Cafe Elysa

Used to be a carenderia, Cafe Elysa transformed the place to a cozy and warm dining space which is both intimate and mellow. The bistro is located at Parian which is very near the heritage monument of Cebu - just right after you turn right to the Pari-an Fire Station and Police Station. Cafe Elysa was named after the owner's mother, Elysa Aznar. Stephen Aznar talks about the food being classified as Filipino with infused tastes from his travels overseas and abroad.

Classical and simple yet chic - that was my first impression as I entered the wooden door of Cafe Elysa. With chill out music on the background which sets the contrast between the wooden and classic facade, you'd know it's not gonna be a boring dining experience. 

We started with a special Tapa (not on Cafe Elysa Menu) prepared by Chef Skippy Borromeo - Caviar on white cheese and salty crackers. Different Cafe Elysa Tapas or appetizers was then served.

Chicken Liver Paste with Sauteed Apple and Triple Sec priced at 85php. If you like the sandy and strong taste of liver then you'd enjoy this appetizer. It's not like the liver spread we buy in the supermarket which is spicy and sweet which blends and masks the strong taste of the liver. This one tastes like liver. :)

Pinoy Lumpia Prito - priced at 65php. This one is clearly Thai/Vietnamese inspired as you can taste the glass noodles which is being used in both Thai and Vietnamese spring rolls. Perfectly fried and seasoned! Me likey!

 Salt and Pepper Squid in a bed of Bokchoy - I highly recommend this Tapa to everyone. Spicy and semi sweet sauce which complemented well with the Bok Choy. For those who doesnt know what Bok Choy is, it's Chinese cabbage, which is a good source of Vitamin C and A.

 Another Tapa reccomendation is the "Popcorn Shrimp." So why did they call it Popcorn Shrimp when there's no corn ingedient on this tapa? Well, it simply is because when they first cooked the dish, the popping sound like a popcorn popping was heard on the kitchen so they called it "Popcorn Shrimp!"

Tangigue Ceviche - or locally known as kinilaw is plainly Tangigue in vinegar chilis, onion and spring onions. I eat raw fish but am not a fan. But what's good about Cafe Elysa's Ceviche is that the vinegar is not too strong but just enough to kill the fish's sea taste.

 Spicy Beef & Eggplant Cake with Red Curry topped with Holy Basil - priced at 85php. Strong spiced beef taste which then cleansed with the taste of cucumber. Interesting Tapa! FYI - Holy basil or tulasi or Tulsi is a natural remedy for stress.

Pasta Bolognese with basil and Grana Padano Cheese -  spaghetti pasta with with classical Italian meat sauce with Italian Grana Padano Cheese. You can taste grits of semi salty yet milky bits of Italian cheese, I find it a bit salty though. But the pasta was cooked just right!

Elysa Fried Rice - Amazingly not as oily as the fried rice we are accustomed to. A very homey and nostalgic taste just like when we were served fried rice in the morning when we were kids as the salt rocks melts in your mouth and sweet taste of bits of fresh spring onions.

For dessert, we had Apple Banana Fritters with Sugar Syrup. Classic!

Definitely will be back for the caldereta as Vahnjohn had recommended!

 

iluvcebu.com authors Doyzkie, Noe, Chai, Nayki with Cafe Elysa owner Stephen Aznar and Chef Skippy Borromeo. 

Thanks to Jude Bacalso and Stephen Aznar for the invite! 

Cafe Elysa is open on Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am-3pm and 6pm to 10pm.  Closed on Mondays.

Address: 30-A ZAmora St. Pari-an, Cebu City

Phone: (032) 414 9265 | (032) 416 6793

Mobile: +63921453877

Email: bellespicestaz@yahoo.com

Naglevel up ka na!

Greenwich truly has stepped up to a higher level this 2010! The "Greenwich Cheesy Campaign" is a phenomenal success as they were awarded the prestigious Gold Araw Award for the Best Integrated Campaign the recent Philippine Advertising Congress.

