Simple Kebabs, Walnut Roca and Moussaka were just among the specialties served by Terra Mediterranean Cuisine restaurant when it opened its doors at The Avenue Complex. With its modern and classy interiors that provide a superb ambiance, Terra not only brings good food but a great Greek dining experience in Iloilo City.
For a cuisine as foreign as Greek, the discriminating palate of the Ilonggos readily accepted it. And to celebrate one year of pure Mediterranean Odyssey, the restaurant introduces a total of 26 new dishes that will add a new dimension to its already vast menu of mostly Greek-inspired specialties.
Whet your appetite with Greek Tortilla; made with tomato sauce, mozzarella and Greek spices sandwiched between thin pita breads. Try the Grilled Sausage and Peppers (served with roasted pepper aioli) or Greek Salpicao; pan fried beef tenderloin cubes in olive oil seasoned with Mediterranean spices. Or experience the bounty of the sea with a ration of Sautéed Shrimps and Olives – in olive oil and tomatoes served with pita triangles. The Roasted Bone Marrows dished up with a parsley-caper spread and lemon proves one blissful experience to the start of the gastronomic journey.
Grilled Bone marrows
Seafood has a great influence on Mediterranean cuisine that even salads have the bounty of the sea. Order a Grilled Squid salad and enjoy it on a plate of mesclun, cucumber, tomatoes and roasted bell peppers dressed in red wine vinaigrette. Make room for the Grilled Tuna salad served with olives, cucumbers, tomatoes and fried capers with balsamic dressing. Or have the refreshing Watermelon and Feta salad – a mesclun and mint mix topped with chilled watermelon slices and feta cheese all embraced with a red wine vinaigrette.
The Mediterranean is a vast sea that extends for miles and touches a lot of countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It follows that the cuisine also has regional influences including that of the Italians. It is best exemplified with the pizza and pasta choices at Terra – a merry mix of the cuisine of Italy and Greece.
Pizza is made with the classic pita bread with Greek tomato sauce, parmesan and mozzarella cheese. One can choose from the exciting new line up of Anchovy and Roasted Bell Pepper, Olive and Feta, Grilled Chicken, Shrimps and Squid, and Artichoke and Capers.
Artichoke and Capers pizza
New pasta selections include Baked Spirali – a mix of meat sauce, herbed béchamel, mozzarella cheese and spirali pasta and Terra Pasta; a concoction of angel hair pasta, prawns, roasted bell peppers and chili all in extra virgin olive oil.
The new items on main course include pork, beef, chicken, fish and lamb specialties all reflecting the cooking techniques of the Mediterranean. The Greek Fried Chicken is perfectly fried chicken marinated in turmeric and yoghurt while the Grilled Chicken and Tomato is served on a bed of tomato sauce with chili and yoghurt sauce. Grilled Pork Chops are served with Mediterranean barbecue sauce while the Lamb Shank is braised lamb in red wine sauce with roasted garlic.
Greek Fried Chicken
Beef lovers would surely adore the Braised Beef Short Ribs Pie; beef seasoned with garlic, bay leaf and spices stewed in red wine vinegar assembled on a potato puree crust. The braised beef shanks dish known as Osso Buco is served with brown sauce and mashed potato.
Lamb Shank
A red snapper fish baked with Greek Tomato sauce, olives and capers is simply known as Baked Fish while Fish Picatta is perfectly fried cream dory with bell pepper smear and tzatziki. The latter is made with strained yoghurt (usually from sheep or goat milk) mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, usually olive oil, pepper, dill and sometimes with lemon juice, parsley and/or mint.
Molten Chocolate Cake served ala mode and Mango Crepes with almond crème and butterscotch sauce for dessert completes the menu.
Terra Mediterranean Cuisine strives to give its customers a satisfying gastronomic journey and a chance to taste the flavours of the sea and the bounty of the earth - the way the Greeks do. It leads in creating a culture of eating healthy cuisine which is both sustainable and organic. And it is constantly on a quest to bring exciting new dishes that will surely capture the hearts and taste of the Ilonggos.
