Something old, something new, something Azul

Have we ex-hausted all possible themes for restaurants in Metro Manila? Not yet, it seems. Azul at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City combines Filipino and Spanish cooking with a touch of Cebuano for a fun yet hearty dining experience.

Azul managing partner Gia Suarez thought of combining these different food concepts to offer local diners and tourists something that will appeal to all tastes. The finished product is a menu of old favorites and new concoctions, all dishes passing her strict taste standards.

Pinoy and Spanish cooking are not too far apart, and Suarez calls on her Spanish connection ("I have a sister who lives in Spain!") to guide her in her taste experiments.

The Cebuano part comes from her background. Yes, she comes from a family that cooks. So don’t be surprised to see the traditional Cebuano pochero on the premises.

"I personally kitchen-tested all the recipes," she admits. "If I cannot cook it right, I won’t serve it."

Indeed, who would have thought of combining pork adobo, longganisa, tuyo, and danggit for her unique Paella Pinoy? But then, she conceptualized the popular Bravo Italian Restaurant and Ice Vodka Bar, creating from scratch the menus in both restaurants.

Barely a month after Azul opened last June, Suarez is already overhauling the menu, taking out items that failed to arouse the attention of diners and putting in items guests have been asking for, such as callos.

"We always listen to our guests and get their inputs," Suarez says. "We concoct original dishes and drinks not found in other restaurants like our Paella Pinoy, eggplant and mango salad, Azul beef ribs, steamed seafood, and pesto paella. We use only the best ingredients like extra virgin olive oil and organically grown lettuce. We train our staff to be personable and to deliver excellent service."

Apart from its menu of innovative dishes, Azul also offers a number of drinks that will refresh parched throats. The apple mojito mint is a take on the Cuban cocktail, while its strawberry fruit tea is heavy on the berry. Other original drinks are the lychee strawberry pineapple mocktail and the Absolute Ecstacy.

Suarez admits that they get swamped on weekends, especially near dinnertime when the view of the sunset attracts crowds. But if you want to avoid the weekend crowd, dining at Azul on weekdays is just as enticing. A glass of apple mojito mint in hand, your own table by the terrace, and you’re all set for a good time.

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Azul is at the second floor, North Side, Sunset Avenue, Entertainment Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City. For inquiries, call 556-0742.