La Cabrera ♥ ♥

 

Everyone has been raving about the steaks at this new Argentinian restaurant. 

 

 

So I was not surprised to see half of Manila in the main dining room when I arrived for dinner.
La Cabrera, after all, is #12 on San Pellegrino's Top 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America.
(And #2 in Argentina). And hooray, it is now in Manila!

 

 

Check out the chandelier with hanging kitchen tools

 

 

We were originally assigned a table in this cozy area. It was a little warm so we requested
to be transferred to the main dining room. I have to commend the staff for giving us the best,
most patient service. They moved and carried tables around for us until we finally
found our spot!

 

 

The reason for the heat is La Cabrera's open grill. This is where the steaks are slowly cooked
over charcoal, supposedly giving them an extra special flavor.   

 

 

Thank you, Kuya, for bearing the heat so we could enjoy our meat. I couldn't even sit
still across the room. 

 

 

Hell's kitchen. Literally.

 

 

 

 

The owner was very helpful in our ordering process. He asked if we wanted an authentic Argentinian experience (YES, THANK YOU!) and recommended the provoleta for appetizer, striploin and short ribs for our mains, and a bottle of malbec. He promised this was enough food for 4 people. 

Of course we had another idea about what is enough and ordered an additional salad and ribeye. Lol.

 

 

Dinner started with complimentary bread and spreads

 

 

Caesar Salad to add some kind of nutritional balance to the meal

 

 

Provoleta 
Topped with herbs and served sizzling in a cast iron pan, this melted
provolone cheese was ridiculously good! Hands down my favorite of
the night. I couldn't recommend this highly enough.

 

 

 Bife de Chorizo - USDA Prime Striploin Steak 500g

 

 

Medium rare, very firm, flavorful

 

 

Ojo de Bife - USDA Prime Ribeye Steak 500g

 

 

Albeit a bit overcooked, the richer, more tender ribeye gave me more enjoyment.

 

 

Unfortunately, our order of short ribs never arrived.

I wouldn't say the steaks at La Cabrera were the best I've had, but they were good value for money, and most importantly, grilled with love… and, I am sure, so much sweat! 

One day I will come back to try the short ribs and desserts.

 

 All steaks come with unlimited sides

 

 

I say go only for the caramelized garlic and pumpkin puree. All others were okay to skip.

 

 

This bottle of Legarde Malbec 2012 paired handsomely with our meats

 

 

Lollipops for a sweet ending

 

 

Wonderful to finally catch up with these ladies after one million years. 
Thank you, Lex, for dinner and for sharing all your quotable quotes! :)

 

La Cabrera: Ground Floor, 6750 Ayala Avenue, Makati. 
Tel: +63905-290-0703

La Cabrera Facebook Page

Instagram: @lacabrera_mnl

 

Blackbird ♥ ♥

 

BLACKBIRD.
It is the hottest table in Manila right now. 

 

 

The restaurant occupies the Nielson Tower, which was once the control station of the old
airport, then a police headquarter, then an office, then an exclusive lounge, then a library,
before it was converted into one of the most gorgeous dining rooms in the city.

  

 

More than the beautiful space, it is really Colin Mackay's food I am excited about. 
I have been a fan since his Malate days. Did you know that People's Palace and Sala 
started out in Malate? 

 

 

We were a huge group so I was able to try quite a few dishes. My cousins know the rules 
by now: Jin gets the first dibs on each and every dish everyone orders, but first she has to
takes photos of them from all possible angles. They indulge me like that. I love my family. ♥

 

 

Antipasti Platter: Italian salumi, bruschetta, frito misto, mushroom, arancini,
seafood and white bean salad 

 

 

Buffalo mozzarella, pepperonata, basil, rocket

 

 

Tiger prawn, pomelo, palm heart, lemongrass, nuoc cham

 

 

Grilled octopus, cucumber pickle, sesame, soy 

 

 

Beef carpaccio, artichoke, horseradish, rocket, parmesan

 

 

Crispy soft shell crab, cauliflower puree, mint, apricot chutney

 

 

Seafood bisque, fennel, prawn - too peppery!

 

 

Mushrooms, guanciale, fontina, thyme, truffle oil pizza

 

 

Blackbird fish pie, salmon, smoked trout, sweet shrimps, creamy leeks, potato crust

 

 

Seafood Platter: Slipper lobster, tiger prawns, cuttlefish, mackerel brochettes, nuoc cham

 

 

Branzino fillet, roast fennel, tomato, potato, lemon, rocket

 

 

Australian chilled grass fed tenderloin, horseradish potato gratin, spinach and confited garlic jus

 

 

My order of dry rubbed wagyu hanger steak, mustard butter and fries arrived the very last. 
The server said the kitchen had to redo my steak because the chef wasn't happy with the 
quality of the first. Still, this was just okay. The fries were good though. My neighbors kept
stealing from my plate. 

 

 

Henri Bourlon Chateau Guibeau 2010

 

 

If I did not try ALL the food above and ate just the next four dishes, Blackbird would have been a four-heart experience for me. 

And I know this is why many of you read my blog. To watch me eat the whole menu and get fat while you save all the calories by ordering only my favorites. HMP!!! 

But because I love you, here you go...

Happy eating to you all, and good luck to me! Lol! :P

 

 

Prawn scotch eggs, betel leaves, coconut chili sambal

 

 

Twice cooked beef short rib, sweet fish sauce, hot and sour salad 

 

 

Medium rare US Prime Ribeye with fries and mushroom peppercorn sauce

 

 

If you must have starch, this is it. Portobello mushroom, asparagus, fontina, truffle oil lasagna.

 

 

I also recommend you check out the outdoor dining area

 

 

How special is this view

 

 

Look who else were having dinner at Blackbird that night! Thank you, Leo and Marielle,
for my 100% pure coconut water Vita Coco stash! 

 

 

Desserts were lovely. I enjoyed the sticky date pudding a la mode the most.

 

Baked Alaska

 

 

Cheesecake, macadamia praline, banana brûlée, dulce de leche

 

 

Lemon meringue tart, pink peppercorn crust, lavender praline ice cream

 

 

Sticky date pudding, caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream 

 

 

Burnt butter and vanilla seed ice cream, chocolate brownie, candied popcorn, salted caramel 

 

 

We brought our own dessert, too!
SURPRISE, AHIA EMIL!!!!!!!!!! 

 

 

The servers at Blackbird were a bit shy about singing. Luckily, guests from the other table
came to the rescue.

 

 

Thank you, Tita Virgie Ramos, Susan Joven and Mia Borromeo for providing
live birthday music! :) 

 

 

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AHIA EMIL!!!!!!
We hope you enjoyed your cake, because we enjoyed your birthday treat! Hehehe! :)

 

 

Blackbird: Nielson Tower, Ayala Triangle, Makati City
Tel: +632 828 4888