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IT was
around
noon on a certain Friday, and the table settings in Chelsea
Market & Café were already taken. People were waiting
outside for a table to become available. This writer was
told that it was almost next to impossible to get a
table for walk-ins. Some make reservations two weeks in
advance.
Located
at the Serendra Piazza in
Fort
Bonifacio,
one of Ayala Land’s latest commercial developments which
has become the mall du jour, the restaurant is inspired
by the hip international shops in the
Chelsea
district of New York, which, in the 1890s, was the
National Biscuit Co. complex where the ovens baked
everything from Saltines to Oreos.
 Chelsea
is managed by Raintree Management Partners Inc. and
Annabel Wisniewski, the names also behind the Museum
Café in Greenbelt. The restaurant is a community market
café in the heart of Serendra’s 3,500 residential
building. It has an open-kitchen exhibition table, with
patisserie cakes, tarts, cookies and breads on the
Butcher Block display. It also has a delicatessen of
charcuterie and fromagerie (local and imported cold cuts
and cheese with assorted condiments such as herbed
olives, black truffle-infused honey and sweet chili
fruits), as well as wine and spirits, coffee and tea,
and gift baskets.
The
restaurant’s design reflects the relaxed feel of
Serendra, with cozy banquettes and pillows, brown
leather sofas, communal butcher block and picnic tables,
al-fresco café tables, board games, daily bulletin
board, magazine and newsstand, and Internet kiosk.
The
establishment offers American-Italian fare prepared by
internationally renowned chef Sau del Rosario, whose
main aspiration is to make big food servings for sharing
portions. Del Rosario is a graduate of the University of
the Philippines’ Hotel and Restaurant Management course
and his mastery of gastronomy was developed by exploring
the world and staying in
France
for six years. Key to his memorable gustatory offerings
is his use of special ingredients, as well as a very
ingenious way of presenting the dishes, giving guests
reason to come back for more.
For
example, one is greeted at the table with a cutting
board laden with assorted Italian breads along a whole
baked bulb of garlic to get your taste buds going. One
could either spread butter or the garlic on the bread,
or dip it in its homemade balsamic and olive-oil dip. A
touch of dried fruit and nuts is also served on the
board. Consume all that and you might find yourself
thoroughly satisfied and satiated before the main
course.
The
grilled-roasted herb chicken and crispy bacon salad that
comes with bamboo shoots and toasted almonds is the
newest on the restaurant’s market salad list. It is a
must-try as the baby Romaine lettuce is fresh and the
Grandma’s Caesar dressing is perfectly blended. The
salad list includes Granny Smith Apple Shreds and
Gorgonzola, Mozzarella di Buffala Caprese Extreme, and
Seared Beef Tenderloin and Dried Apricots.
On the
big plates menu, the Roasted Whole Garlic-Rosemary-Lemon
Chicken—one of the bestsellers—is delectable and good to
share. The latest creation of del Rosario is the classic
Beer Battered Fish and Chips that includes a house-made
coleslaw, malt vinegar and tartar aioli. The fish tastes
so fresh and one order is good for two persons. Also on
the menu are the Slow-Cooked Herbed Norwegian Salmon,
Herb Walnut Crusted Chilean Seabass, Grandma’s Crispy
Duck Confit and Mushroom Risotto, Grilled Roasted
Gourmet Sausages and the Moroccan-Style Lamb Shank in a
Tangine.
Chelsea
has sumptuous pasta offerings that come in large
servings as well. The pasta selections are also nice to
share: Slow Braised Osso Bucco Pappardelle, Classic
Creamy Fettuccine Carbonara, Grandma’s Sausage and
Meatball Rigatoni, Five Cheese Lasagna, Porcini Mushroom
and Apple Pappardelle and the newest—Oven-Roasted
Seafood and Tomato Cream Pesto, which has a very
exciting taste.
Of
course, the dessert list of Chelsea is no less
thrilling, including the NY Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Cheesecake, Four Layer Toblerone Torte, Big Apple
Crumble Cheesecake with Crème Anglaise and the Big
Nutella Dome Cake—all of which go wonderfully well with
coffee or tea. There are so many choices proffered by
the restaurant—from appetizers, soups, oysters,
sandwiches, ribs, steaks and chops, to floats and
frappés—at pretty good prices that one can say dining at
Chelsea is nothing short of extraordinary indulgence.
Chelsea
Market & Café is open from 12 noon to 12 midnight.
For
inquiries: 909-7011. |
