’m in the wrong place.  But I was impressed with the ambiance and the way the place was arranged.  Very neat and very homey.  I ordered for Chicken Pandan.  I expected the whole slice of chicken to be wrapped in pandan leaves but it only small part was covered.  It tastes like an ordinary deep fried chicken.  But their Maja Mais delighted me for dessert.  It was full of corn in every bite.

Cafe Laguna interiors was very inviting.  I had my dinner here the night before the race.

Chicken Pandan was only good with the sauce.

Maja Mais was the best part of the evening.

Jo’s Chicken Inato.  I thought I would never find this place.  I was running on the 28th KM when I saw the restaurant’s name near Silliman University.  So before I reached the finish line, I already know where I should have my post race lunch.  Jo’s Chicken Inato is a must if you visit Dumaguete.  They are known for their Chicken Inato which is quite similar to the Bacolod Chicken Inasal and the Buko Halo.  The taste of the Chicken Inato still lingers in my mouth while I write this.  Their generous portion of atchara complements the chicken well.  And the Buko Halo was creamy and filled with chucks of sweetened fruits and sago.

Jo’s Chicken Inato is one of Dumaguete’s Pride

Buko Halo is my way to recover after a 31K run.

So much for the Eat.  No regrets on the eating part of the trip.  All of them are 10-15 walk from the hotel where I stayed.

But there are more places where you could dine in Dumaguete.  I am not a fan of seafoods but I passed by several restaurants that are filled with people enjoying fresh them.

Part 2 of Eat Pray Run in Dumaguete soon.