Sinuglaw a la minute. Stunningly good. At first look, a really odd mixture of kinilaw na isda (ceviche of fish) with sugbang baboy (grilled pork) mixed in. It is vinegary, soft, sharp, tasty, spicy and rich all in one mouth full. A really pleasant surprise dish that Chef “J2” quickly put together when we realized we had all the ingredients… I didn’t take enough photos of the food at the outing, possibly a response to these folks spending every single day in and day out submerged in food…
One of the crew had family on the nearby island of Kabul-an (we were on Pandanon island), who offered to bring the freshest catch that day so we ended up with fabulous large squid, thrown whole onto the grill…
…the alumahan (a type of mackerel) were so fresh they looked like the sea… we grilled those as well, innards and all.
We grilled marinated pork chops. We also brought along lots of chicken afritada, pancit, boiled kamote and saging saba with guinamos, and saang (separate post).
Of course we had a couple of lechons as well, and 1,000 puso of rice in coconut leaves. I kid you not, 1,000 pieces, and we finished 900 or so. Oh, and fruit for dessert. Lots of beer, softdrinks and bottled water. And yes, we took all our trash home. :)
But food, while good and plentiful, took a backseat to the games. In only a way Filipino office parties (usually at Christmas) turn bizarrely amusing and totally politically incorrect. Let me say up front that the crew came up with all these games on their own, and participation was completely voluntary, but I have to say, while done in good taste, it did border on the risque. It was, patently Pinoy outrageous… Things kicked off innocuously enough, with a sack race…
Branches and head office made up four highly competitive teams, and it’s amazing how adults can get into the spirit of things…
A kalamansi relay race was fun and completely G-rated.
MM and COS took about 25-30 crew members for their mostly first-time ever rides on a jetski. Nearly flipped over once on a large wave and bad landing, so whoever was riding behind me had a brief look into the afterlife, but lived to tell… Didn’t realize how much physical toll a half hour straight on a jetski takes on your legs!! Then again, I am nearly 50…
It was surprising how many crew members wanted to try the jetskis out, and we extended our rental to do as many as possible. Some folks who couldn’t swim (but had lifevests) took rides as well, but they screamed the loudest and gripped the driver’s lifevests with an added sense of urgency! :)
I was surprised that the women had a game of “the longest line” and while in pinoy fashion with “tapis” or sarong to remain modest, trust me, the lines were VERY LONG considering the number of contestants. It was outrageous in a good way I suppose, but I thought that would be it for the day…
…almost 70-80 meters from the starting point, at the water’s edge, the women continued to add to their lines in order to emerge victorious… but before things got too risque, we declared two teams winners!
Segue into an elimination tournament of beach volleyball, and after an hour of games, the head office won the gold…
The men would then be in the spotlight, with a game that had the “girls” passing a raw chicken egg through the pants legs of the “boys”. This game is best done with long pants, but it was amusing nonetheless. It was particularly smile inducing as several of the crew sported boxer shorts rather than briefs, and that leaves things in a “free-fall”. Suffice it to say folks used their t-shirts as a “barrier” and the contest was over in a flash. But I just loved the look on C, our chicharon guru, dressed in the appropriately amusing t-shirt saying “search me”…
The local fishermen and islanders sell their “catch” to tourists on Pandanon, and unfortunately, amongst them, sometimes banned shells and baby giant clams which are endangered, and on this particular day they had sea urchins on offer (these are plentiful and not endangered, I gather) so I took a break from the party to photograph them…
…they are absolutely stunning up close, particularly these colored ones…
Just when you thought the prickly things were over and done with… the men obliged the women with a “longest line” of their own. Inebriated and well fed at this stage, this final game started off fine, and the line rapidly extended all the way to the water’s edge, with all teams gamely competing to extend their own lines…
…so at one point, a contestant ran into the water, took off his last piece of clothing and threw that to team mates to add to the line. Others followed. The screams were deafening. :) Another few hours of fun and we packed up to head back to Cebu island. All in all, it was a great day at the beach.
45 Responses
SINUGLAW! Be still, my beating heart.
Next to lechon, sinuglaw is my favorite preparation of pork. In college, I would buy an order of sinuglaw from the sort-of cafeteria and TWO servings of rice. Sinasabaw ko yung suka sa kanin ko.
You’re such a good boss, MM, to provide “playtime” for your staff. =)
I just want to say that the sinuglaw looks fantastic, and amazingly appropriate for a beach setting.
Raw eggs! Were the pretty shorts in preparation for that?
Never thought fish and pork can be served together in a dish called sinuglaw. It’s usually just one of the two for us and never both. I laugh as if witnessing the games, specially when the peeling-off of undergarments was taking place … hahaha! I wonder what the prizes were to make some of the players go totally peeled!
The games looked so much fun, and the food looks absolutely yummy.
Nice to see pics of your whole crew having a break and having fun.
900 pieces puso of rice for 100 pax. This is serious extra rice!!!
This is an absolute fun blog post to read. I can feel the excitement just looking at those pictures.
Great team building exercise as well, MM!
Yep, Seadoos are lots of fun specially for those who are way past their due date to dabble in windsurfing (am referring to myself). But everybody in the photos appear to be fit and spry. Is that a requirement to work for Zubuchon?
Adult version of SPORTS DAY in school! except the seadoos! …remember LA EMP?
would have loved to be there, esp when the last pieces of clothing were tossed out to the beach!!! and, of course, the eating part..
Tuyom or sea urchins they said are delicious…..but they can sting like the dickens!
