Flavours de España in Tapella and Gaudi

Take time to explore the alchemy of Spain as Gaudi and Tapella brings Flavours de España, a month-long food festival featuring Spain’s most famous regional cuisines.

Spanish and Filipinos same passion for good eats are a huge part of its exciting culture—great meals over good conversation remain both preference for feasts. For this type of epicurean experience, Gaudi and Tapella offers a set menu from Spain’s different regions only P599++ per head.

From today until October 31, both restaurants highlight the northwest and south of Spain, Andalucia and Basque. Evidently, the common staple for both regions are meat and seafood but the difference lies in their unique preparation.

For a rich experience of Basque, start off with chistorra (basque chorizo on baguette slice) and viruta (Serrano ham with alioli on baguette slice). A Basque cuisine is certifiably known for tomatoes and sweet or hot red peppers, the purrusalda (Basque potato and leek soup) is a tasty combo pair, followed by the freshest assorted greens–ensalada de la casa (tossed greens drizzed with house dressing). And for the much- awaited main course, it’s an amazingly tender and generous serving of estofado de cordero  (lamb stew with potatoes), not a fan of lamb?  Then have abonito con tomate (fresh tuna in tomato and pepper sauce) a diet-friendly option of refreshing tuna drizzled with tomato and peppercorns. To cap off the meal, it’s a decadent serving of arroz con leche (creamy rice pudding with cinnamon) velvety and thick, this will surely leave the palate asking for another plate.

Andalucia of the South is something not to be missed too. The historic Islamic influence in its cuisine gives this region a unique culinary identity with the use of olive oil, garlic, and wine as the most important native ingredients. For a truly appetite-inducing starter, croquetas variadas dos salsa  (mushroom, salami, and ham croquetas with romesco and alioli dip) is a favorite delicacy brimming with rich palatable dip. The soup, is an interesting take on tomatoes— gazpacho (fresh tomato and vegetable soup) served cold but delightfully heartwarming. The salad is truly Mediterranean in taste as it is filled with healthy greens and other freshest produced. For the main highlight, paella marisco (fish and seafood paella) is tummy-filling and never boring with its appetizing blend of shapes and colors. Another Mediterranean main course option is the pollo moruno (Moorish chicken with couscous) especially marinated that gives a zestful zing to its flavor. End it light and sweet with tocino del cielo, deemed as the heavenly egg custard of Spain.

Moving on from October 3 to 31, Gaudi and Tapella guide guests to Catalan, rightfully known as the Mediterranean flavor of the northeast.  As the cuisine of this region is infused with olives, garlic, onions, tomatoes, nuts, and dried fruits, the meal from start to finish offers a delightfully refreshing sensation of flavors. The crujentes de jamon (Serrano ham and cheese bites and in phyllo pastry) and ondarza (fried camembert with rapberry sauce) is great choice for a truly-Catalan starters. For a simple yet flavorful soup, sopa de cebolla (onion soup) remains a classic warm up with a certified twist of Span. Feast on ensalada de la casa (Tossed greens drizzled with house dressing) followed by parillada de carnes con patatas pobre y pimientos (assorted grilled meats with stewed potatoes and pimientos) a mix of sweet and savoury ingredients, and a mark of the inventiveness of Catalan cuisine. Or opt for the fideua (seafood noodle paella), brimming with the delicious goodness of seafood, but using unique short pasta called fideua. Chef’s recommendation for dessert is no other than profiteroles con leche (cream puff with vanilla ice cream drizzled with chocolate). These lovely puffs are complete with worth-relishing dessert indulgence— airy, light, and cloyingly sweet.

Perhaps one of the most famous fares of Spain, worth waiting is the Flavours of Castillan from October 10 to 31. Food here usually gets a high regard for its diversity and sophisticated preparation especially on its stews, asados, and large assortments of desserts. Chorizo al vino  (chorizo stewed in red wine) prepares the palate with truly worth-relishing meals to come, with its tasty balance of spices drenched in olive oil, paired with tortilla de pimientos (traditional Spanish omelet with peppers). Soup is simple but delicate in flavor, sopa de ajo (poor man’s garlic and bread soup) followed by the aromatic pollo al ajillo (chicken in garlic and olive oil) or gambas al ajillo (shrimps sautéed in olive oil, garlic and chili). To conclude the hearty meal, it’s the well-known family dessert recipe, flan dela abuela (grandma’s Spanish leche flan).

Make lunch or dinner a family affair at Gaudi and Tapella, where the experience will take anyone to Spain’s most note-worthy regions. After all, it’s the company that truly completes the treat for a family of discerning foodies. For inquiries and reservations, please call 757.2710 and 856.0473.

Gaudi is located at the Ground Level of cosmopolitan Serendra in Taguig while Tapella at Ground Level of Greenbelt 5. Both restaurants offer a patio for those who want to be seen and the large booths inside good for power talks and intimate chats. Surrounded by top Business offices, theatres and high end shops, it makes an ideal spot for a quiet coffee, a fashionable lunch or a romantic dinner.

