Fresh. Spicy. Beefy. A Taste of Garde Manger, Fire in the Hole, and The Beef at Hole in the Wall.

Garden-fresh salads. Spicy Asian-style ramen. And beefy burgers. Just some of the wide and diverse flavors, all in one spot. And you can find all these, and more, at Hole in the Wall...

Garde Manger debuts at Hole in the Wall with its signature salads and cold kitchen dishes, along with a new thirty-day pop-up, Fire in the Hole with its spicy ramen, and The Beef with its "uncluttered" burgers. Three innovative and unique concepts, each one offering new flavor experiences...

Hole in the Wall is the country's first 500-seater food hall showcasing some of the metro's most creative and innovative dining concepts. Take a walk around the spacious interiors and you'll find different stalls offering a wide variety of flavors and culinary styles to satisfy any craving. And you can start with a fresh salad from Garde Manger...

Chef Miko Aspiras shares his take on fresh food and beverages at Garde Manger, which means "cold preparation area in the kitchen" (for more on Chef Miko Aspiras, see my post on Scout's Honor at Hole in the Wall here and his creative take on French classics at Le Petit Souffle at Century City Mall here).

 

Indulge in the opposite end of the flavor spectrum with spicy Asian-inspired ramen, like Laksa and Thai Curry at the aptly named Fire in the Hole. From the same guys behind Wrong Ramen (more on Wrong Ramen on my posts here and here), Fire in the Hole takes on the same rebellious spirit with its inventive dishes.

Rediscover a classic favorite with a return to the basic, no-frills, and "uncluttered" burger at The Beef. Their mission is simple: serve the best uncluttered hamburgers on this side of the planet, with absolutely no fancy toppings, insecure oversizing, and over the top customization. Just premium USDA beef with lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. And cheese.

After a short tour inside Hole in the Wall, enjoy a refreshing beverage at Garde Manger. At Garde Manger, the unique concept revolves around fresh ingredients and fresh food without cooking, with their line of sushi, salads, wraps and fresh juices. Refresh with Garde Manger's fresh fruit beverages, like the Bahamas (P 120), with cranberry, pomegranate and pink lemonade; the Okayama (120), a sweet and tart Japanese peach lemonade; the Honeymoon (P 120), with Japanese pear, caramel, and mint; and the Summer Fling (P 120), with sour cherry and calamansi. Other creative blends include the Golden Hour (P 120), with mango, calamansi, tarragon, and honey; and Palomino (P 120), with coconut, lime, and lychees. Fresh, pure and clean flavors, and you're just about ready to try some of Garde Manger's signature cold dishes...

Start with Garde Manger's fresh trio of Wraps, the Mu Shu Sesame Chicken Wrap (P 175) served with Chili Hoisin Dip, the Tofu Quinoa (P 175) with Cilantro Lime Dip, and the Thai-Mango Shrimp Wrap (P 175) with Coconut Basil Dip. Light, healthy yet full of flavor, each wrap is distinct from the other, with its own dipping sauce to complete the flavors.

Then, try one of Garde Manger's signature salads, like the Marinated Watermelon Salad (P 255) with feta and pistachios drizzled with Balsamic Citrus dressing. The contrasting notes of the different fresh ingredients, with sweet, sour and tart hints, combine for layers of flavors blending seamlessly in a bowl. And each ingredient is fresh, delivering a fresh snap with every bite.

The Sisig Rilletes Salad (P 315) with Pampanga Sisig, lentils and pili nuts, is an inventive take on the usual salad, with the rich layers of tender pork adding both texture and flavor to the dish, a personal favorite.

The Waldorf Salad (P 285) with apples, blue cheese, bacon, and walnuts combine sweet and nutty notes for refreshingly familiar flavors. It's a classic dish, recreated at Garde Manger.

Korean flavors are highlighted in another salad, the Sesame Gochujang Octopus Salad (P 285) with orzo, red cabbage, and cilantro. The mild notes of the tender octopus are punctuated by the bold flavors of the Korean gochujang for balanced flavors. The vegetables are fresh and crisp, with the soft orzo, a soft pasta resembling grains of rice, absorbing the rich flavors of the dressing. If you're after a light, healthy and refreshing meal, make Garde Manger your first stop at Hole in the Wall.

