The invitation came with a promise: an afternoon of fine dining, a journey south of Manila, and a chance to experience luxury on wheels. The Manila Bulletin joined a select group of guests on a food trip unlike any other, one that began with tea at Wildflour in Alabang and ended with an exquisite dinner at the newly launched Kei Maki in Bonifacio Global City. The ride? The all-electric Lexus RZ 450e. Silent, smooth, and refined, it was a revelation.
The Lexus RZ 450e arrived without fanfare. We stood by the curb, waiting to hear it pull up. But the car was already there, a sleek, almost spectral presence. It made no noise. No revving, no low rumble of an engine. Just stillness. The doors opened, and we stepped into a cocoon of craftsmanship. The cabin was appointed with the finest materials. The seats cradled like a well-worn leather chair in a study. The moonroof, at the touch of a button, faded from opaque to clear, a small piece of magic built into the ceiling.
On the road, the electric SUV moved with grace. The DIRECT4 all-wheel-drive system adjusted seamlessly, sending power where it was needed without hesitation. Acceleration was crisp, immediate, but never abrupt. The weight of the battery beneath the cabin kept the car planted. Inside, the world disappeared. Outside, Manila’s traffic rolled by.
We arrived at Wildflour Café + Bakery in Westgate, Alabang. There, Lexus brand department manager Pocholo Molina greeted us. As tea was poured and trays of canapés arrived—avocado toast, bagels with lox, beef sliders—he spoke of the future. “Unlike regular cars, you actually save money in traffic,” he said with a chuckle. “When an electric car stops, you don’t consume electricity. A gasoline car keeps burning fuel.”
He shared an anecdote from a Lexus owner, a doctor. "His household electric bill went up by P2000 a month," Pocholo said.
That cost is a stark contrast to the P5000 or more that many households spend on gasoline each month. Lexus, he explained, installs home chargers for customers, making the experience seamless. The only limitation, for now, is range. "You can drive to Tagaytay and back on a single charge," he said. "But La Union? Baguio? You’ll need to charge somewhere along the way." Charging stations are emerging, he noted, citing one in Baguio Country Club. The future is coming, but today, electric cars thrive best in the city.
From Alabang, we rode north again. The drive was quiet, effortless. At Kei Maki in Bonifacio Global City, Jaime de Ocampo awaited us. Here, in a space defined by quiet luxury, the meal unfolded, inspired by the Japanese philosophy of omotenashi and crafted with the finest locally sourced ingredients.
The experience opened with omotenashi, a warm welcome expressed through uni caviar toast, a simple household favorite elevated with a luxurious medley of uni, caviar, toro, bottarga, and ikura. Then came takumi, a display of the sushi chef’s master craftsmanship through three meticulously prepared rolls: king crab, fresh and sweet; negi toro, rich and balanced; and avocado truffle, a fusion of creamy and umami notes. The sashimi course, aptly named evoking the senses, featured pristine cuts of kimmedai, otoro, and aburi scallop, each bite a blend of silky textures and refined flavors, heightened by the delicate interplay of wasabi, ginger, and soy sauce. Then came the Lexus Electrified bara chirashi, a colorful and artful medley of nature’s riches—uni, tamago, toro, caviar, ikura, trout, and shima aji—harmoniously layered to create a symphony of flavors that mirrored the refined, electrified performance of the Lexus RZ 450e. To end, a matcha and black sesame Paris-Brest, airy and rich, an homage to Wildflour’s pastry roots.
The philosophy was clear. Every plate, like every Lexus, was crafted with intent. Precision. Beauty in restraint.
Later, as the RZ 450e carried us home, Manila’s lights blurred past the windows. The city hummed, engines roared, but inside the Lexus, there was only quiet.
For a moment, it was a dream—electric, seamless, and smooth.