Chef Robby Goco Unveils His Greek Inspired Tasting Menu At The PVT Members Lounge

Traditional Greek flavors with a playfully creative spin goes high up the Garden Deck forty floors above the Ortigas commercial and business district. It's the new Tasting Menu by renowned Chef Robby Goco at the ultra exclusive PVT Members Lounge...

A rare peek at one of the metro's most exclusive private clubs doesn't happen everyday. Ultra exclusive, social sanctuary and premium world-class dining destination in one elegant setting, PVT Members Lounge takes you to the very top of Ortigas surrounded by panoramic views of an ever changing skyline. And for a select few, the PVT Members Lounge takes dining with a view to a whole new level (for more on PVT Members Lounge, see my post A Private Omakase Feast By Chef Daniel Ken Miyamoto At Kappo In The Exclusive PVT Members Lounge from August last year). For a limited time, members can also savor the vibrant flavors of Greek cuisine with imaginative and modern renditions with the exquisite Tasting Menu by Chef Robby Goco...

As you pass through the secured access areas, scanned and cleared, you reach your destination. Walk to the Garden Deck and you're greeted by impressive views like this...

But the views are just one part of the PVT Members Lounge experience. Chef Robby Goco and the culinary team of PVT Members Lounge have prepared a lavish Greek-inspired feast with the freshest and finest ingredients executed with intricate culinary techniques in a sumptuous Tasting Menu. 

An on-going series, the PVT Members Lounge previously hosted culinary events like the elegant Omakase by Brazilian Japanese Chef Daniel Ken Miyamoto (more on my post here). These events highlight the many culinary possibilities reinforcing its positioning as a world-class dining destination. The PVT Members Lounge also features a well-stocked bar with a tempting selection of libations...

...like the Blush Mama Spritz with its refreshing blend of Santa Ana Florale, elderflower liquor, simple syrup, lemon juice and grapefruit soda for refreshingly crisp notes just in time for golden hour. 

At PVT Members Lounge, Chef Robby Goco explores a variety of culinary techniques including aging seafood for intense flavors and firm textures. Time and temperature have always been known to transform premium meats for more pronounced notes, and Chef Robby Goco takes this old world tradition of dry-aging a step further applying it to a variety of seafood featured in his Tasting Menu at PVT Members Lounge. 

A deep amber glow lingers over the Ortigas commercial and business district as the sun makes its final bow in the distant horizon. And that's your cue to order up another cocktail from the bar. The Rosy Garden Royal is a soothing libation matching the tones of the sunset with its layers of rich floral notes made with Santa Ana Pomelo, homemade hibiscus syrup, lemon juice, blueberry, hibiscus tea and grapefruit soda. And there's just nothing quite like the sunset forty floors above the cityscape paired with the right cocktail. 

Responding to numerous requests by members for a Mediterranean themed menu, Chef Robby Goco presents a curated Tasting Menu with a fresh approach to Greek and Mediterranean flavors. Greek and Mediterranean cuisine are after all, the core specialties of Chef Robby Goco long acknowledged as the pioneer in Greek cuisine led by his restaurants under the Cyma Restaurant Group which includes the flagship Cyma Greek Taverna, the new Elaia by Cyma in Tagaytay and the popular Souv by Cyma. For the tasting menu, Chef Robby Goco promises a "more fun and playful" approach to Greek flavors with his Tasting Menu exclusive to members of PVT Members Lounge. 

Our feast began with the Mezze Selection, a tasty quartet of Tzatziki with Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill and Kalamata Olive Oil; Hummus with extra virgin olive oil, paprika and Kalamata tapenade; Tarama with cured fish roe, ikura and fresh scallions, and Melitzanosalata with charred eggplant, tomato, feta, oregano and paprika oil paired with fresh baked warm pita and country bread. 

Each dips offers unique and contrasting notes for an impressive opening act of rich and traditional Greek flavors masterfully executed by Chef Robby Goco and the culinary team at PVT Members Lounge. From the creamy and mildly tart finish of the Tzatziki and the deep nutty and sweet hints of the Hummus to the vibrant briny bursts of the Tarama with fish roe and ikura and the pronounced smoky hints of the Melitzanosalata with charred eggplant, Chef Robby Goco presents the hearty flavors of Greece on a plate with four traditional mezze expressions for a solid start to his Tasting Menu. 

Can there be a more dramatic setting with a spectacular sunset enjoyed with cocktails and the Dry-Aged Crudo Selection featuring the freshest catch on a plate? 