But if you're looking for some refreshing heat, head over to Fire in the Hole for their spicy signature dishes, like the Spicy Dandan Rice (P 290), soft and fluffy Japanese short grain rice topped with crispy chicken skin, fried egg, chashu flakes, chili and drizzled with hot peanut sauce and sesame seeds. The heat from the hot peanut sauce and fiery red chili is tempered by the fried egg, and the crispy chicken skin and chashu flakes add both flavor and texture to the hearty dish. It's a rice dish with attitude...

Then, the signature ramen bowls of Fire in the Hole were served...

Fire in the Hole's Hot Prawn and Fish Head Laksa (P 390), a hearty and creamy tonkotsu broth enriched with coconut milk topped with prawn, salmon head, cockles, cilantro, fresh chili, and Hakata noodles. Creamy with a layer of spice, the tonkotsu broth takes on a whole new level of flavor with the infusion of coconut milk and spices. At Fire in the Hole, you can choose your level of spiciness, starting with Mild, Spicy to Flaming for the adventurous diner.

The Korean Army Stew (P 390), a spicy tonkotsu broth with gochujang, kimchi, onions, chili, stewed Spam and sausages, fishcakes, Hakata noodles and tofu, is another playful execution with bold flavors and soothing heat. The mildly salty notes of the Spam and sausages pair well with the sharpness of the gochujang for a medley of rich flavors.

Fire in the Hole's Thai Red Curry with Braised Pork Rib (P 390), another spicy number with tonkotsu broth blended with red curry, galanggal, chili, tender braised soft bone soy pork and Hakata noodles, infuses curry flavors to the tonkotsu broth. The sharp notes of the chili and curry combine for upfront flavors, and the fork-tender braised pork rib adds its own layer of richness to the dish. All three Asian-inspired ramen bowls offer distinct flavors, each one a winner. The soothing heat from the chili and spices are a key element to the dish, and it's best to go for the mid-range Spicy level to experience the full flavors.

And don't pass up on the signature burgers at The Beef. It's a return to simple yet classic flavors, uncomplicated with no frills, it's the burger in its purest form, with a premium grade USDA all-beef patty topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles on a soft buttery brioche bun. The Beef's basic Hamburger (P 275) recreates the flavors of the iconic burger, where the beef is the hero, just the way it should be. Add fries (P 350) for a classic combo.  The Beef also offers the Cheeseburger (P 295), with creamy cheese for another winning pair. The Beef's Cheeseburger with thick-cut Fries (P 350) is a complete package, with sour dill pickles.

The premium all-beef patty, simply seasoned with salt and pepper, delivers full, uncomplicated beefy flavors, with the fresh veggies and cheese weaving in familiar yet comforting notes for a satisfying burger. The patty is tender and juicy, perfectly grilled with pure beefy flavors. The bun and beef patty remain firm all the way to the last bite, without crumbling or falling apart. You can add an extra beef patty (+ P 180) for a double dose of beefy goodness or extra cheese (+ P 50), and that's as far as The Beef would go, keeping things simple, uncomplicated and "uncluttered." And I like it.

For dessert, cool down with Fire in the Hole's Coconut Ice Cream in Shell (P 290), a smooth and creamy coconut ice cream sprinkled with chili, topped with mint and chocolate pretzels. Sweet and creamy with just a whisper of spice for contrasting notes. And that's what you can expect at Hole in the Wall, familiar and comforting flavors with a touch of playful inventiveness for new and unique flavor experiences. Not only can you find some of the most innovative dining concepts at Hole in the Wall, it's also the perfect venue for events (see my post on the launch of Let's Eat TV at Hole in the Wall here). Have a salad, a spicy Asian-style ramen, or a classic burger in its purest form without the bells and whistles. Fresh, spicy, beefy. And you can find all these at Hole in the Wall...

Hole in the Wall is located at the 4th Floor, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Barangay Poblacion, Makati City or call 801-1230 and 0917-580-2558 for inquiries.

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