Twist and shout

MANILA, Philippines - The next time you pass by the corner of Amoranto and Perez Streets in Quezon City, you might notice the conspicuous, green twisting signage of Asian Twist Fusion Restaurant. The sculpture isn’t the only unique thing about that building. It’s also the food inside.

It all started when a group of volunteer firemen in the vicinity of Amoranto Street in Quezon City started looking for a place where they could hold their monthly gatherings. It just so happened that one of the firefighters had an old, abandoned home nearby that was mostly used for storage space. How this old house was converted into a restaurant is quite the story — and it comes as no surprise how Asian Twist has become quite the dining establishment.

“Initially, the volunteers just wanted a function room where they could have their meetings,” said Grace Uy, one of the co-owners of Asian Twist. The house, located right at the corner, was perfect because it was literally just a few steps away from the fire station. Grace continues, “To keep costs down, the firemen donated a lot of materials for the restaurant. Paintings, glass windows, chairs … you name it.” One of the few things left virtually untouched was the former residence’s original flooring and a side staircase. Look closely when you drop by. Walking across the interior feels oddly familiar, like visiting a grandparent’s ancestral home from the 1950s. The owners took great pains to make the house the kind of dining establishment they would go to regularly, with their families or by themselves.

The result was a restaurant with a clean, aesthetically modern design devoid of the usual clutter that many high-end restaurants employ and misrepresent as art. Some might even call it simple, but it serves its purpose by bringing your attention to what’s important: the food.

There is no short supply of that here with Asian Twists’ varied menu of international Asian cuisine. Of course, many of the menu items have a “twist” — something that developed during the early stages of the restaurants’ formation. Grace says that the fire volunteers were bent on having Asian food “but it was the wives who stepped in and recommended adding a twist to traditional Asian cuisine.”

This is most evident in their Sesame Rice Tuna Tataki, a dish with four toasted sesame seed-coated rice balls topped with spicy tuna and — the twist — ripe mango slices on the sides. The mango slices offer the perfect balance of sweetness, refreshing your palate as you dig into the spicy tuna.

Another signature dish that everyone seems to enjoy, including myself, is the Korean bibimbap. The name in English literally means “mixed rice” and bibimbap is just that — a bowl of white rice topped with vegetables, spices, raw or fried egg and meat slices. All the ingredients are stirred together before eating. The dish can be served either hot or cold.

Available in various forms such as “creamy,” Asian Twists’ bibimbap is served piping-hot. Sizzling, in fact, in stone bowls, and can be mixed either by you or the waiter upon request. The restaurant puts its own signature twist by having many kinds of toppings such as seafood, bagnet and teppanyaki fillet. The bagnet bibimbap is for those who crave loads of crunchy meat with their rice. Even crunchier is the toasted rice at the bottom of the bowl that you can scrape up as you finish.

The Korean beef barbecue also came as a surprise, with lettuce leaves, Korean kimchi and other vegetables. The very tender strips of beef and vegetables are wrapped in lettuce. Dip it in the sauce and you’re set! No surprise was the crispy pata, a Filipino staple that should be on every Asian restaurant menu. The pata was delightfully crispy outside and melt-in-your-mouth-soft inside. It took some effort to stop eating it.

Remember how the firemen just wanted a place to meet? That initial concept has expanded to two function rooms upstairs, which can accommodate up to 90 people. Packages include a buffet or set menu.

Grace says they did such a good job with the place that, despite their low and competitive prices, many students from the area would shy away from them, intimidated by the restaurants’ “expensive” appearance.

Asian Twists’ P149 bento boxes are the answer to that. Arranged and served in the traditional Japanese way, the bento boxes contain two meal options of any variant — from beef and pork to chicken or fish — and come with a serving of rice and choice of dessert, which is perfect for lunch hours.

If all you need is something light, Asian Twist has a pastry bar right at the entrance. Various cakes and ensaymada are available either as dessert or take-home. Make sure to ask for the Asian Twist Cake before you go, a dacquoise dessert cake with chocolate and mango cream layers. It’s definitely worth a taste.

If you find yourself becoming a loyal customer, Asian Twist has a privilege card you can apply for that entitles you to discounts and special offers. Trust me. Grab that card because you’ll find yourself coming back many times over.

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Asian Twist Fusion Restaurant is located at 101 N.S. Amoranto St. (Retiro) corner Speaker Perez St., Quezon City. Call 711-2248 or e-mail asiantwist101@yahoo.com.