Where art thou Raffaele, my prince?
Such was my excitement when, with the full moon hovering above what remains of the Walled City of Intramuros, I took the elevator to the third floor of The Bayleaf for the launch of Raffaele, the hotel’s newest food outlet that specializes in wood-fired pizzas, mouthwatering pasta dishes and other belly-gratifying entreés.
The stonewalls and fortifications of Intramuros have been in dalliances with the city’s centuries-old churches, palaces, museums and courtyards. The place also houses the Intramuros Golf Course, where, once upon a time, I won a championship ladies tournament. Like a new kid on the block, The Bayleaf has taken part in the Old-World atmosphere of Intramuros since it was launched in November 2011. Ever since it opened its doors to the discriminating public, the boutique hotel has kept its promise to provide its guests a five-star quality of service.
It was the day the country was celebrating Independence Day when my family and I were at Raffaele to sample its offerings. With glorious food and great company, we all felt a great sense of freedom. Food is a keen part of one’s wanderlust. Food liberates a traveler in a sense that a certain dish has the capacity to evoke joyful reminiscences.
At Raffaele that night, our tastebuds traveled far and wide to the cuisine this fine restaurant has to offer. Gracious Sallie Laurel-Lopez, whose family owns The Bayleaf hotel, joyfully welcomed us to Raffaele as she had us served, for our starter, the delectable and divine Formaggi de la Casa, a creamy homemade ricotta cheese mashed with roasted spices on crostini. That appetizer was the beginning of our wonderful gustatory journey at Raffaele. Landing next on our table was the refreshing Uva salad that had seedless grapes, roasted almonds, ricotta cheese, candied walnuts gently sprinkled with fresh vinaigrette dressing. The restaurant’s appetizing gamberetti was made of white shrimp sizzling in preserved lemon, sautéed in garlic, chili and almonds. The succulent steak at Raffaele left us wanting more.
At Raffaele, the stars of the epicurean show are its crusty or traditional, woodfired pizzas from the brick oven. The Quattro pizza is a heavenly smorgasbord of gorgonzola, provolone, mozzarella and parmesan. And a thin slice of Napoletana pizza can bring a thick slice of joy, especially when tomato, garlic, anchovies, olives, oregano and mozzarella make a mouthwatering mix on the palate.
Raffaele is also primed to serving yummy pasta dishes. The restaurant is not skilled at making a delectable frutti de mare pasta with seafood, woodfried tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and squash flowers. And for its pasta vongole blanco — well, it’s simply sublime.
For that sweet ending, Raffaele serves dolci a cioccolato, which is a slice of warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Have it and taste a slice of heaven on earth.
According to genial Bayleaf GM Ed Vitug, the name Raffaele is from a tavern owner in Italy back in the 19th century. “Raffaele is said to be the ‘father of modern pizza,’ the way our pizza is today. Back then it is said that pizzas were a by-product of left-over food but Raffaele made it the way we know pizza nowadays,” Ed says.
It is interesting to note that Raffaele of The Bayleaf is an expansion outlet using what used to be a veranda of Level 3 in the Intramuros meeting room of the hotel. Dining at Raffaele is the closest one can get to the historic wall of Intramuros. One’s senses are treated to a different pizzeria feel at Raffaele, which can seat 60 guests. The restaurant’s glass ceiling and glass walls spell its classy yet casual appeal, perfect for day and night dining — and dating.
The Laurel family truly knows how to use every space, nook and cranny at The Bayleaf — without having to sacrifice class and comfort, essence and style. The hotel is a sublime burst of eclectic celebration. Traipsing through the corridors and enjoying the rooms rocked my world as I felt transported to my favorite place of round beams and frothy foam. Individual themes for each room represent bright colors of sunshine, circles of life, bubbles of memories as well as black and white lattice prints of yesteryear.
To maintain the hotel’s individuality, the vivavious and ultra-talented Almario sisters created a cornucopia of the old and new, hip and whimsical for The Bayleaf. The sisters’ touch of the classic with a whiff of dynamism and modern style is evident in the hotel.
Its 57 guestrooms are testaments to what comfort living is all about. The Bayleaf Suite, the most luxurious of all the rooms, is a world of its own as it is tastefully designed with a perfect blend of style and comfort to promote a sense of pampering experience.
Sallie also brought us to 9 Spoons, the hotel’s modern, casual dining penthouse outlet with a panoramic view of the Manila skyline and the Intramuros Golf Course. The buffet outlet is known among its regular diners for its crispy bagnet, Manileno and callos. My best friend Bum Tenorio swears by 9 Spoons’ pudding, which he first attacks at the dessert bar every time he visits the outlet.
But if your sweet tooth still yearns for something more, there is Cioccolata on the ground floor where a cup of thick hot chocolate and mouthwatering churros are the orders of the day. Well, there are also sandwiches, pastries, freshly baked muffins and more at Cioccolata. We found out from Sallie that the hotel’s pastry chef and the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Culinary Institute’s pastry students combine their experience, enthusiasm and passion in coming up with a tempting proposition to anyone’s sweet cravings at Cioccolata. The Laurels, by the way, also own the Lyceum of the Philippines University.
Then to the Sky Deck we went to be regaled by the sights and sounds of this al fresco bar with a 360-degree view of the surroundings. I remembered my late father Ting Dayrit who always said that nothing beats an unobstructed, 360-degree view of the entire city, which is what the sky deck offers. I vow to return to the Sky Deck soon if only to experience the famed Manila Bay sunset, which, I am sure, will be more magical if viewed from this al fresco bar.
Sky Deck offers a buffet on weekends with live acoustic entertainment. This restaurant is the place to chat, relax, share stories or connect with friends or simply unwind as the blue sky turns into an amber horizon during sunsets.
I thank the good Lord for opportunities to witness priceless moments like these. The Laurel family have certainly been good stewards, which is evident in preserving the timelessness of what they have been gifted with. Many thanks to my gracious brother-in-law Benny Soliven, a childhood friend of the Laurel family, who invited us all to this significant occasion.
A gem in the middle of historic cobbled-stone streets, the Bay Leaf Hotel is a jewel with its own story to tell. The hotel is a testament to an innovation, a fresh approach to historical preservation where the old ones will feel young forever and the young ones will learn from the elder generation.
As for my question, “Where art thou, Rafaelle?” I have found the answer. It’s a blessing to have found you.
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The Bayleaf hotel is located at Muralla corner Victoria streets in Intramuros, Manila. For inquiries, call 318-5000 or 328-3170. You may also send an e-mail to inquiry@thebayleaf.com.ph or log on to www.thebayleaf.com.ph.
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E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.