I know it may sound crazy, trying to schedule an eyeball just around the time we open our first restaurant outlet, but if there’s anyone I would like to test our food on, it’s die-hard marketmanila.com readers… who we can ask for their honest opinions before we fully open to the general public… So I am just ASKING at this point, but are there enough folks out there who would be interested in a two-meal eyeball on Saturday, June 25, 2011 in Cebu City??
The idea is for locals and tourists (from outside Cebu) to fly into Cebu on Friday night or Saturday morning and those who would like to try the offerings inside the new restaurant can do so at lunch (with special discounts of 30% off) on Saturday from 11am – 2pm and/or join the eyeball dinner proper at the MM garden (the same place we hosted Mr. Bourdain and the last lechon eyeball in 2008) that evening that will feature whole roasted lechons, and other dishes that may not be available in our restaurant, possibly a large paella, pastas, freshly made chicharon, kinilaw, etc. as the markets yield that morning. It won’t be as fancy as the last eyeball, but food will be plentiful. We are thinking of charging PHP1,000 per head for the garden dinner, and half or PHP500 per head will be donated to a school feeding program or similar charitable endeavor. We are limiting participants to 50 people to keep things manageable.
So this is NOT a reservation list yet, but I would just like to get a feel for reader interest. Once I see what folks say, then we can finalize plans and make firm plans as well as take “reservations” for the event. For planning purposes, budget airline tickets from Manila to Cebu RT at that time of the year range from PHP2800-4000 roundtrip advance purchase. Hotels in the center of Cebu range from PHP1500 to 6000 for pensionnes, bed and breakfasts to four star hotels. So whaddaya think?
78 Responses
i wish i was just nearby! in the mean time ill wait for the next EB! congratulations MM and to your team!
I’m in!
I’ll be in Cebu on June 21-22, can I take an advance invitation? :-)
game on!!!
Lee you get an award for being first in the list :)
Hoooraaay!!! Time to call the grandparents for baby-watching duties! :)
Please count me in!
oh im in Tacloban for a vacation on June 25 – 28.. i’ll try if i could sneak from my friends on June 25.
ahhhhhhh!!!! i won’t be back in time!!!
cebu :( would love to have zubuchon again. tsk!
Game na!
This is s great idea. I am sure there will be plenty of people interested.
I’d love to join this! I live in Cebu, so I’m available anytime. :)
waaahhh! i want but i’ll be out of the country! buhuhu… :(
is checking Cebu Pacific’s flight schedule now. :) I’m in!
Really busy at work but if it’s for MM, then i’ll try to sneak out of the office for it hehehe! :)
Omg!! I’m actually thinking of taking annual leave so i can come to this event!! I think u might have to resort to ‘drawing straws’ in the end MM. I predict a hell lot of responses that will be interested. I am for one is very interested! Will talk to my boss on Monday for a possilbe mini holiday to Cebu. How ostentatious of me. She’ll ask why I’m taking time off and I’ll say…ummm I wanna go to a lechon eye-ball..in the philippines! lol!
Arghhhh, sorry MM, have to be in the UK the next day; start of my family’s summer vacation ;)) God willing next time you organise an EB, I am in the vicinity.
Have a grand time.
I’m very interested and excited for this! :D
Hey , that’s not fair! :) Any chance this may happen in NYC when you are in town? Better yet, when will there be a Zubuchon-NYC?
Graduation or Lechon EB?! Hmmmmmmmm… Hahahahaha! I would actually like to choose LECHON EB! Wooooohoooo!
My job assisgnment is finishing up this first week of June….hahhhaa, should I fly to Pinas or not…directly to Cebu airport…???Iniminee-minee-mo…..Wahhhhhh….
Oh, I achingly wish I could, but can’t make it on June 25th. Would’ve been nice to eat AND meet everyone else. I’m sure you’ll have a blast.
Hi Marketman. I’m interested to join your june 25 dinner. i’ll go together with a friend.
why not?!! The sun’s out and it’s a long weekend!! MM I wish I can but I live on the other side of the globe :( huhuhu Anyway, you guys have fun! happy lechon eating!
I don’t get to Phils. till early July. Wish I could be there.
MM, please count me in. If I make it to your list, I will be there and tonight I will book a room at Mayflower Inn which is within walking distance to your garden and Zubuchon resto near the Capitol. Anything you want me to bring from Ormoc? How about Queen pineapple again? How much will be the cost?
LOL! I was expecting a food post when I read “Are You Ready For Another Lechon Eyeball?”!
I was imagining eating the pig’s eyeball cooked lechon style, I went ewww but interesting… then I read the entire post… Crazy me! :D
I like this!!!! count me in!! this is my third attempt to visit CEBU.. i had to cancel the first two……this is the BEST reason for me to go there…Don’t change the date na… i got tickets na.. hahaha!!
Any chance of moving it to say the 2nd weekend of July?
MM – i wish i could be there… will it be possible for you to have the garden dinner at regularly scheduled intervals? perhaps just like the idea of bale dutung in pampanga? doing this will give those of us living outside of the philippines a calendar where we can pick and choose the date and make advance reservations. thanks much and good luck and more power to all of your endeavors…..
There is a direct flight from Singapore to Cebu :)
O how I wish I will be in Manila at that time…. :( would’ve love to join you at the dinner table. I guess I’ll hope for next time.
IF ONLY Cebu was a jeepney ride away…huhuhu :(((
Zubuchon Manila *wishful thinking* coming soon? ;)
How i wish i live in cebu for this eyeball :( is there any chance having it here in manila MM?
MM, no need to answer my query about eyeball dinner cost. It was right there in your post and I was just blinded by the excitement of another lechon eyeball. Sorry for not reading before asking. I have already booked my hotel room for June 24-25. See you guys and gals there.
