souffle – Jellybeans in the City

#UnniesTimeOut at Chef Jessie Rockwell Club

It’s been quite some time since I enjoyed a sojourn at the posh Rockwell area in Makati. With all the upheaval in the metro caused by the pandemic and the recent elections, I have not been able to re-explore a lot of my favorite haunts.

That’s such a shame as one of benchmarks for a fine-dining experience remains to be Chef Jessie Rockwell Club.

Having re-opened after pausing its operations due to the lockdown measures in the city, Chef Jessie Rockwell Club is all set to provide the metro’s foodies with well-crafted gourmet dishes and a luxurious environment in which to enjoy their meal.

Chef Jessie Rockwell Club is helmed by Chef Jessie Sincioco, a pioneer in the locak culinary scene. Having won the baking category grand prize winner in The Great Maya Cookfest in 1983 and becoming the very first Filipina Pastry Chef in 1990, she furthered her illustrious career by managing upscale restaurants through her own company JCS Gastronomie, Inc. In 2015, she received the distinction of being hand-picked to cook for His Holiness Pope Francis during the Pontiff’s visit to the Philippines.

I was happy that during our recent trip to the Rockwell area, my fellow unnies Jen of Sand Under My Feet and Nix of IEatAndIWander, were able have a sit-down meal at Chef Jessie Rockwell Club to enjoy Chef Jessie’s celebrated culinary creations.

We started with Chef Jessie’s Ciabatta, a long, flat and rustic-looking loaf that’s sets the tone for a great meal, especially since it’s accompanied by Chef Jessie’s Special Dip made with finely chopped red and green bell peppers, pimiento and grated parmesan in herbed olive oil, along with bread rolls and butter.

We had our taste of fresh produce thanks to the Salad ala Judy Ann, composed mixed greens tossed with bits of fruits in season along with slivers of brie and bleu-cheese in a raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

To further whet our appetites, we had our serving of Cream of Carrot and Pumpkin Soup, a thick and creamy bisque made with wholesome ingredients with a final seasoning of freshly ground black pepper upon serving.

One of our main dishes was a serving of US Beef Tenderloin Tips Salpicao, made with the nicely trimmed and flavorful ends of US beef tenderloin, stir-fried in Worcestershire sauce, butter, garlic, and other spices, and served with creamy mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables in season.

We also enjoyed another tasty viand: the Pan-Fried Salmon in Mariner Sauce, a succulent fillet of Norwegian Salmon on a bed of creamy, herb-infused sauce, garnished with chopped parsley, and served along with creamy mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables in season.

To cap off our sumptuous meal, we enjoyed a decadent serving of fluffy Chocolate Souffle drenched in vanilla sauce.

We also accompanied our meal with both cold drinks – Freshly Brewed Iced Tea and Fresh Lemongrass Tea – and hot beverages – Freshly Brewed Coffee and Basilur Tea from Sri Lanka.

For this group of unnies, our sit-down dinner at Chef Jessie Rockwell remains one for the books!

Chef Jessie Rockwell Club 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 88906543 or +63 2 98907630.

Know more about Chef Jessie through her website or follow Chef Jessie on Facebook and Instagram for more details about her restaurants’ latest offerings.

Check out my previous posts about Chef Jessie.

Chef Jessie’s Place, Makati — Chef Jessie’s Place in Makati soon to open

Chef Jessie’s Place for delivery — Chef Jessie’s creations are now available for delivery and pickup!

Chef Jessie Light Summer Berry Cake — Chef Jessie unveils newest creation: the Summer Berries Light Cheesecake!05

#FruitTeaParty at Colobaba Cafe

In these last few days of summer, don’t you sometimes feel the need for ways to relax and refresh yourself as well as a break from the monotony of responsibilities at work and at home?

How about getting together with your pals for a refreshing Fruit Tea Party at Colobaba Cafe?

This fruit tea brand originated from Taiwan and has now spread to over 500 branches worldwide. One of its outlets in the Philippines is located along Timog Avenue in Quezon City.

Here, you and your buddies can relax in the laid back atmosphere as you feast your eyes and sate your tummy on wondrously colorful and refreshing drinks and snacks on offer.

With the reinvigorating blend of fresh fruits and premium Taiwanese tea, Colobaba Cafe’s drinks are high on both taste and nutritional content.

Taking center-stage, of course, is Colobaba Cafe’s Fruit Tea Party (Php298). This is the 1.5-liter version of the Superfruit Tea which is made of Taiwanese tea infused with apple, pineapple, watermelon and calamansi.

If you want to make your fruity drink even healthier, you can always go for a Yogurt Baba (Php188), which is made by blending fresh fruit juice and yogurt. To enjoy this drink, simply shake then gulp it down!

Of course, what would a party be without some delicious food? Colobaba Cafe’s got this covered, thanks to delectable snack offerings.

Snack Pack (Php268). A filling combination of potato fries, chicken chops, chicken popcorn and sausage.

Orange Chicken + Veggies (Php198). A satisfying rice bowl topped with chicken glazed in a sweet and tangy orange sauce, a sunny-side-up egg and vegetables.

Nothing caps a meal quite like some sweet delight, so Colobaba Cafe’s got some treats to give you and your friends your just desserts!

Chocolate Souffle (Php188). Fluffy Japanese style pancakes topped with cheesy cream foam, drizzled with chocolate sauce and sprinkled with crushed Oreos.

Egg Tarts (Php150/pcs | Php200/6pcs). Portuguese-style pastries composed of a flaky and buttery shell housing creamy egg custard.

