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A Mediterranean-inspired feast at Tapenade
Little by little, spoonful by spoonful, I try to make my way to the latest dining spots around the metro, even if it is a challenge to keep up with the bustling food scene.
It took a while, but I was finally able to eat at Restaurant Tapenade, an all-day dining restaurant in Discovery Primea, which just revamped its menu more than a year after it opened.
My hubby and I sampled its refreshed menu of Mediterranean favorites when we recently had lunch there. And the restaurant’s high ceilings, spacious interiors, and chic indoor garden-like atmosphere immediately impressed me.
The first thing I did was to check out The Tapenade Salad Room, which is said to be Makati’s most comprehensive selection of local and imported greens, composed salads, condiments, and homemade dressings. I spied a wide array of breads, premium deli meats and cheeses, as well as seafood such as shrimp, salmon gravlax, and freshly shucked oysters. I opted to skip this and save it for another day when I’m lunching with my girlfriends, as my hubby and I wanted to first check out the new dishes.
Devouring Mediterranean-inspired dishes
For starters, we just had to get the Stone-Baked Feta Cheese, one of the popular items from the original menu. I heard it would cause an uprising if the restaurant were to take it off the list.
Maybe I exaggerate, but after one bite, I instantly understood how this has become a favorite of many. The contrast of the hot cheese with the flavorful sun-dried tomatoes, capers, Greek Metaxa brandy, and honey, made my palate come alive.
I also enjoyed the part where the server poured the toppings on the cheese while at our table. My hubby even proclaimed that this was his top dish among all the things we tried.
We also wanted to sample a new appetizer so we went for the Chicken Wings “Alla Diavola”, a Mediterranean version of the buffalo wings. It’s cooked with a spicy Italian marinade and came with some mint yogurt dip. I liked how the spiciness of the chicken was balanced by the cool dip.
We also shared an order of a new pizza variant called Piccante Dolce. It had a chewy crust that was topped with spicy salami, provolone cheese, and honey.
It’s a simple kind of pizza but it had a kick to it. It was both sweet and spicy at the same time and was hot enough for me, but my hubby who has a high tolerance for spicy stuff still added chili oil to it.
I’m also curious about the taste of the new variants Alla Carbonara (bacon, cream, and egg) and Vongole All’Oreganata (clams), which I hope to try on my next visit.
For our pasta plate, we chose the Crabmeat Lasagna. It was actually the first time I’ve come across such a dish. I wouldn’t be able to finish this if I order it for myself alone. The serving was huge! The combination of shredded real crabmeat, fresh tomatoes, creamy shellfish bisque, and light béchamel sauce created a very rich flavor profile, thus best for sharing. There are other new pasta offerings and it’s good to know that the restaurant even has whole-wheat and gluten-free options.
The other highlights of the new menu are the braised lamb shanks, whole roasted free-range chicken, salt-baked red snapper, and slow-roasted cochinillo—the last two items require a 24-hour advance order.
My hubby and I were far from done with our food trip. For our main entrée, we went for the Baby Back Ribs that was plated with a side salad and corn side dish. For me, it was a complete meal in itself. The meat was so fork-tender that we could’ve separated each rib by hand, but of course we used a knife since we were in such a nice setting.
I would’ve loved it even more if there was extra barbecue sauce that I could slather on the meat. We still finished it to the bone.
We were already full from the savory stuff, but to end the meal on a sweet note, we shared an order of Bittersweet Chocolate Tartufo, also a new treat. It’s a deceiving dessert since the serving seemed small, but it was densely packed with chocolate goodness that was meant for sharing.
The taste was not too cloying and I imagined the texture to be that of a frozen chocolate mousse. It was a satisfying ending, especially since it was wrapped in a toffee brittle and paired with vanilla ice cream.
I don’t know why I discovered Restaurant Tapenade only now, but I guess, it’s still better late than never! — BM, GMA News
Restaurant Tapenade (+63 (2) 955-8888) is on the ground floor of Discovery Primea on Ayala Avenue in Makati City. It is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
