Finding respite at L'Incontro Ristorante

There are days when you feel like a mess, and there are those when you feel a lot worse than that (a wreck?). For the very rare moments that you suffer from excessive stress and anxiety, it is only fitting to distance yourself from all the things that cause you stress. Finding a good place to meet with a few good friends to unwind and have dinner is a good way to spend that time off, so that's what I did a few days ago.

It had been a great while since I last met with a good friend of mine who I comfortably call "dad," amidst the innumerable close friends whom I call the same way. We decided to meet one evening to have dinner at this fine place called L'Incontro Ristorante. It was somewhat homecoming for me since I once again had the chance to pass  by Alliance-Française de Manille and other familiar places which I used to visit back in college. 

L'Incontro, loosely translated, means meeting, a word aptly chosen to describe such a wonderful establishment that stands almost as if with mystique and elegance along Nicanor Garcia St. (formerly Reposo). The restaurant's facade is usually lit with dim lights, similar to the dreamy lighting of the dining area. 

Limited but spacious tables await diners, and are usually reserved in advance to accommodate guests of varying numbers. In a way, the layout of the tables add to the intimate touch that this place exudes. 

When ordering, make sure to ask for recommendations from your server as they can and will explain the reasons behind their suggestions. As with typical mid-scale to larger restaurants, L'Incontro Ristorante offers a variety of meals to choose from ranging from appetizers to desserts. Also, be sure to ask for the size of the servings as there are several dishes which are best enjoyed alone than shared; if you feel like sharing, get something bigger because based on what I was able to taste, it might be difficult to stop getting mouthfuls for yourself. 

Octopus ink pasta

Margherita pizza

For the wine enthusiasts such as myself, ask for their wine menu. L'Incontro Ristorante has a good selection of wine from different origins. My favorite drink of course is Chardonnay--chilled but of no specific age--best paired with white meat, cheeses, white chocolate and pastries. That's just me though, it's up to you to decide which to get but again, ask for recommendations and assistance from your server to assure that you get only the best ones to pair with your food. 

The ambiance inside L'Incontro Ristorante is more than enough to cater to intimate gatherings by friends, professional meetings, or even casual dining. 

For a house that looks like a house outside definitely feels like home from within. I definitely enjoyed my time at L'Incontro mainly because of the peace and good feel of the place, the delectable dishes and wide food selection, and, of course, the prompt service extended by the staff--served with a smile! 

I look forward to my next dining experience at this highly recommendable place.

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L'Incontro Ristorante is located at 207 Nicanor Garcia St. (formerly Reposo; next to AF de Manille), Makati City

Contact numbers: 8990635, 8990638

Papa John's Pizza is now in Manila!

I don't know the exact date but I had my first slice of Papa John's Pizza while I was still in Shanghai. It was (and perhaps, still is) the most popular pizza chain in Shanghai, having Pizza Hut as a far second. It was a memorable first time since, at the time, I've been craving for good pizza and Pizza Hut in Shanghai is just too bland and uninteresting. 

(I'll do a separate post about Papa John's Pizza - Shanghai soon so do come back to check it out. Photo rights are owned by Brian Ong.)

Papa John's Pizza - Manila opened its doors to the public on December 10, 2010

It was by accident that I discovered Papa John's Pizza here in Manila. I was inside Robinsons Galleria Supermarket two days ago when I saw this man carrying a box of Papa John's Pizza. I had to give it a good look since, before yesterday, there was no news about them opening a branch in the Philippines.

Four years of foodgasm with shawarma

What's there not to like about yummy snacks that are easily available and cheap? One of the best snacks to have on a typical day, be it of mall strolling or whatnot, is shawarma. It may not be everyone's favorite but sure enough, it'll help you pass the time away with worthwhile chewing.

The first time I tried shawarma was about four years ago. I was still in college, fairly young, but way too late with respect to giving this food a shot. I remember hearing how people described it: delicious but very smelly, repulsive, and greasy beyond the normal. Hearing these did not exactly help win my interest to actually look for places where I can have a piece, but when my mom invited the whole family to look for alternatives to our usual snacks whenever we go out, I finally got introduced to this food that has for long been pushed back to the far corners of my mind.

The popularity of Shawarma was at its peak in the late 90's, chargeable partly to the influx of migrants and businessmen from the Middle East. At the time, I thought of the word as