Mama Mia! Mom's Day Lunch at Tapenade

Great food always adds that special touch to any Mother's day celebration. At Discovery Primea's Tapenade, my mom's day was was made even more special with a range of flavorful dishes by Executive Chef Luis Chikiamco.
  

Discovery Primea's Tapenade showcased a special Italian and Mediterranean-inspired menu for Mother's Day, with a set menu from antipasti, primi, secondi, and dolci, including a stop at their now popular The Salad Room.

Our special Mama Mia! Mother's Day lunch began at The Salad Room, situated inside Tapenade with its impressive array of freshly baked breads, premium cheeses, Prosciutto di Parma, a medley of the freshest salad greens, microgreens, and dressings, and fresh seafood (for more on the The Salad Room, check out my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2015/03/fresh-salad-room-at-discovery-primeas.html). The wide selection offers infinite combinations, and limitless refills, to start your Mother's Day feast.

At The Salad Room, you can indulge in unlimited servings of paper-thin slices of freshly carved Prosciutto di Parma, with its bold and buttery notes that just melt in your mouth...

...premium Salami Milano...

...and authentic Chorizo Pamplona. And you can go back for unlimited refills at The Salad Room.

You can also find a selection of premium Malagos Cheeses from Davao, including Camembert (L) and Emmental (R). Other Malagos Cheeses featured that day were the signature Blue Pepato, Gruyere, and the unique Pineapple Chevre.

Along with premium cheeses, you can also find a wide range of freshly baked artisan bread (L) to pair with your salad, cheeses, and seafood, like the Norwegian Salmon Gravlax (R), one of my favorites at The Salad Room.

Miniature servings of freshly prepared salads were also displayed, including this refreshing Summer Melon with Feta Cheese and Cucumber Salad, a rich and creamy starter before the main course. Other fresh antipasti selections for the Mama Mia! Mother's Day feast included Parmesan Custard "Sfrommatti" with Asparagus and Mushrooms, Fig and Arugula Salad, Marinated Italian Mozzarella with Cherry Toamtoes, "Fagioli e Tono" Salad with white beans and preserved tuna, Marinated Olives, and freshly shucked Oysters served with assorted condiments.

You can opt to create your own customized salad with a variety of fresh greens, microgreens (L),  and dressings to choose from, or simply pick from the many freshly prepared salads, like the Fig and Arugula Salad (R). Or enjoy both. Nothing like a healthy start before a feast. 

A soothing glass of Prosecco with Guava Puree (L) is served along with the special Mother's Day Lunch, pairing perfectly with my first plate from The Salad Room with a variety of cheeses, prosciutto, gravlax, and fresh greens and microgreens drizzled with a tart and mildly sweet Champagne Vinaigrette (R).

For seconds, I go for the Summer Melon with Feta Cheese and Cucumber Salad, even more prosciutto and gravlax, and fresh oysters drizzled with spicy vinegar.

A third serving at The Salad Room with some Rye Bread, Marinated Olives, quail eggs, fresh greens with a Lemon-Mustard Vinaigrette, cheeses, and Smoked Chicken Breast, and even more Prosciutto di Parma, completed my round. It was then time for Executve Chef Luis Chikiamco's set menu...

...well, maybe just one more plate from The Salad Room before the primi and secondi.

Executive Chef kuis Chikiamco then served the primi with his rustic Homemade "Tortelli di Ricotta" with Sage and Brown Butter, a comforting pasta dish with the richness of ricotta and butter. A bite of the soft yet firm tortelli releases a burst of creamy richness from the ricotta, followed by the equally rich notes of the sage-infused brown butter, leaving a distinct mouth feel that lingers long after the first bite.

Then, a trio of risotto dishes were served to share, with Mushroom "Tartuffato" Risotto, Saffron and Parmesan "Milanese" style Risotto, and Asparagus and Pancetta Risotto. Soft, fluffy, and moist, each risotto dish was perfectly cooked, each with its own unique set of flavors. The rich yet subtle nutty notes of the mushrooms, the sharpness of the parmesan with its distinct layer of mildly sweet saffron, and the clean notes of the asparagus punctuated by the upfront flavor of the pancetta offered different flavor experiences.  

And the mains were then served. For the mains, I go for a hearty Australian Lamb "Brasato al Barolo" on Polenta, Mushrooms, and Balsamic Sauce, with fork-tender lamb on creamy polenta. The robust notes and richness of the premium lamb is tempered by the sharp balsamic sauce for balanced flavors rounded by the mildly flavored polenta.

My mom goes for the Black Bass Fillet "Al Cartoccio" with Braised fennel, Kalamata Olives, and Lemon-Chili Capers, wrapped in foil and paper then baked. Opening the tightly wrapped dish releases a fragrant aroma from the aromatics, with the juices of the fresh fish sealed in. Other mains for the Mama Mia! Mother's Day selection included the Grilled US Angus Tagliatta Steak with toasted vinaigrette and fresh tomatoes, and the "Porchetta" of US Pork Belly with spiced Sicilian pumpkin, cherry tomatoes, and red wine sauce.

No Mother's Day feast is complete without Tapenade's signature desserts, and Executive Chef Luis Chikiamco impresses once again with a medley of indulgent desserts.

Sheer indugence began with Tapenade's Vanilla "Panna Cotta" with Strawberries and Balsamico...

...followed by Tapenade's classic "Bomboloni" with Passion Fruit Cream, cherries, and olive oil ice cream...

...and the "Nutella" Chocolate Pizza with Hazelnuts and White Chocolate Shavings on a rustic style crust. Paired with a creamy Latte, perfect.

From starters to mains and desserts, Tapenade's Mama Mia! Mother's Day set menu was simply perfect for a proper Mother's Day feast. A special occasion or maybe just a light meal at The Salad Station, Tapenade's the right place for you. Great food, excellent service, at the very heart of the Makati CBD, Discovery Primea's Tapenade makes every meal a culinary experience (for more on Discovery Primea's Tapenade, see my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2015/03/discover-mediterranean-flavors-at.html).

Tapenade is located at the Ground Floor of Discovery Primea, 6749 Ayala Avenue, Makati or call 995-8888 or visit http://www.discoveryhotels-resorts.com/discoveryprimea/ for more information and reservations.

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