The Inauguration and Press Launch of Dinelli Gourmet happened last Tuesday evening, 18^th of November 2008.  Dinelli Gourmet is the latest addition in Manila’s gourmet and specialty foods market.

 

 

The newly opened gourmet shop is your new stop for the freshest and unique selection of gourmet foods.  More than the exclusive imported items and fresh cold cuts and wide array of cheese selection, the store also has a section for kitchen equipment from Australia, Europe and USA.  The husband and wife tandem of Anthony and Kristine Meehan, proprietors of Meehan Cellars Inc. decided to open a chain of gourmet shops in the Metro.  The Tomas Morato branch is the first of the three set to open.  The second branch is fixed to launch in December which location will be at the Fort.

 

 

The Amazing Race Asia 3 Philippine Team contestants (and hopefully winners!  We’ll find out tonight) model Geoff Rodriguez and beauty queen Tisha Silang hosted the event.  While cocktails and various wines were being served around since 630pm, the official ceremony started at 8pm with the formal ribbon cutting.

 

 

The Australian Senior Trade Commissioner Ross Bray, was the Guest of Honor and consequently presided over the ribbon cutting.  It was a well-attended event as local dignitaries, eminent businessmen, celebrities and models graced the event alongside the media cluster.  Representatives from Yummy Magazine (calling Fran Haw, where were you?) and Uno were also present. 

 

 

As the event kicked off, Geoff passed the floor to Mr. Anthony Meehan who welcomed the guest and thanked those who made the event possible, as well as the media partners.

 

I got to have a quick chat with Geoff and egged him to reveal if they won TARA 3.  It was after all, 2 nights away.  He was mum all the way.  I guess I had to wait for 48 more hours.

 

 

Whether you’re looking for a strong-tasting cheese or smooth creamy cheese, or even cheese studded with pimiento or chilies for that extra zing, Dinelli Gourmet offers a complete cheese selection.  Dinelli advises that hard cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, Manchego and Grana Padano are great for crumbling or grating texture.  Cheddar, Edam, Gruyere, Emmenthal are semi-hard cheese that have milder flavors and can melt quite easily.  For other cooking needs such as adding a height to your sandwich creations, semi-soft cheeses are available too, like Bleu d’Auvergne, Port Salut (saint Paulin), Fourme D’Ambert, Roquefort Societe, Gorgonzola Dolce, Feta.  For rich creamy variants, the popular ones are Brie and Camembert, followed by St. Nectaire, Mascarpone (usually used in desserts) and Cambozola Cheese Kaserei.

 

 

They also carry Moondarra cheese brand: ashed goat, chilli, creamy blue cheese, fruit and nut, garlic and chives, garlic and herb goat cheese, honey and pistachio, melon and mango, pear and vanilla bean, sun dried tomato (Mm-mm!) and herb, bruschetta cheese among others.

 

 

For those who have a discerning taste for the expensive, Castaing Fois Gras products are available in Dinelli Gourmet stores.

 

 

Refreshments and treats from the store’s gourmet selection and menu items were at every corner.  The food (cheese, meat, pasta, dessert) and wine were free flowing throughout the night –even at the time when we left, fresh batches were being brought out.  The treats were simple ingredients tossed together –but it definitely tasted like designer cocktails.  Seeing all the products, I had the urge to buy so many items off their racks.  A bottle of cocktail onions, brie, gorgonzola, manchego and fontina, grapes, dried apricots, walnuts, wine and I’m good to go for a cheese party.  There were Moroccan lamb stew and couscous on a microwave-able container that Bubba was interested in, plus a dish of Tortellini and cream cheese.  Whereas for me, my curiosity was more piqued with the individual ingredients I’ve only seen there.  That launch surely fired up a vanishing cooking passion in me. Getting an access to an assortment of distinctive ingredients inspired me to concoct new dishes.

 

 

Each guest also received a gift basket with a selection of gourmet foods to be able to sample the Dinelli gourmet lifestyle at home.  Dinelli Gourmet will surely change the landscape of Metro shopping and hopefully ups the ante of deli stores as well as Filipino home dining.  Get creative with Dinelli gourmet products and come up with the freshest dish ideas.  Dinelli Gourmet is located at 5 Timog Avenue, Quezon City.

 

 

Thanks to Christopher Pettersson, CEO of Kingpin Syndicate Inc. for the invitation.

 

Dinelli Gourmet Album

 

 

It was a month of wait since I first started craving to eat at Elbert’s Steak Room.  I’d always have to take a rain check since my schedule has been pretty tight these past few months.  Last Thursday I wanted to treat Bubba to a lunch there.  I sent an SMS asking if they were fully booked that day.  They weren’t but I had a meeting at 2pm.  I figured that I could not go to Makati at 12nn and be back in Ortigas by 2pm, not even if I rid us of parking issues and take a cab.  I wanted to risk it (salivating over the thought of cheese steak) but the look at Bubba’s face said I shouldn’t. 

I planned to visit Elbert’s June 25.  I had marked it on my calendar last week.  Not even rain could stop me.

