Friday 16 December 2011

Spices: New Bombay Indian Restaurant

Ever since I had my first authentic Indian meal, I was hooked. There are two authentic Indian places that I frequented, Swagat and New Bombay. I remember years ago when New Bombay was just a small canteen/cafeteria place but now I was ecstatic to see New Bombay turned into a full-blown resto with different branches in the Makati area.


New Bombay Authentic Indian Cuisine

The Mix Pakora are different deep fried treats that are coated with chickpea flour and different herbs. Treats such as Finger Chillies. Sliced Onions, Sweet Potatoes, Cauliflower and my fave is the Cheese. This was served with two kinds of dip, a tamarind and lentil dip.


Mix Pakora - Php165

Mix Pakora with Tamarind and Lentil Dip

When it comes to curries, three types comes to mind. Japanese, Thai and Indian. Among all three, the curry that has the most complex flavor is the Indian curry. It has that pungent smell and taste that people will either love or hate. What's nice about this resto is that you can ask them to adjust the spiciness level to your liking. You can go for mild, hot or extra-hot.


Indian Red Curry

The Vegetable Kofta is a mixed vegetable meatball. This is one flavorful filled vegetable dish that's healthy at the same time. So good!

Vegetable Kofta - Php215
Aside from the fragrant Basmati Rice, Indian meals wouldn't be complete without Naan/Roti bread.The warm soft flaky flatbread is the perfect partner for curries and sauce-laden dishes.



Cheese and Garlic Naan - Php115

When dining in an Indian resto, one must not forget to try out the Lassi. It is a cold creamy yogurt based drink usually served either salted or sweet. There are flavors to choose from but my fave is the Rose Lassi. It smells of roses I like how the sweetness and sourness balances each other out.


Rose Lassi - Php75

When I saw New Bombay expanding I was both thrilled and worried. I was scared that the quality of food might suffer but to my delight it still was the same like it used to be.




New Bombay Authentic Indian Cuisine

Branches:  
G/F Glorietta 3 Ayala Center  & Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center, Makati (02) 986-8622 & (02) 757-1704
               
Tower 1 G/F The Columns, 6821 Ayala Ave. cor. Gil Puyat Brgy. Bel-Air, Makati City (02) 901-3275


G/F, Sagittarius Bldg. III, 312 H.V. Dela Costa St. Salcedo Village, Makati City  (02) 819-2892

Monday 12 December 2011

Spices: Chelsea Market and Cafe

Known to be one of the better restaurants in Serendra, I had high expectations. The market/cafe has a simple and casual vibe, at the center they were selling different kinds of food stuff. But most people came here to dine and no to buy.

Chelsea Market and Cafe

Inside Chelsea

Upon being seated, a plate of warm sliced Focaccia bread with a vinaigrette dip was served. What made the complimentary starter extra special was the whole roasted garlic that came with it. We just had to  asked for another round of this starter.

Complimentary Focaccia Bread

The Portobello Mushroom Confit was presented beautifully, the mushroom was topped with Arugula and slices of Parmesan cheese. There were Cherry Tomatoes encased in Pesto with drizzle of reduced Balsamic vinegar around the plate.


Portobello Mushroom Confit - Php395

Not only did it looked nice, it also tasted great. The usual combination of all the flavors complimented each other really well.

Portobello Mushroom

The Truffled Three Mushroom Pasta tasted satisfactory. The pasta was al dente though I wanted more truffle oil atop of the creamy sauce. The mushroom bits were not enough to make the dish complete, I wish they added more of it.

Truffled Three Mushroom Pasta - Php495

The Crispy Duck Confit and Mushroom Risotto was absolutely divine. Every part of this dish was cooked perfectly.

Crispy Duck Confit and Mushroom Risotto - Php575

The duck's skin was deliciously crunchy and the meat was moist and tender. The meat has the fall-off-the-bone feel, I didn't even use my knife. The liver sauce was thick and it complimented the duck so well.


Duck Confit

The Mushroom Risotto was cooked exactly the way I liked it. Creamy, flavorful and it still has a little bite to it.Making Risotto is not an easy task, ive tasted Risotto from different restos and most of them failed to give me what i want. Chelsea's Mushroom Risotto definitely became one of my favorites.


Mushroom Risotto

After dining here, my high expectations was absolutely met. I'm looking froward to coming back and dining here again.(and again)



Chelsea Market and Cafe
Address: Ground Flr. Serendra Piazza, Mc Kinley Parkway,
               Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Tel No:   (02) 909-7011