Bon Apetit!
From Antipolo (Balaw - Balaw restaurant), my food journey leads me to Makati where my sister works (Yehey! my food partner is back) She entice me to have a lunch date with her to one of Makati's chic resto and that was L'Incontro Ristorante Italiano.
It is located at 207 Nicanor Garcia St. (Formerly Reposo St.) Makati. Just near the newly built jazz condo.
Thanks to Deal Grocer, I was able to get a deal from this elegant restaurant. It was a set meal for two for only 975php (original price is 2,000php)
We chose a set that was served with red wine. The staff are friendly and very accommodating. The place sets a cozy mood -- a good time to relax from work.
We started with Antipasto Piatto (assorted cheese and salami, eggplant capresse with basil with homemade flat bread and freshly made focassia)
The flatbread and focaccia was fantastic! All items got its distinctive taste and the cheese was not too strong to the palette that made me wanting for more. However the best part of the meal was
Manzo Alla Griglia (Japanese Wagyu steak cubes) I can say that I was in heaven when I ate this. The steak was perfectly cooked. Two thumbs up for me! Together with this dish was
Lamb Bolonese Arancini (risotto balls) Crunchy and full of flavor. The lamb pieces are quite small (well of course lol) but the taste of risotto inside is exploding. Love this dish.
And who said that we won't finish it off with a heartwarming dessert? Of course we will! We ordered Tiramisu (well its not really a great pair with red wine but who cares! I soo love it haha)
I can say its good but not really the best so far after I ate tiramisu at Espressemante Illy. It was delicately done and the mascapone cheese is smooth. Still a good choice for me :D
They served Montepulciano D'Abruzzo (Italian Red Wine) great sweet wine for not so much alcohol drinker like me. It has a fruity taste good to be paired with the food that we ate.
That was a good start for the upcoming "ber" months. Can't wait for October which I'll celebrate my birthday week with food.
***no price was posted for each item since I purchased it in a set.
Want to know more about L'Incontro Ristorante Italiano?
visit their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Lincontro.ManilaPage
"Something different, something new, life has a new meaning when I found you"
Its been a while since my last food trip. My partner in crime (my sister) was not available last couple of months and I undergone what people call "diet" lol; but as they say, if a door closes, God always open a window. So last Saturday, I got two heaven-sent guys who brought me to Balaw Balaw for a late lunch after our badminton game.
Located at 16 Doña Justa Subd. Manila east highway Angono, Rizal. The restaurant is open 10am until 10pm from Mondays to Sundays.
We came at 2 pm, which was way past lunch time. We asked the waiter for any available exotic dishes, sad to say only Uok and Hantik are available. I'm adventurous but not this time that I'm so tired from playing badminton and hungry. Still the waiter provided us the leisure to see one of their dishes -- alive! haha
He presented us... Uok -- Wood boring grubs seen inside a coconut tree. Those little wormies will be pan fried with soy sauce, vinegar and chiles. I'm so tempted to order it but since I'll be the only one who will eat it (the guys decided to back off) I refused to order it since I know I wont be able to finish it.
On the other hand, the hantik are big ants (better not to see them alive!) steamed and stir fried to perfection -- thanks to Best Men clip of GMA News TV (was able to watched how it was cooked)
Since those are the only two available (rose petal salad and nilasing na palaka was out of stock) We decided to pick the unusual that we can get.
While we are waiting for our orders, I took the spare time to view and appreciate the interiors of the whole place. Angono is known for Higantes Festival - also called feast of San Clemente celebrated every 23rd of November.
Different masks are hanging in the area, Spanish artifacts, images of Nazareno and wood carvings of Sto. Niño are also sighted.
Thanks to my beloved TL, badminton coach, my everyday dose of sunshine (cause he always makes me laugh) I was able to get a bit of photography lessons from him - lessons for my iphone hahaha!
Well in the end, I asked Tony to do the honor of being my food photographer for the day. So as soon as our food arrived they asked me to wash my hands at the "tapayan" located at the back of the dining hall.
Amazing! So as I have mentioned, we tried choosing the unusual food to eat. Unusual in such a way its not your everyday "adobo-menudo-sinigang" diet kind of thing.
First up, Dinilawang Palos (Eel Cooked in yellow ginger or turmeric and fragrant alagaw leaves) 320php
The turmeric flavor is really distinct in this dish. It has a tinge of bitterness from the alagaw leaves but not overpowering the taste of the fish.
Then, we are served with Balaw Balaw Rice (Fried Rice mixed with seafood and chorizo de Bilbao) 240php
It looks like arroz valenciana without the sticky rice. Every grain was full of flavor; not so sweet nor salty. Something to look forward for another round :)
For the veggies, Tony chose to add Ensaladang Talong (boiled eggplant drenched in coconut milk, vinegar and garlic) 85php
I must say this is not your usual ensalada. The coconut milk gave this dish a new personality. So love the idea of adding coconut milk to a sweet - bland vegetable. Two thumbs up.
And last but not the least is the dish of the day: Ginataang Kuhol (freshwater snails cooked in coconut milk) 140php
The snails rock! It is creamy, full of flavor and something you will ask for more. I was little bit ashamed of myself cause the two guys only got their plates half filled with shells but mine was overflowing with shells hahaha!
To wash off all of the food, we ordered Gayuma (coconut meat with pandan juice and grenadine syrup) 65php
At first the waiter didn't want to serve us the drink because the coconut meat is too soft and there will be no texture (meaning its not on their standards) but because of my convincing power -- haha! They decided to serve it to us.
Its true to its name gayuma cause I started to love it so much. I also got an idea of recreating it and adding vodka on the drink -- well hope my tummy wont get angry if I do that -- lol.
It was indeed a new experience with new food buddies. Thanks to Daddy Dee and Tony for keeping me company and making this food trip worthwhile.
Wanna take the challenge? Food adventure awaits you at Balaw Balaw
BALAW BALAW
Specialty Restaurant Folk Food, Folk Art
16 Doña Justa Subd. Ph. I Angono, Rizal, Philippines 1930
Tel. 651-0110
Mobile # 09237144209
E-mail:balaw2x@yahoo.com
