Patio Umbrella/Blue Monday

Garden umbrellas outside The Gustavian at The Terraces in Ayala-Cebu.  A perfect spot when you're dining al fresco---it's also where smokers meet.

Linking to Blue Monday

River Shrimps on the rocks

I'm back after a 2-week hiatus. Missing my blog buddies and catching up with what's happening in the blogosphere.

Here's my comeback post to tease your tastebuds---river shrimps (swahe) on the rocks. This dish was cooked before my eyes. Fresh shrimps are thrown into a hotbed of rocks and covered for a few minutes. The waiter shakes the pot here and there, and---voila!--cooked shrimps on the spot. Smells good, too! It's actually steamed shrimps (halabos) prepared in a creative way.

I enjoyed this experience at Mesa-Filipino Moderne, The Terraces branch in Ayala-Cebu.

Posted for Food Trip Friday and Food Friday

Cold Jellyfish Salad

The hot and humid weather in Cebu had me craving for this cold and spicy concoction---Jellyfish Salad.  I had this salad as an appetizer at Big Mao, a Chinese restaurant at  Ayala Center.  I loved the combination of textures in this cold salad---crunchy jellyfish and creamy century egg, with an added crunch of sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

 

Posted for Food Friday and Food Trip Friday

UCC Cafe - Ruby Tuesday

Another delightful find during my stroll at the new Terraces in Ayala-Cebu was the UCC Cafe. It's one of my favorite coffee shops---I love their espresso and desserts! When my friends and I need some peace and quiet while having our dessert, we go to UCC Cafe at Forbes Town Center in Global City. The branch at The Terraces is a good location, too...far from where shoppers and mall rats usually go. It's near The Spa and Belo Medical Clinic, and exit to Marriott Hotel. Oh, and the red umbrella is for Ruby Tuesday.

Here's a cup of my espresso cappuccino...

...and the rich and sinful choco fudge.

The Terraces at Ayala-Cebu (Weekend Snapshot)

I hardly recognized Ayala Mall-Cebu last weekend but I loved it! Terraces now surround the side of the mall facing the lush garden and fountains, and across the park where Cafe Laguna is, are rows of new restaurants and cafes. I spotted Cyma, a Greek restaurant that I sometimes go to at Greenbelt 2; The Gustavian, a deli that I love (been to their Mactan branch last week), good ol' Cafe Laguna and Starbucks are in the same locations, new coffee shops, more restaurants and a Fully-Booked branch.

A Cebuano friend told me the new mall opened on October 2008 (I was in Cebu in February or March this year but stayed in Mactan the whole time). It is a 600-million pesos redevelopment that transformed what used to be a simple lagoon area to a row of high-end restaurants and a cool park complete with fountains. This mall is a favorite destination when I'm in Cebu for work--- I usually stay at the nearby hotel, meet friends at Bo's Coffee, dine at Bigby's, indulge a cheese craving at Roma Mia, have a beer at Tequilla Joe's or enjoy live music at Ratsky [when it was newly opened].

The garden definitely tops the attraction at The Terraces. Parents bring their kids here, young people hang out, friends chat by the fountain, boys skate around. And I'm sure The Terraces is livelier at night---Cebuano folks, tourists and expats in Cebu love the night-life! And of course, this is a cool place to walk around for somebody like me who was killing time, waiting for an evening flight.

Posted for Weekend Snapshot

Fountain at Ayala - Cebu (Watery Wednesday)

It was a pleasant surprise to see the newly renovated Ayala Center in Cebu. Naturally, I gravitated towards this fountain. The sound of water was soothing, and somehow alleviates the scorching Cebu heat. The newest Ayala wing is aptly called The Terraces---more al fresco dining, a lush garden and terraces-inspired fountains.

More photos of Ayala-Cebu in my next posts.

Get your feet wet at Watery Wednesday