Around the world in a meal

Who was it that said that all everyone wants is at least one outstanding meal a day? For food not only fuels our bodies to sustain us through the rigors of the day, but it also brings joy and comfort into every heart as we break bread and share a meal with those we consider family and friends.

The American chef and food writer James Beard said it best: "Food is our common ground, a universal experience."

As the world gradually becomes a global community, the idea of breaking bread still hasn’t changed. Today, however, we may no longer have bread on hand – perhaps we can share a plate of pasta or a tray of pizza. Perhaps we all reach out our chopsticks for a piece of xiao long pao or shake (salmon) sashimi. We can toast all night with a glass of wine in hand, or a shooter or two of B-52s. How about counting calories together, sharing a slice of sugar-free cake after a delicious meal? And who could forget the pleasant conversation coffee or tea brings to a group of friends? Meals no longer just sustain us, they also bring us together, and the memories those meals elicit make them outstanding.

As the world shrinks and people experience the cultures of the world with each trip abroad, the tongue seeks the pleasures that the heart remembers. And what the heart remembers, we want to share with our friends.

Makati is just as cosmopolitan as any other city in Asia. What we learn to crave for on a journey out of the country, we can already have here. It is a testament to the innovation and sensitivity to the needs of consumers for mall developers to anticipate their wishes.

Greenbelt is the country’s first and only lifestyle center that caters to the desires of cosmopolitan consumers for high quality, specialty shopping, dining and entertainment. The restaurants Ayala Malls has gathered for its Greenbelt 2 dining row is an outstanding example of providing diners with just about every taste they can imagine.

Dining at Greenbelt 2 is a culinary adventure. In just one square block, you get to taste the world’s different food offerings. You no longer need to travel far just for a gourmet deal; you just have to walk around.

The universal appeal of Chinese food has made it a comfort food of sorts for many. Anywhere in the world, your order of stir-fried noodles, fried rice, and dim sum will taste just as delicious. At Greenbelt 2, diners may choose from the more traditional offerings of Gloria Maris, a respected name in the food industry. With its promos on its specialty items, dining here would surely be a winner.

However, those willing to try the more diverse pleasures of Chinese cooking should look no further than Zhongnanhai. With its menu of cookery from all over China, this unique Chinese restaurant has become quite popular among the young set. Its signature xiao long pao is a rare dim sum creation, combining soup and appetizer on your Chinese spoon. Unlike traditional siomai, the xiao long pao is encased in a stronger wonton skin to hold in its secret: the soup. You do not eat this one with a chopstick. You bite into it slowly and delicately, making sure to sip with a slurp or two the hot savory soup in each dumpling. Then you bite into the dumpling. With a bowl of steamed rice or the restaurant’s signature baked seafood pineapple rice – yes, it is fried rice served on half a pineapple shell – you’ve got the perfect quick meal.

Those who are health conscious or delight in the healing powers of fish opt for the fresh taste of Japanese food. And when we talk of Japanese food, we think of sashimi and sushi. At Greenbelt 2, diners are blessed with two Japanese options: the more traditional offerings of Sugi, a popular Japanese brand among local gourmets, and the more festive fusion recreations at Kai, crafted by chefs who trained in New York with the renowned Japanese chef Nobu Matsushita.

Sugi is everybody’s favorite. On a recent visit, the restaurant was fully booked and it was a good thing our group got reservations. As I plunked down for lunch, there was a plate of shake sashimi before me, the fat, juicy slices arranged in a fan of a smile. Never mind the gindara teriyaki, I thought. I can feast on salmon the whole afternoon. By the time, we were asked for our orders, I had a lunch bento, and yes it came with more sashimi, gindara teriyaki, a couple of prawn tempura, and my favorite, chawan mushi, or steamed egg custard soup, which is an acquired taste. It was a good thing I woke up late and skipped breakfast.

Greenbelt 2 has its lineup of fine-dining establishments offering nouvelle European cooking. Here in Manila, the concept of fine dining isn’t as strict as it is abroad. So long as you come in dapper or are fashionably up-to-date, no one’s going to stop you at the door. Better still, stay outdoors. Greenbelt 2 has maximized its garden setting to offer diners a smoking area where they can smoke to their heart’s content. And no, you need not be bothered by the humid tropical weather. There are giant fans equipped with misters to cool the afternoon and night air.

Popular stops include Nu Vo, with its menu of French classics and nouvelle cooking, Pepato, with its menu of regional Italian cooking and updates as realized by chef Gaita Fores, and Mezze!, with its broad menu of Mediterranean cooking.

Mezze! is re-orienting its menu of favorites to fit the healthy lifestyles of mall goers. Mediterranean food is either grilled, roasted, or sautéed, and not deep-fried. There is also a preference for lean cuts of meat, particularly lamb.

A recent stop had me rediscovering pizza, although here they call it a flatbread. Mezze!’s flat breads are hand-tossed crusts that are served on a wooden tablet. There are a number of toppings available, but the Angus pizza variety is one of the crowd favorites.

One bite into this flat bread and the difference is obvious. The crust is thin and crisp. The sauce of roasted garlic gives the whole pizza a sweetish-savory flavor that complements the full meaty flavor of the Angus beef. The cheeses add a salty tang balanced by the sweetish flavor of the peppers, onions and mushrooms. If you think you know pizzas, then you haven’t tried this flat bread.

There are also a number of restaurants that serve the exclusive creations of its chefs. Uva is dominated by its popular chef-patron Fern Aracama. A favorite stop by many for his peanut chocolate ice cream, he serves what he considers comfort food for many.

Over at Cena, chef Alan Mathay serves his "my cuisine." If it’s good to eat, he cooks and serves it here. If you crave for meat, you won’t go wrong with his filet mignon, clearly a winner with its generous slices of tender rolled beef slices served with a generous serving of flavorful rice and mushroom stir-fry.

For family-style dining, nothing beats the Italian-American offerings of Italianni’s. Its abbondanza platters are big enough to feed a family or four – or maybe fewer if they are hungry men. There’s really no better sauce in the world than hunger. Whether it be a family platter of spaghetti (make mine angel hair pomodoro), salad, pork chops or roast chicken, you can be sure that no one leaves the table without a smile on their faces.

Did you leave room for dessert? You should because Bizu Patisserie, with its display of colorful cakes and pastries, will surely fill you up even more. I’ve always been a big fan of its mango chiboust and baba au rhum, but if I must have just one – and I never do – then choose from the colorful macarons de Paris on display. Should we go by color? Make mine chocolate, coffee, caramel, hazelnut, and vanilla. All shades of red? How about raspberry, and rose? Or would you like something really fruity? Then why not try blueberry, lemon, mango, and orange? Whatever flavor you go for, they go really well with a cup of hot java or a pot of tea.

If for you a simple cup of coffee is enough to complete your day, then Segafredo Zanetti has the right cup for you. Whether you want a simple cup of americano, a foamy cappuccino, or the milky taste of a latte, they are made here with one of the world’s best coffee bean brands. I like mine cold on a warm night, so I opt for a single shakerato. That’s a single shot of espresso poured over ice, shaken in a cocktail mixer, and served nice and frothy in a tall glass. For an extra boost of coffee flavor – espresso has far less caffeine than a cup of regular brewed – then make it a double.

There is a world of dining options at Greenbelt 2 that the thought of just one outstanding meal in a day is simply unthinkable. And if you are restaurant hopping with friends, why opt for just one outstanding meal when you can have two, three, even four in one day or night?