Since I was still smittened over our Beef Fondue dinner at Old Swiss Inn the night before, I made reservations at Restaurant 101 on Thursday night to prolong my good food high. We abandoned the plan to hit the gym and instead turned the corner to Emerald Avenue for an evening of dining pleasure.

At the very heart of business bustling Ortigas Center stands Restaurant 101, which is at the same venue where Le Souffle used to be located. That Le Souffle transferred to Rockwell Club, where my friend Anthony is now busy being an Operations Manager or something (show yourself!!!) Enderun College has an academic affiliation with Les Roches, one of the three schools that Bubba was eyeing to study at before. Enderun extends the practice of providing international level of hotel management education from serving quality gourmet food to a casual and warm restaurant. Restaurant 101 is Enderun’s take on a ritzy culinary laboratory. Whichever table you dine in, the food comes from the same wonderful kitchen where flourishing Enderun students are cultivated.

As you enter the glass door, an enthusiastic staff is waiting to serve you with their brand of cuisine. Picture yourself in a serene and elegant setting. White flowers in a square glass vase set on the tables. Carpeted floors, lighting fixtures with blue lights add to the dramatic setting. Their experienced wait staff is knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly (they were employees I learned and not students). From fresh ground pepper (4 rounds!) to knowing where the word Bascaoila comes from, to a black ball pen, they will cater to your every need. Sporting spanking ties and gray suits, the debonair servers courteously and swiftly attended to our tables with perfect ease. You glance at the diverse menu that may not be what you expect (reasonably priced and all) and you get the feeling that you are in for a special treat. The impressive menu features great entrees that include Butter Chicken Biryani, Smoked Duck with Cranberry and Peppercorn Sauce, Hoisin Baby Back Ribs and Grilled US Ribeye.

On the Table:

Amuse Bouche: Bread and Whipped Light Butter

2 kinds of bread were served in a basket with whipped butter that tasted light and unsalted. The bread with the white and black sesame seeds was served warm and I liked it. Bubba ate the other kind and said the first one was better.

Gratinated French Onion Soup PHP 90

We ordered two soups and an appetizer for our starters. The French Onion soup was served in a decent bowl with melted cheese covering the top. Rich dark broth with smothered onions at the bottom was really done well.

Cream of Butternut Squash PHP 90

Lovely taste of pureed squash and cream cheese served in a cup with a tiny chunk of BBQ Chicken in a flower-shaped puffed biscuit. I don’t know if the BBQ chicken matched the soup. I didn’t quite get it. But the soup, it was rich and fabulous. The thickness of the soup was perfect. Now, Chelsea’s squash version has competition in my heart.

Baked Gnocchi Florentine PHP 220

Gnocchi are a good alternative to pasta and risottos. It’s actually an Italian name for dumpling and comes in different variations. It is good for a first or second course. Some are even made as desserts. Resto 101’s version is Baked Gnocchi Florentine, which are spinach dumplings in Gorgonzola sauce. Gnocchi are supposed to be light and tender, their version however was otherwise. The dumplings were scrumptious but I wish it were a bit softer. As to the sauce, maybe they added a pinch of salt to the cream sauce, which is a negative because Gorgonzala is already salty as it is. As you take more bites, the saltier it got. I wonder if they used tomato sauce instead of Gorgonzala cream, would it be better? Overall, we still finished the dish and it wasn’t a major disappointment. Bubba actually loved it and I enjoyed it too. It was thoroughly bursting with flavors.

BBQ Hoisin Baby Back Ribs PHP 350

Hoisin glazed baby back ribs served with grilled corn on the cob and veggies (although the menu said yellow rice). Hoisin is popularly known as a Chinese sauce usually an accompaniment to duck dishes. When it was placed on the table, I was happy to see that it had two small racks. I looked at Bubba with astonishment and said, “for the price, good serving size!” I spoke too soon as we realized they were very few meat in between the bones. It was also a struggle to get the red meat as it was tough and dry. Rubbing the ribs with Hoisin sauce was still a great idea as the flavor of sweetness and sour and spiciness urbanized the ribs.

Penne A La Bascaiola PHP 250

With mushroom, parma and mascarpone cheese. Al dente penne served on a white plate with mascarpone cheese cream and a sliver of parma ham. Just a note of advise, do not order this pasta if you ordered the gnocchi because you’d get overload on heavy cream. This was nicely done because the cream was on the sweet side than the salty side.

Restaurant 101 offers a relaxed and elegant evening in a romantic posh urban-classy setting, which is an oasis for dining. Whether it’s a superb dining experience in a beautifully designed environment, or an intimate private venue for entertaining guests, 101 should be your restaurant of choice. They have themed menus for your perusal if you are a member. Room capacity is about 40 people. If only I can find the time to get formal education on cooking, I would enroll at Enderun in a heartbeat. Restaurant 101 is located at the 2^nd floor of Wynsum Corporate Plaza 22 F. Ortigas Jr. Road (formerly Emerald Avenue), Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Please book your reservations at 6385555.

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