Eating Well and Living Well, Simplified. At Kitchen 1B.

Healthy yet flavorful dishes with power ingredients. Eating well and living smart was never this flavorful...

Kitchen 1B takes "diet dishes" and "organic ingredients" to a whole new and meaningful level with a unique gastronomic experience focusing on wholesome ingredients with nutritional value and benefits. Meticulously selected, naturally grown ingredients with immune-boosting vitamins and minerals are combined with healthier cooking methods for truly "wholesome" dishes with real and robust flavors. And you can find it here at Kitchen 1B...  

Kitchen 1B is Chef Marivic Diaz-Lim's (L) latest culinary concept, the very same dynamic and creative force behind Tribeca and Apartment 1B. "Food is healing," says Marivic Diaz-Lim, a cancer survivor who continues her journey toward complete healing with food, a philosophy reflected in the menu as the kitchen fired up...    

I've always been a fan of Chef Marivic Diaz-Lim, from as far back as her Tribeca days and her ever popular Apartment 1B (check out her classic comfort food at Apartment 1B on one of my earliest posts here). My nourishing feast at Kitchen 1B began with the fresh and tart Heirloom Tomato Soup with Almond Herb Pesto Drizzle (P 230), with each spoonful delivering rich flavors from the tomatoes complemented by the nutty notes of the almond herb pesto for balanced flavors. The freshest ingredients do deliver fresh and clean flavors, and that's what you get with every dish at Kitchen 1B.  It's a perfect starter that opened up the palate for the next dishes about to be served...

...like the Grilled Prawns & Lentil Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette and Cilantro Oil (P 510), a deceptively simple dish yet bursting with rich flavors. The prawns are perfectly roasted, with a subtle briny sweetness and a fresh "snap" with each bite, a sure sign of freshness. The lentils, with the sharp notes of the balsamic vinaigrette and cilantro oil add more unique layers of flavors to the elegantly plated dish. At Kitchen 1B, eating healthy means healthier cooking techniques, like grilling, to bring out the natural flavors.

Kitchen 1B then transforms the eggplant into another tasty dish with its Eggplant Croquettes with Feta Cheese and Tarragon-Turmeric Aioli (P 450), with the soft eggplant and the crisp breading combining for contrasting textures. Simply dip it in the creamy feta cheese with tarragon-turmeric aioli for rich and vibrant flavors. Turmeric is one of those power ingredients used often at Kitchen 1B, well known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, with an equally potent boost in flavor.

Kitchen 1B offers a variety of signature sandwiches, including the Turkey Burger with Brie and Cranberry Compote on Corn Bread Bun (P 740), served with sweet potato fries. The brie and cranberry compote adds bright and flavorful notes to the burger, complementing the mild and delicate flavors of the turkey. It's a rich and hefty meal, without the guilt. Kitchen 1B also offers other sandwiches, like the Organic Egg Salad Sandwich, the Monte Cristo, and the Cheeseburger for even more options.

Healthy dishes don't mean bland flavors. Kitchen 1B's Whole Wheat Spaghetti & Vegetables (P 560) with broccoli, asparagus, green peas, parsley, tarragon, mint, and almond pesto, is a perfect example. The fresh and distinct notes of the almond pesto, along with the parsley, tarragon, and mint, blend seamlessly for clean and balanced flavors, with the subtle sweetness of the vegetables completing the dish. This is probably one of the most unique pasta dishes I've tried, with just pure and fresh notes. And you do feel good after going through the pasta without feeling heavy. And Chef Marivic was right, "food is healing."

For the mains, a familiar favorite from the early days of Tribeca returns with the Grilled Coco-Ginger Pork Rib (P 780), with pro-biotic hormone-free pork, yellow ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus). This was always a favorite way back at Tribeca, and I'm glad to see it again at Kitchen 1B, with a healthier, natural twist. The use of pro-biotic, hormone-free pork and turmeric is consistent with Kitchen 1B's philosophy, and I enjoyed the updated version of an old Tribeca favorite at Kitchen 1B. The tender and juicy pork has a whisper of delicate sweetness, punched up by the pronounced notes of the ginger, lemongrass, and turmeric for a satisfying main course.

If you're looking for even bolder flavors, and if you love curry, then Kitchen 1B's Lamb Curry (P 950) is highly recommended, with tender Australian lamb on basmati rice, fresh tomato salsa, fried sweet plantain, and papadam. The tender and premium Australian lamb, with its own unique flavor, plays well with the rich spice blend of the curry and tart tomato salsa. The Lamb Curry comes with papadam and sweet plantain to complete the dish.

Have a serious craving for beef? Kitchen 1B's got that covered too with their Grilled Tenderloin (P 1,320), tender Australian grass-fed beef on mashed cauliflower with asparagus. The beef is juicy with all the rich and bold beefy notes you love, but it's the mashed cauliflower that surprised me most. Who knew cauliflower could pack a flavorful punch? Premium beef balanced with fresh vegetables, this one's a personal favorite.

Kitchen 1B also offers an extensive line of vegetarian dishes, like the elegantly plated and colorful Baked Stuffed Capsicum, with heirloom cherry tomatoes, bocconcini, basil, fresh arugula and anchovies. The dish may look simple, but the flavors are rich and complex, complementing the smoky richness of the pepper.

The distinct notes weave a tapestry of rich flavors, and I wouldn't mind going vegetarian for lunch and dinner with dishes like this. But there's more...

Kitchen 1B's Kale & Quinoa Salad, with pomegranate, crispy parmesan shard, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and watermelon, drizzled with honey-mustard lemon vinaigrette, is another example of Chef Marivic's culinary philosophy, perfectly executed and plated. The range of flavors in this one dish are more than enough reasons you need to give this dish a try. And you'll be glad you did.

Cap your healthy vegetarian feast with the Spring Barley Risotto cooked with white wine, green peas, and asparagus topped with parmesan. Like all of Kitchen 1B's dishes, the flavors just pop with a richness that makes you forget this is a vegetarian and healthy dish. And like I said, I definitely wouldn't mind going vegetarian for lunch or dinner with these dishes...

End you dining experience at Kitchen 1B with their popular and bestselling Blueberry White Chocolate Cheesecake (P 290), a rich and creamy dessert that paired perfectly with a cup of freshly brewed coffee...

...like Kitchen 1B's Cafe Latte (P 120) made with Yardstick Coffee. You can also find fresh juices and handcrafted cocktails at Kitchen 1B, so you can relax and chill after a meal.

And they have my favorite cocktail too, the classic Old-Fashioned (P 240), just perfect after a meal. Eating well and living well is a concept made simpler, and real, at Kitchen 1B. And for me, Kitchen 1B offers that culinary balance without sacrificing on flavor. Find your path towards eating and living well, and it all starts at Kitchen 1B...

Kitchen 1B is located at the Ground Floor of KL Tower, Gamboa Street, Legazpi Village, Makati or call 403-4505 for inquiries and reservations.

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