Ohhh Georg! 2

We went back to Oh Georg! in Ayala Center Cebu again to have another round of good food. Still, we were not dismayed.

I had their California salad (PhP185), a good combination of sweet luscious mangoes, shredded crab meat, vegetables and other greens poured with a large dose of creamy mayo. Healthy or not, I devoured the whole serving.

I downed everything with a cold fresh calamansi juice.

Burp!

Ohhhh Georg!

This weird weather made everyone and everything crazy. It has been raining on and off since Sinulog and it seems this is just a "normal" weather pattern since no one (or at least I haven't heard anyone) claiming a storm is coming.

Even the internet at the printing press is not working since last week (and until now) and we lull ourselves with anything so we won't get bored. But working with projects that needs emails and downloads and without the internet is volatile. Very.

So when Gilda, who is missing the company of her sis, invited me to a dinner last night at Oh Georg! in Ayala Center Cebu, I readily agreed. You should know that Gilda is the type of mom who wants you to order what you want and she would pay for them. When I escaped from the office, it was drizzling so I brought my jacket with me only to realize that it was kind of humid in the Ayala area.

Anyways, after leaving our groceries in a deposit counter, we settled down at Oh Georg! and we were pleased that the restaurant was not yet packed for dinner. This little corner in Ayala is a favorite hangout of the elite few and foodies alike. I even thought we could not afford this kind of resto. Surprisingly, the food is affordable. Gilda ordered a Spicy Tuna Pasta (PhP195), I ordered Beef and Vegetable Casserole (PhP195). We had Hot Fresh Calamansi (PhP55 each) for our drinks.

The service at Oh Georg! was efficient. The food were served in less than 10 minutes and still piping hot. The beef tasted good but not tender enough and the vegetables slightly overcooked. But still it was good. Gilda claimed her spicy tuna pasta was good she devoured the whole plate.

The hot calamansi juice was amazing I could have asked for more if I have not started sweating.

We also ordered their Bluberry Cheesecake (PhP105) for dessert. That piece of cake was heavenly. I don't know how they made it. I have tasted some blueberry cheesecakes before but nothing can beat Oh Georg!'s creation! The only thing that crumbled in between my teeth was the gooey blueberry on top of the cake. The rest just melted in my mouth like there was no need for me to chew.

I was in heaven again.

After Ayala, I went to O2 Spa for a drinking session with bored friends who wanted to crawl on their way home. It did not happened.

Revisiting Laguna Garden Cafe

Laguna Garden Café (telephones 032.233.8600; 233.8602) at The Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu is one of the best Filipino restaurants in Cebu. The ambiance, the food, the service are all excellent.

But when we went there last week for dinner (6-7pm), we could hardly find a table for the three of us. When we were seated, even the service water took time to arrive.

I can see the waiters were working really hard so that they sometimes tend to ignore you. And I found it funny because when you are hungry, you also become confrontational and demanding.

The last time I was there having dinner, the waiter almost stayed at our side, leaving us only to get our orders. But that was 9 in the evening when all of the hungry crowd have been nursing already their full stomach.

So I believe there is a lesson here: Do not go with the hungry crowd, usually at seven in the evening, or else you will lose your diet. Go to Laguna before or after the hungry mass have been fully satiated.

Now let’s eat.

Mooon Cafe never fails to deliver

Superb dinner at Hola España

There are expensive restaurants and there are those who only stop at being expensive. At Hola España (The Terraces at Ayala Center Cebu), they go beyond what we call expensive. In fact we were literally pampered when we had dinner there. Gary, the cute head waiter at Hola, served us.

We ordered Bruschetta first. I think this is more of an Italian fare and not Spanish but who cares? When it arrived, the sight of it was fantastic. We asked for olive oil and balsamic vinegar and extra cheese to go with the bruschetta. It was served with extra care and smile. The taste was heavenly!

Gary gave us more hot bread and butter. I had my San Mig Light.

Then came Paella Valenciana, a combination of rice, chicken, seafood, vegetables and to my dismay, there was pork on it. Not to embarass my friend, I got my small share to taste the saffron the menu stated was there. It was really good but all I could taste was curry. I was thinking saffron tasted different and not curry-like.