-----------------
This feature was published on The News Today on May 5, 2011.
For a cuisine as foreign as Greek, the discriminating palate of the Ilonggos readily accepted it. And to celebrate one year of pure Mediterranean Odyssey, the restaurant introduces a total of 26 new dishes that will add a new dimension to its already vast menu of mostly Greek-inspired specialties.
APPETIZING
Whet your appetite with Greek Tortilla; made with tomato sauce, mozzarella and Greek spices sandwiched between thin pita breads. Try the Grilled Sausage and Peppers (served with roasted pepper aioli) or Greek Salpicao; pan fried beef tenderloin cubes in olive oil seasoned with Mediterranean spices. Or experience the bounty of the sea with a ration of Sautéed Shrimps and Olives – in olive oil and tomatoes served with pita triangles. The Roasted Bone Marrows dished up with a parsley-caper spread and lemon proves one blissful experience to the start of the gastronomic journey.
Grilled Bone marrowsSeafood has a great influence on Mediterranean cuisine that even salads have the bounty of the sea. Order a Grilled Squid salad and enjoy it on a plate of mesclun, cucumber, tomatoes and roasted bell peppers dressed in red wine vinaigrette. Make room for the Grilled Tuna salad served with olives, cucumbers, tomatoes and fried capers with balsamic dressing. Or have the refreshing Watermelon and Feta salad – a mesclun and mint mix topped with chilled watermelon slices and feta cheese all embraced with a red wine vinaigrette.
FUSION
The Mediterranean is a vast sea that extends for miles and touches a lot of countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It follows that the cuisine also has regional influences including that of the Italians. It is best exemplified with the pizza and pasta choices at Terra – a merry mix of the cuisine of Italy and Greece.
Pizza is made with the classic pita bread with Greek tomato sauce, parmesan and mozzarella cheese. One can choose from the exciting new line up of Anchovy and Roasted Bell Pepper, Olive and Feta, Grilled Chicken, Shrimps and Squid, and Artichoke and Capers.
Artichoke and Capers pizzaNew pasta selections include Baked Spirali – a mix of meat sauce, herbed béchamel, mozzarella cheese and spirali pasta and Terra Pasta; a concoction of angel hair pasta, prawns, roasted bell peppers and chili all in extra virgin olive oil.
MEAT AND SEA
The new items on main course include pork, beef, chicken, fish and lamb specialties all reflecting the cooking techniques of the Mediterranean. The Greek Fried Chicken is perfectly fried chicken marinated in turmeric and yoghurt while the Grilled Chicken and Tomato is served on a bed of tomato sauce with chili and yoghurt sauce. Grilled Pork Chops are served with Mediterranean barbecue sauce while the Lamb Shank is braised lamb in red wine sauce with roasted garlic.
Greek Fried ChickenBeef lovers would surely adore the Braised Beef Short Ribs Pie; beef seasoned with garlic, bay leaf and spices stewed in red wine vinegar assembled on a potato puree crust. The braised beef shanks dish known as Osso Buco is served with brown sauce and mashed potato.
Lamb ShankA red snapper fish baked with Greek Tomato sauce, olives and capers is simply known as Baked Fish while Fish Picatta is perfectly fried cream dory with bell pepper smear and tzatziki. The latter is made with strained yoghurt (usually from sheep or goat milk) mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, usually olive oil, pepper, dill and sometimes with lemon juice, parsley and/or mint.
Molten Chocolate Cake served ala mode and Mango Crepes with almond crème and butterscotch sauce for dessert completes the menu.
Terra Mediterranean Cuisine strives to give its customers a satisfying gastronomic journey and a chance to taste the flavours of the sea and the bounty of the earth - the way the Greeks do. It leads in creating a culture of eating healthy cuisine which is both sustainable and organic. And it is constantly on a quest to bring exciting new dishes that will surely capture the hearts and taste of the Ilonggos.
-----------------
This feature was published on The News Today on May 5, 2011.
