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.

Preparing Spanish Cuisine at Tapella

Last May 16th, I got the chance to see Chef Xandra of Tapella prepare their bestsellers: Paella Manchego, which is her own original recipe, an appetizer Cojonudos, and Sangria.

The Paella Manchego (Php550.)

1. A good paella is determined by how tasty the rice is. From the term paella, it’s about cooking rice in a pan, where the Catalan word paella is derived. For Chef Xandra, the rice need not be the sticky kind. Jasmin rice or the regular rice is just perfect.
2. Consistency is important. Chef Xandra said that if you are cooking chicken paella, then you use chicken stock and just garnish it with chicken meat and vegetables. If you prefer seafood paella, then you use seafood broth. She is not sold to the idea of mixing all sorts of seafood into the rice to make a paella because the flavor will not be as distinct.
3. For this Paella Manchego, two special ingredients are added: manchego cheese and saffron. Both are sourced from Spain. The manchego cheese is made of milk from Manchega sheep.
4. The Ingredients:

Ingredients:

50gms. olive oil

75gms. chicken breast

50gms. onions

50gms. garlic

80gms. calrose rice

30gms. broccoli

70gms. prawns

30gms. asparagus

20gms. Manchego cheese

.5gms. paella seasoning and chicken broth

Procedure:

Heat the oil in a paella pan over medium heat. Cook the chicken until browned on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and transfer to a dish. Add the onion and garlic to the paella pan, and cook for 2 minutes. Add shrimp,cooked chicken and paella rice,paella seasoning, salt and pepper and chicken broth put the heat to medium, cover, and cook for a further 20 minutes.

Mix in the asparagus. Cook for a further 5 minutes or until the chicken and rice are tender and the broth has been absorbed.Remove the pan from the heat, sprinkle with the Manchego cheese, and serve.

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Spanish and Chocolate at Tapella on Mother’s Day

From simple to exquisite, light to delectable–foodie mom deserves to be amused nothing but a palate-pleasing Mother’s Day fare. On May 8, that’s tomorrow, take the whole family to Tapella where everyone is in to be treated a rare line up of glorious Spanish food selections.

Experience a gastronomic melody with one of the most celebrated cuisines in the world. Showing off Spain’s most distinctive cuisines from the certified Executive Chef-mom Alexandra Cacho, expect that the menu line up are meant to take moms to a dining experience with style.

A perfect starter for a great summer meal, try the white garlic and almond cold soup (P70). Fittingly served in a shot glass filled with grains of almonds, it features a pleasurable contrast of sweetness from the grapes, lightly smacked with garlic. The result? A refreshing tickle that’s surely a unique delicacy mom will love.

The calamari el bulli (P255), another fancy starter will painstakingly make anyone forget the old-style impression with Spanish food. Made from the squid’s black ink stains, the soft mollusk is covered into a batter resulting to a crispy and tasty dark finished, served with aioli dip and fennel leaves. For a family of bread lovers, the camembert and caramelized onions on flueted bread (180) is filling yet makes anyone wonder what’s in for the next equally scrumptious hot selection. Considered a top-notch for its simple preparations filled with semi-sweet onions, this bread creates a noble distinction when combined with the soft and creamy camembert without the unwanted guilt. And what’s a Spanish cuisine without the traditional chorizo? Another Tapella’s certified favourite, the chorizo in red wine (P245), are sure to delight any meat-lover moms not only for the taste but for its less oily preparation.  Deliciously tender and flavourful, each cut is made special by the complementing combination of red wine and rich red oil.

Moving on to the heavier and more popular Spanish meal, Tapella incorporates a modern and alluring twist to paella with its manchego cheese, chicken, and shrimp paella (P500).  Don’t wonder why Tapella’s contemporary version of this most-loved paella is a major hit. The robust rice, meat, and seafood fillings are made special by the pleasing taste of manchego (Spanish cheese made from ewe’s milk), perfectly melted on top of the hefty serving that can satisfy up to 3 persons per order.

A certified signature favorite, the Tapella indulgence is not complete without sampling its simple and meek version of the certified Angus beef steak (P2750 per kg). Slowly cooked on the hot plate right in front of the diners, the cooking process makes it an appetite-inducing experience. The secret remains to the prime choice of the freshest meat, plainly seasoned with salt which naturally allows the flavors to come out. While other steaks are complemented with sauce, Tapella’s steak is known for its potatoes and pimiento for a more palatable Spanish twist.

To sweeten up the great meal, Tapella is treating moms with one of its sinfully good desserts fresh from its pastry oven—the choco lava cake! Exploding with the rich and gooey molten chocolate center, this dessert will make everything memorable from start to finish.

