Getting stuck in traffic for 2.5 hours last night is the main reason I avoid going to Makati during weekdays for the past 3 to 4 years. I made a table reservation for 4 at 8pm but my Twin and I arrived almost close to 9pm. I thought we’ll be arriving earlier at 730pm when we left my office at 6:15pm. Good thing my brother’s good friend JP was there to hold it for us.
Stockton Place has been on my hit list for the past month but I couldn’t get my schedule straight other than they’re also always full. A simple black chalkboard bearing Stockton Place serves as your mark, other than the cool white brick façade. Inside is a small dining area with the menu chalked on the large blackboards on the wall.
The outdoor patio should be lovely during balmy days. Currently they are only open for dinner service, but Stockton looks like a good place for a Sunday brunch too.
The men let me handle the ordering. I was too tired to chew over the choices so went ahead and voiced out our mission… it weighed almost 1kg.
On the Table
Tomato Soup P250
With Parmesan foam, croutons, cherry tomatoes
Salads were tempting but since it was way past dinner time, we just went straight to the mains. I ordered soup for JP since I felt his hunger mounting. The tomato soup was light, smoothly creamy with just the right sweet tartness. The Parmesan added some sharpness while the crisp contrast of the croutons was enjoyed.
The way they served their soup reminded me of one of my favorite restos in Cebu, Anzani.
Poached Chicken P550
With truffle mushroom duxelle truffle mashed potato and crispy chicken skin
Poached chicken sounded like a diet food for someone joining an Iron Man race or old folks’ only option. The poached chicken was incredibly succulent and tender, erasing all my thoughts of boredom. Inside the chicken was finely chopped and butter-sautéed mixture of mushrooms, onions and herbs seemingly pasted on the meat that gave intensity in flavor.
The paper thin chicken skin crackles and snaps dissolving like candy in the mouth, but instead of sweet sugary taste, the crispy skin had pleasant salty shade with a caramel-like thread of richness.
Both the starter and chicken with duxelle made me feel that the dishes are carefully and deliberately prepared, step by step. Not all restaurants can make you feel special. Stockton does on what they serve on the plate.
Rib Eye Steak P450 per 100g
With bordelaise sauce and fried potatoes
The steak arrived looking so handsome with an entourage of fried salted potato tots. Lightly seasoned and peppered, the rib eye steak was cooked medium rare as requested. The 800g++ thick slab had a hard sear on the outside keeping a nicely browned outer layer, crusty in texture but contrastingly tender on the inside with its sealed in juice.
The steak was powerful in flavor that we almost ignored the fried starch on its side, except for a few times when we popped it inside the mouth very swiftly for some textural crunch. The glorious fat glimmered and I had to cheat my heart eating portions of it. I was not chained by restraints.
After dinner, off we went to Blind Pig for some drinks (more of nondescript Blind Pig on another post) and sealed the evening by 1am. Before capping the night, JP asked if the “long” drive was all worth it. I simply answered, “Yes” with a smile.
Stockton Place
227 Salcedo Street corner Gamboa,
Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines
+63 2 844 9539 / +63 917 856 1419
This handsome piece of steak, conversations / testimonies about our journey in faith, food jokes,
name games, cocktails with blueberries, sister barter exchange (frown)…
I forgot about the 2.5 hour drive. Almost. 🙂
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