Dining Snippets: Va Bene Pasta Deli x Om Indian Kitchen x Refinery
VA BENE PASTA DELI
Va Bene’s pasta selection has always been dependable and delectable; however, its price isn’t really that affordable. Acknowledging this, the owners curated a different menu in its third branch in Circuit Makati, offering pastas at more affordable prices, as well as adding pizza options and hot appetizers meant for sharing.
FIORENTINA (P360)
The Fiorentina is a thick-crusted pizza generously filled with Gorgonzola and Mozzarella cheeses, Parma ham, tomatoes, and arugula; packing flavor in each gooey bite you take. Va Bene has always been known for its prowess in serving up quality pasta, but its venture in pizza-making is definitely noteworthy.
BLACK INK FUSILLI (P340)
Like Wildflour’s Squid Ink Pasta, Va Bene’s Black Ink Fusilli pairs squid-ink infused noodles with a tomato-based, vodka-laced sauce. I’m madly devoted to squid ink; however, the thought of devouring squid-ink sauce based pasta definitely stresses me out as I'd always have to watch out for black stains on my teeth, lips, and clothes. Thus, I embrace this ‘neater’ alternative, especially if the squid ink flavor doesn’t get lost in tangyness of the sauce. As protein for the pasta, Va Bene opted for cubes of salmon.
DUCK RAVIOLI (P360)
When in Va Bene, my go-to order would always be the Lobster and Prawn Cappellacci. As this dish commands one of the restaurant’s highest price tags, it wasn’t included in Circuit Makati’s menu. Fortunately, I found a new favorite in the form of its Duck Ravioli, which married a luscious mushroom sauce with some duck jus reduction. Each ravioli piece deserves to be slowly savored for you to appreciate how delicious its filling and sauce are. This dish can easily replace by Lobster and Prawn Cappellacci staple anytime!
Va Bene Pasta Deli
Circuit Lane Makati, Riverfront Drive, AP Reyes St., Carmona, Makati City
Date of Visit: July 27, 2016 with Jolly Aganon and Lisa Manila
OM INDIAN KITCHEN
A good Indian find last year would be Om Indian Kitchen in The Grove. Its menu may be considered to be short when compared to the overwhelming number of items of other Indian restaurants such as R.I.C.H and Swagat Indian Cuisine, but choosing what to order still proved to be very difficult.
MUTTON ROGAN JOSH (P395), BIRYANI RICE WITH CHICKEN (P215), PAPADUM (P40)
We ended up opting for the Mutton Rogan Josh which came with a fiery and tasty sauce that works magically with the Biryani Rice. We opted for the Biryani Rice with Chicken; however, the saffron-infused grains are already flavorful enough to be a stand-alone dish (You can get the plain version at P165).
Deviating from the naans and the rotis, we opted for the lighter Papadum; crisp seasoned lentil wafers which may be dipped in your curry or snacked on their own.
Order a Samosa or two on the side (P40/piece) and generously drizzle them with the tamarind sauce they come with!
GULAB JAMUN ALA MODE (P65)
The Gulab Jaman ala Mode was definitely an interesting dessert. It features a soft and sweet dough ball infused with saffron syrup and paired with Kulfi, an Indian ice cream made from a mixture of saffron, cardamom, and pistachio. If you wish for something more traditional, their Mango Lassi (P95) yogurt drink can pass off as a dessert as it’s denser and creamier than what other restaurants serve.
Om Indian Kitchen
Grove Retail Row, The Grove by Rockwell, Ortigas Ave, C5, Ugong, Pasig
Date of Visit: July 30, 2016 with Lily Chua
REFINERY
In the sea of coffee shops in the metro, differentiation is the name of the game. Although considerably small in its number of branches, Refinery makes its presence known by offering good coffee, and good food to pair it with.
SALTED CARAMEL LATTE (P175 – 16oz) and DOUBLE TRUFFLE FRIES (P180)
So far, Refinery’s Salted Caramel Latte is the best that I’ve tried. It perfectly brings out the caramel flavor without it being overwhelmingly sweet. The best part is that the taste of coffee isn’t drowned out by the rock salt and caramel. Pair it up with their Double Truffle Fries, which seemed to be the wedge relatives of Shakeys’ famed Mojos. It comes with an indulgent truffle dip; a little of which goes a long way.
ANGRY PASTA (P198)
Many rave about its Honey and Basil Grilled Cheese (P295), but sadly I’m not one of them. I love honey, basil, and cheese; but somehow, the combination of these in Refinery’s Grilled Cheese tasted flat. It was paired with a modest tomato soup that was in want of warmth and tangyness. The Angry Pasta is the obvious better choice. Not only does it carry an affordable price tag of less than P200, it comes with a generous serving of pasta noodles stuffed with maple sausage crumble and smoked bacon pieces that gives you more than your money’s worth!
Opt to Skip: Chorizo Croquettes (P180)
Refinery
GF Joya Building, Joya Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City/GF Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan
Dates of Visit: June 21, 2016 with Bev Tantiansu; August 5, 2016 with Lily Chua
