Ilustrado’s famous paella goes west

The thing about being in good company is that nothing seems to come to an end. Not the food. Not the wine. Not the conversation and fun that come with it. On evenings like this, everything else seems to fall to the wayside. Everything is left forgotten, in eager anticipation of a meal to be savored well.

Rose and Bonifacio “Boni” Pimentel are among a few couples I know who really savor food well, much as they do life. As parents, they have raised four wonderful children. And as famed restaurateurs, they are proud to announce that their much patronized Ilustrado restaurant can now be found in four distinct locations around the metro.

Going south of the metro, my friends and I tend to go over to the gastronome’s place that is Westgate, Alabang. And our favorite dining spot there is the newest home of Ilustrado. 

Ilustrado rose to fame in its first location in the walled city of Intramuros back in 1989. The restaurant became known for local and Spanish specialties, including paella and lengua. 

But before Ilustrado, the Pimentels’ first foray into the restaurant business was L’Orangerie. Rose was the restaurant’s administrator and Boni, the restaurant manager. And when it was put up for lease at one point, the two had the chance to run L’Orangerie like their very own. But despite its much patronized French menu, the restaurant closed down in 1989.

While one kitchen door was being closed, another was also being opened. Rose and Boni were approached by the Silahis Arts Foundation to originally put up a coffee shop and/or a bed and breakfast beside them. But soon, it was agreed that a restaurant right in the heart of Intramuros would more than suffice.  Soon after, Ilustrado was born.

Full of tantalizing memories of L’Orangerie cuisine, Rose immediately set to recreate the specialties that her former restaurant served over the years. The first order of the day for her was to serve continental fare. Duck l’orange is something that’s always been special to Rose from the L’Orangerie menu, but when they opened Ilustrado, she just had to “let the ducks fly away.”

The people who came to Ilustra-do did have hearty appetites, but not exactly for Rose’s offerings of duck and foie gras. Instead, they sought more localized dishes such as kare-kare, sinigang, and paella. For the seasoned Pimentels though, that need not be a problem.

“That day, we called everyone for a meeting. We had a chef who came from a Spanish restaurant and I asked him to cook some paella. And after some modifications, we were ready to serve it,” recalls Rose.

And when they served it, Ilustrado’s paella became a staple on many a hungry table. “There was paella on every table, I could not believe it,” Rose enthuses.

The well-loved paella remains a best-seller on the Ilustrado menu, along with other favorites such as kare-kare, callos Madrilena, and lengua con setas. Today, too, Rose has brought a lot of other things back. (Hint, hint: Now, how about that duck?)

“2007 is a rebirth, a full circle for us, a return to our L’Orangerie days,” declares Rose with much delight.

For one, Ilustrado’s continental fare has grown to a melange of flavors, borrowing the techniques of French cuisine and marrying them with Spanish as well as Filipino influences. According to Boni, they are after what’s called cuisine naturelle, where food goes straight from market to table. The result is a menu that guarantees that everything served is at its freshest best.

For that perfect something to start with, your choices are endless. How about the jamon serrano?

Jamon serrano consists of paper-thin slices of cured meat served with tomato relish and crisp bread. Then, there’s  the baked eggplant with olives and feta cheese that are enclosed in pouched filo pastry. You may also want to try the baked Bacolod scallops in half shells a la St. Jacques. For something filled with creamy richness and warmth, try Ilustrado’s Sampler Trio of soups, which features demitasse cups of lobster and shrimp bisque, mushroom soup, and the soup of the day.

Afterwards, whet your appetite even more with a variety of salads. There’s the calamari salad which features slices of grilled squid tossed over some arugula, goat cheese, and citrus vinaigrette. There’s also the Exotic Salad that features prawns, pomelo, and hearts of palm tossed with a creamy herb dressing.

For your entree, you can choose something hearty and flavorful like the (you’ve guessed it) US Long Island Roast Duck Ilustrado, certified black Angus (bone-in) prime rib, braised New Zealand lamb shank, barbecued baby back ribs as well as Filipino favorites like fresh corned beef sinigang sa batuan and kalderetang kambing. But for something on the lighter side, try the grilled Norwegian salmon with dill mustard sauce; baked whole Negros sole amandine; grilled apahap with toasted garlic, olive oil, and crispy onion rings; king prawns with chili garlic sauce or baked Alaskan gindara with ginger hoisin and Oriental sauce. Or go ahead and try any of the house specialty paella dishes — paella Ilustrado, paella marinera, and paella bacalao.

Want something that’s not on the menu?

At Ilustrado, no gourmet entree is ever too far from the kitchen. In fact, Rose says that if there’s something specific you may be craving for, all you have to do is let them know and they will happily make it just for you. Or if you have have any dietary restrictions, just let Ilustrado know and they will prepare your food accordingly. But whether you choose to have something that’s on or off the menu, make sure you leave room for dessert.

Dessert is something that Rose has always been proud of, even during her L’Orangerie days. Today, you can sample many of the L’Orangerie dessert creations at Ilustrado. Among them is the sampaguita ice cream, which continues to intrigue and entice many. There are also pastry specialties such as the oh-so-creamy baked cheesecake, blueberry cheesecake, and chocolate fudge cake. Make sure you have some.

Surely, life has become a lot sweeter for the Pimentels since Ilustrado’s opening in Westgate, Alabang. After all, they have never felt so close to home. “We live in BF, Parañaque, that’s why opening in Westgate meant a lot to us,” explain the Pimentels.

“Our friends are here,” adds Boni before taking a sip of some Cabernet Sauvignon. His Cabernet comes from no less than Baron Rothschild’s newest vineyard in Chile, where the much known vintner produces Cabernet Sauvignon under the brand Mapu.

Whenever you are in Ilustrado in Westgate, feel free to have a glass of Mapu Cabernet for just P150+. Part of Ilustrado’s latest plans is to offer a wine bar as well. If you look at the restaurant’s wine list, you can find anything from a simple Mapu Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere or Taylor’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, to something sweet and bubbly like Madame Therese and finally, something bolder and regal like a Chateauneuf-du-Pape. 

There’s a tapas bar open Wednesdays at Ilustrado, Westgate. From 6 to 9 p.m., you can enjoy the restaurant’s tapas specialties and even pair them with something from the drink-all-you can beverage list for just P550 net.

If you are looking for a quiet (yet good-tasting) spot to meet for business, Ilustrado in Westgate also boasts a private room on the second floor for meetings and functions. This two-storey resto is also a venue for wedding receptions.

Visit Ilustrado in Westgate for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Or visit its other branches in Intramuros, Serendra, and Metropolitan Museum of Manila (Cafe by Ilustrado).  Wine, dine, and enjoy!

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Ilustrado Westgate Alabang is at Filicity Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Call 771-1276, telefax 771-1782.