Lechon Degustacion Private Dinner at Pepita’s Kitchen

 

How I wish this is some sort of a storytelling with a deep emotional resonance –one that can inspire and stir or fire up passion in you to take a step towards your dreams or your life goals.  I’m afraid, my brethrens, that even if that’s what I intend to do with this lifestyle blog that breathes an appetite for the good life, this particular entry is a wicked attempt to reveal all things tasty and wonderful about a Private Dinner I had not so long ago at Pepita’s Kitchen. 

 

World-changing?  Probably not.  But it is a whole new perspective on our local lechon (roasted pig).  Watch what Pepita’s Kitchen does as Pinoy lechon goes global.

 

This exclusive private dinner in Magallanes was dubbed Lechon Degustaction.  Let’s break that down a bit.  Degustacion is a culinary term that entails sampling small portions of all of a chef’s signature dishes or a window to his / her new innovative kitchen experiments in one sitting.  This brings you to at least 8-course-journey of a careful and appreciative tasting of various foods that merge tastes, senses, and high culinary art.  Of course, good company is never taken out of the equation.

 

Mere mortals like me have high dreams of dining at The Fat Duck of Chef Heston Blumenthal in England.  There, the degustacion experience takes 4 hours with a lot of molecular gastronomy involved.  Pepita’s Kitchen also provided 4 HOURS of dining ecstasy in a slow, trance-like fashion. 

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Refined Taste at Sala

 

 

Elegant with simple handsome décor, a well-established restaurant, Sala offers exceptional food and service in the city of Makati.

 

Romantic, quaint, comfortable and classy best describe the mood in Sala.  One can have a leisurely meal and never feel rushed.  The owners can pride themselves on creating a fashionable atmosphere of fine dining and professional service.  The wait staff anticipates the patrons needs and are as accommodating as possible.  Perfectly knows how to waltz in and out of your sight without any sense of being intrusive.

 

 

Sala’s menu although a bit limiting, offers something for everyone.  Try their Degustation Menu (PHP 1,880++) that presents five lovely courses.  Seafood lovers will enjoy their salad of tuna carpaccio (PHP 460) with fennel, herbs, peppers, quail egg and olive tapenade as well as the roast grouper fillet (PHP 890) with truffled tapenade on sautéed cabbage, sweet onion, parsley and bacon.

 

On the Table

 

The meal begins with complimentary freshly baked assortment of breads served by the waiter on a silver tray and an amuse bouche shooter of spiced eggplant and tomato and chicken and feta cota -a superb glance at what’s to come.

 

 

Portabello Mushroom, Ricotta and Thyme Ravioli with Parmesan and White Truffle Oil PHP 460

The pasta was cooked al dented with chock full of thyme and minced Portabello mushrooms that is savory in every bite.  Sheer Parmesan shaves on top of the ravioli add a shade of saltiness to the dish while the white truffle oil enhances the overall taste with alluring and appetizing truffle fragrance. 

 

 

 

The soft skin of the ravioli pastry erupts with a burst of different flavors in your mouth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roast Lamb Short Loin and Lamb Short Ribs Confit with Root Vegetable Pave and Shallot Jus PHP 980

Succulent lamb meat that almost melts in your mouth with its flavorful tenderness served with these slender green stalks.  What to love about the short loin is the layering of flavor where you get a taste of the meat then a bit of fat and lastly the crispy skin.  Wonderful play of palatable texture

 

 

 

 

Despite the hefty price, Sala is one of those fancier restaurants that leave a fantastic memory of the creative dishes served and excellent service.

 

Spotted: Eric Quizon, Nanette Medved

 

Sala

Podium Level, Locsin Building

6752 Ayala Ave. Cor. Makati Ave., Makati City

+632 750 1555

+632 893 0242

www.salabistro.com

 

Sala Album

 

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Tasting Room Year 2

It’s back!  The Tasting Room returns (Link: https://www.janedchua.com/2007/12/19/enter-the-tasting-room/to your favorite restaurants to give you a sampling of the best in foodie experience.  The Tasting Room offers a special degustation menu more affordably priced, ranging from PHP 350 – 1,200.  Participating restaurants include: Kai, Tropezzz, Bubba Gump, Solihiya, Max Brenner, Haiku, Italianni’s, Cyma, La Maison, Capricciosa, Mezze, Nuvo, Gaudi, Fish and Co., and Mr. Rockfeller.  The gastronomic tour starts on May 1 and ends on May 31, 2008.  Tasting Room Coupons are available in the April-May 2008 issue of Appetite Magazine.  For more information, click on the Appetite Magazine Link below.

tasting rm2

Appetite Mag Link: http://www.appetitemag.com/events/tastingroom08.php?art=1