The power of lunch - By Jennifer Ong

This is the magic of 12 noon: The doors swing open and some VIPs in Philippine society — diplomats, politicians, business moguls and other executives —come in. They are seated in a secluded corner. And for the next hour or so, they will partake of several courses — appetizers, entrees, and desserts — that will come to the table amid the typical rigors of negotiation. You might hear a laugh or two, a subtle quip even. But mostly, you will only sense the rhythm of a conversation kept under wraps. Over good food and fine wine, many a business deal is sealed. This is lunch on a serious note and often, we call it power lunch.

In the business district that is Makati, picking the right place is critical. Ambiance, quality and, at times, price all come into play when making the choice. One of the best choices, if you ask me, is located right smack at Greenbelt 2’s restaurant row where palate, power (and even peso) come together perfectly. That sums up Mezze.

As relatively young as this restaurant may be, Mezze has already wined and dined some of the country’s high society over its two-year stay in the dining scene. Its proud owner is Bobong Velez, a familiar face among the country’s elite as much as he is a successful restaurateur.

Also standing out from the crowd is Mezze’s chef-muse Christine Zarandin, who has returned home following a successful culinary stint in Las Vegas where she worked alongside chefs Wolfgang Puck in Spago at Caesars Palace and Julian Serrano in Picasso at the Bellagio Resort and Casino. There, she prepared banquet dinners and after-concert meals (in music diva Celine Dion’s case) featuring anything from foie gras to burgers and fries.

Inside the Mezze kitchen, chef Christine is now busy preparing small-plate creations with flavorful Mediterranean influence. She also believes in promoting healthy cuisine, serving up balanced meals that can still please discerning tastes.

For Mezze’s power lunch, the chef proudly introduces Mezze’s Executive Lunch menu. At just P395, one can have some soup or salad, a featured entree, dessert, and coffee or tea. And since the chef already knows what you’re having for lunch, Christine guarantees they can also prepare your food faster.

A la carte options are also deliciously made available all throughout the day. For starters, there is the Gambas Sampler, a succulent shrimp dish cooked in three ways — in creamy pesto sauce, in aligue, and in spicy chili and garlic. For those pining for something meaty, the Cochipollo is a perfect choice. These are crunchy bits of chicken generously doused with soy sauce and vinegar.  Yet another Mezze best-seller is the Caesar salad flat bread, crisp flat bread topped with tender slices of chicken barbecue on a bed of zesty Caesar salad. You can also try this with barbecued shrimp.

For the entree, the Angus steak skewers make a hearty option. Real beefy are these medallions of marbled tenderness, skewered with pearls of onions and tomatoes, and served with some silky smooth mashed potatoes. There’s also the Spanish classic callos madrileña, ox tripe stew with Spanish sausage, garbanzos, and olives, served with garlic bread. A lighter entree is the mango maya-maya, delicate maya-maya fish served with some sweet and slightly tangy mango salsa, finished up with some veggies, and a scoop of rice.

As for that perfect sweet ending, you can try the apple b’steeya, baked apples alongside a walnut-sprinkled phyllo pastry served with caramel butter sauce or the chocolate fallen cake, moist, slightly gooey and, of course, filled with chocolatey goodness!

Meanwhile, chef Christine also invites everyone to pair up the power lunch with some wine. Discover the unique characteristics and flavors of wines coming from different regions (or countries) each month with Mezze’s drink-all-you-can wine extravaganza. And if you decide to stay longer, enjoy local beer at 50 percent off during Mezze’s happy hour, starting at 4 p.m.

Lunch, it seems, is now the golden hour, where the elite are also mindful of what they eat.  And really, it’s about time. Take it from actor/director Orson Welles who once remarked, “Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what’s for lunch.”

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Mezze is located  at the ground floor of Greenbelt 2, Makati City. For inquiries and reservations, call 728-8895.