Casa Verde

Restaurant: Casa Verde

Address: The Walk Asiatown I.T. Park Lahug Cebu City

Restaurant Type: Casual Dining

Food: Mixed Ethnic (American, Filipino)

Mode of Payment: Cash/Card

Phone Number: (63-32) 4123336

August 31, 2009. Onyot, Edd, Shake, Choi and I had dinner at Casa Verde The Walk! It was a day before I leave for Singapore and we decided to eat out. Edd ordered buffalo wings. One slice that was served on this basket was a neck part, so Edd called the wiater's attention and had it change to a wing part.

I ordered Surf and Turf! I dad my meat well done which was really juicy and yummy!

Onyot ordered the Kebabs served with mashed potatoes. I find their mashed potato a little bit hard though. It lacks texture and softness.

Mga Kapigouts!

East West has lost its direction?

Restaurant: East, West

Address: The Walk, Asiatown I.T. Park Lahug Cebu City

Restaurant Type: Casual Dining

Food: Mixed Ethnic(American, Filipino)

Mode of Payment: Cash/Card

After a hectic shoot for iLearnersat Lunas Elementary School in Carcar, Shake, Greg and I went to I.T. Park to meet Edd and Pao for dinner. We were craving for East West's Mango Sushi so we decided to have dinner there as well.

I ordered the Chicken Fillet with an Italian twist(Price: 1pc: 135php/2pc: 165php). For me it tasted like a chicken fillet in a sweet tomato/barbeque sauce, nothing Italian at all! I expected it to be herby and in olive oil. Not to mention serving size shrinked compared to their branches before in Ayala Center and Mango Ave, which are now closed.

Sizzling Salisburry Steak (Price: 105php/ served with egg: 120php)! 2 beef juicy patties drizzled with semi sweet mushroom gravy sauce. The sauce was little salty but the patty was great.

East West's Big chops (Price: 165php) tasted very Filipino, more like pork belly tocino. Sweeeeet! And the serving was not that big as before.

I ordered Mango Strawberry slush(Price: 85php). Tastes good but again the serving has shrinked!

Sneaking in the Kitchen, this is how the crepe was prepared! Wooooaah! I love East West Mango Sushi(Price: 145php)!

Overall, East West had shrinked their meals and some of the dishes tastes had also changed. They used to served BIG and good food but now its like it poofed to a tiny serving and quality diminished. And they don't served unlimited ice tea no more. huhuhu. Loved East West Iced Tea's mango/pineapple-ey taste! But one thing for sure, I STILL AM IN LOVE WITH THEIR MANGO SUSHI! weeeee

Breakfast at Mcdo IT Park!

Restaurant: McDonalds

Branch: Asiatown IT Park Lahug

Restaurant Type: FAstfood

Food: Burgers, Fries and Rice Meals (American)

Mode of Payment: Cash

August 22, 2009. Before we head down to Abs Cbn Studio for Kapamilya Winner Ka, we had Breakfast at Mcdonalds IT Park, where the meeting place was set. I had my fave snack munch, the 50php cheap yet yummy Crunchy Chicken Sandwhich which comes with a regular softdrink! With that I also ordered the 25php Pineapple Pie. I miss my Fave Taro Pie, too bad Mcdonalds Phased it out! huhu

I was lucky that day because I get to have a big chunk of chicken patty on my burger! weeeee. Sometimes, the chicken patty is so small that its mostly crunch on every bite(meaning all breadings, hehehe).

Shake ordered the Big Breakfast with Rice, which she said costs around 80php. And whats so big about the BIG BREAKFAST? hmmmm. Its a small beef Patty topped with Fried Omelet. hmmmmm.

Out of Africa Pub and Bistro!

Restaurant: Out of Africa Pub & Bistro

Branch: Skyrise 1 Asiatown I.T. Park Lahug Cebu City

Restaurant Type: Casual Dining

Food: African

Mode of Payment: Cash/ Card

August 24, 2009. It was a scheduled iLearners Meeting and we decided to dine at the 8 day old branch resto in Skyrise 1, Out of Africa! We were greeted by the owner who grew up in Africa and had brought the recipes back here in Cebu.

