Cebu Restaurants

Triton’s Treat as served at Ila Puti (IT Park)

Ila Puti, one of the many Cebu restaurants located at the I.T. Park in Lahug, was the dinner venue with my Mga_Gamhanan friends. We started with Triton’s Treat, which we all liked.

Triton’s Treat - Penne pasta with shrimps, squid medallions, dried shrimps, shrimp pesto, crab essence in extra virgin olive oil

If you don’t like the smell or taste of bagoong (shrimp paste), then this dish isn’t for you. The aroma is rather strong, and the taste is a bit salty as expected. There’s a hint of sour mango, a couple or so of shrimps, and the squid medallions are sliced squid balls.

This dish is something new, and it’s worth a try if you like a different taste with your pasta. I don’t think this would have mass appeal though.

I remember a conversation between Ally Mcbeal and her roommate Renee about why women dream of prince charming - Snow White. Cinderella. All about gettin’ a guy. Being saved by the guy. Today it’s the Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Pocahontas. All about gettin’ a guy. So basically we’re screwed up because of … Disney.

Pasta is kind of like that here in the Philippines. A generation of Filipinos will only appreciate pasta, especially spaghetti, if it has some tomato sauce, lots of ketchup, sliced hot dog, ground meat, fistful of cheese, and sweet enough to develop cavities all because of … Jollibee.

Pork Salpicado - Tenderloin salpicado with chili

Sex and the City’s Carrie has this to say about relationships - There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that’s just fabulous.

I could say the same thing for Pork Salpicado, only shorter. The fried rice is okay because it has lots of garlic and not salty. The pork is a bit salty and spicy. This dish is very Filipino, and my friend Janice wouldn’t really recommend it if you are looking for something new to try.

I know I have a point, the question is, am I getting to it?

Penang Plato - Malaysian mock-satay with coconut shrimp fried rice, fresh cucumbers, and peanut dipping sauce

The peanut sauce in this dish is tasty enough but definitely not in the same level as that served in Spice Fusion. The fried rice tastes well with the spicy pork. The fresh cucumber added an interesting texture.

Remember Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz in My Best Friend’s Wedding?

Julianne Potter: Crème brulée can never be Jell-O. YOU could never be Jell-O.
Kimmy Wallace: I HAVE to be Jell-O!
Julianne Potter: You’re never gonna be Jell-O!

As satays go, this dish can never be a creme brulee but a Jell-O. There is nothing wrong with Jell-O. I like Jell-O!

Stroganov - Tenderloin tips in thick sour cream sauce with stir fried garlic rice

The garlic rice is good because it isn’t salty and blends well with the ultra creamy pork with a bit of mushroom and spring onion. My friend Carmel liked this, and I agree with her, that is if you like meat with cream.

Peking Pork - Five-spiced tenderloin tips in oyster sauce with Peking-style stir fried rice

The meat in oyster sauce was just so-so. The Peking-style fried rice turned out to be the kind with oyster sauce and Chinese sausage/chorizo.

In the movie Tristan and Isolde, the yummy James Franco said this line while his character Tristan was dying - I don’t know if life is greater than death, but love was more than either.

I would like to borrow these words for a semi-dramatic review on the Peking Pork and the Stroganov - I don’t know if the Peking pork is greater than the Stroganov, but the Peking stir-fried rice was more than either.

Notes:

* Food portions are just right for one person, quite filling in fact.
* One order of a cold drink is more than enough for one person (rather large tumbler)
* Ambience is okay (mood lighting inside the resto)
* Service is okay, you have to make your order at the counter and pay for it first. The setup kind of reminds me of a canteen but a classy one.

Do check out the many choices at Ila Puti. Who knows, you might just find a comfort food in there despite the menu misspellings (they don’t have water, but they have wetter - if my memory serves me right!).

Share your Ila Puti experience here. Alternatively, you can share your favorite lines in a movie or TV series!

Remember, this blog will always be a “karinderyang bukas sa lahat ng gustong kumain.”

Photo Credit: Carmel P.

More Yummy Talk

• Away from the Hustle and Bustle at Metro Cafe
• Breaking the Dawn with Alberto
• 7 Filipino Food Best Sellers at Hukad sa Golden Cowrie
• Filipino Food at TsiBoom Native Restaurant (Parkmall)
• Treasures at The Old Spaghetti House (SM Cebu)