It’s been a long time since I attended a blogger event. My startup events life has always been busy lately. I got an invite from Aldous to celebrate his birthday at Solstice in Rockwell.
I’ll be with Eyah, so I said yes. It was raining that night and when we arrived at the venue a trio was playing.
Solstice By Illustrado is formerly known as Solstice Bistro and Boulangerie offering modern continental and heritage Filipino-Spanish cuisine.
As they unveiled new items in the menu they have also revamped the dining area to cater festivities. The main dining room can seat up to 120 guests while the room upstairs is perfect for small functions not more than 25 guests.
I get to eat with Chef Bernice, while she passionately explain the twist she brought in each dishes.
Let me show you some of their best sellers and new items that we all going to look forward to.
At first glance I thought these were samosas but when you dig into it, your grilled eggplant taste memory will come back to life and satisfy your palette. If you prefer something light this can be your go to lunch.
I love hummus and this version with truffle oil? Heavens! Must try for appetizers.
If you are looking for something refreshing, I am highly recommending this Poke with Salmon Ceviche. It has fresh veggies from crunch, brown rice, teriyaki sauce, nori, and the ceviche. This for me is another satisfying healthy choice from the menu.
Not the usual mayonnaise based sisig that we all see in commercial places. This is cooked in home made liver spread gravy topped by red and green chilis with of course crispy pig ears, skin, and mascara.
Adobong Bagnet with Crab Fat
This for me was the star of the night. Why? Because adobo is my jam. The crab fat made the sauce richer and the crispy bagnet? Perfection. The atsara also caught my attention as it has a distinct flavor from bay leaves. It was sweet, tangy, and refreshing if you find the bagnet too overwhelming.
Aligue Pasta with Soft Shell Crab
Better to have a detox after cause this dish is irresistbly delicious. The crunch from the soft shell crab gave this pasta a character. It is not too rich if you will ask. The sauce is just right and the pasta – aldente!
Gooey Ox goodness just the way you like it. If you really love Spanish dishes this is perfect for your cold rainy dinner.
Moving on to another signature dish — Paella, I shall say I don’t even have to order viand because this one full of all your favorite toppings. They used annato oil instead of saffron and its taste is not too strong which is why it goes well with other dishes.
This one for me was one of the best that night. I love thin slices pizza because I get more flavor than bread. Shroom Pizza, one of their best sellers (left photo) connected our conversation when we tried to unfold where to get truffles and where to use truffle oil. While the Chorizo pizza became my instant favorite.
My plate was full of food samples that made my dinner, but of course, I left room for dessert. This dessert is so epic I forgot my name. *laughs*
Behold — Mango Jubilee with Sampaguita Ice Cream and toasted almonds. I was telling my co-bloggers that night that it tastes familiar. I cannot sleep thinking about it, and after a day I realized I am referring to Guyabano. On the other hand, the Matcha Cookies and Cream modernized the concept of milk and cookies, so yes, you may dunk or perhaps spread the cream to your cookies.
It was raining really hard that night, but the Solstice team was really accommodating to wait for us until we can get a ride. I am recommending for you to pay a visit to rekindle or even boost your love for Filipino food.
For reservations, you may call (+632) 802 1891, from 11 AM to 11 PM daily. Follow @solsticebyillustrado on Instagram and like facebook.com/SolsticebyIllustrado for more updates.
Try the Adobong Bagnet with Crab Fat, you are welcome! It's been a long time since I attended a blogger event. My startup events life has always been busy lately.
