Cycle 5 – Item 64

 10 (Mon) March 2014

Salisbury Steak Meal

2.0

at Red Ribbon

(Robinsons Place)

-Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines-

solo

Try Every Restaurant in Robinsons Place (29) (see also TERRP)

Red Ribbon is a Philippine bakery/restaurant chain.  Founded in 1979.  Countless locations throughout the country.  Now owned by Jollibee Foods Corporation.  More about the cakes and pastries than the food.

Every birthday bash, going-away party, commemorative event that I’ve attended at WHO here has involved some product from Red Ribbon.

Salisbury Steak is an American dish.  Ground meat (typically beef), mixed with extenders (e.g., breadcrumbs), aromatics (e.g., minced onions), and spices (e.g., nutmeg), shaped into a round patty, fried in a pan, served with gravy.  The name derives from Dr James Salisbury, a physician in the mid 1800s who purportedly invented the dish as a means of encouraging the regular consumption of beef, which he believed to have health benefits.

The Salisbury Steak Meal at Red Ribbon was pretty bad, and yet kinda good.  Even though it’s the only non-traditional item on the menu, I ordered it upon the strong recommendation of the cashier: “Our best seller, sir!!”  Steak in creamy mushroom gravy, plus mashed potatoes, diced corn and carrot, steamed rice, choice of fountain beverage, choice of white or chocolate cake.  The meat – beef?/pork?/chicken? – and sauce were awful, very evidently artificial/processed, both in texture and taste.

It reminded me of the TV dinners that I’d make for myself when I was a kid and my parents were both working late – not that I have fond memories of parental neglect, but even rueful nostalgia can be touching.

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See also RESTAURANTS IN PHILIPPINES)