Lemuria: A Discovered Charm

According to Wikipedia, Lemuria, like Atlantis and Zealandia, is the name of a hypothetical lost land supposedly located in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.  It is one of those ancient civilizations that carry with it mystic and allure.  The Lemuria I was introduced to last Sunday is definitely not a sunken continent especially when it has made its mark hovering afloat as one of Manila’s best restaurants. 

As the car veered toward the driveway leading to the The Winery where Lemuria is located, the privacy of the compound breathes a sense of secrecy and serenity.  The garden greets with a smile as you step closer to the Mediterranean-inspired country house, nestled among flowering shrubs.  The restaurant has limited space, adequate enough to accommodate 20 people.  The interior display had a quirky appeal to it as Christmas decors abound –tablecloths had the Santa knits weaved on it.

From the same owner of Brumms Quality Wines Inc. Marian “Kitt” Bru Schroeder shares to us a space in her own front yard by transforming the upper deck of The Winery into a charming restaurant.  The short menu echoes classics from the French-Mediterranean region.  As for the extensive cellar, the restaurant offers wine from Germany, Romania, Austria, and from other areas in the European region.

The professional servers are well versed in the dishes and wine list and will gladly help you make a selection.  Marjo attended to us with much fervor that makes the ambience so embracing. 

On the Table:

Walnut and Focaccia Bread with Sun Dried Tomato and Butter (Free)

Walnut bread was moist, not too crumbly and had the right texture.  It certainly whets the appetite for what’s more to come.

Mushroom and Gruyere Soup PHP 320

Generous portions that start with fresh, high quality ingredients make up the menu and the specials.  We had the soup split into two and it seemed like the chef added more so we can share it satisfyingly in bigger portion.  Gruyere with its somewhat beefy taste heightened what’s already a flavorful mushroom soup.  Note that they also did not scrimp on the Gruyere cheese.

Chris wanted to order wine to go with the Sunday lunch but I declined since we were going to get a massage right after.

Braised Lamb Shank with Apricot and Red Wine Sauce PHP 880

I was undecided between the rib-eye or the lamb shank (having had this only a few days before) but trusting Marjo’s recommendation, lamb was again the preference that day.  This was the only miss among what was prepared for us.  It was a big chunk of meat, which made the carnivore in me really exuberant, positioned upright on soft polenta bed.  The polenta was perfect and I wish I could say the same for the lamb shank.  The lamb shank was quite dry sans a healthier color.  The dish was accompanied by an extra serving of red wine sauce but the luscious sauce was not enough to mask the meat in drought.  The meat was a bit on the tough side –that leaves me perplexed if the meat was supposed to be braised or slow-cooked.  The worst for me is the unappetizing murky brown/grayish color of the inside meat and there was an unusual distinct taste to it –like old meat, that taste where sometimes leftover (thrice reheated) beef meat taste like at home.

It was something I wanted to shrug off but I couldn’t bring myself to touching the meat again much more have it in front of me so I reluctantly raised it up.  Marjo was bewildered but apologetic.  Bewildered because this particular lamb was taken from the same batch they served the night before and they received no complaints.  The sous chef also approached our table and profusely apologized.  I asked her if she saw anything wrong it as I invited Marjo and the rest of the team to try the part I haven’t touched.  The sous chef (my bad for forgetting the name) was honest enough to say that she didn’t see anything wrong with it but offers that her specialty lies more on pastries and desserts.  There was an affable exchange of points –where she explained that red wine must’ve caused the brown color and where I shared that I’ve had meat before cooked in red wine but this was strangely dark brown compared to the lamb shanks I’ve tried before.  Marjo offered to replace the dish but I politely declined.

Kurobuta Pork Belly PHP 760

Braised pork belly served with garlic potato puree with peppercorn sauce on the side.  Elegant in its simplicity of flavors, sprinkled with my favorite pink peppercorn –which I usually find in desserts instead of savories.  Chris wiped his plate out just giving me a couple of bites.  The pork belly was moist and flavorful –with just enough fat that you’d want to take.

Valrhona Chocolate Souffle Cake with Cinnamon Orange Ice Cream PHP 260 (Waived)

All the luscious desserts make me want to order more than one, but we settled on their bestseller.  A soufflé is light, fluffy, baked dish usually served in a ceramic dish.  The more unforgettable ones are the savory soufflés in Le Soufflé.  The Valrhona Chocolate Souffle Cake of Lemuria stands on its own with a crunchy outer crust while harmonized with an orange ice cream balanced on a sweet crispy thin, which essence reminded me of a local cookie.  The ice cream had a subtle citrus taste to it that complemented the sweet-bitterness of the chocolate. 

Immediately addressing a client’s feedback shows that the staff takes great pride in this restaurant and works very hard along with the owner to make sure everything is done right.  I really welcome the attention that was given and the flawless service during a slow Sunday lunch.  The well-crafted ambience and the rest of the passionately prepared dishes were excellent –to say the least, truly an indication that Lemuria encompasses the hallmarks of the very origin of the name with great success.  I’ve heard previous patrons rate it as “fabulous and friendly” and would always find a way to return to this restaurant of mysticism and elusiveness for the aura and cuisines with French flair.  The courtyard villa is home to beautiful array of flowers and plants and as we walk towards our parked car, it ushers us for a visit yet again.

Thanks Chris for this Sunday lunch date.  It’s been well over a year since I’ve wanted to try this place and surprise you… but you beat me to it.

Lemuria is located at 5 Julieta Circle, Horseshoe Village, Quezon City.  If you want a Lemuria experience, kindly make a reservation at 724-5211/722-2185.  For more info, visit their website: www.brumms.com.ph. 

Lemuria Album

Email: kitt.schroeder@brumms.com.ph