And you can have these dishes at home

Among the many dining establishments associated with Chef Margarita Fores (and now, we can add to that list, the ones run by her son, Amado), the one that will be nestled somewhere at the top of my personal list is Grace Park (GP) at One Rockwell. This is her farm-to-table concept—the one where, with supreme confidence and creativity, she marries her passion for Italian dishes, with her love for home-cooked Filipino cuisine. Named in tribute to Gaita’s paternal grandmother; there’s really so many amazing things happening at Grace Park, that the title of this feature is more than a passing nod to a popular song.

If you pushed me to name one Grace Park dish that exemplifies the genius of this mingling of two cooking traditions, it wouldn’t even be a main course, but one of her delicious starters. My three sons are unanimous in saying this is the one menu item that has to be ordered each time they step through the doors of GP, or order for take-out. This would be her Fried Squash Flowers with Mascarpone and Prosciutto di Parma. The squash flowers are fried on batter like Ukoy or Tempura, but they’re stuffed with Mascarpone so there’s a neat surprise when you bite into the fritters, and it’s given an added dimension by coming wrapped in Prosciutto. That’s some devilish combination!

With the Omicron ‘fires’ raging, it’s a safe bet that many will be thinking to stay home while enjoying their Chinese New Year feasts. So I follow @graceparkdining on IG, and got excited when I saw their post about their Fiesta Menu. The trays are good for feeding four to five persons, and there was a Beef Tray, a Sisig Rice Tray, a Bangus Lamayo Rice Tray, and a Sirloin Tapa Tray. Check them out and be tempted—you definitely won’t regret it.

What I did the other Sunday is my other ‘hearty eating’ recommendation: ordering a couple of starters, a pasta dish, one fiesta Tray, and two desserts to satisfy my ‘sweet tooth.' It was Grace Park at home and simply amazing!

For the starters, it won’t surprise you to read that the Fried Squash Flowers were ordered. And this was accompanied by their Chorizos in a Blanket and Pecorino Bath. Pecorino is a cheese made from sheep’s milk, and there’s a distinct flavor to this cheese, the ‘bath’ a perfect dip for the chorizos in a pastry shell.

The Pasta we chose was the Fettuccine with Truffle Cream & Organic Egg. We specified that we’d be four persons partaking, and it came in a tray that’s fiesta size. Loved how the eggs were positioned on the bed of pasta so that we could freshly carve them up, and mix them with the pasta and truffle cream, right before serving.

The aforementioned Beef Tray was our selection, and it’s a true winner. It’s Australian Ribeye combined with Slow Roasted Muscovado-Glazed US Beef Belly, with cherry tomatoes, french beans, and steak rice. And, oh, did I forget to mention the Beef Belly Flakes? Think adobo flakes, but made of beef belly strips. This one took you to beef heaven and back!

For dessert, we ordered the Cuatro Leches & Berries—loved how there was extra cream sauce, and luscious strawberries on our order. And I tried their Salted Red Egg Brazo de Mercedes, the Brazo with a taste difference that has to be sampled to be believed. 

If you’ve liked any of the dishes described above, head to their IG account, call 0939-9347223, or seek them out at [email protected]. I look for Mat when I call Grace Park. For any upcoming special occasion, or when you want to treat yourself to a sumptuous meal with friends or family, Grace Park is there to be of home service, if the alfresco dining option still isn’t to your liking.