Bubba invited me to have lunch together Monday, June 23.  My eyes immediately lit up as I read his SMS.  I cannot wait anymore for 2 more days.  I.  Simply.  Must.  Eat.  At.  Elbert’s.  When he got to the office though, he was thinking of grabbing a bite within the area.  He was not too giddy about the idea of making our way to Makati.  When my face fell, he reconsidered.  Good thing because I cannot make my hazel eyes go doe like Puss in Boots. 

It still had to be a quick lunch since travel time took some of our lunchtime.  We arrived at 1220pm and I still had to be back by 2pm to prepare for my 3pm meeting. 

Housed in the unassuming Sagittarius building along De La Costa St, an ominous red door greets you at a dark corner of the 3^rd floor.  The big fantastic red door opens to a bar, where the owner sits comfortably in front of his Mac book.  Bubba’s pupils dilated at the sight of the Mac book.  He was muttering that it was Mac something –okay, okay I have hearing impairment when I’m hungry.

Rich earth tones create a feeling of intimacy in this dining room that has several divisions.  We were seated near the glass pane window.  Black leather upholstered wall separates the right area.  Graceful chandeliers, handsome wood tables complete the comfortable setting that captures the elegance of a private club. 

Bubba and I ordered their lunch set menu that costs PHP 550++ per head.  A choice of either their green salad or soup of the day starts your meal.  There are 5 choices for entrée.  I ordered the Philly Cheese Steak while Bubba groped on what to order.  I told him to get either the House Burger or Beef Stroganoff. 

On the Table 

Warm bread shaped like a bloomed flower and a ramekin of butter are presented by the server who are professional and knowledgeable.  Butter as if on queue melts as it touches the bread.  Interestingly shaped like a flower, pick the petal piece by piece as one wants more of the warm slices.  House water has lemon fritz and Bubba didn’t like that there is a bitter aftertaste of the water so he asked for one without.

Pumpkin Soup (2)

Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich

Sautéed slices of USDA Prime Grade ribeye on a soft baguette smothered with sautéed onions served on a white plate.  You can choose to get Provolone, Cheddar or Cheese Whiz.  It was served with Pommes Frittes that are slim cut fries.  I love nibbling on the crunchy and soft fries.

Beef Stroganoff with Pasta

Sautéed and braised tenderloin tips with a brown sauce, mushrooms and sour cream.  It was served with an olio pasta on the side.  The brown peppery sauce was really flavorful and I didn’t fight the urge anymore to swipe my leftover baguette over the sauce.  The only complaint of Bubba was that the beef had a lot of litid more than the meat.  I shrugged it off since out of the 4 bites I took from his plate, I only had one chewy bite of litid which is so forgivable for me.

Owner Elbert Cuenca keeps a watchful eye on all the events at the Steak Room and I heard that his brother manages the kitchen.  As we made our way back to Ortigas and Bubba to ABS, my thoughts are “I can sleep better tonight.”

On the next visit, I am definitely eyeing (and already dreaming about): 

House Burger
Freshly ground 100% USDA beef mixed with bone marrow

With Gruyere or Provolone cheese served with pommes frittes

Disclaimer: Since I have recently been disappointed at the PHP 1700 steak I had at a joint in Serendra, it might take some time (after my trip to Macau perhaps?) for me to invest that much on a 14-ounce red meat.

Elbert’s Steak Room is located at 3/F Sagittarius Building III 111 H. V. de la Costa Street Salcedo Village, Makati City (near Kitaro).  Make your reservations at 3393363/09153151813. Check their menu @ www.steakroom.com  

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/487  

 

Mall of Asia:                Pan Asian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Greenbelt 5:                Fish Out of Water Dinner

Greenbelt 3:                Iron Man Movie (TIP: You have to stay until after the movie credits roll out for a sneak peak of a sequel spoiler)

Home:                     1-Hour Nap

Barcino, Fort:                Bev Tiu’s Birthday

Embassy, Fort:                Alvin Aguilar’s Birthday

I still felt so tired from our company outing Thursday to Friday in Calatagan but it was still a packed Saturday schedule that was ahead of me.  Iron Man, which I thoroughly enjoyed, was better than I expected.  I didn’t think Robert Downey Jr. (much that I love him) was the right cast as the superhero, but his fit the character perfectly with his usual cocky demeanor. 

After a power nap at home, we headed straight to Barcino at the Fort.  Barcino is located right beside the fairly new Basilio restaurant.  We had wine and cheese to celebrate Bev’s 26^th birthday.  Bev Tiu is Christian’s long time friend, whose aura is of an easy and delightful soul.  Behind those gentle eyes though is an adventurous girl who dives, surfs and tours the world.  (Looking forward to diving or surfing together Bev!)  It was my first time at Barcino, which is a small 2-storey wine restaurant.  Their tapas were a good match to the wines (I was tipsy to remember the name) that were served and reasonably priced.  I especially like Datiles con Bacon, which was sweet dates wrapped with bacon (PHP 270 for 6 pieces).

After Barcino, off we went to Embassy for Alvin’s birthday.  I almost didn’t make it because I threw up twice before leaving Barcino.  I think I had too much wine or maybe it was the tobacco (Cheryl, Ryan and Bev were puffing) that made me feel nauseated.  We even bumped into Trina, Christian’s former officemate in Asia Brewery, in Embassy. 

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/428/08_0502-_Bevs_Bday_at_Barcino