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Shuga Beibi

December Favorites [Davao Food Recommendations]

Hello, 2025! Here is another favorites list from 2024. Our December Favorites is here. Mostly, our favorites from the holiday events we attended. And it is longer than usual. Plus, three coffee drinks we love.

December 2024 Favorites

Our top recommendations for December are:

  • Tomato and Basil Soup by Made Simple,
  • Kare-Kare by Romualdo’s,
  • Beef Caldereta by Chippens,
  • Mango Passion Fruit Kakiguri by Shuga Beibi,
  • Paris Brest by Dulce Desserts,
  • Sea Salt Latte by Club’s Bakery,
  • Spanish Latte by Priore Cafe, and
  • Kori-Kohi by Beans and Berry.

List is longer than usual and we have 3 coffee drinks on it.

Tomato and Basil Soup by Made Simple

We went back to Made Simple and we tried the soup.

December 2024 Faves Tomato and Basil Soup by Made Simple
Tomato and Basil Soup by Made Simple

The Tomato and Basil Soup is rich and flavorful. Tangy, a bit salty and creamy. It goes well with their bread. It is a good starter to your meal or could be an entire light meal on its own.

Made Simple is located at CT Drive along Tulip Drive.

Kare-Kare by Romualdo’s

Our next two recommendations are by two of our favorite caterers in Davao.

The Kare-Kare by Romualdo’s is a winner. Tender beef and oxtail and vegetables in a tasty rich peanut sauce. It is apparent that it is cooked with care with homecooked quality to it. Superb.

The team behind Romualdo’s recently opened their first restaurant, Recuerdo in Juna Subdivision.

Beef Caldereta by Chippens

Another favorite from the holiday events we attended is Beef Caldereta by Chippens.

Chippens is undoubtedly the most popular caterer in Davao. Oone of our favorites is their Beef Caldereta. The beef is tender and flavorful and the sauce is rich, savory, sour, and just a bit sweet and spicy. There is a perfect blend of flavors that make any occasion just a little bit more special.

Their Beef Caldereta is also available in their stores freshly cooked or frozen.

Special mention to their Lechon Baka which we also love.

Chippens is located at Roxas Avenue. You may also enjoy their Calderata at Salome’s Garden in Cabantian.

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Best Cakes in Davao

Planning your holiday celebrations? Make each party sweeter with a cake from our favorite bakeries and pastry shops. Here is our list of Best Cakes in Davao.

Fortunately, there are now a good variety of bakeries and cake shops in Davao. When choosing or recommending a cake (or cakes) there are many things to consider: budget, occasion or theme, and preferred flavors.

10 Best Cakes in Davao List

For this list, we have selected 10 cakes that would be great to bring to a holiday party to be shared with family and friends. In no particular order.

  • Ribbonette Cake
  • Moist Chocolate Cake
  • Mocha Cake
  • Cookies and Cream Cake
  • Creme Brulee Cake
  • Fruit Fluff Cake
  • Purple Haze
  • Matcha Mille Crepe
  • Flourless Chocolate Cake
  • Nelusko Cake

This list is based purely on our taste and preferences, limited to cakes we have tried and will continue to order. We have, of course, taken into consideration flavors that might appeal to many people. And the list has cakes at various price points. There are cakes we love but are not easily accessible. We did not include those.

We are also excluding two types of cakes: Sans Rival and Cheesecake. Several shops around Davao serve excellent Sans Rivals and Cheesecakes and we will share our recommendations for those soon.

Ribbonette Cake by Bistro Rosario

Starting with a classic. You can never go wrong with a Bistro Rosario Ribbonette Cake.

Best Davao Cakes Ribbonette Cake
Ribbonette Cake by Bistro Rosario

Fluffy, airy, sweet chiffon cake with generous servings of buttercream frosting on top and in between cake layers. The entire cake is also covered and adorned with classic buttercream frosting in your chosen color and design.

This is a cake that many Davaoenos have grown up with. It is usually served on birthdays, but we think this is perfect during the holidays. The Ribbonnette cake is simple done excellently. And it is sure to delight kids and adults alike.

