Restaurant Review: Kusina Luche (Adlawon Vacation Farm, Cebu City)

 

Kusina Luche at The Lodge of Adlawon Vaction Farm

On the second day of our Cebu Media Familiarization Tour, we had our lunch at Kusina Luche with Adlawon Vacation Farm located at the rural side of Cebu City. Named after owner Dra. Melinda “Peluche” Ortiz, this on-site restaurant is located within The Lodge, the main structure on the farm. 

Check out "Adlawon Vacation Farm"

The restaurant's view deck

Kusina Luche serves an appetizing selection of appetizers, salads, soups, snacks and desserts, all made from healthy organic fresh fruits and vegetables newly harvested from the farm.   The restaurant was quaint, with country-style furnishings.

 

Media group participants digging in.....

For starters, we were served crispy, deep-fried 3-dip cabcab (also known as cassava crackers or cassava crisps, Php185) which are closely associated with the cuisine of Mindanao and the southern Visayas islands.  These wafers are made from finely mashed cassava tubers with a little salt and sugar. These we dipped with either latik (syrupy caramelized coconut cream used as a dessert sauce), turmeric and ginger vinegar.

 

3-Dip Cabcab

Then there’s the healthy and very flavorful Toting’s Chicken Buko Soup (Php299) which uses lean meat from native chickens.  These were simmered in a coconut shell, using the young coconut water along with the buko meat to complement the taste.

Toting's Chicken Buko Soup

 

The main courses (Adlawon Bistek, Binukadkad na Tilapia, Pandan Chicken and Crispy Pata) were good for two to three persons.  

Adlawon Bistek

The must-try Adlawon Bistek (Php399), thinly sliced sirloin beef braised in a mixture of citrus, soy sauce, onions and garlic, was hearty, tasty and perfect with the steamed rice.  The butterflied Binukadkad na Tilapia (Php375) was fried to a very delightful, crispy state. 

 

Binukadkad na Tilapia

The Pandan Chicken (Php599), chicken bites wrapped in pandan leaves (which infused the chicken with flavor as well as help hold in the chicken juices and keep the meat nice and tender), was juicy and delicious. 

 

Pandan Chicken

The Crispy Pata (Php699), deep fried pig trotters or knuckles served with a soy vinegar dip, was the piece de resistance, crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside.

 

Crispy Pata

For dessert, we had the homemade Sherbet Guyabano (Soursop) Ice Cream (Php50). It was one of the most delicious flavors of ice cream I ever had, smooth, delectable with a wonderful, creamy texture. I had three servings of these, more than anyone else in our group.

 

Guyabano Ice Cream

Kusina Luche: Adlawon Vacation Farm, Sition Proper, Brgy. Adlaon, Cebu City 6000.  Tel: (032) 516-3948 and (032) 516-3918. Mobile numbers: (0942) 266-7392, (091) 523-1406, (0931) 190-5913 and (0942) 266-7392.  E-mail: avf.cebu@gmail.com. Open Wednesdays – Sundays, 9 AM – 8 PM. Admission: ₱150 per head (₱50 is consumable for food & drinks) and ₱100 per child below 12 years old (infants and toddlers below 3 years old are free of charge). 

Cebu Pacific Air has daily flights from Manila to Cebu’s Mactan International Airport.  It also has flights from Clark (Pampanga) and Davao City.  Book via www.cebupacificair.com.