Reminisce and enjoy longer Mother’s Day meal at Tapella where the experience is revelry of Spain’s time-honored cuisines. Make this day a breezy blow out for the whole folk; plus, mom will surely remind her forever the fabulous Mother’s Day affair prepared in a cinch. 

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Located at Ground Level of cosmopolitan Greenbelt 5, Tapella is surrounded by top Bussiness Offices, eight theatres and high end shops, making it the ideal spot for a quiet coffee, a fashionable business lunch or a romantic dinner.

TAPELLA offers a wide variety of Spanish cuisine served in an informal and relaxed ambience. Headed by Executive Chef Alexandra Cacho, the restaurant specializes in tapas and paellas plus a wider range of salads, pastas and desserts served the Spanish way that will surely perk up the gustatory spree. The wine selection is from around the world valued well for money. The ambiance gives a modern and relaxed atmosphere with interiors designed with plush of red and beige accent. For more information or reservations, call 7572710 and 7572711.

Wine All-You-Can at Gaudi

If you love Spanish cuisine like me and you love wine, then there’s no reason for you not to check out Gaudi. At Gaudi you’ll get that authentic moder Spanish cuisine that you won’t get anywhere else.

And the good news is that you can now enjoy wine all–you-can for only P600 net, and discover the sensational selection of Spanish, Chilian, and Australian wines with crowd-pleaser tapas carefully prepared by Executive Chef Alexandra Cacho herself.

Have a feast of the simple yet well thought-out gourmet style tapas selections from the famous pepper rubbed and delicious to every bite pulpo (octopus), the freshly marinated scallops and shrimp skewers drenched in citrus juice, and the squid Spanish wonder, the black calamari or “el bulli” wrapped in blank ink batter. Craving for some meaty bites? Try Spain’s signature delicacy and Gaudi’s tasty version of the Serrano ham with cheese phyllo pastry, the flavorful North-African Moroccan chicken skewers teeming with fragrant spices and aromatics. And don’t be surprised as each bite comes with a new level of taste and freshness. Beer lovers are also set to have an indulging night with P50 net per bottle beer offer, plus the affordable price of P320 net wine bottle and not to miss is Gaudi’s popular Sangria. Boasting a temperature-controlled wine cave facility, all wines are guaranteed served at optimum temperature.

Gaudi is open daily from 11am until 12mn. Wine all-you-can paired with tapas and canapé’s is served every Friday from 6 to 9 pm. Located at Ground Level of Business Offices, theatres and high end shops, making it the ideal spot for a quiet coffee, a fashionable business lunch or a romantic dinner.

For more information and reservations, call 856 0473.

Tapella Celebrates Feast of San Fermin

Spain has always been known as an incredible tourist spot. All over the country there are a large number of events that draw tens of thousands of people annually to witness the culture, modern nightlife, and age old traditions of the Spanish. However, there is one celebration that is renowned above all others: San Fermin.

San Fermin is a festival that is held each year in Pamplona, a small city in Navarre. Beginning on the 6th of July, the afternoon Opening Ceremony draws a huge crowd around Town Hall, where the Pamplona party kicks off with the firing of a small rocket called the “chupinazo”, then leads into a huge celebration with live music, champagne, and plenty of dancing. But that is only the first day of the festival, and from then until the Closing Ceremony (14th July) there are a number of activities and events to enjoy.

The most well known and exciting events of the San Fermin festival is the Bull Run. This is a daily spectacle, and every morning a collection of bulls are run through the streets to the local arena, but the real excitement of this morning stampede comes from the many people who choose to run alongside them.

Here in the Philippines, Tapella Restaurant brings San Fermin in Manila with a twist. Tapella won’t have any opening ceremony around the town hall and definitely no bulls to run with, but a huge evening celebration of wine buffet paired with tapas, dancing and a lot of free items awaits you. Just come anytime on July 09 and dine in your all-white attire and you will be surprised with a free glass of wine, free chistorra sausage and a free redkerchief too.

“The feast of San Fermin is very well known not only in Spain but in the whole world. It’s a tradition that all the participants had wear traditional white pants and shirts with a red neckerchief tied at the front that’s why we would like to invite our guest to come in white on this day to feel the celebration and we are giving away glass of wine and sausage,” said Executive Chef- Alexandra Cacho.

Head to Tapella for the San Fermin festival, and have the time of your life at one of the world’s most famous  celebrations. Tapella is open daily from 11am until 12mn. Located at Ground Level of Greenbelt 5. For more information or reservations, call 7572710 and 7572711.

