The living chandelier welcomes you as you enter Flame at the 16th floor of Discovery Primea. We were warmly ushered to our table in a plush and stunning setting that has an expansive marble-top open kitchen and a commanding view of the Metro Manila skyline. The restaurant interiors has spherical light fixtures, upscale and contemporary décor, almost full-length glass windows creating an elegant and open dining space.
Other than the warm personalized service they are known for and the comfortable dining setting, there are many reasons to make Discovery Primea your home away from home, an interim abode whether for dwelling of your weary souls or a gustatory escape from the usual. To me, it is really the food that will speak straight to my heart and will get me towed in time and again.
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FLAME blends modern European cuisine with Asian flavors to surprise even the most sophisticated palates. The menu is carefully created and curated by General Manager and Chef-at-Heart David Pardo de Ayala and Executive Chef Luis Chikiamco. Their high standards in the kitchen, where they make everything from scratch, translate into excellent food in the dining room.
On the Table
Quezo de Bola & Hamon
Textures of cheese, glazed ham and gelee, asparagus
A dish inspired by Massimo Bottura. It’s a great starter since the sharpness of the cheese jolts your palate to wake up, together with the altering textures from the glazed ham bits and crunch of fresh asparagus creating a quiet tremble in the mouth. It opened up my taste for what’s to come.
Chef’s Table is a Netflix original docu-series that goes inside the lives and kitchens of the world’s most renowned international chefs. I caught the episode of Massimo Bottura while vacationing in Batanes last February and nothing but cavernous desires filled me while watching that episode. Anything that replicates close to his perspective is already a slice of culinary heaven. Flame did not disappoint and stirred that inclination with the first dish.
Pan-Seared U.S. Scallops
Porcini Mushroom Marmalade, Endive, Madeira-Mirin Glaze
Sweet smokiness wafted under my nose as the plate rested before me. The scallops were beautifully seared on the outside, showing blistered marks, and continuity from the opener is obvious from the porcini mushroom marmalade’s piercing taste. The scallop, which is seafood-flavored marshmallow, retained its gentle, slightly chewy yet soft state and natural sweetness but prickled with smoked woodsy flavor.
The first two dishes were washed down with a glass of Riesling.
Every single component on the plate even the translucent endive, velvety, tender, flavor-ridden, and the mirin glaze are to be remembered. I savored every bite, not wanting time to go any faster.
Duo of Duck
FLAME’s Duo of Duck dish is an assembly of Pan Seared Foie Gras over Teriyaki Eggplant, Pickled Pears, Nori-Tempura Crunch and their Pan-Roasted Duck Breast.
The duck breast had the fair layer of fat and lean red meat, outlined by faint crispy skin. Most would like their duck breast medium-rare but the doneness of medium last night was simply perfect for me. Duck has so much character and the addition of the bed of pumpkin puree, charred leaks and spiced honey glaze pulled it all together. The presence of the radish was required since it cut the richness somewhat and refreshed my mouth.
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Their pan-seared foie gras will automatically draw you upon sight. This is their mouth watering specialty and almost needs no explanation. I just wish the pickled pears were a tad bit sweeter or tangier to counterbalance but this is easily a favorite.
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Braised U.S Short Ribs
Certified Angus Beef with Celeriac Puree, Mustard Seeds, Ginger Tamarind Sauce
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The meaty entrees were accompanied by Merlot.
Linger long after dinner for FLAME’s dessert repertoire, which includes a Flourless Chocolate Cake with Homemade Pistachio Ice Cream, their dessert dish called Apple, Apple, Apple!, which is made of caramelized apples, calvados cream, apple gelee, cinnamon puff pastry, and their Taleggio which is homemade apricot and cherry mostarda. It was a sweet cap of the night matched with my TWG Moroccan Mint Tea.
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Executive Chef Luis Chikiamco takes modern European cuisine, its culinary techniques and Asian flairs and ingredients to bold, intriguing directions. The dishes showed passion, talent and imagination and have been rightfully roofed under a restaurant dubbed FLAME, taking from the team’s burning passion and desire to create new experiences through food.
Flame Restaurant at Discovery Primea
6749 Ayala Avenue,
Makati City, Philippines
(02) 955 8888 / (02) 988 2988 Local 71610
Operating Hours: Currently dinner only, 6PM to 10PM, Monday to Saturdays
Flame Restaurant Discovery Primea Flickr Set
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