My brother Bong (Daza) told me about a restaurant along Kalayaan Avenue in Makati, whose food reminded him of our former French restaurant Au Bon Vivant.
It didn’t take long for me to sample the delicious cooking. I immediately became a fan of the place’s talented chef, deli maker and baker. Every time I had a special dinner, it was always at this restaurant. On one visit though, I noticed the food had changed and it wasn’t the same pleasant experience I had gotten used to. True enough, I learned the chef had left.
A few months back, chef Robert Lilja resurfaced and he is now fencing at the kitchen of the Makati Garden Club. This is a club located in the heart of Makati. Members here can avail themselves of many benefits, such as low prices on flowers and herbs, and classes on gardening. It even has a store that sells décor for the home.
But to me, a membership means access to the restaurant at the Garden Club. With a minimal annual fee, one gets all sorts of benefits and more. One can bring guests, have private parties, kiddie birthdays, etc. I dined there and became a member on the spot.
Lilja still serves his bestsellers. His mussels on cream sauce with homemade breads are to die for. He also makes tenderloin steaks with a variety of sauces such as béarnaise, peppercorn and mushroom. He smokes his seafoods himself, makes his own pickled herring and bakes his own fantastic breads.
I have tried Makati Garden Club’s Cioppino seafood bake in the past and it’s outstanding. His steak with Roquefort, duck confit, Merlot braised lamb shank are great.
That day though, chef Robert was featuring his seafood menu. We started out with a trio of appetizers: Tuna Tartare, Jamon Serrano and Smoked Kipper Paté. With some warm crusty bread and butter, it was an ideal start.
Then came the baked oysters. You could taste its salty freshness. The tomato soup made with mussels and chorizo was also very good.
Greek salad, risotto
Then we had a Greek summer salad. We had a rainbow trout fillet on lemon and olive oil, sautéed spinach and asparagus risotto.
One of my indicators of a good restaurant is how well the risotto is made. I was in the right place. I loved this dish.
His chocolate pudding cake was also a winner.
I didn’t mind that this dessert went straight to my love handles. I was smiling when it happened. With a bottle of good white wine, it was a most memorable meal. There is nothing more satisfying than having an incredible and yet healthy meal.
Lilja tells me he is in the process of tying up with Rustan’s to put up a seafood deli in Rockwell. This will be welcomed by health buffs. He, too, should offer his breads for everyone to try.
I get to experience this only abroad. There are more and more pastry shops offering this quality of breads. Eric Kayser at Rustan’s is one of them.
Makati Garden Club’s dining area is well-decorated, with bright and neat colors that match the great food. There were talks that the place closed, but is still open awaiting everyone to experience one of the best cuisines in the metropolis. Now, it’s my turn to tell Bong where to have wonderful food.
Makati Garden Club is at Recolletos St. and Ayala Ave. in Makati; tel. 5527051