Published on Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on August 28, 2014
It is not a new establishment, but many people still do not know about my favorite place in Legaspi Village. I hesitate as I write about this little gem, because I fear more and more people will discover it, making it harder for me to secure a table at the 30-something-seater restaurant, not that it isn’t difficult enough as it is.
It was my birthday wish come true that I was able to reserve Stockton Place for my dinner celebration at a very short notice. Well, one of my many wishes, that is, along with not gaining a single pound after devouring the most scrumptious meal prepared by the young and talented Chef Celine de los Angeles. Seriously, people should be exempt from weight acquisition on their “burpdays.”
Our family invaded the restaurant.
The Oldies
The Fatties
The menu, handwritten on a blackboard, was short and simple. If you are a group of eight,
I suggest you order everything.
For this dinner, I made all the decisions for my family of 30.
We started with Butternut Squash Soup, which was a perfect balance of sweet and savory.
There was a goat cheese tortellini surprise in every bowl, and bacon crumble to keep
things wicked. I had a hard time choosing between this and the bright and creamy
Tomato Soup with parmesan foam that I thoroughly enjoyed in a previous meal.
It was the kind that grilled cheese sandwiches go goo goo ga ga for.
Our fresh greens arrived with shavings of foie gras, pickled cocktail onions, and peanut puree.
I could not imagine a simple three-ingredient salad that is more luxurious than this.
The Caramelized Portobello Mushroom Tart had everyone nodding in approval.
Meaty mushrooms with ricotta cheese and served with a smear of truffled asparagus,
it was eveerrryyyything – earthy, sweet, tangy, creamy, and yes, healthy!
To balance out all this wholesomeness was the extremely sinful block of Crispy Pork Belly
with layer of crunchy skin after layer of tender meat after layer of jiggly, glorious fat.
The pool of cherry pork sauce and pommery mashed potato cut through the richness.
And then the star of the show:
RIBEYE STEAK WITH BORDELAISE SAUCE AND CRISPY POTAOTES
Oh yes, this handsome slab of meat and the awesome fried spuds deserve the all-caps
mega bold font.
Chef Celine masterfully cooks her steaks to a perfect medium rare. Every. Single. Time.
Truly one of the best I’ve had in the metro.
For the non-beef eaters (shame!), there was poached chicken with truffle mushroom duxelle
adorned with a paper-thin crispy chicken skin.
And sole poached with a lemon beurre blanc sauce resting atop a bed of sautéed
vegetables and almonds.
The longevity symbol came in the form of tasty Clam Linguine. I urged guests to stuff
themselves so I may live longer to enjoy more meals like this.
As a tradition, we came armed with our own little birthday cake buffet and missed ordering from
Chef Celine’s excellent dessert creations this time. But you must order my favorite chocolate
peanut caramel tart with caramel popcorn powder, peanut foam, and caramelized banana.
THAT PEANUT FOAM!!! I can eat a whole bucket of it and die of cardiac happiness arrest.
The Stockton Place staff also surprised me with this plate of S'mores.
This speculoos feuillantine, chocolate cremeux, graham mousse and
toasted marshmallow dessert was marvelous in presentation and in flavor!
Thank you so much, Chef Celine! :)
And thank you to everyone who gave me cakes! You all know me so well. Except for one, all my birthday cakes were chocolate! YAY!!! :)
Baked by Anita's Chocolate & Berries Cake from Princess
Wildflour's Salted Chocolate Cake from the Chiang Family
Pink Wasabi's Reggiano Chocolate Cake from Jane Go
Sweet Grace's Pistachio Cake with Strawberries and Cream from Kate
Roshan's Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake from Ronald
And my favorite Roshan's Jamocha Fudge Walnut Torte from Frances
As I was about to blow out my candles, Gwama pulled my arm, trying to stop me
She wanted to coach me on making the PERFECT birthday wish
Ay nako!!! Every year it's the same old wish!
And every year, I silently wish for the same.
And then came Gwama's favorite part of our birthday celebrations
"I feed you first, and then you feed me, ok?"
"OKAY, MY TURN!!!!!!! MWAHAHAHAHA!!!! FEED ME, FEED MEEEE!!!!!!!!"
"MMMMMMMMM…. Chocolate cake is sooo good!!! Ya ho chia!!!"
"I want more! I want more!!!"
"But Gwama, you cannot have too much sweets! Kiss nalang kita."
"Huhuhuuuuuuu"
The attack of the cake buffet
My plate.
SHUT UP! IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY!
I asked everybody to come in black and white prints to match the color scheme at Stockton Place.
Mom was totally against it. I had to tie a red cloth around my waist to make her happy.
Those who refused to wear black came in my favorite color - purple.
And then there were others who were simply colorblind. Lol.
I love my family. ♥ ♥ ♥
See my previous posts on Stockton Place:
Stockton Place
Stockton Place, Revisited
Stockton Place: 227 Salcedo Street corner Gamboa, Legaspi Village, Makati
Tel: +63917 856-1419
