Metiz

Since our mom can't do any dinner at a restaurant since most restaurants in the Philippines open at 5 -6 p.m., my brother Dino made reservations at Metiz for her special 95th birthday. This was an 8-course lunch. I brought a French champagne for the occasion.

Our first course was Puso ng Saging (heart of the banana), compressed cucumber, manibalang mango, buko vinegar," tasty paste." This was accompanied by Fermented Buko juice, watermelon, and dikay leaf. Delicious and refreshing.

Our second course was Zucchini Bottom, with mushrooms, cabbage, smoked bangus and pork broth, and oyster egg sauce topped with carrots. Most of the ingredients were not visible except for the carrots, but this was very tasty. 

The third course was Carmelized Ensaimada, cheese and soured milk, aged tapuy reduction, with kasuy (cashew). The soured milk didn't sound too good, but I'll have it anytime! The fourth course was the Rizal Chicken with kangkong, shrimp, ubod sauce, garlic, and chickenmansi. It was absolutely delicious.

Number five was the Ike Jime Lapu-Lapu (fish), pork humba condiment, fermented rice, and clam sauce. This was served with fresh mustasa (mustard greens). The sixth course was "Overcooked" Rice with steamed belly, crab, garbanzo tausi bagoong, and fried egg yolk.

The seventh course was Red Rice Flan, with coco jam, corn sorbet, banana and saba, tambis. The description doesn't do it justice. It sounds weird, but boy, was it wonderful. 

The final course was the Mangosteen fermented corn caramel pie with pili nut brittle, cultured cream, and ampalaya (bitter melon). Again, this sounds strange, but we all loved it. Our mom's had a candle in hers.

We all had a wonderful time, especially our mom, who was rightfully impressed, and it's not easy to impress a 95-year-old who has been around. Chef Stephan was gracious enough to pose with us at the end. 

Metiz is located at Karrivan Plaza, Ground floor, Building A2316 Chino Roces Ave. Ext. in Makati City, Philippies. This is another "must go back" next time I'm in the Philippines.