Handsome Polo Ravales has been entertaining fans for more than two decades in hit TV series such as “TGIS” (where he and Sunshine Dizon were a loveteam) and “Encantadia,” and movies like “Let The Love Begin,” “Blue Moon” and “Manay Po.” Today, the one-time teen heartthrob is still very active in the entertainment industry. He co-stars with Ian Veneracion, Richard Gutierrez and Daniel Padilla in ABS-CBN’s ensemble action drama “Incognito,” which dropped its first few episodes on Netflix over the weekend and will premiere on free TV tonight.
Now 42 years old, Polo has maintained his fit physique and his boyish charm. And though he is still passionate about acting, he has ventured into the restaurant business as well. He is currently the industrial partner of Royal Indian Curry House — RICH for short — which has branches in Poblacion, Eastwood and Mall of Asia.
Last week, Polo and his lovely fiancée Paulyn Quiza (a popular and in-demand online fitness trainer) invited me to the Il Terrazo branch of RICH in Quezon City. Located on the third floor of Il Terrazo, the spacious restaurant is well-appointed with deep and heavily upholstered luxurious dining chairs and sofas, and modern chandelier fixtures. The Lounge serves as the main dining area and also offers outdoor seating for those who would like to have shisha, which is a single or multi-stemmed instrument for heating or vaporizing flavored tobacco.
Offered in a wide variety of flavors, shisha is very popular in India and other Middle Eastern countries. Adding to RICH’s exotic India vibe is a live belly dancing performance, which patrons can catch on Fridays and Saturdays. Late at night, the main area transforms into a bar that comes with a deejay on weekends. There is also another area reserved for private functions.
The food is authentically Indian and served in portions good for two to three persons, depending on your appetite. Since my tolerance for spicy food is low, I asked Polo to let me taste only those dishes that were mildly spicy. We started off with vegetable samosas, which are very similar to our empanadas. They are served hot in a light batter that is a bit crunchy. We also had garlic naan bread served with an assortment of dipping sauces.
For our main course, Polo and Paulyn ordered their personal favorites: Chicken Tikka Butter Masala (tender boneless chicken cooked in a tomato and onion gravy), Fish Malai Tikka (white fish fillet marinated in yoghurt, spices, lime juice and saffron), Rara Mutton Curry (imported sheep cooked in curry sauce), and chicken kebab with biryani rice.
They were all exceptionally savory, but my personal favorite was the oh-so-tender rara mutton. To cleanse our palates, we had the sweet gulab jamun or rose water berry, which is a deep-fried ball made of flour, butter and milk that is then dropped into a simmering sugar syrup.
During my visit, Polo showed me the kitchen, where I met RICH’s Indian chef, Ashish Singh. I quickly complimented him for the aromatic, delicious and filling meal I had just enjoyed. Polo then shared that last year, the farewell press conference for the teleserye “Pamilya Sagrado” was held at the RICH Lounge, where Piolo Pascual and the rest of the cast enjoyed the Indian cuisine.
When I asked Polo how he became involved in RICH, he revealed that he and Paulyn frequented the restaurant because they love Indian food. As a regular customer, Polo at one point met one of the owners, Vijay Gurung, who then introduced the actor to the other young Indian businessmen who were his co-partners. One thing led to another and the group invited Polo to be an industrial partner.
Whether you’re an adventurous foodie or one who is simply looking for a new restaurant to try, consider RICH for your next dining option. Not only is it a sumptuous alternative to the usual Asian cuisine like Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese, it also provides a uniquely transporting experience that you will savor and not soon forget.