If you’re going for a classic birthday cake, try Bistro Rosario’s Ribbonette Cake. It’s the og Davao Rainbow Cake before Rainbow cake was trendy. Layers of light chiffon cake with boiled icing in between and on top. Nostalgic.

We must also mention another Bistro Rosario classic, Mango Charlotte.

Best Cakes in Davao Mango Charlotte by Bistro Rosario

If you are born and raised in Davao, you have probably seen and tasted this at least once. This is a superb mango cake. Soft, pillowy cake with mango frosting in between the two layers and on top. Fresh wedges of mangoes and whipped cream adorn the top of this cake.

Bistro Rosario’s cakes are deceivingly simple. Some people might prefer these for sentimental reasons. But we dare say when it comes to consistency in taste and quality, these are the best cakes for every occasion. And they come in different sizes so you can get one based on your budget and the size of your event.

Moist Chocolate Cake by Joniel’s

And for chocolate lovers, the most popular and often recommended chocolate cake in Davao is Joniel’s.

Photo from Joniel’s FB Page.

Moist chocolate cake with a sweet fudgy frosting. Joniel’s Moist Chocolate Cake has been the go-to cake shop for many Davaoenos. Their Moist Chocolate Cakes now come in various sizes at affordable prices. Joniel’s Chocolate Cake is affordable and accessible. Great basic chocolate cake for any occasion. 

Another Chocolate Cake that deserve a mention is the Cookie Monster by Margie’s Bakeshop.

Mocha Cake by Cecil’s

Another classic is Mocha Cake by Cecil’s.

Best Cakes in Davao Half Mocha Cake by Cecils

Another simple cake that is worth every peso. Cecil’s Mocha Cake is a fluffy mocha chiffon cake with sweet, creamy mocha buttercream. Simply decorated the same way for decades now. Nostalgia aside, this is objectively one of the best cakes in the city. They make it simple yet perfectly sweet every time.

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CT Drive Food Trip

Overwhelmed by the many new food spots in Davao? Let us take you on a CT Drive Food Trip featuring some of our favorite spots and dishes.

About CT Drive

Carlos Villa-Abrille Drive (also CVA Drive, formerly Tulip Drive) used to be a quiet space with a few residences and a handful of establishments. With the opening of The Compound, CT Drive, and several other commercial spaces, CVA Drive is now bustling with activity and a must-visit place for foodies.

Located along the CVA Drive is CT Drive, a food, drinks, and lifestyle destination.

CT Drive Food and Lifestyle Hub
Photo from the CT Drive FB Page.

It is home to food and non-food establishments. You can get an enjoyable day of pampering and self-care with visit to CT Drive.

Here are our favorite food spots to satisfying your cravings.

Made Simple

Perhaps the most popular at CT Drive is Made Simple.

MADE SIMPLE Davao offers a vegetable-forward dining experience. They serve Small Plates and Dishes for Sharing, mostly vegan dishes. Seafood and chicken options are available. Made Simple is best experienced with an open appreciation for their vegetable-forward dishes.

First, start your meal with an appetizer. We love their Enoki. The mushroom is crisp and tasty. And the dipping sauce perfectly complements the mushroom.

Then, enjoy a salad. The Figs and Mushroom Salad is delicious and filling. Just the right balance of flavors and textures.

@mydavaocity

Dinner at Made Simple was interesting. Quite memorable. Our favorites are the ENOKI, BURNT TOMATOES, and the MUSHROOM SCALLOPS. We also love the WHISKEY SOUR and the BASIL MARGARITA. Plus, the COMPLIMENTARY BREAD is superb. It’s pricey, yes. But worth the price if you want to splurge but are health-conscious. ????? #MadeSimpleDavao #DavaoFood #MyDavaoCity #enoki #salad #vegetarian #mushroom #whiskeysour #tomatoes #oliveoilcake #margarita #gambas

? Calming and healing Lofi Hiphop(899982) – Oren

You can opt for the Pulpo or Gambas for your entree. But we prefer feasting on their Burnt Tomatoes with chevre. Or enjoy the mind-bending Mushroom Scallops served with Pesto Butter.

They also serve wine and cocktails. We love the Whiskey Sour and the Basil Margarita.

For more information, visit the Made Simple Davao Directory Page.

Related: Davao Vegan & Vegetarian Food

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