Before going home from the office, gird yourself for the traffic onslaught by visiting the Straight Up roof deck bar in High Street, BGC, located at the roof deck of the Seda Hotel in Bonifacio Global City.
The bar offers authentic apericena offerings—a combination of aperitif and cena (Italian for dinner or evening meal). Apericena is a new dining concept in the Philippines, but is an established custom in Italy. The aperitivo (a simple drink before dinner) has always been part of any meal in that country.
Evolution
Apericena (apertivo+dinner) is an evolution of that European concept, but instead of just a few drinks, hot and cold appetizers are added to the drinks. Many bars and restaurants in Europe now offer a buffet of appetizers to accompany drinks, giving patrons the choice of making their apericena into a light dinner.
This is the concept Straight Up’s guest chef, Salvatore de Vincentis, has brought to Straight Up roof deck bar.
The bar features cozy seats and a fantastic view of the BGC skyline. The decidedly modern interior has shades of grey, black and white as the dominant color themes.
Together with the cool breeze and the beautiful Taguig cityscape view, Straight Up bar is the perfect place to while away the hours with good food and easy drinking after a hard day’s work at the office.
Sorrento inspiration
De Vincentis concocted his apericena menu by drawing inspiration from his childhood memories growing up in Sorrento, Italy, where he would assist his grandmother and, later, his restaurateur uncle in the kitchens. A multiawarded chef, De Vincentis is set to bring his unique take on Neapolitan cuisine to the Philippines in a two-month promotional series at the Seda Hotels throughout the country.
He will present Italian dishes in the traditional apericena concept, the dishes served in tasting portions in an appetizer buffet. The regional Italian dishes will also be served in modern, creative ways, such as serving pastas in martini glasses.
De Vincentis’ rendition of the north Italian rice dish, risotto, is rich and creamy, the rice cooked to the perfect al dente, “toothy” texture. His Caprese Salad in a Glass is a wonderful concoction of Italian cream with fresh mozzarella over a tomato flavored foam; liquefied basil is then poured over the dish.
The chef will also design a la carte selections that feature the best-known dishes from various Italian regions—risotto from north Italy, pasta dishes with amatriciana and carbonara sauce recipes from Rome and central Italy, seafood and other flavors from southern Italy.
“I always cook with all my heart because diners can sense a chef’s passion in the way the food is presented,” he says. “I wish for everyone to have a fabulous dining experience. My message is simple: Sit, eat and enjoy.”
Chef Salvatore de Vincentis will present his “La Buona Cucina Italiana” in other Seda Hotel branches as well—Seda Centrio, Cagayan de Oro City, Feb. 10-20; Seda Nuvali, Laguna, Feb. 24-29; Seda Abreeza, Davao City, March 4-12; Seda Atria, Iloilo City, March 15-20.
Call Seda Hotel BGC for more details at 9458888; e-mail [email protected]. Seda BGC is located at 30th St. cor. 11th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
