The Project Vino Reserve x Urban Farmers Collab Presents The Farm To Table Experience

They say the appreciation of good wine is a personal journey with multi-layered experiences in every single moment. Unhurried and at your own pace, Project Vino Reserve lets you celebrate these moments in an elegant yet intimate setting at the Proscenium Retail Row in Rockwell. Along with great wine, complete the experience with exquisite cuisine to complete the experience. In an exciting and creative collaboration, Project Vino Reserve and Urban Farmers takes your wine pairing experience up a notch with the Farm to Table experience...

The timely collaboration isn't just a mere trend, but a sign of the times where food provenance becomes a key consideration in our food choices. Fresh, sustainable organic produce is at the very heart of the advocacy of Urban Farmers, and this is masterfully rendered in a variety of exquisite dishes at Project Vino Reserve with the Farm to Table experience. 

Project Vino Reserve is the third location from the Project Vino group but unlike the Poblacion and Alabang branches, Project Vino Reserve represents an elevated expression of the brand's concept. Located at the elegant Proscenium Retail Row in Rockwell, Project Vino Reserve boasts of its own exclusive selection of fine wines. And it's the perfect setting for a unique collaboration highlighting freshness with pure, clean and natural flavors to complement the wine selection. 

They say, the space often defines and sets the mood and tone of any dining experience. The thoughtfully designed interiors at Project Vino Reserve does exactly that with its subdued warmth and elegant yet casual setting. Inside Project Vino Reserve, the refined space becomes your own personal sanctuary for your special wine journey. Project Vino Reserve also offers private rooms for intimate gatherings for even more options for your special moments. 

And exciting things are happening at Rockwell, promising a fresh take on the wine pairing experience. In a creative collaboration with Urban Farmers, Project Vino Reserve unveils a new menu featuring garden fresh and all-natural produce for a new flavor experience. A pioneering concept born out of the long days from the pandemic experience, Urban Farmers continues to take the lead in pushing for more sustainable produce not only for food security but transforming our own perspective on health and the environment (for more on Urban Farmers, see my posts The Good Harvest: Urban Farmers PH Celebrates Milestone Third Anniversary from 2023, Oasis In The City: The BGC Community Farm By Urban Farmers from three years back, Farm To Table: CCA Manila Brings The CCA Brunch Club To The BGC Community Farm By Urban Farmers PH from two years back and Fresh: Urban Farmers PH At PassionFest BGC from two years ago). 

The countless benefits of fresh, sustainable, organic and natural produce clearly makes the movement a relevant and timely one. The addition of Project Vino Reserve into the cause is a win for Urban Farmers as it increases the movement's reach. And for Project Vino Reserve, it's an opportunity to explore new expressions in flavor to pair with its curated wine selection. 

At the exclusive preview, Urban Farmers led by its founder Louie Guitierrez is joined by one of Project Vino Reserve's partner founders Rob Martin and his team to formally unveil the new culinary offerings. And there's no better way to explore new flavors and pairings in your own personal wine journey. 

Of course, it's no surprise your experience at Project Wine Reserve begins with a refreshingly crisp and soothing glass of wine... 

At the helm of Project Vino Reserve's kitchen is young Chef Carlo Tigas, bringing with him a wealth of experience from renowned establishments including Pao by Paul Qui in Miami to the rich culinary traditions of Italy and the inventive style of Restaurant Lampara. Expect some innovative flavorful spins and even the delightfully unexpected from Chef Carlo Tigas at Project Vino Reserve as you embark on your own personal journey of memorable moments with Project Vino Reserve's curated and exclusive wine selection. 

With the freshest produce provided by Urban Farmers, Chef Carlo Tigas explores the infinite possibilities for his Farm to Table Experience menu at Project Vino Reserve...

As Chef Carlo Tigas heads back to the kitchen, Project Vino Reserve brings out even more libations... 

...with the Sangria to open up the palate before the Farm to Table feast.  

Then, Chef Carlo Tigas begins the Farm to Table experience with the Grilled Greens with Burnt Onion Cream, a refreshing and hearty take with grilled Romaine hearts, tomato confit, crispy Talilom leaves and charred eggplant laid on thick and smooth burnt onion cream drizzled with extra virgin olive oil for that smooth and nutty finish. 

The subtle smoky hints from the grilled vegetables gives this salad rendition a flavorful depth with the fresh and clean natural and subtle sweetness draping the palate with its lingering richness. The burnt onion cream ties everything together with its sweet smoky hints for unique salad rendition. 

For the second course, Chef Carlo Tigas served his rustic Roasted Vegetables Flatbread topped with rich Pomodoro sauce and a fresh medley of slow-cooked vegetable confit with eggplant, onions, tomato, zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms and olives capped by fresh alfalfa for contrasting flavors and textures. 

From farm to flatbread, the rendition is a celebration of a fresh and bountiful harvest delivering layers of distinct flavors coming together in a harmonious blend with each crisp bite. The smoky hints of the vegetables brings an added layer of delectable sweetness tempering the tart notes of tomatoes and olives for a perfectly balanced and elegantly seamless finish. Comforting yet uniquely different from the usual, Chef Carlo Tigas is on point with his exquisite interpretations of farm-fresh produce. 

In between courses, a palate cleanser of Orange-Tarragon Granita was served before the main dish. The smooth orange-flavored shaved ice slowly melts in your mouth releasing a bold burst of citrus hints from the oranges complemented by the sweet, mildly grassy notes from the tarragon syrup. The fresh flavors of the palate cleanser are completed with the addition of fresh tarragon, juicy orange supremes and a vibrant splash of sharp citrus zest for that perfect bright and fragrant finish on the palate. 

The Pesto Pasta topped with slabs of roasted chicken highlights fresh basil from Urban Farmers creatively rendered in a variety of executions to complete Chef Carlo's interpretation of the traditional and classic pesto. The sumptuous dish with sweet Italian basil blended with roasted cashew nuts and fragrant basil oil topped with Parmigiano Reggiano, olive oil and just a hint of fresh lemon juice for that mild contrasting finish nails the farm-to table concept at Project Vino Reserve. 

The freshness of ingredients deliver deep, rounded flavors for a rich pesto rendition. The nutty profile of the pesto base are elegantly enhanced by the sharpness of the Parmigiano Reggiano and lemon juice followed by the smooth finish of the olive oil and basil oil. Each ingredient complements the other with its distinct notes for a satisfying and comforting meal at Project Vino Reserve. 

And you can always count on Project Vino Reserve to have the perfect wine pairing with each of your courses for the Farm to Table experience. These are the moments that Project Vino Reserve highlights with each visit. Wine should not be limiting, instead it should be encompassing not just for serious oenophiles or special occasions but for every single moment. 

But Chef Carlo has more surprises from his flavorful repertoire at Project Vino Reserve...

...with his batch of fudgy homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies. Simple and uncomplicated, yet each indulgent bite hits home with its pure and honest goodness. You just can't ask for a better ending to a sumptuous dining experience at Project Vino Reserve. 

Hopefully, this is just the start of even more collaborations yet to come. The timely movement and advocacy for food provenance with sustainable, organic and natural fresh produce is blooming all around the metro. And that deserves another round of wine...

Project Vino Reserve is located at the Ground Floor, Proscenium Retail Row, J.P. Rizal Street, Rockwell, Metro Manila. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/projectvinoreserve/ and https://www.instagram.com/projectvinoreserve/ for more information or call 0936 904 2652 for inquiries.

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