Mad about FOOD

Greece didn’t use to figure prominently on my list of dream travel destinations. I have the impression that Greece has a very temperate climate and, in general, I try to rule out places that feature the scorching heat of the sun as one of its main attractions. It’s exhausting enough to go on a trip but even more so when the heat sucks your energy dry. And Greece, being on the Mediterranean, is one such country where people go to get a nice tan. But then I saw a feature on the island of Mykonos and now I’m having second thoughts. Plus, the food is just amazing.

Flashback: My introduction to Greek food came when I spent 3 months in the German town of Radolfzell. As students of the German language, my classmates and I were given daily lunch stubs that were honored in several restaurants, two of them served authentic Greek food. So when I got tired of the usual Italian or Asian specialties, I went to the Greek restaurants for the spanakopitas and souvlakis.

Here in Manila, there’s always been Cafe Mediterranean (Greenbelt,  Alabang Town Center, Power Plant)  and then Mati (in Power Plant) for lovers of the Greek cuisine. But now, there’s also Cyma Estiatorio. A Boracay original, Cyma has been so successful on the island paradise that it has set up branches in Shangri-la Plaza and Greenbelt 2. I’ve been curious to try the restaurant, but the queue was just unbearable. Thirty minutes waiting time to be seated? Nah-ah, my spirit might be willing but I couldn’t stand the rumbling in my tummy. So I waited for about 2 months or until the hype has already subsided. At least, that’s what I thought.

Finally, I had lunch at Cyma in Greenbelt last month with my brother-in-law, Cesar. We were there at 11:30 a.m. (how’s that for a diskarte?) and only a couple of tables were occupied. I ordered hummous [this must be the Greek spelling] (P100) for starters. The serving is good for sharing and it actually tasted better than Cafe Med’s, but I still prefer the hummus that my sister-in-law, Melanie, makes (she’s a chef, by the way).

Cesar recommended the roka salata because I had forewarned him that I couldn’t eat all the ingredients in a Greek salad (cucumber alert!). Roka salata (solo-P245) was a fantastic choice! It’s a healthy mix of crisp romaine lettuce, arugula leaves, sun-dried tomatoes, shaved–not grated–parmesan, and candied walnuts. The salad had a smoky, nutty taste that made me fall in love with it. Drizzled with a special vinaigrette, it’s soooooo good that I could have ordered just that and still have gone home with a satisfied grin on my face.

So many people have been raving about the spinach and artichoke fondue (P280) so we tried it as well. The fondue was really cheesy and creamy–dip the pita in it and you’ve got instant cheese pizza. It’s a delightful appetizer but very, very filling.

One cannot eat Greek and not have souvlaki. Souvlaki is, typically, grilled meat and vegetables on a skewer. However, the term can sometimes be confusing as other regions in Greece use it to mean ‘gyro.’ Anyway, pork is the traditional souvlaki but this time, instead of pork, chicken or lamb, I ordered the steak souvlaki (P360). It didn’t disappoint. The meat was incredibly succulent and the herbs and spices in the sauce lent a unique flavor to the skewer. The serving’s really huge so two or three persons can actually partake of the meat.

Greeks are known to be a very happy and noisy lot, especially during meal times. So while we were at Cyma there was the usual shouting of "Opa!", a Greek cheer.

We asked for the flaming mangoes (P180) for dessert and we were in for a treat. It’s a piece of one whole peeled mango, soaked in caramelized sugar and dusted with cinnamon powder, placed on a hot plate and then flambéed (served in flaming liquor). It came with a bowl of vanilla ice cream. What you do is put slices of mango onto your plate and top it with a scoop of ice cream and you’ve got a hot and cold dessert that’s quite different, at least.

For our pleasurable dining experience in Cyma, credit also goes to our food server, Cayo [not in photo], who was very friendly and accommodating. He even refilled my Cyma ultimate iced tea (P60) without charging me extra. It’s great when somebody tries to be really good at his job, no? Wonderful food coupled with impeccable service make for a terrific restaurant that’s worth another visit. I’ll have the gyro and the moussaka next time. Opa!
 

During our most recent 5-day stay in my hometown of Olongapo/Subic, my little Bea and I spent a few days at my sister Peachy’s house in Kalayaan. One afternoon, while taking Bea on a stroll, I discovered this restaurant nestled on a side of the mountain in a rather secluded part of the residential area. I perused the menu, after which I told the waiter that we’ll come back to dine there the following day.

True to my word, Bea and I had lunch at Le Jardin the next day together with Peachy and my long-time friend, Teena. Le Jardin is the restaurant of Mountain Woods, a small resort and inn at the Subic Bay Freeport. We were all quite giddy and excited when we arrived at the place because we knew it was going to be a unique dining experience. There was a gentle breeze even at noon, and the view was very refreshing. The restaurant is overlooking a small rectangular swimming pool and a vegetable patch farther down the mountain. We decided to try the full-course lunch, which came in three sets. For the soup, we had 3 different kinds–cream of spinach, cream of carrots and cream of mushrooms. The freshness of the ingredients was really evident in the taste. The servings were quite small, but they were all good. A complimentary side of freshly-baked wheat bread and butter was also given to us and we loved it. Ummm…healthy food!

After the soup came the Mountain Woods garden salad with mango sauce. I haven’t been to Sonya’s Garden in Tagaytay, but I imagine this is how they also serve their salads. I saw some of the resort’s staff picking vegetables and herbs down the mountain. So the salad is as fresh as it can be. This one had some kind of greens (the name escapes me), arugula leaves, those blue flower petals (I asked the food server what kind of edible flower it was and she said something like "blue cornea" but when I googled it,  I couldn’t find anything), chopped nuts and the mango dressing. My friend Teena didn’t like it, but my sister and I ate it all up. We’re certified salad girls!

The choices for the entree are boneless chicken flambé, grilled salmon with lemon butter sauce and beef tenderloin with mushroom gravy. We ordered all three so we could taste each one. I had the chicken, which was very flavorful and tender-juicy (hehe). It even had ham inside, like a cordon bleu, while the sauce was very tasty.  The beef was good, too, but then I always have steak at home so I didn’t find it extra-special. Besides, I had my eyes set on the salmon.

Now will you look at that? The mere sight of its color already had me swooning. And then I tasted it…heaven! The fish was so soft to the bite, it almost melted in my mouth. Simply seasoned and grilled to perfection, this is the star of our meal.

If the view and the aforementioned courses are not yet enough to entice you to try this restaurant, wait till you taste its signature dessert–the panna cotta. I’ve tasted  a few panna cottas but this, for me, is the crème de la crème–a must-try in this restaurant. Yuuuuummmmy!

The set meals cost P425 for the chicken and salmon, and P455 if you choose the beef as main course. The amount already includes the soup, salad and dessert. Great deal, actually.

So whether you’re looking for a place where you can propose to your girlfriend (if you live in the vicinity, that is), or a restaurant to celebrate your anniversary, or even a weekend getaway, you might want to consider Le Jardin/Mountain Woods Resort. Take it from me, the food is as wonderful as the ambience.