Straight From The Josper Grill: A Taste of Sage Bespoke Grill's New Dishes

The Josper is all fired up for Sage Bespoke Grill's new dishes...

The finest beef, masterfully grilled. When you're at Makati Shangri-La, Manila, you'll find some of the world's prized beef ready for the Josper Grill at Sage Bespoke Grill. It's this combination of premium steaks and the unique dual charcoal grill and oven, the Josper Grill, that makes lunch or dinner at Sage Bespoke Grill a cut above. And with Executive Chef de Cuisine Sebastian Barcudes at the helm, you can expect a little of that Argentine flair with your steaks. 

A charcoal grill and an oven, the Josper Grill at Sage Bespoke Grill transforms a slab of meat (or seafood) with its high operating temperature while keeping it moist and juicy. Arriving early, it seemed like a good time for a drink. Right below Sage Bespoke Grill is Sage Bar, the perfect spot for a pre-dinner tipple with an Old-Fashioned.

Makati Shangri-La, Manila's Director of Food & Beverages, Gilles Baurieres (L) and Executive Chef de Cuisine Sebastian Barcudes (R) present the latest offerings at Sage Bespoke Grill with Australia's finest beef from John Dee and Sher Red Label Australian Wagyu. The world's finest steaks come to Sage Bespoke Grill, adding to their already impressive selection from the US, Argentina and Australia (for more on Executive Chef de Cuisine Sebastian Barcudes and Sage Bespoke Grill, see my previous post, #ATasteofArgentina: Discover Bolzico Argentine Beef at Sage Bespoke Grill's A Taste of Argentina).

Gilles Baurieres (L) shared that the new offerings are just a taste of even more exciting things to come at Sage Bespoke Grill. Executive Chef de Cuisine Sebastian Barcudes (R) then described the evening's curated dinner menu in detail showcasing the best of Sage Bespoke Grill in an exclusive preview.

Our dinner began with Sage Bespoke Grill's Whole Wheat Baguette and Crimona, a light and flaky puff pastry made even richer with beef lard...

...paired with Bouchard Pere et Fils, Bourgogne "La Vignee" Burgundy Chardonnay 2016. One bite of the crisp Crimona drapes the palate with a buttery richness from the infusion of beef lard. It's the kind of indulgence you can always expect from Sage Bespoke Grill.

Executive Chef de Cuisine Sebastian Barcudes then served the first course, the elegantly plated Sage Heirloom Tomato Salad (P 480) with sprouts, olives and basil cream. It's a light and refreshing starter that proves once again that the freshest and finest ingredients can make any dish, no matter how simple, pop with such vibrant flavors. It's just tomatoes, but Sage Bespoke Grill elevates it to a whole new level, even sublime, flavor experience. 

The bold tartness of the heirloom tomatoes are complemented by layers of sharp notes from the olives and rich herbal hints from the basil cream, opening up the palate for the next course...

The Seared Hokkaido Scallops (P 900) with brown cauliflower, lemon and mint is a play on delicately nuanced notes, with the fresh briny sweetness of the plump and succulent scallops lingering long after the last bite.

The different components of the dish weave distinct flavors without overpowering the subtle richness of the scallops, with the brown cauliflower puree adding a layer of nutty sweetness followed by a burst of fresh and clean notes from the lemon and mint for balanced flavors. 

From the Sage Heirloom Tomato Salad to the Seared Hokkaido Scallops, Executive Chef Sebastian Barcudes showcases Sage Bespoke Grill's culinary mastery. In true Sage Bespoke Grill style, each dish builds up to the next...

When the elegant steak knife is placed on your side and a bottle of Terrazas Altos Del Plata Argentina Malbec 2017 is poured to your wine glass, that can only mean one thing. The Josper Grill has done its job, and the steaks are ready to serve after being rested for a few minutes. Your feast at Sage Bespoke Grill is about to begin...

The charcoal grill of the Josper adds a beautifully charred outer crust while the oven retains the flavorful juices. Romanced by both fiery charcoal and high temperature, the main courses are served... 

The John Dee Banksia 60 Days Grain Fed Australian Spice Crusted OP Rib with nutty coffee rub (P 4,000/700g) is an impressive bone-in slab of premium beef done medium rare with a juicy pink center. Served with the flavorful burnt ends of Chipotle Braised Short Ribs, Executive Chef de Cuisine Sebastian Barcudes carves up the rib before serving... 

...and gently laid on our table. The fragrant notes of the coffee rub teases the senses, and the sight of the sliced beef reveals the juicy center. You can never go wrong with beef this good, and the Josper Grill lays on the smoky hints with its lightly charred outer layer.

Perfectly grilled over charcoal, each slab is draped with a rich smokiness and elegantly charred crust while the beef remains tender and juicy. The Josper does amazing things to beef unlike a regular grill and when you have some of the world's finest beef, your dining experience at Sage Bespoke Grill becomes complete.

Each slice oozes with rich juices when pierced by a fork, locked in by the Josper. Expertly grilled by Executive Chef de Cuisine Sebastian Barcudes and his team, diners can expect nothing less at Sage Bespoke Grill.

That evening, our steaks were paired with Premium Sides (P 325) like the Truffle Mashed Potato with Truffle Puree and Regular Sides (P 225) including the Creamed Spinach Casserole with Gratinated Gruyere, Mushroom Ragout with Onion and Thyme, Sauteed Seasonal Vegetables and Sage Fried Rice.

A trio of sauces for the steaks were also served, with Mushroom, Green Pepper and Chimichurri (L). The nutty richness of the Chimichurri adds that Argentine flair to your steak, as Executive Chef Sebastian Barcudes draws inspiration from the flavors he grew up with back in Argentina. And there's more...

The 350 Days Grain Fed Sher Wagyu Striploin from Australia is then served, properly rested and straight out of the Josper...  

...masterfully carved by Executive Chef de Cuisine Sebastian Barcudes. Glistening with its flavorful juices revealing a juicy pink center, the Josper has done its job once more.

Tender and juicy slices of the John Dee Banksia 60 Days Grain Fed Australian Spice Crusted OP Rib, Chipotle Braised Short Ribs and the Sher Wagyu Striploin 350 Days with Sage Bespoke Grill's signature sides combine for an impressive plate.

The John Dee Banksia OP Rib is fork tender with just the right amount of bite while the Sher Wagyu Striploin just melts in your mouth. The world's finest beef, expertly prepared, is an experience like no other. And they do this everyday at Sage Bespoke Grill.

For dessert, the Raspberry Souffle served with marinated berries, coconut and calamansi sorbet caps your sumptuous steak feast at Sage Bespoke Grill.

The pillow-soft and moist souffle bursts with the vibrant notes of fresh and tart raspberries, pairing well with the sweet marinated berries, coconut and calamansi sorbet...

...while the Caramelized Apple Tart, pairing well with a robust freshly brewed cup of coffee, completes your sweet ending at Sage Bespoke Grill.

That's why Sage Bespoke Grill is one of the favorite spots of our group, FourScene (for more on FourScene, check out our FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/FourScene/). 

From starters to mains and desserts, Sage Bespoke Grill at Makati Shangri-La, Manila continues to be top-of-mind when it comes to the world's best beef fresh from the Josper Grill. Lunch or dinner, the Josper is fired up just for you at Sage Bespoke Grill...

Sage Bespoke Grill is located at  the second level of Makati Shangri-La, Manila, Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati City or call (632) 813-8888 for inquiries and reservations.

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