7.202
25 (Mon) July 2016
Charred Octopus
3.0
-SM Aura Mall, Taguig-
with the family
Another day, another mall — the second day in the life as a family residing in the BGC (see previously 7.201 Deep-Fried Shrimp…).
Impressed with the Charred Octopus on my first visit, a bit less this second time, perhaps in contrast to a similar dish at another place (see generally 7.195 Porchetta).
I’m beginning to wonder if this place may merely be a family restaurant with fancier plating.
I’m rarely super impressed by famous chef’s restaurants, like Todd English, but these dishes look pretty good. I’m sorry the octopus wasn’t as good this second visit, since chefs pride themselvecs on consistency. But if octopus is prepared well, it can be a brilliant dish. “Risotto paella” seems like a weird concept, but I guess it can work. It looks like a really mediterranean risotto, or a really sticky paella. Too bad you didn’t give it top stars. Nice photos though, thanks for sharing!
please don’t be sorry!! but thanks for your concern!
as recently demonstrated by visits to Nobu and Momofuko, I certainly agree that the famous chefs that i’ve experienced haven’t been that impressive. but i’m still curious about famous-famous chefs, like Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, maybe even Gordon Ramsay…
You know, maybe I spoke too soon (or I had too much wine before typing my last message), but you’re absolutely right about “famous-famous” chefs. Because the two most amazing meals I’ve ever had in my life (although the full-experience cost was out of this damn world… and you know you have to add the fresh truffles and gold leaves!) were at L’Atelier de Joel Rebuchon, and Daniel (by Daniel Boulud) in NYC. The third most amazing experience was Le Bernardin (Eric Ripert – honestly, this man is one of the sexiest men I’ve ever met in my life. He is so damn charming, it’s shocking. If only I were single…).
I probably don’t have a great reason to visit these same places twice yet, because for the amount of $$$ you pay for these types of restaurants, I’d also like to visit other high-end options that I’ve never explored yet. I’d really like to try a Thomas Keller, Jean Georges, and a different Morimoto restaurant than the ones I’ve been to in NYC and Hawaii.
Writing this made me realize how much I need/want a vacation.
OMG, daniel and le bernardin were two places that i tried to get into during my trip to NY in january. but just to show how much of a foodie that i’m NOT, i didn’t realise reservations take months in advance. I was like, “so, how about a table tonight at 8?”
“If only I were single” — if you were single, what?
thomas keller … oh boy … back when i was at Berkeley (1993-1999), and hanging out in Napa on occasional weekends as a budding wino, i was invited by some locals to French Laundry for some kind of closed brunch event (can’t recall what), but I declined, and opted instead to sleep in that morning in my B&B, not then realising the significance.
Jean George, if only for the Kimchi Chronicles connection.
in any case, as you clearly validate, my point was that some famous chefs are presumably famous for their food, and so the experience should be amazing.
not sure if Pierre Gagnaire qualifies, but he’s a Mich-3 who has a restaurant in Lotte Hotel in Seoul, which I hope to be trying at the end of December this year — stay tuned!
What kind of leaf is on top of the octopus?
rocket/rucola/arugula