The Mango Shake from Jo's Chicken Inatô

Jo's Chicken Inatô is located on Silliman Ave, in Dumaguete, between KBOB restaurant and 21st Boutique. Coincidentally, the mango shake I had there recently is also between KBOB and 21st.

The shake was better that the regular mango shake I had at KBOB - it had to be - but the mango shake I had at Jo's just doesn't compare with the wonderful mango shakes from 21st Boutique.

As if that's not bad enough, Jo's makes it worse by charging 75 pesos (10 pesos more than 21st).

No question about it, it's worth walking a few extra steps to pay less for a much better mango shake.

Mango Shake from the 21st Boutique

On Google Maps, the name for this cafe is given as 21st Boutique, although I'm not sure why. The closest thing to a complete name (other than 21st) is given on a few signs as 21st Food Ave.

Google Maps also lists the address as 21 Rizal Blvd. even though the map below clearly shows the cafe to be on Silliman Ave.

Be that as it may, I stopped in to the cafe recently to find out if they served mango shakes. I'm glad I did.

I know I've praised other establishments as having superior mango shakes, but honestly, none are better than the shake I had at this particular cafe. Absolutely smooth and creamy. Of all the shakes I've had, this one has the most ice cream taste and texture. At 65 pesos, you can't ask for a better mango shake in Dumaguete.

Mango Shake from the Cafe Racer Diner

This afternoon, I made my way to the Cafe Racer Diner for a mango shake. This isn't the first time I've mentioned the cafe in a blog post. In March of 2017, I wrote of a half- VW Beetle used as decoration - slash - conversation piece outside the cafe.

When I sat down at a small table, I told the waitress there was no need to leave a menu - I only wanted the mango shake. Normally, at nearly all the cafes and eateries in the area, one would have to pay before getting ones order, but Cafe Racer is one of the few exceptions here. You don't pay when you order.

Because I hadn't looked at the menu, I was unaware of the cost of the mango shake. As I received my shake, I thought that not knowing the price before drinking it might prevent my prejudging the drink.

The mango shake I had at Cafe Racer was absolutely delicious. The perfect mango shake. As I drank, I felt this one would be one of the higher priced shakes in Dumaguete. Upon finishing, I asked the waitress for the check, and I understood her to say the shake was 185 pesos.

Yikes.

I handed her a 200 peso note and waited at the table for my change. I was completely shocked. This may have been one of the better mango shakes I've had, but it was the highest priced shake I've come upon. No other mango shake had even come close to 185 pesos.

When the waitress returned with my change, she gave me - not the 15 pesos change I expected, but 115 pesos.

"What did you say the price is for the shake?", I asked.
"85 pesos", she replied.
"Oh," I said, "I misunderstood what you said".

I didn't tell her the amount I thought she had told me.

As it turned out, the shake isn't the highest priced mango shake in town after all, but more reasonably priced.

I have no complaints with the mango shake at Cafe Racer, nor the price.

House Rules Might Now Allow Hijab on House Floor.

Normally, I tend not to disagree with Rush Limbaugh very often, but I believe that with a recent Facebook post, he's needlessly causing a fuss over nothing.

When posting a link to his comments on Democrats' plans to change a House rule that bans the wearing of hats on the House Floor, in order to accommodate Minnesota Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar, a Muslim who wears a headscarf, he added this line above the Facebook entry :

"A 181-year-old rule in the House of Representatives says no religious head wear may be worn. She’s the one challenging that."

Naturally, thousands of comments were left on that post - most probably ridiculous and over the top. Of course, I didn't read all of the more than five thousand comments, but those I did read were highly critical of changing the 181 year old rule in order to accommodate a Muslim - separation of Church and State and all that.

If one were to take a moment to do a bit of research, it becomes pretty clear that the ban has nothing at all to do with "religious headwear". Put simply, it's a ban on hats and all head coverings while on the House floor.

I don't really see the harm in allowing female Muslim members of the House of Representatives to wear a head scarf, if they choose to wear one. That's contrary to one comment, however, which reads:

"She will brazenly wear her hijab. And NO ONE will stop her. Muslim Privilege. IT will be the DEMISE of America and Western Civilization".

There were also comments on the (current) ban on yarmulkes, like this one:

"Why do we have to change our rules/laws to accommodate when Jewish members never asked asked [sic]."

I'm no authority on Jewish law, but it is my understanding that there is considerable debate as to whether or not wearing a yarmulke at all times is required. I'm quite sure that, had a Jewish member of the House felt he was required to wear one, he would have been accommodated.

The current ban would also apply to House members wanting to wear baseball caps in support of their local team. House members from Massachusetts can't wear Red Sox caps to celebrate their team winning the World Series this year. That would probably suit the New York and Los Angeles Representatives just fine.

