Prudence and Madness

For those who’ve joined the latest food tours at TriNoma, Serendra, and Bonifacio High Street, you’d remember that Spot.PH, in partnership with several sponsors, brought to us the opportunity to taste plentiful gastronomic delights. Yesterday, May 8, Spot.PH formally launched its website as the newest hub of information concerning food, bars, and restaurants in Manila. Want to read articles about interesting spots in urban Manila? Searching for average people’s reviews of your favorite, as well, as new dining and drinking spots? Want to view photos and videos of days and nights out of people enjoying good food and drinks? Eager to participate in the discussion on which resto has the best iced tea or serves the most unforgettable dessert? You’ve got it at Spot.PH website.  What makes it different from all other food and drinks websites is that it provides more interaction with the average foodie.  As their buzz line goes, your city, your reviews.  And I actually believe they’re right: the everyday Manila people are those who can give the most honest reviews about the food and drinks found in Manila.  Registered users (registration is free!) can blog about their food and drinks reviews, even upload photos and videos!  There’s also forum for those who want lengthier discussions on their favorites.  Great concept, I’d say.

The launch was held at CAV Wine Bar and Restaurant at Bonifacio High Street, located in the same building as The Spa. It was my first time to be in this restaurant, though I’ve heard that it has a wine vending machine. Wait…a vending machine?  For wine?

That’s one of CAV’s personnel refilling the vending machine with new bottles of wine

One just need to purchase a prepaid card, insert the card on top of the wine you want to taste, press the button corresponding to the amount of wine you want (a shot, quarter full or half-full) and voila!  Wine tasting, the modern way.  Sadly though, I wasn’t able to inquire how much this prepaid card is.  But considering that some of those wines displayed can cost as much as P12,000+, I guess that prepaid card won’t be so cheap.

Here’s another nifty display I found inside CAV:

That’s NOT nail polish

Actually the whole display is called “54 Aromas”.  It comes with a brochure, presenting the different kinds of aromas in families:

• Fruity - Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, Pineapple,  Banana, Lychee, Melon, Muscat, Apple, Pear, quince, strawberry, raspberry, red currant, black currant, bilberry, blackberry, cherry, apricot, peach, almond, prune, walnut
• Floral - hawthorn, acacia, linden, honey, rose, violet
• Vegetal and spicy - green pepper, mushroom, truffle, wine lees, cedar, pine, liquorice, boxwood, cut hay, thyme, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, pepper, saffron
• Animal - leather, musk, butter
• Roasted - toast, roasted almond, roasted hazelnut, caramel, coffee, dark chocolate, smoke

I can’t imagine the skill of someone who could accurately differentiate all of these scents.

I love CAV’s interior.  If you’ve come to have a taste of good food that goes well with good wine, the subtle lights and thickly textured furnishings all lend to an ambiance that is quite perfect.

This is actually my favorite part of the place.  No, I’ve never been up there!  But I find these crisscrossing wooden beams and stone architecture beautiful reminiscent of some old-fashioned French wine cellar.  Romantic!

But, in this event, the old-fashioned fuses seamlessly with the modern.  Check out those computer stations setup, with broadband internet, courtesy of Smart Bro.

There are, at least, four of those during the event.  I’m not really a fan of Macs, but I find that iMac mouse really pretty and, at the same time, practical (at least, for me).  The scroller is just small enough that one has to use only the fingertip.  It lessens the finger and wrist movements necessary to navigate and maneuver during browsing and thus, decreasing the risk for developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

While waiting for the place to be filled up, CAV served guests with iced teas, nachos, and chocolates:

Just your standard nachos

Now that’s something I want in my room

Can I take the whole box home?  No? (Surely she isn’t happy at the thought)

Soon, the formal presentation of Spot.PH website was done, with introductions from the Spot.PH people and the bigwigs.  And, they’ve presented the video of Spot.PH Bloggers’ Food tour!  Bloggers like Shari, Jester, and AJ got some exposure time back there.  Hehe.

Okay, enough of the sight-seeing.  Time to make the taste buds do their work!

The maitre ‘d presented the four pairings of food and wine he wanted us to taste:

Kani and Asian Slaw Salad cup was paired with (not in photo) Behringer Chenin Blanc

Salmon Tartar with pickled cucumbers which was paired with…

…Enoku Tofu shooter with herbal foam and (not in photo) Nottage Hill Chardonnay Aust.

Potato gnocci with Truffle porcini mushroom essence paired with (not in photo) Kangaroo Ridge, Merlot, Aust

Braised beef short ribs bordelaise on potato puree paired with (not in photo) Esser, Cabernet Sauvignon, USA

My taste in food isn’t really in the “high-class” or “sosyal” type, but I did greatly enjoy all of the pairings served that day.  I think my favorite would be the Enoku Tofu Shooter and Salmon Tartar.  Good thing they provided written information about these food and wines, as it is really difficult to remember the names, especially for someone like me who really isn’t an expert in food.

Overall, I’m so glad I came to this event.  My feet may be tired from standing up and going around, taking snapshots, but I get to meet some people and enjoyed great-tasting food and wine.  I hope something like this comes around again soon.