I got an email from Janine last week inviting me to Alchemy
Bistro Bar. I’ve heard of this place before where the drinks are fondly
called concoctions. And since we cancelled our La Union trip for the long
weekend, I decided to accept Janine’s lunch invitation (yes, they are also open
for lunch!) and know more about the bar which offers more than just great
drinks.
Hello, Alchemy Bistro Bar!
We were greeted by shades of purple
and nicely decorated walls with flasks containing colorful liquids and a
bicycle. I’m not exactly sure what look they were trying to pull here but it
was quirky
and cute.
The restaurant’s owner, Tina Currie (who
studied in Le Cordon Bleu and worked in the US and Thailand), welcomed us and
gave us an overview of what’s lined up for lunch—Baked Oysters (PHP350), Croquettas
(PHP260), Burrata Cheese Salad (price not on the menu), Alchemy Pizza (PHP450), Gnocchi (PHP390), Pan Seared Salmon (PHP465), Roasted
Organic Chicken (PHP450), Slow-braised
Lamb Shank (PHP775), Crème Brulee
(PHP210) and Cheesecake with passion
fruit coulis. We also had Alchemy
Smoothie and Four Fruit Smoothie
(PHP180 each).
First served was the baked oysters
and R and I were impressed with the Aklan sourced shells. It was very fresh and
it was so delightful with the spinach, hollandaise sauce and gruyere
cheese. [Note: Be careful though and check your oyster.
R ate his fast and didn’t notice a little shell piece was on the oyster
and it hurt his tooth.]
Next served was the Burrata Cheese Salad
and it was delicious. The giant red tomato slices made the tomato lover in me
jump for joy! The prosciutto ham added flavor and the mozzarella on the outside
and cream cheese in the inside combo made me go crazy! I also love the play of
textures of the ingredients.
The croquettas were piping hot when
it was served and I just found out when I took a big bite. I love the smooth potato
with cheese stuffing. It was a great contrast with the crunchy breading. And
the paprika dip wasn’t bad at all.
But if I were to choose between
croquettas and gnocchi, I would choose the latter. Made with Gorgonzola cheese
sauce, it was a cheesy
affair with my taste buds. I love the crispy pancetta too for added bite.
To fight off the “umay” factor, I munched on the herb garlic bread. This dish
is a bit heavy on the tummy though so it’s best to share it with a fellow
cheese lover.
R and I were slowly getting full when
the Alchemy pizza
arrived and it was pretty big. The wood fired pizza
was amazing too. The speck ham, which was slightly different from prosciutto,
added flavor to the pizza. I also enjoyed the slight tanginess from the
Balsamic sauce drizzled on the arugula. And yes, the arugula made us feel that
we were eating something healthy.