So take heart, you harried urbanite. Some welcome rest, respite and refreshment await you and your buddies at Colobaba Cafe. Drop by any of its outlets in the metro:

Quezon City: Unit 9 ITC Commercial Complex, Timog Avenue corner Panay Avenue, Quezon City

Manila: Unit 104 The Manila Residence Tower II, Taft Avenue, Manila

Pasay: Magdalena Jalandoni Street, CCP Complex, Pasay City

Don’t have the time to drop by a Colobaba Cafe branch? Have your reinvigorating drinks and re-energizing snacks delivered to you via GrabFood or FoodPanda.

To keep updated on its latest offers and promos, follow Colobaba Cafe on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food-tasting held at this restaurant where food items were served at no cost to the attendees.

Fine dining at Bistro Manuel, Poblacion

I’ve never had the pleasure of dining at Lolo Dad’s Cafe in Malate which closed its doors a few years back.

From what I hear from veteran (ehrrm!) foodies and what I’ve gathered online, Lolo Dad’s is known for its fine dining, culinary masterpieces and the awards they merited.

Too bad I didn’t get to experience Lolo Dad’s but there is a silver lining to this predicament: in 2016, Chefs Ariel and Mia Manuel of Lolo Dad’s opened a new restaurant in Poblacion called Bistro Manuel.

It is a quiet establishment, almost hidden being situated away from Poblacion’s more casual (and noisier) bars and restaurants. The place is well-suited for workday lunchouts, intimate dinners for two or elegant family celebrations.

Diners are even given a sneak peek into the kitchen to see Chef Ariel Manuel and his team in action.

Together with my fellow foodies, I recently visited Bistro Manuel where we were welcomed by Chef Ariel himself. We also sampled the resto’s signature dishes which feature many of the old favorites from Lolo Dad’s as well as new creations that showcase the chefs’ mastery of their craft.

Starters. Tasty dishes to kickstart the meal.

Amuse bouche and freshly baked bread and butter (compliments of the chef).

Double Espresso Soup (Php295). Tomato and mushroom cream-based soups served in separate espresso shot glasses. Definitely a new way to enjoy soup!

Romaine Ceasar Salad (Php380). Crispy pancetta and six-minute boiled egg tossed in romaine lettuce with anchovies, lemon and parmesan cheese dressing.

Spinach and Warm Mushroom Salad (Php380). Mushrooms sauteed in smoked bacon on top of spinach leaves and doused with roasted garlic vinaigrette.

Lolo Dad’s Cafe Baked Oysters (Php230 per piece). A real treat to the taste buds, each oyster is accompanied by angel hair pasta under a layer of melted cheese, and accompanied with a cube of foie gras.

Sorbet (compliments of the chef). A citrus sherbet to cleanse the palate.

Mains. Hearty and flavorful viands showcase Chef Ariel’s mastery of European cooking techniques.

Mild Spice Arabbiata (Php550). Penne tossed in tomato base sauce seasoned with basil, garlic and chili flakes. A light dish that portended of great things to come!

Lamb Shawarma Grilled Pizza (Php700). In this pizza with a Mediterranean feel, lamb belly, tomato and onions are placed on a charcoal-grilled thin crust and served with yoghurt and chili dip.

“Only for the Rich” Pizza (Php1,290). One of the resto’s more playful dishes, this dish features many luxurious ingredients that led to its name. Lobster, duck liver, scallops, prosciutto and smoked salmon with carabao’s milk cheese and truffled tomato sauce on top of charcoal-grilled thin crust garnished with edible flowers.

Pan-fried Fillet of Salmon (Php695). A hefty piece of well-seasoned salmon, seared and served caramelized onion, potatoes and bacon butter sauce.

Roasted Duck Breast (Php860). Breast of moulard duck on compressed potatoes.

Seared Scallops and Scampi (Php990). Bechamel-stuffed rigatoni pasta accompany seared scallops and plump shrimp.

Lamb & Lamb with Lamb (Php860). Three ways to enjoy various parts of lamb: roast lamb rump, stewed lamb breast and fried lamb sweetbread with sieved potatoes.

US Rib-Eye Prime Steak (Php2,200). 300 grams of premium steak grilled to medium doneness and served in rendered fat with truffled mashed potatoes and chilled Hollandaise. A carnivore’s dream come true!

Desserts. A delectable selection of decadent confections whipped up by pastry chef Mia Manuel that capped a wonderful meal:

Freshly Baked Apple Tart with Rock Salt and Olive Oil Ice Cream (Php295)

Lemon Meringue Pie with Chocolate Ice Cream (Php295)

Baked Cheesecake with Orange in Spiced Syrup (Php275)

White Chocolate Creme Brulee with Berry Tartlet (Php240)

Tiramisu Souffle with Vanilla Sauce (Php350)

Declension of Mango and Mascarpone Cheese with Vanilla Frozen Cream and Dulce de Leche Sauce (Php285)

Every dish was exquisitely crafted and a feast for the senses. Bistro Manuel is definitely a welcome addition to my list of favorite restos in Poblacion.

Many thanks to Chef Ariel and the staff of Bistro Manuel for the warm welcome and fabulous food and the Jen of Sand Under My Feet for extending the invitation!

Bistro Manuel is located at Second Floor, Six Axis Center, 4347 B. Valdez Street, Poblacion, Makati City, open daily from 11am to 2pm and from 6pm to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 88718566, +63 926 7341067 or +63 998 3423566.

Disclosure: Together with fellow foodies, I attended a good tasting held in this establishment wherein the items mentioned above were served to enable us to sample the fare to facilitate an honest review and were not paid for by the participants including myself.

Check out my posts on other fine dining establishments: