This restaurant has definitely become a landmark in Serendra.  Quite takes the spotlight in the strip of dining places with its deli type restaurant, Chelsea invites you for a comfortable sit down with its plush sofa which plays as the waiting area.  Wait staff are quick on their feet and pleasantly obliging (Not to mention, they kind of look alike).  They anticipate the patrons’ needs and are as accommodating as possible. 

Chelsea has a myriad of ingredients/produce they are selling in the restaurant.  They sell different types of salt (I didn’t know there were so many kinds!) among dried oregano and other spices.  You can also buy bottled fish products.  I guess this feature of the resto makes up for the name, as the element of market is present resembling the Chelsea market in New Yawk.

I’ve always wanted to try Chelsea but it’s always full during dinnertime that we end up going somewhere else.  I’ve eaten in Duo, Polu Kai, Zao, Conti’s, Xocolat, Abe, etc but Chelsea was really top priority for me to dine in.  That and Mamou.  Good thing that we started out early this Saturday evening and were ready to eat dinner at 630pm.

We decided to eat outside so we can also go people watching while eating.  We were able to secure the couch area near the entrance door.  I looked at the menu and find that the menu wasn’t complicated.  There were so many that I wanted to order, all a bit familiar but not so.  Owner Martin Wisniewski knows his food as I can imagine that everything was made in house, including the desserts.  Each dish is prepared to order using the finest ingredients. 

We were served with an amuse bouche of buttered focaccia bread and a clove of buttery soft garlic.  Bubba was eyeing me nervously as I place one whole pod of garlic on my bread where he had to half his.  He couldn’t help but ask, “are you really gonna use that much garlic on your bread?”  I gave him a confident grin and nodded yes.  I’d go for taste anytime over comfort.  On second thought, he has the right to be concerned because it is the companion who’d get the brunt of garlicky breath.  Quite surprisingly (and his lucky star was in the sky that night), this specific garlic didn’t leave an aftertaste nor did it leave a garlic odor in the mouth.

I wish the garlic had a stronger taste though, but I guess it being stronger applies to all including stench.

 On the Table: 

Cream Squash with Goat Cheese PHP 150

The waiter asked if we wanted to split it into two.  I hesitated.  Not because it was sweeter to eat from one bowl but in Katre, they charge extra if you split the dish into two.  I asked the waiter if there was an extra charge, and he said there was none.  Good, so we had it in two separate white soup bowls.  You’d think it would be a smaller serving but each bowl was good enough for one hungry person.

We just had squash soup the night before at Mogwai, which was really good, but for the money and taste, Chelsea became my favorite place for Squash soup.  The soup had the right thickness without making it taste like a puree or a mushy chunk.  The volume had the right consistency and the generous bits of goat cheese blended well with the sweet taste of pumpkin.  It was served with a dollop of cream, which I can only wish was crème fresh.  A soup cannot be anymore perfect than this.  I wish I didn’t ask it to be split into two so I could have cheated 2-3 more spoonfuls. 

Grilled Whole Rosemary Lemon Chicken PHP 495

Let me note that most of the dishes are served in a big cutting board, which is a distinctive idea.  I have tried this at my condo early 2007, because it looked so presentable (and because I lacked serving dishes at my small unit).  A whole medium sized roasted chicken was resting on top of the board with glistening vegetables –a mixed of green and red bell peppers, olives, onions and carrots. 

I’ve never had a soft moist fall off the bone chicken meat.  Bubba pointed out that different parts of chicken were infused with certain flavors.  One part, you can taste the rosemary lemon, other part you can taste the carrots on the meat of the chicken.  It was a delicious surprise to get all different flavors from one chicken.  The meat was so tender and cooked just right.  Four can easily share the chicken, which makes it so worth the buck. 

5 Cheese Pizza Thin Crust PHP 395

Bubba kept insisting that I ask what five cheeses are included in the pizza.  I was so hungry that I didn’t bother to ask.  I remember at this point, I stopped jotting down on my little notebook and gave my full concentration to chomping.  Mushroom in the pizza tasted like it was soaked in wine because it was flavorful.  Arugula leaves and apple slices garnished the crunchy pizza.  The Arugula made such a difference in the pizza.  It balances the saltiness of the cheese and clears the palate for another bite. 

Chic dining and great gourmet food rolled into my budding favorite place in Serendra, Chelsea Market and Café.  Contact 9097011 for reservations.  My only complaint with Chelsea is the small white plate which doesn’t give much room to maneuver.  Although we weren’t able to get desserts since we were trying to catch a movie in Greenbelt, their dessert selection was promising.  Their best seller is Toblerone Torte (which is my favorite in Mom and Tina’s).  I want to give it a try on my next visit, and that’s going to be this Friday when I treat my mom to dinner.  I simply cannot wait.

Next targets:

Jalapeño Ementhal Cheese Fondue PHP 395, A Rack of Baby Back Ribs PHP 650, Pizza Duck Confit PHP 395, Jackfruit Shake