IF YOU'RE following Matt and Cat's recommendations you'll have recently enjoyed some great international cuisine, and now you can add delicious Filipino food available right here on the Isle of Wight.
Our starters at Newport's Kusina Restobar included a lumpiang cebuano, which was like a big spring roll, but better.
Our substantial rolls were stuffed with plenty of moist minced pork and mixed vegetables, with banana ketchup - a traditional Filipino delicacy.
The menu named the mushroom starter as "Kabute mo teh!" complete with exclamation point. Waggishly this turned out to mean "You're a mushroom!"
The light cheesy dip with mushroom chunks was served hot, with slices of warm toast.
We didn't become mushrooms after eating it; although Matt is already a 'fun guy'! Cat's a 'guy' too, according to most waiting staff, but that's a whole other article.
Matt was very pleased with his beef bistek, for him the best dish of the night. Big hunks of braising beef were stewed until tender in a powerful peppery sauce. Plenty of meat, and busting with flavour, yet without overpowering everything.
Like all the main courses, this came with a half-coconut filled with sticky white rice; perfect for soaking up the delicious juices.
The other main dish was a sizzling pork sisig, a great-looking plateful of diced pork fried with garlic, onion, chilli and peppers.
This was less spicy and richer than the zingy bistek, and looked enticingly like something that you'd find in a streetfood wrap.
A squirt of mayonnaise and an actual fried egg were the unexpected toppers to this hearty plateful.
For dessert we both had Filipino creme caramel with vanilla ice cream served with
cute little wooden spoons. Ice cream was replaced by a light whipped cream; the ideal light finish to the meal.
Then the most amazing part, the bill. For two to eat three courses each, we paid less than £40 - an amazing deal these days.
What's more, there was no skimping at Kusina, with big platefuls of food neither of us
went home hungry.
Kusina is an excellent addition to Newport's dining-out offer. The enthusiasm and pride in the Filipino heritage of the venue is very visible.
We enjoyed dining there, and for this bargain price, we'd recommend you go along and do the same.
MATT & CAT'S BILL:
Lumpiang cebuano £4.50
Kabute mo teh! £4.00
Bistek £11.00
Pork sisig £10.00
2 x Creme caramel £8.00
TOTAL: £37.50.
RATING: Three stars. A decent place that we'd recommend.
CONTACT DETAILS: Kusina Restobar, 7 - 8 Holyrood Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5AU.
Tel: 07769 953040
Website: www.restaurantji.co.uk
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