A friend of mine came home from San Francisco with her entire family in tow. Ate Marife and her mother were my boarding house mates when I was still a first year high school student. We parted ways a few years later when I moved into our house and they rented another house. More than a decade later, she's back with her hubby and four beautiful kids. I got to enjoy hanging out with them by the Boulevard as we conducted a mini family photo shoot since Ate Marife wanted photos that she could take back to the States.
The kids were a joy to photograph, and they took direction like seasoned pros. I especially loved how Gian, the little guy in red, would mimic me by saying 'Smayol!!!!' Cute! The kids laughed easily, and they laughed hardest when Mom wiggled and danced in front of them. After an hour under the sun, the kids were tired and asking for ice cream, so we wrapped things up with a series of playful family shots.
Sans Rival underwent some sort of expansion by opening up a bistro in the house next door. The house sits on a piece of prime real estate since it is located just across the street from the Boulevard and I think the decorators were really successful in integrating the location and the view with the layout of the bistro. The colors are still the trademark Sans Rival white and blue, with bleached white wall trimmings and those lovely, lovely individual wall shelves that hold different kinds of pottery. Sitting there, in stripped blue cushioned chairs made of synthetic rattan, I felt like I was inside a restaurant somewhere in the Mediterranean. And I love the ceilings! The ceilings are high, done in very pale blue-lavender, accented by interesting light fixtures, and they really open up the indoor dining area. The high ceilings are complimented by the large windows and wide doors as well. A lot of people love hanging out outside too, since you still get the comfortable tables and chairs but you get to enjoy fresh air and the gorgeous view of the boulevard and the water.
There's also some interesting pieces of history on the walls, like these photos of the house taken several decades ago. This house really has some history in it.
Food!
The only dish I have tried so far is the beef steak, and I have been there a total of four times. They should call it the sizzling beef steak since they serve it really hot. You have the option of pairing it with rice or mashed potatoes, although I always choose mashed potatoes since the two go so well together. The meat is buttery soft, and the gravy is so full of flavor.
Sans Rival Bistro Dumaguete still serves the pastries they serve at the shop, so there's really no problem if you just want to pop in for a bite of chocolate silvanas (which are soooo good!) and coffee.