The Third Loop for the Makati E-jeepney

Yahoo! News reports that the local government of Makati launched the third loop of the e-jeepney after almost two years.

I remember the first and second loops take you around Makati’s CBD (Central Businss District) divided between Salcedo and Legaspi Villages. This third loop will take you to the historical places or sites in Makati City. Because of this, the loop is called the “Makati Heritage Route.”  The route will start and end at the  Makati City Hall and will go through the following:

• Barangay Poblacion with its ancestral homes
• the 93-year-old Museo ng Makati
• General Pio del Pilar National High School, which is named after Makati’s local hero during the revolutionary period
• Poblacion Park
• Powerplant Mall, called as such because on this site was built a power plant

Read the full story here.

I’d like to take this route one day.

The Symphony of Parol at the Ayala Triangle Opens the Yuletide Season

Last November 17th, the Symphony of Parol also called by Ayala Land as Christmas at the Gardens featuring Parol, opened at the Ayala Triangle Gardens.

Wizheart and I decided to celebrate his birthday there during the opening. We were again awed by the symphony of lights (its name last year).

Take a look:

After that awesome display, we got hungry, and so we checked out the newly opened restos at the Ayala Triangle. Look which restos are there.

Continue reading »

Mang Inasal Opens on C. Palanca Street, Makati City

Check out the new Mang Inasal on C. Palanca Street corner De la Rosa Street, Makati City! 

The Social Network Special Screening Tonight

I’m sure by now Nuffnang and PLDT myDSL have announced the lucky 90 bloggers who qualified for the special screening of the social network movie tonight.

Congratulations and enjoy the movie!

Update:

Check out some photos during the event HERE. Thanks to flickr subscriber, ebarrun!

Check out Krazy Garlik!

I think it was about a month ago that I got invited to the soft opening of Krazy Garlik, and though a funny thing happened to me there, I enjoyed the food and the ambiance! )

Perhaps you would think that when you go there and eat you’ll leave with your mouth still tasting the garlic, or worse smelling garlic. But no, the garlic ingredient in every dish is so subtle that it just blends well with the rest of the ingredients.

Conclusion: Food at Krazy Garlic is really good! The dishes are a mix of Spanish, Italian, Mexican but with a twist of garlic in every dish.

Resolution: I went back there last night with my college buddies, Deng and Amay. Yes the three silly dwarfs stuffed themselves with seafood in coconut curry (my original fave!), crispy pata (my new fave!), and assorted mushrooms. Drinks were travel ____, chinese snowflakes, and pink slush. We ended dinner with peppermint tea (mine), coffee (Deng’s) and another tea for Amay. Too bad, we didn’t have cameras with us.

Here are the photos during the soft opening.

Krazy Garlik is on the 2nd floor, Greenbelt 5, Makati City. You may call them at 501-3752.

Blessings & Prosperity Food Court Opens on Ayala Corner Rufino Streets

A new food court opens on Ayala Avenue and Rufino Street, Makati City. Called Blessings and Prosperity Food Court, it houses stalls that offer street food such as fish balls or kwek-kwek (quail eggs covered with flour and deep fried), or even siomai.

It’s a  welcome treat for all workers in the area. If you like eating street food in an air-conditioned restaurant, then this food court is for you. Check it out!

SM Supermarkets Green Wednesday

Last Wednesday, I went to SM Makati Supermarket and did some grocery. At the check-out counter, I was asked, “Ma’am, paper bag or plastic bag?”

I said, “OK, paper bag.”

The bagger then put all my groceries in two paper bags. I had to carry the two paper bags by hugging them. With my shoulder bag and camera sling, I realized that it would be difficult for me to carry all of them to the shuttle parking. So, I asked the bagger if I could have a plastic bag to put my two paper bags in.

The bagger went, “You will have to pay Php3.00 ma’am. It’s our Green Wednesday rule.” Or something to that effect.

SM Supermarket’s purpose for this Green Wednesday dawned on me. Feeling guilty and since I’m also an advocate of going green, I endured the little inconvenience and carry the paper bags.

I commend SM really for all their green initiatives!

CityKart Racing Opens at Park Square 1, Makati

Kart racing enthusiasts out there, head for Level 5 7, Park Square 1, Ayala Center, Makati now. The CityKart Racing has just opened an outlet there.

Schedule:

Weekdays (Monday to Thursday): 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Weekends (Friday to Sunday): 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

I took this photo quickly as we were going out the parking one night. Will take better photos one of these days.

Cleaning Up Ayala Avenue

I was away for a week’s vacation  and was pleasantly surprised when I went back to work that Monday morning and saw these trash bins along Ayala Avenue.

What’s even more interesting is that the trash bins are categorized according to the kind of waste: non-biodegradable and biodegradable. The trash bins come in pair and are strategically placed, about every 10 meters away from the others.

I really hope people, especially those people smoking outside PBCOM building, would use these trash bins, and make Ayala Avenue much cleaner than it already is.

Kudos to those who have thought of this!

Let’s love this Earth. It’s all we got!