We had Vetkoek(Price:65php, but it was compliments of the owner) , African bread, for appetizer which came with 3 different dips, barbeque, Garlic and Pepper! I love the Garlic Dip!

Under the appetizer Category was the Trinchado Sizzling Sirloin Tips (Price: 150php). Mozambique Beef Strips cooked in creamy garlic, red wine and mild spicy sauce. The order came with rice. Is it right that its under the Appetizer Category even if it was served with rice? hmmmm

We also had the "Platter of 4" (Price: 650php) which has 6 pcs. of grilled chicken, 1 slab of pork spare ribs smothered in honey barbeque sauce, cucumber salad and Potjie African Stew. For some reason I find African dishes a little different, with familiar tastes, but wouldn't register. The African stew tasted like corned beef with pepper sauce. hehe. Something different I must say!

Chai ordered House Salad dressed in Balsamic Vinaigrette. I love Balsamic Vinaigrette! The serving was a little small though.

If that really how food tastes in Africa, I must say that it's a little blunt for our MSG and salty Filipino taste. But spices and herbs gave each of the dishes character and unique taste. And the interiors I must say is very jungle-ish that gives you a Safari feel in some way!

Tara's Cafe!

Restaurant: Tara's Cafe

Branch: Asiatown I.T. Park Lahug Cebu City

Restaurant Type: Casual Dining

Food: Pasta, Grilled Ribs, Salad, etc. (American, Mexican, Mixed Ethnic)

Contact Number: (63-32) 5168069

Mode of payment: Cash/Card

August 16, 2009. It was Edd's (my younger bro) costume burpday party! I booked tables for 30peeps to celebrate my bro's 23rd Burpday! For starters, we had Quesadilla(Price: 110.88php). Love the pinoy style of their sweet-sour salsa!

One of our main entrees was the Baby Back Ribs(Price: 200.48)! Tender but a little bit dry textured meat in a sweet-mild peppered sauce. One of my Tara's fave!

We also had Creamy Sizzling Squid (212.80php). Tastes like Bicol express! : )

Lemon Chicken (166.88php)! Tender breaded Chicken strips drizzled with Sweet Lemony Sauce! It used to have lots of lemon sauce but our orders, they barely had the sweet lemony sauce. : (

Another Tara's Cafe Fave of mine is their Roast Beef (Price: 222.88php)! Tender roast beef strips with a semi-smokey taste topped with semi-sweet gravy side dished with potato chips, cucumber slices and carrots.

Tara's chopsuey(Price: 168php) was a so-so dish. Am a big fan of Chopsuey and for some reason Tara's version was just okay. Chowking and Jacobo's Bistro are the restaurants that serves the best chopsuey for me!

I love House Specialty Drinks! And one of my House Specialty pitchered drink fave is Mambo No. 5! Cucumber, Orange, lemon, apple and calamansi on a apple-calamansi tasting juice mix.

DESERTS! Banana Split(Price: 168php). A small banana Cut into half with scoops of Vanila and strawberry Ice Cream sprinkled with marshmallow and drizzled with choco syrup.

This one I love! Choco Moist Cake(Pric:56php). Moist cake in a creamy icing topped with Choco shavings and drizzled with choco syrup!

Choco Fudge Cake(Price: 50.40php)! tasted like brownie with 2 choco cream between 3 layers of cake and choco fudge on top!

The Bubbly Bubbles & the Attack of the Ugly Jollibee Pancakes

Restaurant: Jollibee

Branch: Asiatown I.T. Park Apas Lahug Cebu City

Restaurant Type: Fastood

Mode of Payment: Cash

August 10, 2009. It's 1 am and Pao, Edd, Greg, Shake and I were starving so we bought some breakfast at Jollibee. We all ordered Panckes and shared 2 Extra Large Fries with a single Cheezy Salsa Dip.

