Untraditional, Unconventional and Totally Unexpected. At UnFrench Bistro...

Finding a culinary gem in a quiet neighborhood remains one of those uniquely special moments, more so when it's in the most unexpected places. Think of it as an elevated hole in the wall dishing out creatively inspired dishes by a passionate chef. And no, it's not your typical bistro. It's your ordinary bistro. It's UnFrench Bistro...

Untraditional, unconventional and totally unexpected, Chef Michelle Adrillana shares her inspired and creative take on the world's classic flavors using French techniques at the wittingly named UnFrench Bistro. One of the year's surprising new finds at the heart of a quiet neighborhood in Greenhills, the elegant dining destination showcases one chef's personal journey retold and reinterpreted in masterfully executed dishes from an inclusive menu to satisfy any mood or craving. Get an insightful and flavorful peek at Chef Michelle Adrillana's continuing story with her curated five course menu reflecting her classic meets rendition culinary philosophy.  

Located at the ground floor of 81 Xavier Residences right in front of Xavier School in Greenhills, UnFrench Bistro has all the trappings, look and feel of a traditional bistro. But it isn't. Far from it. Chef Michelle Adrillana draws inspiration from tradition, weaving her own unique culinary style for a dining experience with that comfortingly familiar bistro vibe yet refreshingly uncommon and different. It's this contrasting play on contradictions that makes UnFrench Bistro special, and a must-try when you're in the neighborhood.  

The elegant white space at UnFrench Bistro with its dramatic high ceiling becomes a personal stage for Chef Michelle Adrillana's culinary creations, a blank canvas about to be rendered with a colorful palette of vibrant flavors from her kitchen... 

...representing a culmination of her journeys in the culinary scene. With years of experience and a successful catering business, Chef Michelle Adrillana adds yet another page to her story at UnFrench Bistro.

Your dining experience at UnFrench Bistro begins with traditional crisp bread served with herbed butter...

...followed by the first course. The Apple Walnut Salad opens up the palate with its delectable play on contrasting textures and fresh, clean notes. Garden fresh and crisp greens draped in a creamy dressing are perfectly complemented by the sweet apples and candied walnuts...

...while the breaded and deep-fried blue cheese balls deliver flavorful bursts with a crunch and silky smooth finish. The hearty salad's blend of rich flavors and textural contrasts from the apples, walnuts and cheese balls combine for complex yet delicately balanced notes. Fresh premium ingredients bring all the flavors, and Chef Michelle's Apple Walnut Salad gets you on the right track for their nontypical bistro experience at UnFrench Bistro. 

You can always expect escargot in a typical bistro but Chef Michelle tweaks expectations with an inventive spin. The Escargot Laksa by Chef Michelle isn't shy on flavors, it celebrates it with the bold and rich blend of spices smoothened by a buttery finish to tease your palate.  

The Laksa Escargot perfectly illustrates the untypical bistro concept of UnFrench Bistro and classic meets rendition philosophy of Chef Michelle, reinventing new flavor experiences while drawing inspiration from tradition. The result is pure and unrestrained flavors masterfully executed with a playful inventiveness.  

The kitchen has even more surprises with the next course, the Cream of Ratatouille Soup. The classic French ratatouille is reimagined in a bowl with its rich and vibrant notes tempered by a velvety smooth finish. Each sip warms the palate, draping it with a fresh and tart richness that just lingers. Bold yet refined, Chef Michelle's culinary style comes through in another creative rendition.

For the main entrées, Chef Michelle shared three of her savory options from the menu starting with the Chicken Milanese, Chorizo and Pommes Lyonnaise topped with microgreens and a generous slather of creamy butter. The chicken is perfectly executed, tender and juicy with a delicate seasoning capped by a crisp breading on thinly sliced potatoes and caramelized onions. But it's the chorizo that adds that flavorful punch and bite to another classic reinvented.   

The chicken is perfect as is, but the chorizo totally changes the dish with its robust and savory sharpness. You can say it's your traditional Chicken Milanese with a whole lot of character. And attitude. The complex weave of flavors complement the other rounded out by the buttery richness with the Pommes Lyonnaise completing the dish.

For those craving for pork, the aptly named Triple Threat with pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon and topped with spicy sisig becomes the obvious choice. And why not, this pork on pork on pork creation is another winning number from Chef Michelle's playbook worthy of its "triple threat" moniker. 

The savory richness of the pork tenderloin and bacon are matched by the soothing heat from the equally unctuous sisig for an immensely satisfying entrée at UnFrench Bistro. A bowl of buttery and fragrant basmati long-grain rice accompanies the dish to complete a sumptuous triple dose of pure pork goodness. 

UnFrench Bistro also offers a seafood option in their menu with the elegant Poached Salmon, Ikura, Prawns and Lobster Oil with Dill Sauce with its lavish layers of briny sweetness and buttery richness. Traditional French culinary techniques with loads of butter combine with the fresh flavors of the different components for an indulgent dish. 

The delicately poached salmon just melts in your mouth delivering a luscious richness while the vibrant notes of the ikura pops releasing even more subtle yet intense briny notes. The succulent prawns, cream dill sauce and lobster oil complete the complex layers of flavors in this all-seafood dish. 

Chef Michelle offers an inclusive menu at UnFrench Bistro featuring pork, chicken, seafood and beef entrées with something for everyone. From starters to mains, UnFrench Bistro never holds back on flavor. But save room for dessert...

Chef Michelle revisits another classic, the Baba au Rum, soaked in rum capped with cream for an indulgent finale to a memorable dining experience. 

The Baba au Rum is moist releasing hints of sweet and smoky rum followed by silky smooth cream, and it just doesn't get more classic than that. It's Chef Michelle's nod to her classic French experience but another dessert option presents a transition from the traditional to sheer culinary genius...

...with the Taho Cheesecake. In a whimsical twist, Chef Michelle pulls out another unexpected surprise that teases the eye before the palate with an unconventional creation that just works. Topped with tapioca pearls and slathered in sweet syrup, the novel dessert is both creative and nostalgic at the same time. 

Who knew a childhood favorite can work so well in a cheesecake? The smooth creamy texture of the cheesecake with its crunchy crust pairs well with the tapioca pearls and syrup for that perfect and even unconventional ending at UnFrench Bistro. One of the best new finds to start the year, UnFrench Bistro isn't your typical ordinary bistro. And Chef Michelle is ready to tease and delight your palate...

UnFrench Bistro is located at the Ground Floor of 81 Xavier Residences, San Juan, Metro Manila. You can also visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/UnFrenchBistro and IG Feed at unfrenchbistro for more information and updates.

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