The Souvlaki way
Alexis Yap
Lex in the City
I MUST admit, there really are times when we run out of places to go and eat. I don’t think it’s because there are not enough food places around Cebu, although, truth be told, we could use more. There are quite enough.
And the list is growing everyday, which is a great thing. The true challenge, I think, is finding one that is praise-worthy. A place that you are comfortable in, that has great, reliable food.
One night two weeks back, my friend Jigs took me to Moda Souvlaki and introduced me to its owner Sean. It is a small hole-in-the-wall kind of place located at Paseo 2, along F. Cabahug St. in Mabolo. Chef Sean, the owner is quite the charmer. Born in Canada, he is a good conversationalist and a perfect dining companion as he volunteers exposing the secrets to his no-nonsense cooking (as he would put it). But he need not worry about his ideas being stolen by me. I have always been better at eating than preparing food.
We began our meal with a plate of pita bread with some really delicious hummus, followed by some Greek Calamari, and a basket of really good chicken wings with some very, very hot sauce (see the real name of this sauce at the restaurant), and some tanziki sauce, both incredibly homemade.
It was my first time to try what they call a Mousakka. It is a grilled eggplant dish made with spiced ground beef, layered in rich béchamel, and served with garlic toasted pita and Greek salad. Oh my gosh!
Then we had the Souvlaki. Souvlaki is a Greek word meaning marinated meats on a stick. They’ve got chicken, pork belly, tender steak, and spiced lamb. They also got Souvlaki platters where you enjoy your marinated meats with rice pilaf, lemon roasted potatoes, Greek salad, and tzakizi sauce. When it’s your first time, get the beef. Oh my! It was the most delicious piece of beef I have had in a long time. Sean told me it was marinated for no less than 12 hours. That’s probably why.
I asked Sean what he thinks I should try next time and he said the Crispy Fried Fish Fingers are also good. I’m getting that for sure.
I have Jigs to thank for bringing me to Moda Souvlaki since I don’t usually find myself in that neck of the woods. I also have Sean to thank for the awesome food and great company we had that evening. Now I have one more restaurant to add to my list of favorites.
Moda Souvlaki is open Mondays through Saturdays from 4:30pm until midnight and is located at the E Zone Plaza, F. Cabahug St., Mabolo, Cebu City.
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