Red House Taiwan Shabu-Shabu Restaurant
During a recent cool spell here in Cebu, enjoyed several pleasant dinners at Red House Taiwan Shabu Shabu. Must have gained 5 lbs!
Red House is located a couple of doors down from the MJ Hotel on Apitong Street. From Parklane Hotel, head west on Escario, past Miki (tiny hole in the wall with decent coffee and Japanese pastries, which was closed for awhile but recently re-opened) about 20 meters (toward Gororordo), then turn north up the first lane, which is Apitong Street, a narrow one-way street. You will see posters for Grand Isabella Apartments plastered on the wall or on telephone poles.
This is authentic Taiwanese hot pot (Chinese huo guo) and actually not Japanese shabu shabu, but perhaps a distinction without too much substance. Customers order platters of sliced meat, seafood, tofu (including tau pwe), leafy greens and other vegetables, noodles, and various other dishes, and then place them gradually into the bubbling broth in the communal hot pot over a live burner in the middle of the table. Certain items (for example, corn coblets, or gabi or other root veggies) will cook more slowly than, for example, sliced meat, and thus should be placed first.
Sauces and condiments are on a central table. Add a healthy amount of sate sauce (sha cha BBQ sauce) to a small bowl, add soy sauce, chili oil, vinegar, chopped onions, grated garlic, sliced chilis, chopped scallions, and cilantro, to suit your palate.
Would suggest first-timers starting with Combo "(B)" (at P680 + 50 each for soup stock), plus rice extra. Less than P1,000 total and plenty for two. Drinks extra but reasonably priced.
First became a fan of huo guo during chilly winter evenings in Taipei in the early 70's, near the Inkuan circle at the confluence of Nanking (Nanjing) West Road and Chunking (Chongqing) North Road. That Taiwan hot pot was the best I have ever eaten, although parking there was always a challenge. Red House here in Cebu City comes close.
Red House: tasty food, pleasant service, decent ambiance, reasonable prices. In my view, head and shoulders above Lucky Bowl Taiwan Shabu Shabu on Cabahug Street and also on A. S. Fortuna, or Shabu Way in Ayala Terraces.
Most of the customers are local Filipinos, Japanese, and Koreans enjoying their Jinro. Virtually no other westerners.
"Bon appetit"!
OM.
P.S. Often crowded for dinner before 8:30 pm, so either make a reservation, or be prepared to wait, or go late.
Michelin one-star restaurants.
Ate at Pig & Palm last year, shortly after it opened. Was curious about this new venture by Michelin one-star chef Jason Atherton and his Cebuana wife, Irha. P&P reportedly is a joint venture of the Athertons with local property developers Chris and Carla McKowen (Carla is the daughter of the wealthy Chinese-Filipino family which owns the MSY Tower, in which P&P is located, as well as a number of other properties here). After working at other restaurants, including at the Gordon Ramsay Group, Chef Jason opened his first restaurant, The Social Company, in London, and now has something like a total of 16 restaurants in London, NYC, Shanghai, HK, Dubai, and Cebu. Three of these restaurants are Michelin one-starred. Obviously, quite successful.
My conclusion about P&P: tasty enough, but a bit overpriced for Cebu. A lot of hype about Cebu's "first Michelin rated restaurant" but not really spectacular.
Have not yet eaten at the newly-opened Cebu (SM Seaside Mall) branch of Tim Ho Wan, the HK Michelin one-star dim sum restaurant, although have previously eaten at THW in Makati Glorieta and at THW branches in HK and Singapore. Food seems quite similar at all of the branches tried. Obviously, quite a successful dim sum restaurant chain.
My conclusion, in short, as to each of these branches or sisters of Michelin one-star restaurants: tasty enough, and among the better restaurants in Cebu, but nothing really spectacular.
Your taste buds and conclusions may differ.
OM.
Radisson blu lunch buffet
Decided to flash the cash by taking my provincial visitor to the big lunch buffet at the Radisson blu. My friend had a great time trying out so much new food. You should have seen her face when she tried Danish blue cheese! Priceless. Trip there backfired on me because shortly afterwards I had possibly the most violent vomiting fit of my long life! Just proves we are not invincible!