lemongrass chicken – Jellybeans in the City

It was a sunny Sunday and two intrepid titas – Jen of Sand Under My Feet and myself – are out for brunch.

But do note that we are not braving weekend traffic and the after-mass influx of people in the Rockwell area for just any, run-of-the-mill brunch.

Oh, no… We’re there for a special kind of dining experience that only one of the most trusted names in the metro’s culinary scene can provide.

We made our way to Chef Jessie Rockwell Club for a deluxe brunch.

And as to why two titas decided to spend their late Sunday morning here, well, read on…

One: It’s a beautiful place to have a meal.

Situated inside the posh Rockwell Club in Makati, Chef Jessie’s recently renovated restaurant is infused with a modern colonial design that provides a lush tropical-themed haven for food lovers.

Floor-to-ceiling windows let in a lot of natural light, as well as a view of the goings-on in the nearby pool area. The green-grey walls, highlighted by large potted plants make it seem like the garden outside found its way into the restaurant and suffused the space with freshness and calm.

For us titas that already deal with office stresses during the weekdays, entering this welcoming and relaxing space is a treat.

Two: Every dish is a work of art.

Chef Jessie Sincioco is a legend among foodies. Having won the Great Maya Cookfest in 1983, she was offered a special training course at Hotel Intercontinental Manila which paved the way to her becoming the first-ever Filipina pastry chef in 1990.

Chef Jessie brings her considerable culinary expertise into play in bring dishes that provide a feast for the senses: beautifully presented and masterfully prepared to achieve the best in taste, texture and aroma.

During our Sunday brunch, Jen and I feasted on Chef Jessie’s tasty offerings which include:

Fresh Juices:

Dalandan (Php195) and Banana Shake (Php160).

Starters:

Freshly baked breads served with butter and herb vinaigrette infused olive oil.

Salads:

Salad ala Judy Ann (Php450). Mesclun and micro greens tossed with bits of fruits in season along with slivers of brie and bleu-cheese in a raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

Salad ala Joe Mari Chan (Php450). Slivers of ubud (heart of palm) molded into a circle together with alugbati (local spinach) in a sampaloc (tamarind) vinaigrette.

Soups:

Classic French Onion Soup with Gruyere Cheese (Php395).

Cream of Carrot and Pumpkin with Shrimp and Mango (Php350).

Entremets:

Dalandan Granitas (Php195) to cleanse the palate in preparation for the main course.

Mains:

Certified US Black Angus Beef Tenderloin (Php1,895) served with sauce bourguignonne, buttered vegetables and potato gratin.

Grilled Lemongrass Chicken (Php895) served with garlic rice and atchara.

Desserts:

Chocolate Souffle (Php350) and Mango Jubilee Ala Mode (Php450).

Cafe Latte (Php180).

Truly, this was a feast that any tita would find rewarding after a hectic work week!

Three: You get treated like the queens you are.

From the time we were ushered to our table to the time we left, we were assisted by the friendly staff. Plates were efficiently cleared after every course, our water glasses immediately refilled, and our inquiries on the food items sufficiently addressed.

They even gamely agreed to our multiple requests for pictures!

So whether you’re a tita, a tito or just a foodie looking to treat yourself to an amazing meal, head on to Chef Jessie’s!

Thanks to the Chef Jessie staff for the great food and warm service during our brunch and to Jen for sharing her GC!

Chef Jessie is located at Ground Floor, Rockwell Club, Amorsolo Square, Rockwell Center, Makati, open daily from 11am to 11pm. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 8906543 or +63 2 8907630.