Malcolm grants three wishes

Malcolm is a fictional character about a chef genie who whips up sumptuous dishes. Well-known for his culinary brilliance, people visit his place to satisfy their gastronomic cravings. Malcolm can prepare exciting dishes the way people want them done. Malcolm, the chef genie, could grant people’s three wishes: great food, great place and great service.

The chef genie became an inspiration for Jerome Tuguin and his partner to come up with a new lifestyle dining place called Malcolm’s Place located at 108 HV dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City. It opened its doors to the public in a soft launch last December. The new restaurant has gained a strong following and has been getting good feedback from food enthusiasts. Although the people behind Malcolm’s Place have not yet formally launched the deli, word-of-mouth proved to be very effective. Jerome, managing director of Malcolm’s Place, says, "We are happy for all the attention Malcolm’s Place has been receiving. Although the restaurant is not yet formally launched, word-of-mouth greatly helps in promoting the place. We are pleased with the good turn-out. People who dine in the restaurant enjoy the good food we serve so they come back. They get hooked."

The idea to establish a global café started when Jerome and his partner noticed how office workers eat their meals under time pressure. They wanted to present an alternative dining experience for these workers who don’t have the luxury of time to relax without sacrificing a good meal. Malcolm’s Place, which targets the white-collared office workers, is strategically-located in the business district of Makati. "My partner and I love to eat. Since we are both working, we thought of a place where office workers like us could eat quality meals. Due to their tight schedules, these people are always in a hurry. Even if they want to have a good meal, they can’t lounge long enough in a restaurant because they are always on the go. The yuppies know their food and are willing to spend a little for good food. That’s why Malcolm’s Place was born out of these needs. Just like Malcolm, the genie, we want to provide their three wishes: great food, great place and great service," Jerome explains.

To satisfy the first wish of serving great food, the menu boasts of a wide array of comfort foods like pasta, salad, soups, sandwiches, steaks and desserts. The best-sellers are its Wagyu Wagon, a menu of steak selections, like Wagyu Burger, Wagyu Rib-Eye and Wagyu Cheese Steak.

Wagyu Beef is most sought-after by international connoisseurs. Wagyu is not an ordinary breed of livestock. Traditionally raised in Kobe, Japan, they are pampered with sake, they are regularly massaged and are fed grain diets and beer to produce intensely marbled steaks. The fine strands of lean meat are embedded in dense ribbons of fat swirling into dreamy beds of exquisite flavor. That is why Wagyu Beef melts on the tongue when thinly sliced. Often referred to as the "foie gras of beef," wagyu has an intensely juicy, tender, natural buttery and richly flavorful quality beyond compare. Filipinos can experience the heavenly taste of wagyu which in the past was only enjoyed by the privileged few because of its exorbitant cost. This is the signature beef at Malcolm’s Place and it is being offered at very reasonable prices.

Malcolm’s Place also offers Daily Specials that will surprise and satisfy customers. Noticeable on the menu are the unique names of the dishes. "We tried to put some element of fun to the customers’ dining experience. We want them to smile while reading the menu. We got a copywriter to do it for us. We gave the copywriter our ideas and that person created these names," Jerome explains. Examples are Vegin’ for More, Man of La Munch-a, Italian Mob, Looney Tuna, Shrimply the Best, Roman Number and Ooh-La-Lasagne, to mention a few.

The second wish of having a great place is fulfilled with the great ambiance of the restaurant which is cozy and relaxed. The interiors were created to blend subdued colors with good lighting. The combination of wood and metal gives Malcolm’s Place a homey atmosphere. It is not too intimidating but not too mundane either. It blends just right for the customers to lounge. Adding to the relaxing mood of the restaurant is the music. Customers will enjoy the jazz, chill and bossa nova sounds as they dine in.

Malcolm’s Place has a dynamic service crew who discusses the menu with the customers. Jerome says, "Our staff fulfills the third wish: great service. They explain everything in the menu. They always carry a bright smile to everyone. We are always careful when we interact with the customers. Everybody who works in our restaurant is Malcolm. We always try to grant the three wishes of the diners."

Malcolm’s Place also came up with Malcolm’s Inner Circle Club to a select group that frequents the place. This gives them the opportunity to be with a special circle that can enjoy privileges like accumulating points, rebates, discounts, joining the food tasting panel and other exciting surprises.

Among the frequent visitors are Inno Sotto, Edu Manzano, ex-pats and families who dine during weekends. Even people from Quezon City who have heard about the new place dine at Malcolm’s Place.

Malcolm’s Place surely does grant your three wishes: great food, great place, and great service.