food porn @ my kitchen by chef chris

Every wannabe food blogger and his cyberstalking fangirl has already said all there is to say, but I couldn't resist. That good.

The time: 1PM on 17 March 2013. The place: My Kitchen by Chef Chris at Oasis Park Hotel beside the Paco Cemetery, the original burial site of Dr. Jose Rizal. (Note to self: should visit the park one of these days.)

The bread and pesto dip were quite nice, but we were saving our carbs for the PANIZZA-- the stuff of my dreams since I first tasted it three long years ago.

With so many imitations out there, the genius who invented it, Chris Locher, doesn't even call it that anymore. On the menu, it is listed simply as "The Original".

This is what love looks like. Crunchy yet pliable, just the right amount of fresh toppings, delicate yet incredibly flavorful, and thoroughly addicting. Locher's original panizza deserves the award "Best Thing to Put in your Mouth, Really".

The risotto was pretty good, although I felt that the rice was a bit overpowered by the chicken and mushroom pieces. Too much of a good thing...

It was the bistecca, however, that was the true eye-opener for me. "US Prime Angus flank steak with rosemary garlic marinade presented on oven-baked potato slices and macedoine of olive oil roasted carrots, pumpkin and Italian broccoli." Sheer poetry!

Better than Mamou's. Cheaper than Antonio's. Together with the panizza, the bistecca makes My Kitchen worth a special trip. I must, must go back and eat it again-- bloody rare next time.

For dessert, we had to have the Triple Chocolate Cake. Described as "the BEST chocolate cake ever with orange peel braised in brandy and dark Swiss chocolate infused with Grand Marnier".

I have to say that I've been disappointed many times by inferior desserts, but this was a perfectly acceptable end to our fabulous meal. Above average, I would admit. But "the BEST ever" might be pushing it a little.

Overall, highly recommended. This meal made me extremely happy. Hello, Michelin? Three-star restaurant over here!

Warning: You might want to save up for a special occasion. (By the way, the ambiance was so-so but the service was top-notch.) We spent over 4,000 pesos without wine, for two adults and two tweens who presumably have smaller stomachs.

The Original Tinlou and The Original Paolo, Php790+ each
Risoto Pollo e Funghi, Php650+
Bistecca 250 grams, Php900+
Triple Chocolate Cake, Php350+

Their website.