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A Latin American food binge at Brasas? Chévere!
Traveling to South America is on my bucket list, but since it doesn’t look like I’m going there any time soon, indulging in its exotic food is the next best thing for me. Like most Filipinos, I am not familiar with the food of countries like Argentina, Colombia, and Peru. We have very little exposure to it, as there are not a lot of restaurants in the metro that serve it—apart from Brasas.
Recently my hubby and I dined at this restaurant, which claims to serve Latin American street food. I immediately liked the vibe when I walked inside and saw the industrial street-style design of the interiors. The flooring had a simple cement finish, and the walls were lined with wood and bricks, then painted with graffiti-like texts and images.
“Brasas has sustainability at its core. All materials are sourced secondhand and given new purpose like the chandeliers and scrap GI sheets of the bar,” said Brasas' interior designer and managing director Pinky Peralta. “All store branches have this running theme—wood, metal, bricks and the street graffiti featuring the icons of Latin America like Frida Kahlo, Che Guevara and Evita Perón, and jargon like parche, chévere and hola. The look strives to achieve a very global yet casual environment. This is our way of introducing not only Latin American cuisine but also culture.”
Chitchat with a Colombian chef: As authentic as it gets
“We really tried to make it as authentic as possible, but with local ingredients,” she said. She explained that the food from South America and the Philippines have a lot of similarities because both are influenced by Spanish cuisine. Unlike other restaurants that introduce new cuisines, this one didn’t alter the taste to fit the Filipino palate. “We don’t want to change anything. The recipes are authentic as possible.”
Before Montoya and her Filipino husband opened the restaurant, they experimented with a food stall in a weekend market, offering charcoal-grilled chicken beef and wraps. To their delight, the food was received well, so they decided to open a restaurant.
Specialties of the house
I liked the crunchy chips and the mild toppings. I definitely tasted the smokiness of the meat. I wish the serving had more!
According to the chef, “You’ll find it in all the streets in Latin America, but it changes according to the country. In Colombia we call it patacones and in Cuba they call it tostones, but it’s the same. There is a bit of difference in the names but basically the same ingredients. All throughout Latin America, plantains, potatoes, and corn are very common.”
Another appetizer is the Empanadas Latinas, a sampler featuring the empanadas of Colombia, Argentina, and Chile. The pieces looked almost the same, but the fillings were very different: chorizo, beef brisket, and lengua, which I wasn’t able to taste because my hubby finished the whole thing when I stepped out for a while. I suppose it was that good. The others though were simply satisfactory. The chorizo had a very rich taste so it’s best to share it with someone and have room for the other dishes.
The Guarapo is a must-try since it’s the traditional drink in South America. It is made with sugarcane juice, mint, and lime—and it was very refreshing and not overly sweet at all.
For a bit of a kick, we sampled the La Rubia, a combination of vodka, white rum, passion fruit, lime juice, and muddled mint. It wasn’t that strong and I actually liked it, but my husband thought that the food went better with beer so he got himself a bottle.
Since Brasas is known for its charcoal-grilled meats, we just had to try its Carne Asada Wrap—beef sirloin, sautéed onions, roasted bell peppers, and pico de gallo wrapped in a soft flour tortilla. The smoky beef really shined through! It was very easy to eat even if the wrap was jam-packed with meat because the beef was so tender and sliced thinly. It was served with some spicy cream sauce, which made it even more delicious. It turned out to be one of my favorites for the night.
We sampled other bestsellers like the Lomo Saltado (sautéed beef tenderloin strips served with rice pilaf) and Pastel de Choclo (braised beef brisket, braised chicken and vegetables topped with corn mash crust and served with a South American slaw), both of which were scrumptious and had an ample serving size.
But the star of the night is the Puerco Asado: slow-roasted pork belly with crunchy skin, rice and beans, and South American slaw. The slab of swine was so fork-tender that I didn’t have to use a knife to cut it, and the skin was so crispy that I could hear the loud crunch with every bite—it was a truly sinful dish that my hubby and I enjoyed. I thought it was worth every calorie!
My first Latin American food experience was a memorable one because of the mouthwatering food, which wasn’t as spicy as I expected. I enjoyed the new flavors I tasted and I will be back for more.
For those who want to get a taste of Latin American food and culture, visit Brasas in SM Jazz every Friday night (from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.) and experience Danza Latina, where you can learn how to salsa and then show off your moves on the dance floor. — BM, GMA News
Brasas has branches at The Podium (+63 2 570-5559), SM Aura Premier (+63 2 808-4976), SM North Edsa, SM Jazz Mall (+63 2 330-5781), and Evia.
