Saturday, March 10, 2007 España! By Jenara Regis Newman
Finally, there’s a place in Cebu where you can get churros con chocolate, tortillas de patata and mixta, huevo a la Lucio, Spanish chorizo, mijillones con vino blanco, gambas al ajillo, croquetas, bacalao and salpicao daily at any time between 7:30 a.m. and midnight. That’s at the recently opened Hola España located at the Maria Luisa Road in Banilad.
Hola is a deli-restaurant that offers authentic Spanish cuisine, and goodies like cheeses, wines, olive oil, hams (including Serrano and Iberico), sausages and turrones from Spain and other European countries, plus some local ones like Gourmet Bulad from Dumaguete and various dried fruits under the Jollibites label (processed for M. Lhuillier Trading), as well as Balls’ Food Products like La2P dried coconut.
One must try its bruschettas (country style bread slices rubbed with garlic and olive oil and topped with portabella mushrooms and slivers of ham) which has easily become a favorite among its growing clientele, and its paella, whether Valenciana, Negra or Verdugo, the last being a vegetarian paella. It serves hearty soups like bouillabaisse (really great) and sopa de lentejas either of which could be a meal in itself. Or, if you’re on a diet, you could make a meal out of Hola salads – Caesar’s, Alyssa’s Garden, Greek or Nicoise. Everything is served on earthenware by a German manufacturer in Cagayan de Oro from German clay, and with utensils by Solingen.
If you’re in a particularly festive mood, then you could try chicken al horno (which is tenderized chicken marinated with peppercorn, garlic and carefully roasted) or the piece de resistance, cochinillo Segoviano (suckling pig roasted to perfection), either of which has to be ordered a day in advance.
And to complete that special meal, you have a choice of delectable desserts: ginger crème brulee, pannacotta, chocolate mousse and baklava. As for drinks, there are teas and juices, soda and mineral water and great coffee with a choice of coffee beans. And beer. Twenty-two kinds to choose from! Or wine from Spain, Chile, Australia, France and Italy.
General manager and corporate secretary of Hola Joey Villareal explains that Hola also offers some dishes from other European countries, especially those near Spain. Assistant GM Arvin Mejorada says the place is usually full at night so its best to call for reservation (the number is 344-6149 and 344-6493).
Michel Lhuillier, Hola’s majority owner, says that they’re expanding this one, as well as opening Hola branches in Mactan, near Shangri-La, and Davao, which can only mean this early, Hola has been at needs to be replicated! Ole Hola!
