October was a busy (and blessed) month for me. Birthday parties left and right, family gatherings, reuniting with my dance partner (yes!), and of course, work, work, work! But worry not because despite the non-stop hustling, I still managed to check out a few restaurants and squeeze in several awesome events into my tight schedule (naks)! Below, my top finds for the past whirlwind month of October!
1. Pressed Pork Belly (P320) from OPA! Mediterranean-Inspired Cuisine
Every foodie who can’t say no to crispy pata, bagnet, porchetta, lechon, and other porcine things must try OPA’s Pressed Pork Belly. One of the best (if not the best!) items in their new menu, this sinful slab of layered skin, meat, and fat boasts of contrasting textures and robust flavors. The pork belly is brined with salt and brown sugar and marinated with herbs, garlic, and white wine before slow-cooking it, then finally being cooked at high temperature to achieve that perfect crispness. Yes, I’d totally understand if you close your eyes while you eat it!
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OPA Mediterranean-Inspired Cuisine
2/F Somerset Millennium Hotel, 104 Aguirre Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
02.556.5905
6:00AM – 10:00PM
Email: dprophilippines@gmail.com
Facebook: OPA
Instagram: @opaatmillennium
2. Quattro Formaggi (P395) from OPA! Mediterranean-Inspired Cuisine
With Christmas only a few weeks away, I couldn’t think of a better way to get welcomed into the chilly season by sampling OPA’s Quattro Formaggi pizza: a 10-inch pie made of mozzarella, blue cheese, parmesan, and Edam—a.k.a. Queso de Bola! The flavors are sharp, the scents bold and intoxicating, assaulting the senses and encouraging multiple slices. Believe me, when you see this gold on a plate, it would be so hard to stop yourself from reaching for more.
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OPA Mediterranean-Inspired Cuisine
2/F Somerset Millennium Hotel, 104 Aguirre Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
02.556.5905
6:00AM – 10:00PM
Email: dprophilippines@gmail.com
Facebook: OPA
Instagram: @opaatmillennium
Related post: Get Blown Away with Opa's Mediterranean-Inspired Cuisine
3. Modern Tokwa’t Baboy* by Ken Alday of CCA Manila
Ken Alday of CCA Manila recreates this Pinoy favorite in his entry for the 2013 CCA Culinary Cup. A total display of skill and creativity, tokwa’t baboy is presented in this dish in an altogether new fashion: the base is tofu enveloped in a light batter, then topped with yakiniku and pickled radish. Served in bite-sized pieces, this was my favorite among all the savory dishes. Thanks CCA Manila for giving me the chance to sample the winning dishes of last year's cup!
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CCA Manila - Center for Culinary Arts
287 Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Hotline: (+63 2) 994.2520, 30 & 40
Trunkline: (+63 2) 426.4840 to 41
Fax No.: (+63 2) 426.4836
Email: marketing@cca-manila.com
Official website: CCA Manila
Facebook: /CCAManila
Twitter: @ccamanila
Instagram: @ccamanila
*This dish is not for sale/not being served anywhere.
4. Queso de Bola and Chocolate macarons (P60 each) from Café Macaron
A first glance at the red pastry will make you think it’s a red velvet or raspberry-flavored macaron, but biting into it reveals a delightful and totally unexpected taste: Queso de Bola. Café Macaron’s Queso de Bola macaron is only slightly crisp and very chewy—the kind of macaron I like, not the super-crunchy ones which shatter into crumbs when you bite into them. On the other hand, the Chocolate variant (brown) has a rich but not-too-sweet filling made with dark chocolate infused ganache. Divine! So far, these macarons are the best I’ve tried in the country.
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Cafe Macaron
Fairmont Hotel - Makati
1 Raffles Drive, Makati Avenue, Makati City
Tel.: +632.795.1888
Fax: +632.555.9899
Email: dining.makati@fairmont.com
Breakfast: 6:30AM-11:00AM daily; all-day ala carte: 11:30AM-9:00PM daily
Website: Cafe Macaron
Facebook: Cafe Macaron
5. Murtabak by Chef Ojie Reloj, from The Perfect Match at The Perfect Pint (P599/set)
A part of The Perfect Pint’s exclusive food-and-craft-beer-pairing menu, the Murtabak is Chef Ojie Reloj’s entry for The Perfect Match. This Mediterranean dish is made from unleavened bread—stuffed with spiced minced beef, then fried. Served with red curry sauce and the Signal No. 1 Stout made by the Katipunan brewery, it calls for nothing but a mind-blowing experience, the spiciness of the Murtabak and the richness of the beer warring inside the mouth in an incredibly pleasant way.