I'm sure the rule change will be supported by all House Democrats - there may be some grumble from a few House Republicans. The shoe would've been on the other foot, so to speak, had a newly elected House member asked to have the ban dropped in order to allow him to wear his MAGA cap.

It would then be the Democrats supporting the 181 year old tradition.

Mango Shake from GRAVI TEA at DAD'S Gastro Park

Dad's Gastro Park, located on E.J. Blanco Drive in Dumaguete, is a food court housing a number of kiosks serving food and drink.

For today's mango shake review, I choice a business called GRAVI TEA located in the center of the food court.

I have nothing negative to say about this shake; it was quite good. It's priced at 65 pesos - about average for the area. It's taste and texture reminded me of slightly melted home made ice cream that we made in small town Georgia.

The only odd thing I can mention is the plastic cover put onto the cup after it was filled. The covering did not suit the shot I had in mind when I photographed the shake.

DAD'S Gastro Park is a bit out of the way to get just a mango shake, but if you're there getting food from another kiosk, I'd certainly recommend the shakes at GRAVI TEA.

The Mango Yogurt Shake from KBOB Restaurant.

My last mango shake review was of the shake I bought at KBOB Restaurant on Silliman avenue across from Four C Fitness Center.

As I mentioned in that review, I didn't like their mango shake one bit, but I did not like having to write a bad review. The main reason for my dislike of their mango shake is the lack of dairy in the shake - making it more of a slushy. I didn't mention in the review that the restaurant also sells a mango yogurt shake for 100 php. I went back today to give that shake a try.

I'm glad I did. This shake has a very flavorful yogurt taste and texture. Nothing in Dumaguete compares to it. If you enjoy yogurt - and I do - this has to be tried. There's no hiding the yogurt in this shake.

Just as I said you should avoid the regular mango shake at KBOB,  but I highly recommend the mango yogurt shake.

Mango Shake from KBOB Restaurant

I'm not quite sure how long KBOB restaurant has been open, but I've only recently noticed the business. Located on Silliman Ave. between Perdices and Rizal Blvd. the cafe is right in the middle of things.

The place - and the Korean owners - seem nice. I really hate giving this cafe a bad rating, I only tried the mango shake and can't write about any other items on the menu. Unfortunately, I didn't care for the mango shake I got there. Like the shake from Fruitas, it was more of a slushy and less like a shake. It really didn't taste like mango flavor either. As much as I dislike giving bad reviews, I'm going to say avoid the mango shake at KBOB.

Mango Shake from Scooby's & The Bean Connection

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there's more than one Scooby's in Dumaguete. My last mango shake review was the shake I got at Scooby's Fastfood on San Jose Street across from the Hotel Nicanor. Today's review is of a shake purchased at Scooby's and The Bean Connection located on Silliman Avenue.

Now, one would expect the mango shakes from two Scooby's to be pretty much alike. You couldn't be more wrong. The shakes I bought are completely different.

As I said in the earlier review, the mango shake from Scooby's Fastfood was both good and inexpensive. It seemed to me, however, that the shake did not contain any dairy.

The same isn't true of the mango shake from Scooby's and The Bean Connection. That shake contained dairy was a true shake. Exclamation point. This shake also contained a lot more fresh mango.......bumping the price up to 110 pesos, the second highest priced mango shake I've come upon. I have to say that this one is one of my favorites now. It's far and away much better than the mango shake from Senorita's Mexican Grill, which isn't much cheaper.

I have no idea why the words "Fat Tuesdays" is printed on the cup.

A Mango Shake from Scooby's

There are quite a few Scooby's located in Dumaguete, but for the purposes of this mango shake review, I choose the Scooby's Fastfood located on San Jose Street - across from Hotel Nicanor.

Of course, I'm not privy to the secrets involved in making Scooby's mango shakes, but I didn't taste any dairy in the shake I had there. I'm not holding that against them. The shake was quite good and at only 50 pesos, you can't beat the price.

Sinead O'Connor Converts to Islam

It's been a long time since I've made any comment on the bizarre behavior of Sinead O'Connor - seven years, in fact, when she obtained her fourth divorce.

Her attempt to be ordained a Catholic priest occured in 1999, long before the creation of this blog.

Now, I've learned that O'Conner has has converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada' Davitt.

Far be it from me to say that Ms. O'Conner/Davitt isn't serious in her conversion. I simply wonder about her need to inform the world of the conversion.

Baby Blue Beetle

It's not often that I'm fast enough to photograph a VW as we pass one another on the street. I managed to snap this one yesterday.

I've looked through my collection of Beetle photographs, and I can't find another with this shade of blue. I'm not 100% certain as to whether or not I've come across this one before.