Sweets Anyone?

It's really HOT in Cebu! Yesterday was no exception, I'm home for the weekend and decided to check out Ayala Center and our Big Beauty Sale for PONDS before meeting up with a friend. The heat was getting into me, so I asked my husband if we could cool down somewhere and check out any eating place at the Terraces.

Of course, for those of you who have not been to Ayala Center Cebu recently, the Terraces area was set up more than a year ago. It houses more restos and shops and has expanded the Ayala Center. In true Ayala Mall style, the place is themed and the design of the area is like the rice terraces, its tierred and there are water fountains and green landscaping. It has brought a new level of malling again for the Cebuanos!

Because I'm in Cebu, I wanted to go to a non-Manila place, and remembered The Dessert Factory! I do recall my friend (who has returned to Cebu a more than a year), telling me last time we went there that this sweets place is all-Cebuano, can't find it in Manila. So off we went at level 3 of the Ayala Terraces.

This place has the carnival/circus/magical feel inside. The waiters wear purple uniforms and funny hats. Their menu ranges from lots of cake types and pastries to the local halo-halo. But mind you I think only halo-halo is the Filipino dessert available. I'm not so into sweets so I ended up just having cold coffee latte just to cool down. But Brian has a sweet tooth and ordered their A-choco-lypse, their version "death by chocolate cake". And some savoury snack, mini corn dogs. In fairness, the cake was great, not so sweet and I thought the mini corn dog would probably be just 3 pcs, but lo and behold, 7 pcs all in all! My my, the light merienda has turned into a heavy one. We can't eat it all because we're saving space for the buffet dinner at the Crossroads Mall's Gourmet Cafe Kutsara at Tinidor (Dad's bday dinner treat).

Now, we had to walk it off! Ha ha ha!

Mrs Jane B.

Casa Verde, Casual Dining in Cebu City

My officemates in Manila were in Cebu City recently and it just so happened I was there too for the weekend. I wanted to take them out to dine so they can experience Cebu food and local restos. I didn't get the chance to take them out though. I asked one them if they were able to eat at Casa Verde and she said, "YES". And when asked how was the food, she said, "ang sarap!".

Well, Casa Verde is one of the local must visit restos if ever you get to visit the Queen City of the South. Its original location is near Ranudo St., near Ramos area. My dad told me that their original resto used to be a ladies dorm back in the 70's. It has branches in THE WALK and at THE AYALA TERRACES. It's Cebu's version of T.G.I. Fridays ... but better with more value!

Their specialty are steak and ribs with prices ranging from Php 150-300! If eat like me, their serving size is good for two. My all time fave other than their Brian's Ribs is their cream potato soup. It's perfect for me, just the right creaminess and thickness. Though my sis thinks its too heavy. There's a lot in their menu to choose from so no worries ...

Just a bit of advise though, come in 30 min earlier during lunch and dinner rush hours to ensure you get a table, otherwise you will have to line up. So when you're in CEBU, don't forget to try Casa Verde.

Untill the next chow!

Mrs Jane B.

Sugba and Tula Anyone?

This summer season, Cebu becomes a destination for everyone looking for BSS – beach, sun and sand! The island boasts of its white beaches either up north going to Santa Fe in Bantayan or going south to Moalboal and nearby Badian Island.

Being a native, coming home for the summer means food trekking as well.

Cebu started the “su-tu-kil” rave and everyone now knows what “sugba, tula, kilaw” means! If you still don’t then you must really visit Cebu and ask to be taken to the nearest SUTUKIL place. Anyways, my dad is a fan of these places and he and my mom used to frequent this place near SM City Cebu known as A1. He told me the “tula” is the greatest (fresh fish all the time) and they have various seafood “sugba” that are just charcoal hot!

We recently visited with my dad and husband in tow (who needs to watch over his cholesterol) the said resto. Of course its al fresco! Meaning its carenderia style with no aircon and monobloc chairs and tables! The resto was packed with people all ordering seafood dishes ... the sugba and the tula lived up to expectation! And the best part is, it’s value for money! For the three of us ordering sugba fish, tula fish, seaweed salad, rice and drinks (minus dessert), all under P300.00 or USD6.40 ONLY! What a lunch and you still have extra money for dessert.

