Have at you!

Ever since my family re-opened our food business, eating late lunches have become the norm for us. We usually bring stuff from the store to eat at home, but once in a while, we decide on eating out to try something different. Last Wednesday, my Dad wanted us to drop by Chelsea Market and Café in The Podium so that we could give their food a shot. Mom was a bit hesitant to go at first, but Dad managed to convince her eventually.

Thankfully, I didn’t forget to bring my Nikon with me, so I was able to take better looking photos for this post. 🙂

We were served complimentary bread with roasted garlic and balsamic vinegar dip to start the meal.

Dad heard that Chelsea Market’s Roasted Garlic Portobello Mushroom Confit (Php395.00) was good, so we had to order it to see for ourselves. The salad greens were really crisp, and the mushroom? It was super nice! Dad liked it so much that he ate a good chunk of it before Mom and I got a taste. :p

Mom chose the Grilled Chicken Apple Caesar (Php395.00) for her main dish. The sandwich came with fries and a side salad. She said that this tasted pretty good and she especially liked how soft the bread was. She did mention that she wished the serving size was bigger, considering the dish’s price tag.

Dad has a thing for carbonara, so it was no big surprise when he chose Chelsea Market’s Classic Creamy Fettuccine Carbonara (Php450.00) as part of our meal. We shared this dish between the two of us. Dad liked how light the cream was; It was definitely a winner for him. 

He also wanted me to get the Slow-Cooked Herbed Norwegian Salmon (Php495.00) so that we can share it between us as well. We’re both very glad that the salmon was nicely cooked. It was served on a bed of delicious mashed potatoes and topped with salsa verde. The pine nuts and asparagus also added a nice touch to the dish.

While we were perusing the menu, I noticed that Chelsea Market and Cafe offered a sugar-free version of Tiramisu (Php280.00). I checked with our server and he confirmed that the said dessert was suitable for diabetics. We ordered a serving so that Dad could end the meal with a dessert that was okay for him. All three of us found the pastry to be very nice, and Dad was amused with the little coffee beans on top of the tiramisu. 

The place is definitely not for everyday dining as the prices are a little steep and their serving sizes aren’t exactly that big, but we think that the food quality and presentation do somehow make up for it. The entire experience was a very positive one. We liked all the items we ordered and appreciated how subtle all the flavors were. All of them blended well together, creating a true gastronomic delight. 🙂

***We dined at The Podium branch in Ortigas, but Chelsea Market and Cafe can also be found at the Ground Floor of Serendra Piazza in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.