Aussie Cuisine in Cebu

If you want to experience an outback adventure on the gastronomic landscape of Australia... better visit "Canvas" - a unique restaurant at the upscale and eye catching Terraces Ayala in Cebu.... This restaurant offers a unique blend of fusion cuisine (that means both eastern and western recipe's blended well to form a unique taste of Australia with a touch of local ingredients to suit Filipino taste).....

As the name itself, Canvas is also and ART gallery..... with an ambiance that is ultra chic and modern (check out their regular Art exhibits done by world class Artists)......the price is a little bit upscale but it is reasonable considering you've got a taste of the best gourmet qualities in town...and their technique in plating is awesome!...definitely, everyone will have a pleasurable dining experience...

The food featured in this entry was served at the Opening of Sio Monterra's Art Exhibit a month ago and it was just right, served with refined sauces that is somewhat mouthwatering ...... paired with a good red wine or a lemon lime drink.... and the best part is, they have a long list on their menu that is somehow exciting if your a foodie lover....

This resto-bar seems to be attracting good crowds....and they've got the best Aussie Shiraz I guess!?!... curious enough?... meet their Chef to make your dining truly an awesome experience!

a dessert TDF!

Last summer, a friend of mine came in from South Africa and invited me to join in with her whole family for a day at Costabella resort in Mactan island. We all started with a lovely lunch at the restaurant (food was not quite good) but the old world Filipino-Spanish ambiance balances everything; we hit the beach, island hop, snorkeling and had some sweet cold dessert treats after a long day basking in the sun.

Evidently, when we friends reconvene we were like the eyes and the ears of the food world..each of us shares notes of what's hot in the Culinary world....and that sunny afternoon we end up having the same order....Halo - halo! (coz there isn't much on the dessert section)

Halo - halo (means mix) it's a popular dessert in the entire Philippines... there is no specific recipe for this dessert but there is a wide variety of ingredients used depending on the region, area or restaurant serving it...However, the most common are the various sweet beans and fruits topped with ice cream, Leche flan (our local version of cream brulee) and milk....this is a dessert TDF (to die for!)

I've been pretty good about desserts, I should say that I have a sweet tooth and I get easily excited to anything sweet (good thing that I didn't get those diabetic genes). Costabella's Halo halo is just perfect, since its not too sweet but you can actually feel all the ingredients melts in your mouth, its a bit expensive compared to other refreshment centers (of course it's a resort!) but who cares if you have a Halo- halo and an amazing panoramic view of the white sand beach..... and best of all .. thanks to my dear friend and her whole family for the warm treat!....

Photo courtesy of Lilac Alesna - Arcos

Mj's Chili King Crab - Recipe

My cousin overseas emailed me a recipe that I have been longing to try... It's Singapore's famous Chili King Crab!..... a very well known dish all over the Lion City's landscape.... and an all time favorite among locals and foreigners alike, bringing an extra flavor to the sights and sounds of this densely populated Island nation!...

This is her modified version of the recipe, putting some extra twist and making it grand to suit the very discriminating Filipino flavor!.... I'm going to call this, Mj's Chili King Crab, named after her cutey and ubiquitous daughter Mj.

Mj's Chili King Crab

Ingredients:

2-3 medium - large mud crabs
1/4 half a cup of chopped Garlic
1/4 half a cup of chopped Onion
Chopped Green and Red Bell peppers of Jalapeño
Chopped or sliced Chili pepper
1/4 or 1/2 cup of coconut juice
1/4 of 1/2 cup of water
1/4 cup of tomato sauce
1/2 cup of evaporated Milk
Oil
salt and pepper to taste

How to prepare:

Put oil in the pan then saute garlic, onion, sweet pepper, Chili pepper.

Add the mud crabs then wait until it turns red.

Add Coconut milk then after add water in small amounts.

Season with salt and pepper. Simmer in low heat and bring it to a boil til the crab is cooked...

Add in tomato sauce and evaporated milk...

Simmer in low heat and bring it to a boil until the sauce thickens.

You may reduce the sauce by turning the flame to high.

Served hot

This is best paired with white wine (Pinot Grigio?...Maybe) to blend in all the extra flavors of the crab.

In Singapore you can find the best Chili King Crabs on the very long restaurant strip along Boat Quay....this area is truly a food haven, and it is the place where you can hear or attempt to try the unique "Singlish" accent and expression.... like "Eat lah?, can?..caaaan?!"........just simply answer "yes lah!"..

(Photo and Recipe courtesy of Erby Jane Guerrero - Pinili, an advocate of Filipino Cuisine )