It's been said many times before that food is a flavorful collection of stories and nostalgic memories defining our identity with each plate and bite. Welcome home to Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar...
Successful restaurateur Kian Kazemi always believed that a dining establishment is an extension of home with its repertoire of comfortingly familiar dishes. Staying true to his roots, his various restaurants have always reflected the cuisine he grew up with made from cherished family recipes as reflected on the Persian-inspired menus of Persia Grill and Kite Kebab Bar. His latest concept is yet another homage to his family with local dishes inspired by his mother and grandmother showcased at Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar...
Located in Makati's busy Salcedo Village known for its diverse and wide variety of dining options, Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar is the newest kid on the block. Kian Kazemi's latest concept celebrates the hands that have prepared each homecooked meal made with love from childhood, from the family's matriarch down to the loyal kusineras. At Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar, Kian Kazemi honors both family and tradition in a festive and sumptuous homecoming of familiar flavors.
Inside Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar, guests are welcomed by a stunning lighting ornament made with local materials that captures the Filipino theme with its warm glow...
...illuminating a cozy space where a comforting meal can be enjoyed simply and heartily without the fuss. It's the setting for classic Filipino cuisine with a real homestyle warmth.
Behind Kian Kazemi's new dining concept is his family, his inspiration and the story behind Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar. Food, after all binds our stories and memories in a tightly knit weave. And it's this vibe that resonates and sets the stage for a comforting meal at Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar.
First order of business? Start with a tempting range of thirst-quenching libations from their signature House Brew line...
...or go for a soothing cup from their premium Yardstick Coffee selection like the Golden Ticket blend made with beans from Brazil, Peru and Colombia delivering rch hints of dark chocolate, toffee and Mandarin orange. Yes, Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Coffee Bar has a solid line-up of exquisite coffee options too.
Inside the kitchen, the grills are fired up...
...as tasty bites were served starting a vibrant medley of local flavors...
...like the Kesong Puti Empanada (P 255), a soft and delicately crisp turnover filled with creamy local cottage cheese and served with fresh and tart tamarillo salsa with its distinctive sweet and mildly sour tomato-like hints. The creamy richness of the Kesong Puti Empanada is perfectly tempered by the tamarillo salsa for that balanced finish. Other must-try starters include the Chicken Skin Chicharon (P 195), Crispy Baby Squid Calamari (P 488), Okoy (P 250) and Smoked Fish Lumpia (P 248).
Then, the sides were served starting with the Laing with Smoked Fish (P 288). The Bicolano staple made with dried taro leaves simmered in creamy coconut milk and spiced with chilies and aromatics is spot on with its deep nutty hints and subtle soothing heat.
The Ensalada Talong with Salted Egg (P 198) is another popular staple pairing well with a variety of savory dishes at Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar. Fresh, clean with pure and bold flavors and a smoky sweetness, it's the side you need to complete a full-on reunion with a classic homestyle Filipino feast.
The Sinuglaw (P 498) with its delectable combo of raw seafood marinated in coconut vinegar, mango, calamansi, cucumber, bell peppers, onions, ginger, tomatoes and coconut cream topped with smoked pork belly brings contrasting yet delectable notes and textures to the table. It's surf and turf with a traditional local twist perfectly recreated at Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar.
For the mains, the Callos by Nimfa (P 398) served with sweet potatoes and rice is a nostalgic dish from the past revived at Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar. Drawing inspiration from an heirloom recipe from 1976, the hearty slow-cooked stew with fork-tender beef tripe, oxtail, potatoes, chickpeas, Spanish chorizo, olives, tomato sauce and olive oil is just one of those dishes from childhood you keep coming back to again and again. The addition of sweet potatoes on the side complements the savory richness of the stew with a delicate sweetness.
True to his family's Persian roots, you can expect a lamb dish in the menu at Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar. And this one works. Paired with burong mangga, the Lamb Adobo with Pickled Mango (P 595) presents a savory twist to the timeless adobo. Aside from the usual suspects of soy sauce, garlic, vinegar and red onion, Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar adds cinnamon, ginger and coconut cream for a lavish weave of flavors. The distinct savory richness of the tender lamb brings a whole new flavor experience with the side of burong mangga adding contrasting notes. This one calls for extra rice...
The enduring Negrense staple is served next with Chato's Inasal (P 345) paired with soup, rice and homemade atsara. Tender chicken marinated in calamansi, native vinegar, garlic, lemongrass and annatto oil then grilled, Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar faithfully recreates the traditional inasal...
...while the Fish Steak (P 425) with grilled tanigue or deep sea white fish offers another fresh take on the grilled Negrense dish with its clean and delicate notes. You can also customize your inasal meal with Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar's rice variants like Apo's Garlic Rice (P 75), Bagoong Rice (P 98), Red Rice (P 08), Brown Rice (P 98) and Steamed Rice (P 65). Other inasal options include Pork Liempo (P 298), Squid Inasal Lumot (P 495) and Bangus Boneless Dagupan (P 320).
No Filipino feast is complete without Pampanga's best, the all-time fave Sisig (P 345) with boiled, grilled and smoked pork mask and ears richly seasoned with calamansi, onions and fiery chilies. Served on a sizzling cast iron plate, Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar also offers variants in Chicken (P 295) and Tofu (P 225). You can also add egg (P 30) to your sisig for that extra layer of richness to complete the flavors.
Simmered for six long hours, the Kansi Langka at Batwan (P 585) is poised to be one of Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar's bestsellers. Tender beef and bone marrow makes this a comforting pick soured by batwan with just a whisper of sweetness from the jackfruit for a hearty meal.
The light broth enriched by the bone marrow leaves a lingering and indulgent richness to warm the palate. The addition of jackfruit is a pleasant surprise, complementing the varied layers of flavors with each soothing sip.
The indulgent Godfather's Lengua with Black Truffle (P 585) draped in a rich and creamy gravy is a personal pick, with each melt-in-your-mouth bite leading to another. Slowly simmered with various aromatics for five hours, each ingredient enriches the other in a seamless blend. And that black truffle is a nice touch. Like butter, the Lengua is an elegant rendition of a traditional dish. And the perfect side? Why, Garlic Rice of course.
And the perfect sweet ending? Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar has an array of tempting options...
...like the unique Chocolate Langka (P 298) in collaboration with Purple Yam MNL for a decadent and surprising pairing that's refreshingly different. The sweetness of the jackfruit comes through followed by the indulgent notes of chocolate for that flavorful depth.
Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar also offers a selection of featured kakanin or local rice cakes...
...but it's the Leche Flan (P 95) recreated from an old and cherished family recipe best paired with a soothing Long Black that had me at that first bite. Unapologetically decadent, it's the perfect sweet ending to a sumptuous Filipino feast at Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar.
And that's just a few of Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar's specialties with still so many more to experience and discover. As you enjoy your meal, that pervasive and recurring sense of family and nostalgic memories accompanies each satisfying bite. That's no surprise, as Kian and Nikole Kazemi envisioned this to be an extension of the family home with its repertoire of comforting local flavors inspired by cherished heirloom recipes. Whether its lunch, a casual coffee break or dinner, treat yourself by coming home to Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar...
Apo Filipino Heritage Restaurant Cafe Bar is located at the Ground Floor of Goldman Plaza, 106 LP Leviste, Salcedo Village, Makati. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/p/Apo-Filipino-Heritage-Restaurant and https://www.instagram.com/apofilipinoheritage/ for more updates and information.
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