The dry-aging technique shines with Chef Robby Goco's exquisite rendition of the Dry-Aged Seafood Crudo with slabs of succulent salmon, tuna and scallops with tobiko and orange zest. Firm yet tender to the bite with rich and deep notes, the clean flavors of the medley of seafood is enhanced by the bold briny bursts of flavor from the tobiko followed by a lingering zesty citrus finish for that delicate balance. Clean, uncluttered and unrestrained richness, freshness really is flavor. 

The warm glow over the Ortigas skyline is soon replaced by a spectacle of lights below in a seamless and equally dramatic transition...

...and that deserves another libation from the bar. The Pomelo G&T with Santa Ana Pomelo is a fruity variation of a classic with each sip followed by soothing hints of sweetness. 

The dry-aging process employing both time and temperature does the trick resulting in richer, deeper and more pronounced and defined flavors transforming the bountiful seafood catch of salmon, tuna and scallops. As guests enjoy the last few succulent bites of the Dry-Aged Seafood Crudo, Chef Robby Goco preambles the next dish... 

The Summer Salad is Chef Robby Goco's playfully inventive take on the traditional salad staple with its garden-fresh harvest of vegetables, ground Cretan husk or twice baked bread, oregano, watermelon puree and topped with Feta espuma. The dish brings not only fresh flavors but delectable textural contrast from the various components of the dish. The fresh vegetables are given a meatier bite from the Cretan husk, sweetened by the watermelon puree and enriched with a light yet indulgent creamy finish from the Feta cream for a complex yet comforting play on flavors. 

The next course from the Tasting Menu is then lined up...

...with the savory Beef Moussaka, another classic from Chef Robby Goco's repertoire of Greek specialties. The rich and tender aged beef is lined by aged eggplant and gently laid on slow-cooked and thick tomato sauce capped by a creamy Parmesan Mornay. Beautifully plated, the Beef Moussaka by Chef Robby Goco presents a more refined version of the rustic greek staple yet the flavors are spot on from the savory richness of the beef and smoky sweetness of the eggplant to the lusciously tart tomato sauce and the indulgent Parmesan Mornay for its distinctive salty hints and creamy finish. The flavors are familiar, executed with a playful yet elegant rendition. 

The fresh flavors of the sea are showcased once more with Chef Robby Goco's Red Grouper, dry-aged for that firm texture and pure robust flavors. Chef Robby Goco's infusion of traditional dry-aging techniques complemented by modern presentation teases the eyes before the palate...

...sealed by that fresh burst of flavors from that very first bite all the way to the last. The fresh, clean notes of the Red Grouper are perfectly complemented by the Garlic Ladolemono Pil Pill, a Mediterranean olive oil based sauce adding complex layers of flavors without overpowering the delicate notes of the Red Grouper. 

For the main course, it's time to pick your weapon...

The Pressed Lamb with Lamb Jus paired with fresh and lightly tart and sweet Green Apple and Arugula Salad is another masterful play on flavors by Chef Robby Goco. The tedious process behind the dish involves patiently slow cooking the lamb shoulder for more than eight hours and then stacked and pressed in the chiller for a day or two for concentrated flavors. 

The result? Tender and rich flavors with each slice and bite made even richer by the lamb jus. In between bites, enjoy the tart and sweet Green Apple Salad with Arugula to cut through the savory richness and cleanse the palate. Repeat. And you're ready for another bite of the Pressed Lamb. From starters and appetizers and savory mains, Chef Robby Goco presents refreshed renditions of Greek flavors with a modern and contemporary twist. And yes, a playful spin too for a whole new flavor experience with the Tasting Menu only at The PVT Members Lounge. 

And for dessert? Chef Robby Goco served his decadent 1,000-Layer Milopita with paper thin and sweet slices of apples drizzled with Walnut Sauce and paired with silky smooth ice cream. There's just no better sweet ending to a lavish Tasting Menu by Chef Robby Goco at the PVT Members Lounge. 

Members can experience and enjoy this Greek and Mediterranean inspired Tasting Menu for a limited time, so book your reservations for a choice seat with a view. And congratulations once more to Chef Robby Goco for presenting Greek cuisine with a fresh, fun and novel perspective at PVT Members Lounge...

The exclusive PVT Members Lounge is located at the 40th Floor, Exquadra Tower 1, Jade Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. You can also visit their website and IG Feed at https://pvtmemberslounge.ph/  and https://www.instagram.com/pvtmembersloungeph/ for more information and updates.

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