Feasting in this corner
The place is airy, the mood light. Nothing feels intense, except perhaps for the paintings that hang on the walls. Arches surround the ceiling, making the place move seamlessly from one corner to another. Inside Chef Billy King’s French Corner in Westgate, Alabang, there are really corners, little cozy enclaves where a company of two can dine somewhat privately.
The restaurant is reminiscent of a bungalow with cushioned lounge chairs everywhere, upholstered in floral print sheets and light wooden tones. The real intensity of this restaurant clearly lies in the food.
Every plate looks more exotic than the last. There is the presence of spice that carries the palate through. And with Billy’s exquisite skill in giving his food an Asian touch, one can expect more flavor, more spice and surprise behind the French Corner’s doors.
The soup comes first, a hearty carrot-pumpkin soup with a fierce orange glow. The soup is robust, every sip awakening the senses, filling you with a creamed sensation of sweet and tang. Crusty slices of freshly baked bread lie next to it. You just can’t resist dipping your bread into this soup.
Next is the salad, plated like a true piece de resistance. It mixes some mesclun greens with sliced fresh fruits, crumbled feta cheese, grilled prawns, and mushrooms before it’s tossed with a simple vinaigrette. Then, it’s topped with a crown of pappadam, a thin Indian flat bread that’s like a cracker. Every bite of the dish gives layers of flavor, texture, and thrill.
For the main dish, there’s a tender fillet of sea bass atop a delicate linguini pomodoro. The fish is pan-roasted and served with saffron sauce. The flesh flakes softly and then melts gently in the palate along with its sauce. This one is quite a dish of majesty.
As a sweet symphonic ending, there’s Charlotte, a simple light genoise (sponge cake) filled with jam and topped with cream. It lies on a plate gushing with swirling sauces of vanilla, strawberry, and mango underneath.
Indeed, in this corner, your senses are awakened to the fullest.
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The French Corner restaurant is located in Westgate Center, Alabang.
