Oakroom brings Spanish wine and food fest to Manila

Executive Chef Jerome Cartaille of Oak Room, the restaurant bar of Oakwood Premiere hotel at the Ortigas Center, offers an array of Spanish fare complemented by wines from the Catalonia region of Spain for Filipino foodies and wine lovers this summer.

From April 16 to April 30, the restaurant is hosting the Viva España Spanish Wine and Food Festival featuring Torres wines, a name that has been synonymous with Spanish wine making for over three centuries. The wines come from Penedes in Catalonia, which has been cited as one of the most advanced wine regions in the world. "Torres is one of the most premium Spanish wines in the world," says Eric Kahn of Future Tade International, distributor of Torres wines. "That's the equivalent of probably carrying an Hermes Birkin." Filipinos are slowly experimenting with wines, and Eric is confident that Torres will appeal to local wine lovers. "Spanish wines are full of flavor. The Philippines, being a Spanish colony for 400 years, has developed a similar palate," Eric says, "The Filipino palate loves flavor. Torres wines, I assure you, are full of flavor." The wines can be paired with traditional Spanish tapas such as Jamon Serrano, Chorizos Espanoles, Gambas al Ajillo, Seabass a la Brasa, Paella Valenciana and an array of desserts. Those who want the full Oakroom Spanish experience can start with an appetizer of hand-carved Jamon Serrano paired with Torres Coronas Temperanillo, a red wine with delicate floral aromas over a background of strawberry and blackberry, with nuances of oak and truffles. Next, cool down with a bowl of Gazpacho Andaluz, chilled soup with tomato, garlic, cucumber and onion. This is best paired with Tores Fransola, a white wine with an intense, complex aroma of passion fruit and green fig with notes of toast and vanilla. For the main course, try the Conejo con Aceitunas, rabbit stewed with red wine, tomatoes and olives. The meat dish goes well with Torres Gran Sange de Torro, an intense red wine. Finish the meal with deep-fried custard, or Leche Frita. For a more local flavor, Eric suggests pairing the Tempranillo with Inihaw na Panga or the Gran Sangre de Torro with something heavy, like kare-kare or kaldereta. As Eric puts it, "Tapos ang usapan." From Asian to healthy cuisine On regular days, the Oak Room offers a Set Executive Lunch for corporate types on the go. This includes either three courses (Php798++ for appetizer, entree and dessert) or two courses (Php658++ for an appetizer and entree or an entree and dessert), plus coffee or tea. Since I am not a business person, on a day when I was not "on the go," I had the luxury of a full meal, something I don't usually do unless I'm working. First was the Creamy Mushroom and Barley Soup (Php220). Thick, hearty and comforting, it tastes like the Campbell's cream of mushroom soup I had as a child, only 100 times better. The barley adds texture, elevating a usually mediocre restaurant staple into a nostalgic comfort food. The surf and turf, whose real name is Blackened Roasted Jumbo Prawns and Miso Glazed Imported Beef Tenderlion (Php680), gives you the best of both worlds when you can't seem to choose between steak or seafood. The soft, juicy beef is accompanied by sweet miso sauce. The prawn is big and firm. This is an extremely photogenic dish - it looks good no matter what angle. It also comes with a pretty substantial side dish of your choice. The mashed potatoes and creamed spinach are good bets. The Oak Room's menu is varied, ranging from Asian (Char Kway Teo for Php330, Chicken and Mussel Tinola for PhP270) to healthy choices (Layered lasagna for Php350). They've got pretty impressive desserts too, though the list isn't as extensive as the main courses. The Chocolate Lava Cake (Php205) with pistachio anglaise and espresso ice cream is a warm, moist cake enveloping a beautiful gooey middle, served with ice cream that contains chunks of chocolate. That, and a cup of coffee (Php135 for a Cafe Americano), is a sweet way to end a meal. – YA, GMANews.TV The Oakroom is located at the 6th Level of Oakwood Premiere, Joy-Nostalg Center, 17 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Call 637-7888, 910-8888 loc. 8118