3 month old Kusina Moderne is just a babe in the woods compared to its neighboring restaurants. But what it lacks in years , it more than makes up for by its pedigreed Chef who was trained in French Culinary School and worked in the French Embassy in Washington DC, and exuberant young owners one of whom is a scion of famous and iconic Chinese restaurant Sincerity in Binondo and his classmate and friend, a veteran franchiser of Binalot
Filipino Food Reimagined...
Kusina Moderne is 6 years in the making and a dream come true for two friends and their cousin. The restaurant itself is a sprawling area 200 sq meters big with 70 maximum seating capacity.
Per Chef Carlo, they would like to echo the vibe of "probinsya" where relatives and family eat in the "silong".
The tenor of the restaurant is simple and minimalist with a huge elevated open kitchen dominating the right side as you enter the place. Hip warehouse comes to mind.
Tables and chairs are in wood and so are their plates.
The Food
Among the starters, the Crispy Pancit P185 and Mechado Tacos P195 were memorable. That pancit bihon wrapped in lumpia wrapper transported me to those elementary days growing up in La Huerta Paranaque.
The Mechado Tacos on the other hand intrigues with the use of wonton wrapper in lieu of taco shells. So creative and doable and relatable
Binagoongang Baboy P395 amazed with its presentation. Roasted pork belly, roasted egg plant confit cherry tomatoes, green mango salad and radish with binagoongan sauce elevated the traditional and familiar Pork Binagoongan to haute cuisine level. It did not hurt that it tasted scrumptious but was still recognizable as Binagoongang Baboy. Rice please!
Tanigue P395 relative to the other dishes is the lightest and had the most subtle and delicate flavor which I liked. This foodie-mom-of-4-on-a-perpetual-diet was happy with this one. I was able to indulge sans any guilt. The calabaza puree was a delight and so were the malungay, papaya, carros, baguio beans, charred green onions, confit tomatoes with sauce vierge.
Overall, good food, hotel-like presentation, affordable prices, spacious restaurant. What's not to love?
Well perhaps change the wooden plate to a plain white ceramic one? The better to show off the beautiful presentation by Chef Carlo. Just a suggestion :)
Definitely returning with the piggery and the handsome hubby in tow.
KUSINA MODERNE is located at Bel Air Soho, Caceres Street Poblacion Makati. They are open from 11 am to 2pm and 6pm to 10 pm
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