Last September 12, I decided to post some content in my looloo account. If you don’t know what looloo is, it’s an application where you can make reviews about restaurants & other places you’ve been to. It’s proudly made in the Philippines & you can find a good community there.
Making reviews especially on good food gives me the satisfaction & the drive to share my experiences to other people. I would want them to experience these as well. I’ve heard about these looloo rendezvoos because I have friends who have attended to one before. A looloo rendezvoos is a meet and greet of looloo reviewers & staff in a certain place.
That day, I wasn’t expecting anything since I was not active for a long time. Out of the blue, I received an email from Peanut Dela Cruz, inviting me to a looloo rendezvoos in The Common Table at Salcedo. I have been part of the looloo community for 5 years & it is only now that I got invited to a looloo event. I have always been curious what actually happens in a looloo rendezvoos & this is my chance to meet the different reviewers I get to interact with. In a heartbeat, I said yes!
On September 20 (during a Wednesday night), off I went to Makati. Traffic was terrible as usual but I still managed to attend the said event even though I was late. I wanted to back out because of the traffic but I told myself to be patient & I said yes already.
C O M M O N T A B L E E X P E R I E N C E
The Common Table is beside The Fraser Place Condominium, located at the 2nd floor. It’s along Valero St. but to stay on the safe side, Waze will be your best friend for this trip. The owner, Chef Ian Padilla based his dishes on his travels. He would consistently tell us that his dishes are not fusion.
As I entered the vicinity, the concept of the restaurant is on a gastropub type. They focused on wood & metals as part of their design. You will get to see stacks of alcohol aligned as part of their restaurant’s design. Their bar area is perfect for chill drinking. When you decide to take a drink in this restaurant, don’t forget to talk to Billy, their mixologist. He can whip you up with a good drink that will be unforgettable.
Since I was late, I wasn’t able to try their welcoming drinks. I asked Billy what drink he can actually make me. He made me the Salcedo Sunset. This drink is one of his first creations. It’s gin based mixed with fresh lemon juice, strawberry & cucumber. He uses a strainer to pour the drink on the glass & puts garnish to top it off. This drink is juicy and refreshing which will make you want to order another glass.
The Pull Apart Battard Bread (450php) consists of the Battard Bread with roasted garlic butter, aged cheddar, mozzarella & rosemary. I found this to be just right. Or maybe I didn’t thoroughly eat it when the nachos came. Hehehe
The Common Table Nachos (450php) consists of nachos with house chorizo, 5 cheeses, garlic cream, tomato salsa & jalapeno. I’m a cheese lover & when Chef Ian told us that it consists of 5 cheeses, I was ecstatic! Just make sure to eat it while it’s still hot so that you can appreciate the 5 cheeses & chorizo.
The Roasted Bone Marrow (470php) comes with toast, oxtail jam and red onion parsley salad. The bone marrow tastes better when you put the oxtail jam. Don’t eat too much of this since you can get high blood easily hehe. Also, eat it while it’s still hot because it’s going to get very oily.
The Patatas Bravas (350php) is a spanish dish that consists of onions, garlic, tomatoes, sugar, paprika and potatoes. The way of cooking is done the original way but the chef added chorizo & running egg. There’s a spice to it because of the chorizo & it complemented the dish perfectly.
The Wagyu Salpicao (420php) consists of a lot of flavors in it. It’s chewy which I totally loved and enjoyed. This is perfect with plain rice & beer.
The Sisig Fried Rice (310php) has pork, egg, chicharon & running egg. I’m a sisig lover & this dish is worth ordering. Be wary that there’s a bit of spice in this dish.
The Salmon Aburri (390php) consists of salmon with japanese rice and aburri sauce. It was just right for me. This dish has got to be my least favorite. The salmon was thinly sliced and there was little serving.
The Warm Chocolate Truffle Fondant (310php) was perfect to cap off the night. It was chocolatey, moist and perfect with the caramelized flavor. This would make you want to order again.
F I N A L T H O U G H T S
Among all the dishes that was served to us, my Top 2 favorite would have to be Common Table Nachos & Wagyu Salpicao. Seeing these pictures makes me crave for them. I can’t wait to go back to Common Table to taste their other dishes.
G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N
Address: 2nd Floor, Forbes Tower, Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati
Telephone No: 5410185
Instagram: @commontablesalcedo
Facebook: CommonTableSalcedo
*This event’s sponsored by Common Table. All thoughts and opinions are mine.