It was just my baby and me last night, all by our coosome twosome. We felt like eating somewhere fancy together and we chose to do Sala.
We wanted to eat there last night but there was a private function. Plus, there was Earth Hour last night and the last time we ate out during Earth Hour, it was pure and utter chaos.
So a leisurely Sunday it was.
What I love about Sala is that it has such a cozy ambiance. You really feel like you're sitting in someone's living room. And the service is superb. When you want to go somewhere for an intimate evening, Sala is the place to go.
When we arrived there was one other couple and a long table filled with moms, dads, grandparents, brothers, sisters, babies and yayas. There was a cute toddler that kept pointing through the window to Hubs, who was smoking outside. The baby was so cute--he looked a little like Enzo at that age.
It just so happened this Sunday, the chef at Sala had come out in the Sunday Inquirer Magazine about losing a lot of weight from joining "The Biggest Loser Asia." He was so fit and trim, he kind of looked like Billy Crawford minus the bandana. The family were having photo ops with the celebrity chef :)
I opted for the Chef's Tasting Menu while Caloy ordered the Goat Cheese and Prawn Souffle and the steak. Warning: the photos in this post simply look like sin. Beware of mouthwatering. I must've been quite inspired.
This is the amuse bouche they served us of goat cheese and tomato in filo pastry. I absolutely love this kind of cream goat cheese. Wonderful way to start the meal.
This salad of spice encursted tuna, crispy baby squid with rocket, charred lemon and romesco sauce was light the right bits of crispy. I love octopus legs, and the one on the right looks like he's doing a cartwheel!
This second appetizer of portobello mushroom and ricotta with thyme ravioli in white truffle oil was my favorite meal of my entire menu, hands down. I actually was thinking of ordering this when I saw it on the menu but decided to go for the "more is more" technique. In the words of my officemate Mario, this dish is a win-ner!
Hubses' appetizer came out and I felt trumped.
Well, our server did tell us its been on the menu for 12 years. When the chef sometimes wants to take it off for something new, the servers do an Amy Winehouse and say "No, no no!"
This, my friends, is the twice-baked goat cheese souffle. Look at the molten, melty mass of cheesy goodness. Kind of looks like a hat from the photo, huh? Itsutterly delicious. Maybe I'll order this as my main course next time I come to Sala.
This was my first main course, roasted grouper with spring greens, tomato fondant and bacon foam. Okay, I look like a glutton now, or perhaps a hobbit, "first main course," pshaw. But believe me, objects in this blog may seem larger than they appear.
I really liked the sauces that went with the dish although I would have preferred the fish slightly less cooked. But the flavor was good.
I almost forgot to take a photo of my secondses. By this time I was quite tipsy from my tipple and had already started eating and savoring this when my inner blogger, Auntie Eatem said "Aren't you forgetting something dearie?"
This is kurobuta of pork with seared scallops and clams in a bell pepper and tomato hash. I accidentally fed Caloy a calm saying it was an oyster, then when he swallowed it I said, "Oops! It's a clam!" and he gave me a dirty look. I must have been more tispy than I thought!
Now, this is the second time for me to try kurobuta pork. The first time I ordered it was at Sirocco in Bangkok to impress my fellow gourmand Amy, who wasn't really all that impressed by it. (Phooey!) Back then in September, I didn't like it much either, a pork rib is a pork rib is a pork rib. Who cares if it can say "Konichiwa!" and bow to you before you eat it?
Well, though this was tender and cooked well, I didn't like it none either. Give me a pile of baby back any time! To paraphrase Justin Timberlake who was in Manila recently: "I'm bringing baby back..."
And I must admit, by this time I was quite tired of the tomato flavoring. Caloy let me try some of this monster, the grilled Angus tenderloin. It came with morels, which I also love.
But I was through with savories. When this warm dark chocolate fondant and vanilla ice cream came out
At the end of our meal, we were both royally stuffed. When I got home, I tried to watch some TV but fell asleep. I woke myself up and somewhat remember kissing my hubs goodnight and getting myself to bed all changed into PJs, teeth brushed and face washed. Next thing I knew, it was 8 am this morning.
When was the last time you had a date night that ended in bliss?
Sala
Locsin Building Podium Level
6752 Ayala Avenue, Makati City
+632.750.1555
www.salarestaurant.com
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