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New eats: This hotel restaurant in Makati just added wagyu paella to its menu

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Angelo G. Garcia

<p>MANILA -- The classic Spanish paella has so many versions here in the Philippines. From lechon to sisig, chefs add new twists to keep things interesting. </p><p>But there&#x27;s a new version that has people talking and it was just introduced this month. Tapenade&#x27;s new Wagyu Beef and Mushroom Paella became an instant hit with customers. Served in a paellera, the pan-fried rice is topped with strips of pan-seared wagyu beef and drops of black pepper aioli. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/life/10/30/eats-1.jpg"/><figcaption>Wagyu Beef and Mushroom Paella. <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>“We still serve comfort Mediterranean, not really out there but something different and also something familiar. For example, the wagyu paella, I just feel that the market today, when people see wagyu on the menu, people are just drawn towards it especially if it&#x27;s affordable. So that&#x27;s why we tried something new and so far that&#x27;s one of the most popular items,” explained Discovery Primea executive chef Luis Chikiamco. </p><p>Tapenade is Discovery Primea&#x27;s all-day dining outlet. Located along Ayala Avenue in Makati City, the restaurant is famous for its Salad Room, a room where guests can have their fill of various salads and even create their own.</p><p>The wagyu paella is just one of the new dishes the restaurant recently launched. </p><p>“It works like this, after a year we evaluate what dishes have now become staples or signature dishes and which ones we&#x27;re not so happy with anymore (not moving) and then we go to work. Also for the chefs, it&#x27;s important to let them be creative and do new things, keep the team engaged and excited, and the diners as well,” said Discovery Primea general manager David Pardo de Ayala. </p><p>Keeping to the cuisine of the restaurant, the new dishes are inspired by Mediterranean fare. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/life/10/30/eats-2.jpg"/><figcaption>Mozzarella and Friends. <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>:</p><p>For appetizers, the Mozzarella and Friends is a platter of bite-sized mozzarella balls served with flat bread and four kinds of dips: basil pesto, black olive tapenade, romesco, and fruit mostarda. </p><p>Then there&#x27;s the Shrimps en Gambardina, an ebi tempura-like dish with Spanish roots. The shrimps are covered in a light batter with pimenton or Spanish paprika then deep-fried to a crisp. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/life/10/30/eats-3.jpg"/><figcaption>Shrimps en Gabardina. <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>And unlike its Japanese counterpart that is served with a soy-ginger dip, the shrimps are served with a guindilla (a type of chili pepper) aioli dip. </p><p>One of the new popular appetizers is the Patatas Crunchy with Mojo Dip. Smashed crispy potatoes seasoned with lemon salt and served with a mojo sauce (olive oil-based with various herbs and spices).</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/life/10/30/eats-4.jpg"/><figcaption>Rigatoni al Sugo. <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>They also added a few pasta dishes like the Rigatoni al Sugo, a tomato-based sauce cooked with Italian guanciale (cured pork cheek), fennel sausage, and smoked bacon. On the other hand, the Salmon Linguine is linguine pasta in a dill cream sauce, fresh spinach, and chunks of cubed salmon. </p><p>For the entrees, the US Pork Milanese is like a pork schnitzel but this one is topped with soft-boiled egg and truffle cream. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/life/10/30/eats-5.jpg"/><figcaption>US Pork Milanese. <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The Prawns Saltimbocca is a plate of prawns on a lemon and parsley risoni (orzo pasta) topped with garlic and proscuitto crisp.</p><p>Aside from the wagyu paella, another new paella dish is the Roast Chicken &amp; Chorizo Paella. It&#x27;s a flavorful chorizo rice topped with green beans and roast chicken.</p><p>These new dishes also welcome its loyal patrons and new customers into the holiday season. </p><p>“People dine out a lot towards the end of the year so we wanted to have a brand new selection and fully introduce to the chef and regulars for people to come here. We&#x27;re making emphasis on the shared dishes like paella. Definitely this is a casual restaurant where people enjoy themselves, take their time, share food. This is where families from surrounding villages come. Our Salad Room remains our prominent feature, and we also added a little bit of selection there like sandwiches we try to keep healthy but substantial. You can have just that and a glass of wine and you have lunch,” Pardo de Ayala said. <br/> </p>

<p>The classic Spanish paella has so many versions here in the Philippines. From lechon to sisig, chefs add new twists to keep things interesting. </p>

The classic Spanish paella has so many versions here in the Philippines. From lechon to sisig, chefs add new twists to keep things interesting.