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The Perfect Pint
2/F Crossroads Bldg., 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
02.823.1320
10:00AM – 2:00AM
Facebook: ThePerfectPintPH
Instagram: @theperfectpint_ph
6. Thai Fish Cakes by Chef Gigi Angkaw, from The Perfect Match at The Perfect Pint (P599/set)
Another entry from The Perfect Match, Chef Gigi’s Thai Fish Cakes paired with the Joe’s Brew Sierra Madre Pale Ale is simply a match made in heaven. Cliché as it may sound, the fish cakes stood out on its own with its subtle flavors heightened by the herby, garlicky aligue aioli, but eaten with the sweetish pale ale, it was indescribably good. I’ve said this before, but I’m saying it again: perhaps the term “perfect match” was specifically invented for this pairing.
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The Perfect Pint
2/F Crossroads Bldg., 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
02.823.1320
10:00AM – 2:00AM
Facebook: ThePerfectPintPH
Instagram: @theperfectpint_ph
7. Truffle Mac-and-Cheese from Epicurious
I've been in search of a good truffle mac-and-cheese ever since I discovered Moonshine's and Todd English's, and this one from Epicurious comes third place. This creamy concoction of cheddar-coated macaroni is topped with melted mozzarella and infused with truffle oil, whose scent instantly wafted to my nose after opening the lid of the cute little jar. The container is perfect both for a non-messy way of dining in and a hassle-free takeaway!
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Epicurious
Lower Ground Level, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza Mall
(02)570.7741 or (02)506.6474/Mobile: 0917.590.7420
Email: epicuriousmanila@gmail.com
Website: epicuriousmanila.com
Facebook: epicuriousmanila
8. This plate of desserts from Epicurious
What's better than attending an exclusive launch of a new line of coffee? Why, attending an exclusive launch of a new line of coffee with a huge dessert spread, of course! You're lucky because these heavenly sweets are actually for sale in Epicurious. The salted caramel cake has balanced sweetness and is perfect with Di Bella coffee. The brookie was insanely good, crisp and rich. The yema coated with hardened caramel was the biggest surprise of all; it turned out to be my favorite for the night!
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Epicurious
Lower Ground Level, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza Mall
(02)570.7741 or (02)506.6474/Mobile: 0917.590.7420
Email: epicuriousmanila@gmail.com
Website: epicuriousmanila.com
Facebook: epicuriousmanila
9. Pasta Agnolotti (P328) from Wolf & Fox Gastropub
They say a person is either a “wolf” (an aggressive hunter) or a “fox” (a creative), but me? I say I’m a schizo, so I really don’t care, I just want my pasta fix! While Wolf & Fox Gastropub’s Pasta Agnolotti failed to deliver the “truffle” this dish supposedly had according to the menu, the dish was surprisingly very good. Mushrooms are stuffed inside folded pasta dough, smothered with a rich cream sauce, then topped with grated parmigiano. A balanced and filling dish.
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Wolf & Fox
Two Parkade, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
11:00am - 2:00am
Facebook: Wolf & Fox
Twitter: @WolfandFoxPH
Instagram: @WolfandFoxPH
10. Cheesy Fish Katsu (P120) from Baon Club PH
Baon Club PH is an online seller which delivers home-cooked meals to employees within McKinley Hill. Having worked in the area for 4 years myself, there are days when nothing from the nearby restaurants look appealing—so when Baon Club started offering food to more people aside from the creators’ officemates, I was one of the first to sign up! So far my favorite is the Cheesy Fish Katsu—folded cream dory, stuffed with melted cheese, and served with steamed rice and a garlicky, pesto-like tartar sauce. Reasonably-priced, filling, non-fastfood, and delicious!
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Baon Club PH
Facebook: BaonClubPH
BONUS: Reinventing Tablea (Tablea Molten Lava Cake and Chocolate Mousse) from the chefs of CCA Manila (specifically, Karla Pia Cardenas and Phoebe Dy)
At this point, I have lost any skill at describing and making sense. This dessert creation was pure sex, heaven, and bliss on a plate: a tablea cake, both bitter and sweet, velvety and rich, it tasted almost pure and flour-less or whatever it is that gives cakes a bread's texture. Some mint and raspberry sauce is just nearby, call them when you're ready for an orgasm.
*This dish is not for sale/not being served anywhere. That's TOO BAD FOR YOU, at least I got to try this once. Nyahaha!
What are your best finds for the month of October?
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