OTKB: Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar at Bonifacio High Street

I was under the impression that we were royally screwed. If it was the proverbial first date, Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar (OTKB) stood us up. Or so I thought. 

We were sure that we made a reservation under my friend’s name couple of hours before closing time. Yet, when we arrived at OTKB in Bonifacio High Street, no signs of life greeted us. Instead, we found a restaurant with windows covered with what looked like to me as Manila papers. It looked like it is not operational yet. No signage whatsoever aside from a piece of paper plastered on the door that reads “Closed for Training.”

We were dumbfounded at first and when my friend tried calling the number he called hours before to secure the elusive reservation at Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar, no one’s answering the phone. So, we did the unthinkable. We knocked on the door. 

A Revisit to Solace Wine and Dine at Makati City

It was late last year when I was first introduced to Solace Wine and Dine located in Makati City. Memories are still vivid how grateful I was and still am upon discovering this restaurant at Greenbelt area that could provide a peaceful and blissful dining experience away from the usual mall crowd. I admit that I was smitten by the great food that they do serve at Solace Wine and Dine that I even included them on my food article in one of the previous issues of Gala Magazine way back.

Recently, along with some foodie friends, we visited Solace Wine and Dine to sample some of the new items on their menu. Apparently, Solace is now under the wings of chef Philip Golding and they recently had a revamped on their menu that resulted to a more concise and focused line of dishes in contrast to the extensive one they used to have.

Slight revamped on the place also happened. It does posses the same chic vibe to it, only this time, the ambiance is more intimate. Bottles of different wines that reflects their extensive wine list still peppered the place just like it used to, and art works by local artists are now giving aesthetics to an otherwise bare wall.

Cantina Sicilianita along Shaw Blvd. Mandaluyong City

It was a quick visit, an unplanned one. I could have let go of the idea of trying some dishes at Cantina Sicilianita but since I was already in the area, there was no point of not giving in. I have heard a lot about the goodness of authentic Italian cuisine that Cantina Sicilianita located along Shaw Blvd. in Mandaluyong City serves and I have meant to visit them since.While I wished to visit this quaint Italian cafe in the company of several friends, I deemed the unplanned visit was just testing the water.

Cantina Sicilianita which is located in one spot as Rex Bookstore along Shaw Blvd. holds to promise to serve authentic Italian cuisine particularly that of Sicily.

The location is small but therein lies its charm. Peppered with trinkets and decorations that exudes an Italian cafe vibe to it, Cantina Sicilianita's boasts of blown up photos of Sicily plastered on one side of the wall. These photos held together by a wooden frame give an illusion of windows overlooking views of Sicily. The place is relatively small, but comfortable enough to have a decent meal.