So does food appearance really matter? Hell YES! And this is what Jollibee Pancakes look like.

What do you think? hehe. If you compare Mcdonalds Pancakes with Jollibee Pancakes, Mcdonald's Pancake appearance and taste is so much better, not to mention Mcdonalds offer flowing Maple Syrup! But to be fair with the Jollibee Pancakes, it does taste good. It's just that they're thin.

Extra Large Fries(Price: 55php) and Cheezy Salsa Dip (Price: 10php). Fattening yet so yummy! LOL.

And who would not recognize the ever Bubbly "Bubbles" who makes everyone laugh when ordering at Jollibee IT Park Branch with his far fetched lines like " I miss you" and "more power!" Just hilarious! Peace out dude!

Know your Starbucks Baristas!

Shop: Starbucks

Branch: Asiatown IT Park Lahug Cebu City

Food: Coffee, Pastries, Sandwhiches, Tea

Mode of Payment: Cash/ Card

Being a frequent of Starbucks (Ayala, IT Park and SM Branches) I've get the chance to know these friendly people making my favortie frap or grinding and pressing my favorite beans.

Starbucks Coffee Master Jo with baristas Joyce and Cheekie.

Starbucks Coffee Masters are those in Black Aprons with Starbucks Coffee Master Logo. So what exactly is a Starbucks Coffee Master? First of all, they must be completely informed, inside and out, about all of the coffees that Starbucks offers. This includes the regional selections, .com and grocery store exclusives , seasonal and limited availabilities as well as Starbucks core coffees. Starbucks Coffee Masters must know where the beans are grown, what they taste like, how that particular bean is processed, and what the origin notes of any particular Starbucks coffee are. So if you see a Starbucks Coffee Master on your next visit, ask them on what's their personal favorite or what coffee is suitable for staying up late or whatever! hehe.

And always remember to give your friendly yet hardworking Starbucks Baristas a big smile! You know they deserve it, after all they make your Starbucks experience a little more homey! : )

Habhab sa Jacobo's Bistro!

Restaurant Name: Jacobo's Bistro (pronounced as Hacobo's)

Address: Block 8 Lot 3, Asiatown IT Park Apas lahug Cebu City

Restaurant Type: Casual Dining

Food: Pasta, Salads, soups, sandwhiches, noodles (Filipino, American)

August 9, 2009. It's iLearners Inc. Incorporators Night! The signing of papers was scheduled at dinner time at Jacobo's Bistro. We have called the management for the reservation so they could prepare a table for us and told them that we will be using a projector for our presentation. But unfortunately there was no white screen for us to use for our presentation. huhu and worst part is that there is no electric outlet to plug the laptop and the projector. So we have to use the plug across our table which people kept on tripping over. Lesson learned (Jacobo's is not suitable for meetings, it's a place to chill out)!

I have already met the owner and the manager of Jacobo's last month because of the blog I made about Jacobo's Bistro during their second day of opening in Cebu!And I have to admit I love their Crispy Pata (Price: 295php) and their Carribean Fruit Punch(Price: 100php)!

We had Bistro Fries(Price: 170php) for our appetizer. Fresh potato slices deep fried til golden brown and poured with cheese spread (tastes like Cheez Whiz, hehe).

Pesto and Tuna Spaghetti (should be Fettuccini, not spaghetti), has a good pesto taste with minced & crushed fresh basil leaves, crushed garlic, parsley, grated hard cheese and olive oil.

Salt & Peppered Spare Ribs(Price: 175php)! hehe. One of My Jacobo's Fave, though the serving we had last night wasn't that good as before. Sweet-peppery taste! Great as a beer muncher!

Pepper Crusted Tuna Steak (Price: 295php). It's cooked medium rare in a pepper crust. The pepper cancels the fish aftertaste. Am not a fan of fish dishes though. : )

And Carribean Fruit Punch (Price: 200php) is made out of citrus fruits! Very fresh and tangy! Though I would prefer Tara's Mambo number 5 over this pitchered drink. Nonetheless it tastes great! I love oranges! hehe