I just love Cebu and the cheap local places where one can eat and enjoy! If you’re looking for this place, its outside the SM City Mall, walking distance from the CNT Lechon place, there’s parking and you won’t miss it because of the grill that’s outside the resto!

Until the next chow!

Mrs Jane B.

My Cebu : Eating & Dining Out Part 2 (AA BBQ)

What better way to end my month-long stay in Cebu than to visit the famous "D Original AA BBQ" place in Lahug! It was a pre-Halloween dinner and a post bday dinner for my bro in-law. If you visit Cebu and miss out eating in any of its famous BBQ places, you haven't been to CEBU at all! Of course, you can visit the Larsian BBQ near Chong Hua Hospital or visit the famous AA BBQ place (they have several branches in the Metro) and they have parking.

So off we went to Lahug and I made sure we were enroute by 6pm because parking may be a problem if we come in later. When we arrived there were only 4-5 cars parked and the place was decorated with halloween stuff already. We placed our orders and each one got a fruit shake!

When eating in Cebu, there is no such thing as sinigang, and paksiw is not limited to day-old lechon but also to fish which we call "inun-unan". Soupy dishes are pochero, "nilat-an" or "nilaga", tinola or "utan bisaya" with malunggay leaves. And "subga" or "ihaw" is the name of the game! That's the reason why there are a lot of BBQ and Su-Tu-Kil (Sugba-Tula-Kilaw) places in the metro. To complement the BBQ and sugba, Cebuanos love to eat a variety of seaweeds soaked in a concoction of vinegar and other spices or version of local salad.

So the four of us had full dinner of squid, pochero, liempo, ribs and etc and just had a great time! I guess we Filipinos really enjoy our food more with family around.

Am looking forward to my next visit this November and eat more ... and yes bring to Manila our local Cebuano chorizo!

Mrs Jane B.

My Cebu : Eating & Dining Out

Ah, years ago when I was 8 or so, I remembered that eating out was truly a treat not just because we were kids that time but even for my parents. I remembered going to the same Chinese resto year-on-year. In fact, my dad, used to come home during lunchtime to eat and have siesta. Even my mom (who worked full time too) would come home for lunch and she would tell us stories before we have our afternoon nap. Life was simplier then, not sure how many parents now get to come home for lunch and see their kids.

Now, if you visit Cebu, with the advent of malls, a lot of families, groups and two-somes now meet up in a resto not just to eat but really to socialize. You know, the Cebuanos are the hardest market to crack in the Phils. We believe in quality products and services but we want the best bargain/price for it. Sorry, a P60 shake won't really sell in Cebu years ago. A P100 meal is too expensive, what with Larsian BBQ place at Fuente O and ngohiong at P10/pc and hanging rice, "puso" -- one can eat at P50 w/ drinks! When SM City opened, Wendy's was one of the fastfood chains that opened but had to close down because the offering wasn't as competitive. Racks even closed down -- with ribs that expensive, nobody would buy it in Cebu. That's how picky we are.

I think, with more non-Cebuanos in Cebu, the resto and fastfood business are making money. With the advent as well of the call centers (the major ones have operations in Cebu), eating and dining out is really "IN". So, if your non Cebuano, check out places like Chika-an, Golden Cowrie, CNT Lechon place (we have the best lechon in the Phils), or check out SU-TU-KIL restos that abound in the metro that specialize in "sugba" - grilled/bbq, "tula" - fish clear broth soup, "kilaw" - raw food usually fish our version of sashimi.

For more modern, metro eating places, visit the BTC area, the IT Park (near Waterfront Lahug) has buildings with eating places at the 1st floor and the newly revived "THE Walk" -- the "in place" right now. Check out my pics with HS friends in our latest meet up at THE Walk 2 wks ago.

So when you're in Cebu, remember, its where you can eat great food at great affordable prices!

Mrs Jane B