I would love to be there MM, if only I am a few miles away I won’t mind the drive. I’ll catch you next time. All the best!!!
kakainggit :'( … please don’t forget to post about the EB and of course the pictures … im sure you guyz will have lots of fun :)
good luck to MM & family for this new endeavor !
Hi MM, I’m here in Cebu and Lechon eyeball sounds interesting…I am looking forward to ur restaurant opening.
The goddess Serendipity smiles upon me! MM, finally after more than a decade away, I am set to leave for a short Philippine vacation in late June. I’ve been following your blog for sometime and always felt unfortunate not to have been able to attend any of your EBs. After my teen son and I watched the AB episode “best pig ever”, it’s become almost our holy grail to have some of that “like candy” lechon. After you announced the opening of your Zubuchon digs within the timeframe of our short vacay, I already thought it was incredibly fortunate timing. I began thinking of surprising him with an overnight side trip to Cebu for the sole intention of sampling the best pig ever. Now, you announce this! – it bears repeating; I am favored by Serendipity herself! Please put me down for 3 persons when you do start taking reservations.
I’m definitely in!! I’m just 5 minutes away so I can easily sneak away from the clinic :-)
@Moni, see you again!
I’m in. Wheeee!
Yes!
OMG! I want to come but with 3 kids under the age of 7, one being a “suki” to hospitals, it would be very difficult for us to travel to Cebu. I wish I could join you in your next meet-ups though. :) Good Luck with you restaurant MM!
i so like!
wow! that would be awesome! count me in!
oh no!!!! i will be arriving that week. my family will never forgive me if i ran off just as soon as i arrive. WWAAAAHHHH!!!!! :(
Count me in! It was just 2 weeks ago that i was wondering when the next eyeball would be. I have always been a fan and was a lurker until now :) I live near your new outlet (in Capitol) and i always take a peek of your store’s progress every time i drive by. I can’t wait for more concrete details. I hope i can get in the top 50 of the reservation’s list :)
oh my… i have to attend that. i was in your other lechon EB, and the food was fantastic. count me in + a friend…:)
MM, can I please have your email address? we have a small cafe and would like ito invite you. We value your opinion and it would be a pleasure to have you.
Thanks
OH MAN!!!! I would love to be there. Lechon has always been a happy and beautiful sight to me. Unfortunately, I am halfway across the world with the responsibility of caring for 2 dogs and a 1 year old. But if I could, I would love to very much.
must get tickets now!!
Yes, definitely. Missed the first ones. Not missing it this time!
When are you planning to do this? I’m scheduled to go to the Philippines in mid September so please let me know if you’re going to schedule this on mid September to mid October. I would love to join!
Waahhh! Would love to join but family vacation time will be this December. Anyway, wishing you all the best MM!
Yes! i will definitely attend this. btw i saw your zubuchon space in capitol-escario and its quite an excellent choice, im just wondering where exactly in mango ave is the 2nd store located?
MM, & Ms MM, sounds like a good event and we would have loved to go down to Cebu and be part of it. But the tickets for the Cirque du Soleil for that evening have been sitting on our desk for weeks; so instead of pampering our taste buds, we will be pampering our eyes on the 25th. Have fun!
Would LOVE to join this lechon EB… do let us know if/when it will push through (preferably a week ahead so we can arrange our schedules)… dinner would probably be a better time for me! ;-)
Count me in! :) (will be flying in from Manila)
When will the reservation list start? Cant wait…have to book a ticket now.
Oh my, I would love to join but I can’t afford (budget wise–the airfare and the accomodation) for now. It seems that i’m the only one to comment about not having the budget :( Maybe, I’ll wait for the Manila EB :)
Sign me up for 2! We are going we are going!!!!!
I would like to be there… (along with my father)… I hope I can work it out with my schedule… :)
Hi folks, will announce final dates and reservation list in a day or two. Note, this list above is NOT a reservation list. Thanks…
I need to attend a friend’s wedding on June 25 :((
Hubby and I would love to attend!
Please schedule it on July instead! ;p
Ah, all set for the EB..!!!!
Pace yourself, Marketbrother. You’re going to be wiped out jetting around, etc. Wish I could be there, though.
Please hold another eyeball here in Manila!
My husband and I have been avid readers. We just relocated to Cebu and would love to take part in this event.
wait, is the resto located escario st? i can’t wait when will it open? i’m drolling after seing the food recipes… wah!!!! pangabri namo uy!!! hopefully reasonably priced as well. hehehehe
Mr. Marketman I have been your avid reader since 2005; I have a long Bucket lists one of them was to attend OPRAH’S Favorite Things, now I know that will never happen, but on top of the Oprah’s favorite things was to attend your Lechon Eyeball. I wish you would it plan a year ahead so I can plan my vacation around your Lechon Eyeball. I cannot wait to eat at your restaurants when I get back home. I am so excited to see the posts for your next eyeball!!!!
I’m in Cebu. Please count me in. I will be finally able to meet the Marketman!
Crap! I will only be in Cebu on the 14th and then again on the 21st! Any chance of me meeting you or dropping by your resto? :(
Mindanaoan, the restaurant will be operating on the 21st, I believe, but on limited dry run status… you can probably grab lunch there, but I will not yet be in town… One Mango (it’s a strip mall with Sunburst chicken, Jollibee and Mang Inasal as neighbors… We are located two stores BEHIND sunburst Chicken…
Shucks. Won’t be able to attend this Lechon Eyeball. Cold comfort is that at least I can go to your restaurant in the future. Good luck on the EB and your new enterprise. :)