February 17, 2010, Greenwich had a press launch for their new products at SM City Cebu branch. The press got to try out some of the products starting off with the new Greenwich Pizza Fries! The fries comes in two flavors: Pepperoni and Garlic & Cheese with a special pizza sauce dip.

We then had a sampler plate of Bacon Chicken Carbonara Supreme. Tender bacon and chicken slices, smothered in white sauce with 3 cheeses (Mozarella, Parmesan, Cheese) and topped with mushroom and parsely flakes.


We also had the Greenwich Ultimate Hawaiian Overload Pizza! With 2x more premium ham, smoked bacon, glazed pineapple, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.


We also had a taste of the new Greenwich American Lunch Specials. Greenwich Quarter Slab Ribs that comes with Java rice, mixed veggies and a regular drink priced at 179php.


Thick 'N Tender Chops (another Greenwich American Lunch Special) is marinated in a special sauce and comes with Java rice, mixed veggies and a regular drink for 199php.

Drinks! We had Fit & Right! woot woot!

Aside from the new facade and new pizza box, the Greenwich staff also had new uniforms which was ramped by our friendly Greenwich staff!
Greenwich also raffled out some prizes to the media! And Lucky Mary Angeli Bas had won a Benetton Bag! Congrats!


As for Rabsin and I, we won the tshirt relay game where we won a barkada blowout package! wootwoot! Naglevel up na din kami! hehe

We would like to thank our Greenwich barkada specially Ms. Charo Baller. \m/

Japengo

Restaurant: Japengo
Address: Parkmall
Food: Japanese, Filipino
Restaurant Type: Buffet/Casual Dining
Mode of Payment: Cash

Japengo is Japanese infused with Filipino Flavor as per Dan, Japengo's Manager. Regina and I were invited to Japengo's maiden buffet and it was an event shared with media people and friends & family of the owners.

The buffet consists of Japanese dishes like makis, sushis gyozas and many more. There were also salad and blueberry cheese "finger desserts"!

My brothers and I share the same love for Gyoza! and I had a whole serving of Gyoza all for myself! weeee!

And California Maki! Just can't get enough of these yummy Japanese Maki with sweet mango, crabstick and cucumber!

Me sneaking at the sushi table. hehehe

Wasn't able to stay long and taste all the food though because of another shoot scheduled that night. But I will on my next visit! : ). I had fun and enjoyed the Gyoza, Maki and Blueberry cheesecake I had during the opening buffet! Opening Promo of Japengo's Eat All You Can Buffet Price is set at 275php per head.

Sunburst

Restaurant: Sunburst Chicken
Branch: The Terraces Ayala Center Cebu
Mode of Payment: Cash/Card
Food: Filipino
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining

Long before Jollibee and Mcdonalds, Sunburst had been loved by Cebuanos for as long as I can remember. Fried til golden sun crisp, Sunburst Chicken would definitely make you crave for more. I love BIIIG and HUUUGE Chicken Boobs and Sunburst's chicken definitely makes me happy! 2 huge pieces of ribkeel served with rice and coleslaw side dished with 2 slices of french potatoes is priced at 153php.

I also love their Honey-ish Calamansi Juice!

Mga Kapigouts!

Cabalen

Restaurant: Cabalen
Address: SM City Cebu North Reclamation Area Cebu City
Food: Filipino Food
Restaurant Type: Buffet
Mode of payment: Cash

Eat all you can, eat all you want, Cabalen has been serving Cebuanos for more than 2 months now. Cabalen, a Capamgpangan word for "kababayan", is showcasing Capampangan and Filipino Faves like Beringhe, Bulalo, Kalderetang Baka, Gata Kuhol, Dinuguan, Inihaw Na Hito w/ Buro Hipon, Cabalen Sisig, Camaru, Sampelot & Tibok-Tibo to Cebuanos.


