7.234 Sikreto ni Maria Claria (TERSP 15)

7.234

26 (Fri) August 2016

Sikreto ni Maria Claria

3.5

at Abé Serendra

-Serendra Piazza, Taguig-

with the family

TERSP.  Try Every Restaurant in Serendra Piazza.  The family now living in Manila, our new home is in the One Serendra condominium complex.  The complex includes a mini-mall (“Serendra Piazza”) dedicated primarily to food and drink, with 23 restaurants (plus additional dessert/snack joints).  We’re going eat our way through all the restaurants (and probably the dessert/snack joints, though not as part of TERSP).  In contrast to the negative net returns on similar projects conducted by myself in Ermite/Malate, I’m optimistic that The Fort — one of the country’s poshest neighborhoods, where food is taken seriously — won’t disappoint us. So far, so good.

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Each restaurant is listed below in order of preference based on the overall dining experience, including the quality of all dishes tried, cost, service, cleanliness, ambiance, and any other factors that may apply, cumulative through multiple visits (if any).

  1. (10) Mamou (7.203 …T-Bone Steak) / 3.25 / Italian
  2. (3)   Lartizan (7.060 Vol-au-Vent de Poulet…) / 3.5 / French
  3. (4)   8cuts (7.122 I Got Big Game) / 3.0 / American
  4. (2)   Zao Vietnamese Bistro (7.053 Seafood Rice) / 3.25 / Vietnamese
  5. (1)   Sentro 1771 (7.004 Tortang Talong) / 3.0 / Filipino
  6. (6)   Chelsea Grand Café (7.179 … Corned Beef Brisket Sandwich) / 2.5 / American
  7. (12)  Mogu Bar & Grill (7.213 Grilled Wagyu Roll) / 2.5 / Japanese
  8. (5)   Larry’s Café and Bar (7.162 Roast Chicken aux Champignons) / 3.0 / French
  9. (8)   Gino’s (7.182 SMEGG Pizza) / 2.0 / Italian
  10. (14) Wee Nam Kee (7.223 Steamed Hainanese Yellow Chicken) / 2.0 / Singaporean
  11. (15) Abé
  12. (13)  Conti’s Bakeshop & Restaurant (7.218 USDA Roasted Beef Belly) / 2.5 / American
  13. (7)   Wang Fu (7.180 General Tso’s Chicken) / 2.5 / Chinese
  14. (11)  Saboten (7.212 Shrimp & Tenderloin Set) / 3.0 / Japanese
  15. (9)   Echo Deli (7.189 Korean Beef Stew) / 1.5 / Korean
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Abé is a Filipino restaurant chain. Currently 5 locations in Metro Manila. Part of the LJC Group, which also includes Bistro Remedios (see below), Café Adriatico (see most recently 7.088 Lolo Ising’s Adobo Rice), Larry’s Café & Bar (see above).
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Very similar items, verbatim in many cases, to those at related restaurants.

Overall, the food was just okay.  Every dish competent but unremarkable.  Disappointing for a restaurant so highly rated, which had me looking forward to a higher-level experience.

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Gambas al Ajillo (2.5)
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Sinigang na Hipon (1.5) : the purple is guava.
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Beef Caldereta (3.0) : the boys’ favorite (see most recently 7.222 Beef Caldereta).

Sikreto ni Maria Clara.  As promised a year and a half ago (see 6.045 Tortilla Española), I now reveal Maria’s secret : under the vanilla ice cream … fresh ripe mango and sticky rice.  Intriguing melange of silky + mushy + chewy textures, creamy + tangy + nutty flavors.  Possibly derived from Thailand’s famous khao niao mamuang (see generally 6.171 Sweet Sticky Rice…).  Never been much for dessert, but this I really dig (literally) (also available at Bistro Remedios, which is where I first tried it).

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Although I know should know better by now not to engage in any more “Try Every” projects, I’m tempted to try every top twenty restaurant in Taguig/BGC as ranked by TripAdvisor.

Top Twenty Restaurants in Taguig City (as of today) :

  1. [ ]
  2. Abé Serendra
  3. [ ]
  4. [ ]
  5. The Food Hall by Todd English (7.202 Charred Octopus; 6.062 Bone Marrow)
  6. Ramen Nagi [lunch]
  7. [ ]
  8. [ ]
  9. Wildflour Café and Bakery [lunch]
  10. The Wholesome Table [lunch]
  11. [ ]
  12. [ ]
  13. [ ]
  14. [ ]
  15. [ ]
  16. [ ]
  17. [ ]
  18. 8Cuts Burger Blends (7.122 Burger)
  19. [ ]
  20. Ogawa [lunch]

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