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What's On & Expat - Philippines

October 28-November 10, 2007   
 

DINING

 

Melo’s: Fit For Gods


By Katrina N. Cabanos
 

Steak. The word is indulgence itself; mouth-watering, synonymous with appetizing. The touch of steak on the tongue evokes my very definition of happiness. I felt like a kid let loose in a candy store one lunch time when I walked in an elegant restaurant befitting the culinary treasures that lie within its gilded walls.
  For over 20 years, Melo’s has been an unfailing source of heavenly steaks, including the beloved Certified Angus Beef. With its revamped interiors and enhanced menu, Melo’s remains to be the foremost steakhouse in the metro.
  A staff of cordial servers arranged myriad platters in front of me for my tasting pleasure, but nothing commanded my attention like the Ribeye Steak. The Certified Angus Beef, touted to be the best steak America has ever produced, was first introduced in Melo’s back in 1987. It has been an

 

unwavering favorite because of its quality and consistency. With an effortless slice of my knife, I took a mouth-watering bite. A smooth, rich flavor spilled over my tongue and I decided right then and there that it was the best steak I’ve ever had. Cooked rare just the way I like it, the Ribeye was even tasty and flavorful enough to be enjoyed sans the yummy gravy that came with it.
  Later that day when the rest of the What’s On & Expat’s editorial staff was enjoying the Ribeye take-out, one of them commented that if it could taste that delicious in its cold state and remain tender hours after it was cooked, then it must be really a good steak. I couldn’t agree more.
  Definitely not out-classed by the Angus Beef, the Grilled Lambchop in Cranberry Mint Sauce is also to die for. The Lambchop, which is actually four huge slices of ribs with potatoes

 

on the side, is just as juicy and tender with a distinct tang of its own. It is complimented with the freshly sweet Cranberry Mint sauce.
  Lest I forget, Melo’s menu has diversified to accommodate not those who aren’t as passionate about meat as I am.
  The Oyster Rockefeller, although filling enough in itself, is the perfect appetizer. The noticeably fresh oysters baked with hollandaise sauce topped with bacon, mozzarella and parmesan cheese is the perfect appetizer to go with a meaty main course.
  Waldorf Salad with Duck Breast is probably the only salad I’ve ever eaten that I have sincerely enjoyed. Even for those who aren’t such big fans of greens, this dish is worth a try. The variety of crisp lettuces is served with hefty slices of duck breast, walnuts, apples, raisins and Melo’s homemade mayonnaise. Laced with their incredible cranberry sauce, it is the perfect blend of sweet and salty.

 

Interior of Melo’s Jupiter

  The Seafood Pasta in Tomato and Cognac Cream Sauce is al dente fettuccine pasta with combination red and white sauce topped with generous amounts of scallops, shrimp, fish and mussels. I thought it was ingenious; I never have to make the gruelling choice between white or red sauce on my pasta, which I happen to love with equal ardour, ever again! As a special treat for regular customers, Melo’s serves complimentary basket of bread with a delectable homemade pate! Just one among the many reasons to keep coming back.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Recipe of the Week
Dr. Frankenstein’s
Spine Tingling Concoctions
 

Sofitel Philippine Plaza kicks up the Halloween season up a notch with a Spooktacular feast. On October 28 and 31, be transported to an eerie kingdom at Spiral’s Magical Brunch and be bewitched as Spiral’s Halloween Dinner on October 31 enthralls you with the mysteries of its haunted castle and its ancient recipes.

Take a sip of these crazy concoctions Spiral has in store for those wild and brave enough to dig into its horrifyingly scrumptious meals.

Zombie’s Wake-up Drink
Ingredients:
2 Kiwis
2 Green apple (cut in 4 pieces without the seeds)
1/2 Banana
500 ml Aloe Vera Juice
500 ml Water
Crushed Ice

Love Poison
Ingredients:
500 ml Orange Juice
500 ml Pineapple Juice
100 ml Grenadine Syrup (Add more for the color)
Crushed Ice

Dracula’s Smoothie
Ingredients:
64 ounces Cranberrys
4 cups of Apple Juice
4 cups of Vanilla Ice Cream
Crushed Ice

How-to:
Put all the ingredients in the blender and blend them until smooth.
 

Caffe Molinari: the Italian Delight
By Carmencita H. Acosta

East Creative Asian, formerly East Café) and Caffé Molinari have teamed up to create a shoppers café at the second floor of Rustan’s on Ayala Avenue, Makati.
    To begin with, East Creative Asian which serves an Oriental modern menu fell in love with the Italian Caffe Molinari which has been a hit in Latin Europe since the 19th century. It is nowadays being introduced to Philippine coffee drinkers, with much success one might say. So, we have here a business partnership of the Oriental and the Mediterranean.
    Having been smitten by the Italian delight, East Creative Asian decided to serve exclusively Caffe Molinari drinks. The choice of coffee refreshments are varied and many such as the marocchino, cold latte, mocha, hot espresso, choco coated et al. Shoppers are therefore assured that whatever coffee style they order has the definite stamp of Italy. Carissima Italia!
    The East Creative Asian menu, for its part, includes mainly Japanese, Chinese, Singaporean and Philippine dishes such as roast Hainanese chicken, beef tataki maki, gomoko ramen, Singaporean lo hei salad, chicken inasal, and Philippine desserts such as suman sa lihiya and ube suman. The American apple pie is also a mainstay.
The genius who whips up the delightful a la carte menu is Chef Him Uy de Baron of Chinese-Philippine ancestry who says that the dishes are meant to satisfy shoppers in a hurry. The dishes are between heavy and light, which means the shopper can resume a frenzied bargain hunting right after dining.

 


    Although Caffe Molinari is as much smitten with Creative East Asian, it has not promised exclusive fealty to it. Something like no solemn compact, just simple friendship. Hence, the Italian delight is free to go where it wants to. And so it will. According to Ma. Divina Lucenario, the young marketing manager of Royal Accent Group that superintends Caffe Molinari, there are plans soon to be fulfilled of opening more branches of the said Italian caffe. One would be on Taft Avenue, just across De la Salle University, the alma mater of Lucenario, who happens to be the daughter of the food establishment’s proprietor. It will serve not only coffee delights but nourishing food to whet and satisfy the appetite not only of students and professors, but the general public as well.
 

 

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