Sustainable Dining (Part 2): The Wholesome Table x The Clean Plate by Twist x Locavore
A follow up article to Sustainable Dining Part 1 which featured the restaurants Backyard Kitchen+Brew, Green Pastures, and Grace Park
For a while now, restaurants have been spewing out buzz words such as organic, farm-to-table, gluten-free, that it felt like overkill already. There’s nothing wrong with opting for healthier options, and for advocating for a more sustainable supply chain; however, some concepts simply use it to add a premium to its pricing. That’s why I aimed to continue this special series to aid you in figuring out if these green and community-centric dishes are actually worth the money you pay them for.
THE WHOLESOME TABLE
The Wholesome Table has been well received by the dining public; as evidenced by the opening of its third branch in Estancia mall. Its food may command slightly expensive price tags; however, that doesn’t stop the restaurant from establishing a strong following, especially in its flagship branch in BGC. Skip the pastas, and opt for their salads and mains that are perfect for sharing!
BE REFRESHING (P290)
Despite being overly-priced, I have to admit that I’m a sucker for cold-pressed juices and veggie-fruit blends. I know I can produce the same concoction (that may even be better tasting) at home, but somehow, the irrational in me finds the urge to splurge in these drinks. Thus, I spent nearly P300 for The Wholesome Table’s Be Refreshing drink. Thankfully, it was a pleasantly tasting blend of carrot, orange, apple, pineapple, and lemon, with a dash of turmeric. The dominant flavors of the drink would be the carrot and pineapple.
BURRATA (P290)
Most people rave about the house potato bread that the restaurant serves as a starter to every meal. However, I prefer the lighter and fluffier sourdough bread that comes with its Burrata. Tearing through the bread already is a breeze, but finishing this appetizer takes even less of an effort. The bread pairs well with the melt-in-your-mouth burrata served with grape tomatoes, glazed with a balsamic reduction to provide balance for the cheese. Tip: The sourdough bread can be ordered separately for take-out!
CHICKEN DUKKAH SALAD (P460)
The Wholesome Table’s salads come in hefty servings of tasty greens. The Chicken Dukkah Salad may have come with immensely flavorful pieces of grilled chicken; but I wouldn’t have minded if the kitchen forgot to serve them with the salad. Slithers of roasted squash, chunks of juicy tomatoes, slices of red onions and cucumbers fill the bowl; and were simply topped with crumbs of feta cheese and drizzled with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. It looks like your typical salad; but this salad can bring the vegan out of everyone. Tip: Do watch out for the salads that come with arugula leaves. It’s so fresh, that it can come with live organisms (the healthy kind of course; but still, it's still somethingg we wouldn't want to end up eating)!!!
PORK CHOPS (P580)
Excellent. Tender. Juicy. Tasty. Honestly, their Pork Chops are the real deal. I find myself dreaming about these chops every now and then. Truly, a must-try!
Dishes You Can Opt to Skip: Gambaretti Arrabiatta, Carbonara
The Wholesome Table
30th St cor 7th Ave., Bonifacio High Street Central, Fort Bonifacio Taguig/Infinity Tower, HV Dela Costa cor L.P. Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati City
Dates of Visit: Multiple Times with Lily Chua, Jem Chua, and Mina Tionloc
THE CLEAN PLATE BY TWIST
I’ve heard a lot of flak about this restaurant but that was only AFTER I purchased its discount coupons. I was initially drawn to its bright interiors when I passed by it in UP Town Center; so when I saw the coupons on sale on Groupon, I immediately purchased a couple. Right after that purchase, I started hearing about its poor reviews; but what can I do? I paid for the coupons already. With a heavy heart, I anticipated the worst. Fortunately, the food turned out to be decent, enough for me to consider a second visit to the restaurant.
BEAUTIFY (P195)
Similar to its competitors, The Clean Plate by Twist also has its own selection of refreshing cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices, but at more affordable prices. The Beautify drink, armed with carrots, oranges, red beets, cucumber, and yellow ginger, was a delicious blend. Its taste is dominated by the flavour of the red beets.
WARM ARUGULA AND SPINACH (P165)
We started off with a pretty tasty plate of fresh arugula, topped with an interesting medley of cheeses, Bacolod Kesong Puti, Asiago, and Negros Blue Cheese. A sticky balsamic reduction was glazed over the salad to give it that sweet and tangy finish. The salad comes in a personal serving portion; however, it’s enough to be shared as an appetizer.
RAGU (P340)
The Ragu was a forgettable pasta dish. The organic wheat spaghetti was overcooked; thus, the noodles were a bit tough to the taste. The flavorful grassfed ground beef was tasty; however, its lack in moisture made the pasta dish dry. If I had it my way, I’d simply pair the ground beef on top of a steaming bowl of brown rice, and top it off with shavings of garlic to do the beef justice.
BISTEK (P440)
The Bistek was the highlight of our meal, as I was captivated by its dark salty sauce. It's saltier, and stickier than what I'm accustomed to. The meat itself could have been more tender; however, the overall execution of this dish surpassed my expectations.
Although, it’s cheaper than most of its contemporaries, The Clean Plate by Twist's offerings aren’t really what you can call as affordable. The restaurant still has yet to work on the quality of its dishes; yet, I don’t think it’s a lost cause. I’m not writing it off just yet.
The Clean Plate by Twist
UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City
Date of Visit: May 22, 2015 with Lily Chua
LOCAVORE PH
Locavore’s sumptuous dishes have consistently drawn in queues and full house reservations despite its offbeat location along Brixton St. in Kapitolyo. Not only does it attempt to refresh and innovate on classic Filipino cuisine, it also proudly sources its ingredients locally! Compared to the first two restaurants though, Locavore PH’s dishes tend to be on the more indulgent side; so better forget any notions of eating with restraint in this restaurant.
STREET FOOD PLATTER (P200)
Locavore serves up the quintessential Pinoy comfort food in its restaurant, street food. A beautiful platter of deep fried goodness, featuring childhood favorites such as fish balls, squid balls, kikiam, and kwek-kwek; is served beside three sauces: sweet chilli sauce, honey vinegar, and of course, the classic sauce our favorite manong vender serves our street food with. No frills came along this dish; it simply aims to satiate any craving for these greasy favorites.
SIZZLING SINIGANG (P475) AND LECHON OYSTER SISIG (P360)
On to the real stars of the restaurant, the rich Sizzling Sinigang, and the equally deadly, Lechon Oyster Sisig. These heavyweight dishes go all out on flavor; thus, are best paired with a steaming bowl (or two) of garlic rice.
On the sole basis of its name alone, the Sizzling Sinigang already piques one’s interest. Locavore plays on the classic sour soup dish by serving beef short ribs with gravy made from sampaloc. It’s actually reminiscent of Sarsa’s Sizzling Kansi; however, the rich gravy of Locavore is more addicting (and possibly, more unhealthy) than that of Sarsa’s. It’s served with shallots, cherry tomatoes, and French beans to lend a change of taste in the dish. The Lechon Oyster Sisig was another winning formula. The lechon came with crunchy edges, and tender meat; while the oyster came in generous portions. Serving as a perfect appetizer, and main dish; this dish is guaranteed to be finished early in your meal.
Tip: You can call in for reservations; although, they do have particular seating hours. The first batch is at 5:00pm, the second batch is at 7:00pm, and the last batch is at 10:00pm.
Locavore PH
10 Brixton St., Pasig City
Date of Visit: June 27, 2015 with Lily Chua and Jem Chua; October 31, 2015 with Howie and Gwen Chuahiock, Charlie Ledesma, and Tikay Yu
