Like an exotic animal who was in hibernation during the two-year community quarantines, Poblacion, Makati is slowly waking up. Things happening face to face is making its comeback in a big way, but with a seeming ‘changing of the guard’ in play.
If pre-pandemic, Poblacion was seen as the hangout of the kids, there’s been a gentrification of sorts happening, and a slightly older crowd is now making Poblacion their playground with corporate-types meeting for lunch dates or for after-work cocktails. One of the leading figures in this process of bringing the crowds back would have to be Chef Sau del Rosario, and how he opened, flourished, and sustained his Cafe Fleur on Enriquez St., in the middle of the pandemic.
Some called him foolhardy for launching the establishment when most of the neighborhood was still in shutdown mode, but he saw opportunity. Cafe Fleur is now firmly established as one of the district's new leading lights, and it caters to a crowd who’s more discriminating, more particular about the food and drinks they’re consuming.
Dr. Wine on nearby Algier, the Blackwell area, recently opened their similarly named rooftop bar, taking over from the former people running the rooftop. A little event sponsored by Happy Living and their Lolea sangria was a great way to announce how Dr. Wine was now handling the ground floor resto and wine bar and the rooftop lounge as well. Yes, it’s several flight of stairs to reach the rooftop, but what’s a little cardio when partying beckons?
Do I hear the strains of that oldie pop hit "All Night Long?" Because on the evening I dropped by, it was evident how happy the early crowd was, just to be partying with Vincent of Dr. Wine and Happy Living’s Julian once again. So I can easily imagine how the well-lubricated night crowd will be more raucous, and linger until the wee hours. Just hoping those flights of steps won’t become the problem as you’re heading home.
Just last weekend, Sau had organized a dual culinary event with renowned Italian, based in Cebu, Chef Marco Anzani. On Saturday night at One World Kitchen on Kalayaan Avenue, there was a special degustation dinner with Chef Marco. And just by word of mouth, the some-twenty seats were sold out. Being fortunate enough to have been invited to a media lunch preview, I can say the twenty diners had a real treat sampling the dinner fare of Chef Marco who was accompanied here to Manila by his lovely wife Kate Dychangco-Anzani and their daughter.
I especially loved the homemade grappa-cured salmon and beetroot salad with chive sour cream. You had two versions of sour cream to play with, depending on how intense you wanted it to impact on the salmon cubes. The saffron-infused lobster enveloped in prosecco essence passata was the close second favorite of the sampling menu.
The following morning Chef Sau collaborated with Chef Marco on a Cafe Fleur brunch that had enthusiastic diners coming in waves, as the brunch started at 9:00 a.m. all the way to 2:00 p.m. It was the Cafe Fleur French toast, festooned with strawberries and blueberries, coupled with Chef Marco’s porchetta with a pesto sauce, and his leg of lamb. Issa devoured the porchetta while I’ve always been partial to lamb. Pastas and pizzas were also part of the brunch menu, and it was a hearty mid-morning repast as you could also opt to partake of the aired meats and Italian cheeses.
By attending the Dr. Wine Rooftop Bar opening and the two Anzani X Del Rosario culinary events, I was whisked to a pre-pandemic "normalcy." Masks & precautions were still in place, but it was a stirring reminder of how life does go on and that Poblacion is out to be at the forefront of what’s happening in our fair city.
Let the election fever rage elsewhere, here it was about great food and great company, and the belief that we’re really basking not only in the torrid Summer sun, but also under the light at the end of this COVID tunnel.