The Bacalao ala Viscania was served later, a healthy combination of fish fillet, tomatoes, tender potatoes and olives. It tasted fishy of course and I devoured it with gusto.

A bottle of Spanish white wine suggested by Gary completed the ensemble.

I skipped the creme brulee and opt for the dark chocolate Boktot gave me the afternoon before. 

I had a good life, so to speak.

Kenny Rogers new dish

Judy and I chose Kenny Rogers Roasters in Ayala Center Cebu at the last minute because we could not think of a good restaurant to eat after walking around (and round), looking for the right shoes for a wedding in December (ughh women!).

Judy chose the Grilled Chicken Fillet American Barbecue (left) and mine was Grilled Chicken Fillet Rosemary and Thyme (above). The combo came with java rice, side dish and one muffin. Not really bad for 175 pesos.

I am not sure if their food is really healthy as they claimed, but they were really good!

Honest.

Rainy Moment in Summer at Ayala Center Cebu

Feeling Greek, eating Greek

   

   

   

   

We all watched Mamma Mia! and wondered how to go to Greece and enjoy everything Greek. But aside from Christine who works in some private yacht touring Europe, all of us could not even afford to seat in a plane to Greece.

So Christine pampered us to a Greek cuisine, my choice actually, and brought us to Cyma at The Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu.

Although they were on a limited menu, Ice, our waiter, recommended some of the available fares which all of us found mind-boggling even with their names. But our mission there was to explore. And taste Greece. 

We ordered the weirdest of names and later was amused with their taste. Mora man lang nig burito kung wa pa ning lime ug white cheese. (This is just burrito with lime and cheese.) Some of us later quipped. We ordered different food and later share them so as to maximize the experience.

I like the sweet melon and lamb salad best over a bottle of Hardy's white wine.

Now I am not the food critique type but I found the food served actually exciting and full of flavors. I wondered why our Filipino cuisine lacked the tang from the herbs Mediterraneans would put on their cuisine. But then again we all have different tastes and each region is distinct from the other. 

And so this experience.

And while there, be careful with anything that comes with fire- the staff at Cyma would usually shout OPA! upon serving. If it is your first time there, I am sure you would be shocked.

Jeepney Encounters

I was in a jeep going to Ayala Center Cebu when I overheard two men in their 20s discussing on something. But that something could have been very something because I saw the hand of the other guy pinching the leg of the other. Now these guys were the hunky type and quite goodlooking, I supposed. But when the other raised his voice, I could not believe he shrieked like Kris Aquino. I saw the other passengers' jaws dropped when he said:

Kibaw ka (You know what)? You're pushing me away from you 'ga ('ga from pangga, a Visayan endearment). Gamay na lang kulang awayon na tika (I have so little patience left before I will get mad at you). 

I, too, was shocked. It reminded me of the jeep stories of Kumareng Grace I read just before I boarded that jeep. Damn.

I immediately left the vehicle when it stopped near Ayala. Quantum of Solace confirmed my belief that there are still REAL MEN in this world.

Jeepney picture taken from Kumareng Grace.

Fix it Bench!

I went to Bench Fix Salon at Ayala Center Cebu last week to have my hair cut.

I must admit I easily get bored with repetitious activities. Haircut is one of them. Having been a permanent client at Maanyag downstairs in Ayala, I ventured to Bench in the hope of a good if not better service.

I arrived at the salon an hour before the mall started to close. The receptionist told me they are booked for the day. Impressive! I told myself considering that the mere haircut there is about P250 daw. But the receptionist told me they have no appointments in the first hour of the opening by the next day. So she booked me at 10 in the morning.

Not used to waking up early, I dragged myself out of bed just to get to Bench at 10.

When I arrived there, all personnel were supposed to be busy with something since the mall had just opened its doors, so they were nowhere to be found except that man wearing all black scrubbing the floor. I expected the receptionist to be there but nobody was in the area. I told the cleaning man wearing Bench Fix uniform I was there for an appointment at 10. He told me to wait.

30 minutes passed.

I told the man again that it was getting late. Wait lang sir, that was the repeated answer.

45 minutes.

I stood up and told him I would be back.

Surely, I was back. Not at Bench Fix Salon but at Maanyag's and see Nap smiling there, a barber's chair cleaned up and waiting.

Thanks God.