Tere(Cabalen's MT Shift Supervisor)tells us on an interview how Cebuanos are very picky with almost anything, and gladly Cabalen has been embraced by Cebuanos with open arms. For 298php per person not bad for a course of more than 15 dishes and a halo halo bar.



Growing up in a Tagalog household, I am a big fan of Tagalog Dishes and I love Karekare and bagoong. The Cabalen karekare might be on the light side(taste wise) but the bagoong made it a whole lot better! I also love Crispy Kangkong dipped in Mayo! yum! Pancit! yumyum!

We also asked Tere which Cabalen pasalubong items are big hits ad bagoong and Taba ng Talangka are Cabalen's Customer Favorites.

Mga Kapigouts! Friends and Family!

Port Seafood and Restaurant

Restaurant: Port Seafood and Restaurant
Address: Waterfront Lahug Cebu City
Food: Mixed Ethnic(Filipino, American, Etc)
Restaurant Type: Buffet
Type of Payment: Cash/Card

It was past 10pm and we haven't had dinner yet knowing we were invited by Mr. & Mrs.Hayco (owners of the resto) for the opening of their midnight buffet! Kara, Edd, Greg, E and I arrived at 10:30pm at the Waterfront hotel and took us another 15minutes to find for a parking space. wheeeew! But we were treated with a buffet so drivers E and I didn't whine. hehehe. Midnight Buffet is priced at 190php.

I love their siomai, green mango and their bagoong!

Pasta and Crepe Bar! hehehe. The crepes looked great, too bad their crepe tasted like pancakes. But with the low buffet price, the buffet was worth it!

Entertainment! Live band played when we were eating. And after their first set, a special number was presented by Mr. and Ms. Hayco's daughter.

Manila Special: Green Halo

Restaurant Name: Green Halo
Address: Cubao Expo Quezon City
Restaurant Type: Casual Dining
Food: Filipino
Mode of Payment: Cash

Green Halo, a restaurant owned by friends Jaja Valencia and Halmen Valdez, has been around for 2 years now. Serving organic food at affordable prices, you would never go wrong! Located at where the artistic and talented people hang out, Cubao Expo, Halo has been a hit to young artists, call center agents and health conscious people who wants a healthy lifestyle. One of the owners Jaja, whom I met last year during a Couchsurfer Party, has invited us to come.

With barely 2 hours of sleep for 2days, I with Louie and Greg, went to Cubao Expo beating the heavy traffic from MOA to Quezon City. Gladly, with crumbling stomachs, we had arrived at Halo at 8pm. Halmen, who is studying law and one of the owners greeted us and we started the piggin out session. This is my second time dining at Halo and without any bias, I love Halo! My Halo faves would be the veggie burger and the malunggay pasta!

Halo's Humba is a new addition to their menu. Instead of using pork, Halo used gluten which is made of soy, a good source of protein.

Another dish was the Puso ng Saging patty with Mashed potato. Halo's Mashed potato is made from pure potatoes with no extenders, and to season it, added are pepper and salt. A must try! and don't forget to dip it on SOYANAISE, Halo's veggie version of Mayonnaise.

And one of my Halo Fave, the Malunggay Pasta (Price: 95php)! Made out of organic Moringga leaves crushed into olive oil to make a perfect healthy pasta! Tastes a lot like Pesto but milder.

Tuna Pastel! Halo's version of the filipino loved dish, chicken pastel, but instead of using chicken they used tuna.

Green Halo Siopao whose mantao is made of organic wheat flour and insides are veggies and stuff. I love it! And doesn't taste like veggies at all.

My favorite Halo Drink is Tarragon Shake! I loved it so much I had 2 and a half glass serving! hehehe. What's it made off? Organic Tarragon herb!

Malunggay and Rhum Cupcakes! Very yummy!

My kapigouts!

Roy, Halmen, Homer, Louie and Greg