Dinner at Aubergine

One restaurant in the Fort that has stood the test of time is Aubergine.

Aubergine, which is the French word for eggplant, was spearheaded by chefs Hansjorg Schallenberg and Norbert Gandler over a decade ago.

Dining at Aubergine is an intimate experience, perfect for dates and other special occasions.

Aubergine is also the training ground of senior students of The International School of Culinary Arts and Hotel Management (ISCAHM) but food thankfully doesn't suffer.

Amuse Bouche

Organic Arugula Leaves in Balsamic Vinaigrette (580php)

Home smoked duck breast and caramelized mango, grated ‘Chevre’ cheese, cherry tomatoes, roasted sunflower seeds and garlic croûtons.

Cream of Wild Mushroom (350php)

With croûtons and truffle espuma

Veal Cheek, Short Ribs, and Ox Tail (1,260php)

Barbequed braised US Angus beef short ribs on potato mousseline and slow cooked veal cheek in Port wine jus with oxtail ravioli .Grilled Portobello mushroom and honey glazed carrots.

Grilled Supreme of Chilean Sea Bass (1,480php)

On Porcini mushroom risotto with green asparagus and tomato-leek confit in Madeira nage

Australian Lamb 3 Ways (1,160php)

Sous-vide lamb shoulder confit, oven roasted lamb loin and grilled lamb chop. Served with artichoke couscous, grilled polenta, ratatouille, mustard seed-chives sauce and papaya salsa.

Aubergine Surf and Turf (1,750php)

Grilled tiger prawns and roasted Australian Mulwarra beef tenderloin with sautéed mushrooms and pan seared duck foie gras Béarnaise sauce and Madeira jus, wild mushroom risotto and glazed vegetables.

Palate Cleanser of Sherbet

Chocolate Pyramid

Belgian chocolate and vanilla mousse with passion fruit ganache 

Aubergine is located at 32nd and 5th Building 5th Avenue cor. 32nd Street Fort Bonifacio 1634 Taguig. For reservations, call 8569888 or click here.

Desserts at Cake Club

One of my favorite dessert places in Manila is The Cake Club by Diamond Hotel at Bonifacio Global City.

The Cake Club also offers savory dishes for the lunch or dinner crowd but I always come for the sweets.

Here are the items I've tried from their dessert menu:

Ispahan (250php)

Practically a giant macaroon, perfect for those who are not into very rich cakes.

Baked Cheesecake (250php)

My favorite Cake Club cake! Rich and pure making it a cheesecake that's hard to resist.

Supermoist Chocolate Cake (250php)

True to hype, this decadent chocolate cake is very moist indeed.

Diamond Ensymada (120php)

Diamond Hotel is very famous for its ensymada but I'm not much of a fan. It's very ordinary for me. Also tried their ube version on a separate trip, but I wasn't swayed.

Foie Gras Macaroon (150php)

A lot has also been said about this very sinful macaroon but I don't like it as well. Too exotic for my simple palate.

Ice Cream: 150php for 2 scoops

Truth be told, more than the cakes, it's the homemade ice cream that makes me keep coming back to The Cake Club. One can never go wrong with the Salted Caramel and Baked Cheesecake flavors. 

The Cake Club is located at UG/F Bonifacio High Street Central, East Superblock, 7th Ave cor 29th St. Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. For more information call 621-3176. 

Dinner at Wildflour Cafe + Bakery

Even before the cronut craze, Wildflour has established itself as a welcome addition to Manila restaurant scene. There's a reason, however, why Wildflour positioned itself as a Cafe and Bakery...

Busy Night at Wild

Wildflour's starchy dishes fared well:

Complimentary Bread

Some argue that this free item is the best thing Wildflour serves.

Bahn Mi Sliders (295php)

A bit dry but I give it props for its full flavors.

Tarte Flambee of Onions, Blue Cheese, Mushrooms, Wild Arugula (425php)

My favorite order of the night.

Tarte Flambee of Onions, Bacon, and Gruyere (425php)

The tarte flambees are successful because of the thin flaky crust and good cheese.

Croque Madame (420php)

A bit overpriced but this is a perfect treat for brunch.

The non-bread options, on the other hand, were all so forgettable:

To be fair, Wildflour has updated its menu from the last time I dined there. Word of advice though: Choose only from the breakfast menu!

Wildflour Cafe + Bakery is located at G/F Net Lima Bldg, 4th Ave cor 26th St Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. For more information, call 856-7600 or click here. It also has a branch in Podium.

Stella and the Rocket Room

Stella is one of the more popular restaurants at Bonifacio High Street Central. Reservations are not welcome and it's almost impossible to secure a table during peak hours.

We, however, preferred to dine next door at Rocket Room to experience the best of both worlds: food from Stella and drinks plus music from the Rocket Room. The two restaurants are owned by the Raintree group so cross-ordering is allowed.

Bar at Rocket Room

Lamb Cochifrito (295php)

The only hot dish we ordered from the Rocket Room menu, this fried lamb is perfect bar chow. A bit too oily though.

Quinoa Tabbouleh (195php)

A unique grainy alternative at Stella that I didn't care for.

The Stella Salad (295php)

Vegetables with bacon. Not exactly healthy but it's at least tasty.

Wood Fired Garlic Mushroom Cream Fettuccine (425php)

Creamy with light truffle flavors. 

Roasted Seafood Piza (350php)

Thick and burnt dough. Dry to boot. My least favorite of our orders.

Stella's Porchetta (395php)

Soft and succulent pork with crispy skin. The rosemary sauce worked in enhancing the flavors of the meat. 

A little before 10 p.m., the lights dimmed at Rocket Room and we took it as our cue to order cakes and drinks:

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake

I love anything with a salty and sweet combination and this was no exception.

Red Velvet Cake

A decent version of a very popular cake.

Rocket Fuel (195php)

An intriguing drink with a hint of spice.

A Girl with Violet Eyes (195php)

Mojito with mixed berries and lots of mint.

I commend the Raintree Group for coming up with another hit concept but I have to say that among the Raintree restaurants (M Cafe, Chelsea, Mr. Jones, and Momo), Stella and Rocket Room are at the bottom of my list. 

Stella and Rocket Room are located at G/F Bonifacio High Street Central, East Superblock, 7th Ave cor 29th St Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. For more information click here.

A Serendra Must: Le Petit Artisan

I've been to a good number of bake shops thanks to a dad who appreciates a good loaf of bread. One shop that has gotten his seal of approval is Le Petit Artisan.

Though breads will never be my carbs of choice, I always enjoy dropping by Le Petit Artisan with the aroma of its freshly baked treats welcoming me in. 

Allow me to flood this post with pictures of the creations of the Le Petit Artisan to encourage everyone to pay this little store that could a visit!

Le Petit Artisan is located at Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For more information, call (0929)8429824.