Tapella Restaurant Launches New Delectable Menu

Tapella Restaurant, one of the Metro’s favorite restaurants, continues to please its growing clientele by rolling out new dishes—from appetizing tapas, fresh catch seafoods, tempting stews and mouth watering desserts. The new delectable menu promises to be a gustatory delight. Take a look:

Enjoy the Certified Angus beef mini burgers, tenderloin steak sandwich topped with garlic crisps and Norwegian smoked salmon and capers on fluted bread.

Crave for open-faced bites such as Cojonudos-fried quail eggs with pimiento and serrano ham in baguette and the juicy and savory duck fatty liver in bread.

Take pleasure in cream of lentil served with pancetta crisp, fresh red peppers stuffed with Spanish omelet and Chistorra Vasca-Basque’s famous chistorra sausage made from minced pork.

Another must try are the Cochifrito – A perfectly deep fried suckling pig served with fruit sauce.

Estofado de Cordero -Homestyle lamb stew with potatoes, onions and tomato sauce, fresh tuna in rich and thick tomato sauce and Barramundi fish in beurre blanc sauce.

And for those with the sweet tooth, don’t miss the Tarta Volcan- A rich and moist chocolate volcano eruption cake with strawberry syrup.

Tapella, at the Ground Level of Greenbelt 5, Makati City, is open daily from 11am until 12mn. Wine all-you-can paired with tapas and canapé’s is served every Friday from 6 to 9 pm. Dining at Tapella comes with complimentary WIFI — a premium amenity among Gaudi Restaurants.

The restaurant is surrounded by top Bussiness Offices, eight theatres and high end shops, making it the ideal spot for a quiet coffee, a fashionable business lunch or a romantic dinner.

Tapella offers a wide variety of Spanish cuisine served in an informal and relaxed ambience. Headed by Executive Chef Alexandra Cacho, the restaurant specializes in tapas and paellas plus a wider range of salads, pastas and desserts served the Spanish way that will surely perk up the gustatory spree. The wine selection is from around the world valued well for money. The ambiance gives a modern and relaxed atmosphere with interiors designed with plush of red and beige accent.  For more information or reservations, call 7572710 and 7572711.

Easter Fun at Tapella Restaurant

Easter gives more reasons to have fun with family and friends with Tapella Restaurant’s Easter Fun. Kids will jump for joy and have a blast on Sunday April 04, 2010 from 4pm-7pm with magics, mimes and clowns! Games and tricks, egg painting contests, balloon twisting, fun filled activities and loads of prizes await kids in the much Easter Egg Hunt. Gather the most number of eggs and get prizes from Star Paper. What’s more is that kid’s will be delighted with dunkin’ donuts upon registration plus yummy spaghetti and other kiddie snacks while enjoying the event. For only php500nett, kids and family will have a holistic Easter Sunday.

Kids at heart will also enjoy sumptuous Easter especial starting from php300 and delight in the comforts of Tapella’s serene ambiance.

TAPELLA is another Spanish dining creation by Gaudi. Located in the cosmopolitan Greenbelt 5, TAPELLA is open all day and night and offers a wide variety of Spanish cuisine served in an informal and relaxed ambience. Headed by Executive Chef Alexandra Cacho, the restaurant specializes in tapas and paellas plus a wider range of salads, pastas and desserts served the Spanish way that will surely perk up your gustatory spree. The wine selection is from around the world valued well for money. The ambiance gives a modern and relaxed atmosphere with interiors designed with red and beige accent.

For inquiries and reservations please call 7572710.

Friday Wine Nights at Tapella, Greenbelt 3

Tapas, Paella and more – this is TAPELLA by Gaudi where Spanish dining has become innovative and exciting.  Located in the cosmopolitan Greenbelt 5, TAPELLA is the restaurant where the hip generation can satisfy their demanding appetite, maintain their youthful health and enjoy time.

Top caliber Chef Alexandra G. has prepared a menu of tapas, paellas, salads, seafood, pastas and deserts in the way they are served in Spain and in servings that can fit just one or to be shared by a group.  The wine selection is from around the world valued well for money.  Many are available by the glass.  The bar list comprises the most popular cocktails and drinks.

The ambiance gives a modern and relaxed atmosphere with interiors designed with wooden chairs and tables and soothing music to complete the setting.

Every Friday, Tapella offers Wine Night from 6:00pm-9:00pm indulge in all the wines and cocktail you want for only Php600. Savor carefully selected wines from around the world or enjoy a cocktail from the wide array of drinks, canapés, tapas and more available at the bar. Relax in a cozy, modern, no-frills atmosphere with authentic Spanish music and feel like you’ve stepped onto the Iberian Peninsula.

For more information and reservations, visit us at Ground Floor, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City or call 757-2710 to 11, visit www.tapella-restaurant.com, or email inquiry@tapella-restaurant.com.