@ Natie, or is that Naughty? There was eating after the last pieces of clothing were cast off?
@Footloose – naughty, naughty, naughty! (-:
MM – Thanks for sharing. It really looked that your crew had tons of fun. When we dined at your restaurant last Sinulog, your crew’s dedication was very evident. I guess, kindness to your staff begets the same. Kudos to you and your family!
BTW, this is the first time I have heard of sinuglaw. In a way, it makes sense – the vinegar of the kinilaw serving as the sawsawan for the grilled pork. Please share the recipe. Thanks.
Lovely! I could feel the excitement as if I was there… the food, the games, the venue, the means of transportation, the meeting at the docks in the early morning in anticipation for what’s to come … thank you for all these vicarious pleasure you’ve been sharing with us. God be with you always… :)
Yummm..just had Sinuglaw last night at Cerchio and its really soooo good. I can smell the sea air just looking at your fotos. So much fun!! Thanks MM for sharing even the crew”s outing. We feel like family……….
Grilled seafood! One of my favorites. :)
I can’t help but smile and crack up on while reading the details of the games “risque” or otherwise hahaha
Thanks for sharing MM! :)
ha ha ha thanks for sharing MM!…i just had a good laugh..and enjoy it!
salamat MM for sharing!!! sarap ng fud and ganda ng venue…enjoy talaga!!!! the pictures said it all!!!!
sana meron ganyan d2 sa manila..kaso..kung meron man…puno ng tao and kalat….haay!
I was smiling through the whole reading. So exciting I can feel everybody’s joy. Thank you and it really is good to know that there are people like you Mr. MM who have well-treated employees.
is there an opening for an I.T. consultant at zubuchon?!!! :D haha!
What a treat! I really enjoyed reading your post. You should be a model employer!
I just discovered this wonderful blog view days ago, and it already became a habit for me to check on this everyday!
Thanks to MarketMan, for all the infos in your blog, and I will soon try your recipes.
BTW, congrats on your successful company outing. It is good to know that you value your employees as much as you value your guests/customers. I should experience ZUBUCHON, SOON!!!
God bless and more power :)
yes, the pinoys can’t be beat when it comes to “a-little-bit-risque'” party games. what makes it more fun is that both males and females get into it with gusto, with little or no thought to that sometimes tiresome political correctness!
Hi, MM
Thank you for sharing your photos and stories with us – it feels as if we are there with you and having fun as well.
I don’t really write many comments but I never fail to go to your website. You are my Cebuano connection and you make me feel like being inthe Phils. again.
You are very much appreciated and God bless you, your family and your crew.
Lol, R-18 games. Pandanon Island Scandal, coming to a dibidi vendor near you.
FUN in a truly Pinoy fashion!
(“,) It seems like the Z Crew got the time of their life. Thanks MM for sharing these pics w/ us.
looks like everyone had a great time. The food looks delicious, especially that Sinuglaw!
can smell the sea breeze,feel the excitement,hear the rumbling laughs and shrill screams of pure joy…felt like am at the island myself watching in the sidelines..thanks for sharing such a great day and for making my mouth water with the sinuglaw :)
Definitely need to go to Cebu and try some Sinuglaw!
Pinoys really know how to have FUN! :) Looking forward to seeing your crew in person next month when I go to Cebu with my husband and son! :)
Only us filipinos could party like mad with games, food and drinks i so miss it especially the games and the songs. here even kiddies’ parties are so hum hum.
@Footloose!!#12—tartare!!??? hehe
Haha! That was fun to read. :)
Yeah, Natie and Footloose! ….hay, too much information there ! …naka plaster na tuloy sa ulo ko!
MM – sorry for being out of context but I was just browsing through AB S-CBN online and saw an intresting article. Clicked on it and lo and behold – it featured you in an interview. Nice job!
https://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/lifestyle/03/30/12/food-tripping-around-cebu-city
In that particular ABS video, I was searching for a floral arrangement ala MM. You did not disappoint, the arrangement is unique! Nice one!
bettyq, you mean they had plasters on and the plasters came off? and now the plasters are on your head? hehehe…the plot thickens! sorry MM, just having fun with a fun post.
Yeah I believe sea urchins are not endangered. What I know is that we actually export them to Japan at such low cost and they sell it as a luxurious delicacy there that it feels a bit unfair to our fisherfolk to receive an income relatively small to the profit these urchins can really churn out.
It gave me a smile and felt excited at the same time reading this post! Im sure the crew had a wonderful time, playing games is always fun, specially we Filipinos can get competive even though we’re playing for fun! MM, your photo in the jetski, looks like “james bond-ish” i tell you! hehehe Btw, I now agree that Cebuanos and Cebuanas are really “guapo and guapa” (is that right?) seriously MM! :)
A day full of fun and excitement.. For the sinuglaw, MM, can I use grilled chicken instead of pork? What kind of fish did you use for the kinilaw? Thanks
Sinuglaw! Whoa! it’s one of my favorite dish! i make it a point to order one every time i visit Hayahay Treehouse in Dumaguete.
What a delightfully heart-warming post! I love the happy faces on your employees. You can’t be less than a fantastic boss to solicit those. =-)
Love the beach, Can I work for you MM? haha…
BTW, I was in Cebu from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday morning. I was able to FINALLY taste ZUBUCHON (Mango Ave branch) and even bought a cap as souvenir..
Love the adobong kangkong with sinful chicharon..
Thanks to the crew who are very accommodating.. I even kidded them that “I saw you on the net on MM’s blog”. They just smiled at me..