« After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz! | Home | Ultimate Kapampangan Christmas Tour 2008 »
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Award Winners
Congratulations to Ines Cabarrus and Elian Habayeb for the very first Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Awards!
The two big winners during the awards are Lolo Dad's for the Best Intercontinental Cuisine and Best Chef Ariel Manuel; and Colin Mackay for People's Palace - Best Thai Restaurant and Sala Bistro for the Best Bistro!
Most of my favorites won like Je Suis Gourmand for the Best French Restaurant; Elbert's Steak House for the Best Steak House; Terry's Selection for the Best Spanish Restaurant; Abe for the Best Filipino Restaurant (I like both Abe and Cafe Juanita); Old Swiss Inn for the Best Central European Cuisine; and Aubergine as the Best New Comer. MBKRS honored Larry Cruz with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Related Posts:
My Votes for the Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Award
The 2008 MBKRS Awards. And the winners are...
While I agree with 80% of the winners, I noticed that there are some "bias" despite the fact that it was voted by 75 judges who loves food:
1. Antonio's did not win any awards. One of the Top 10 restaurants in Asia according to Miele Guide did not win surprisingly.
2. All of the winners are located in Makati with exception of Spiral and Lolo Dad's which are located in Manila. The restaurants outside Manila did not stand any chance.
3. Zong the Fort won as the Best Chinese Restaurant? huh?
4. Sugi, which is owned by Ines' Father won the Best Japanese Restaurant. BTW, Ines and Elian are not part of the judging committee.
5. Although in the ballot, MKBRS put an option of Others, it did not matter because they were not even recognized during the awards night.
There were some bias because both the nominees and the academy of judges were decided by Ines and Elian. It would be helpful though if the names of the 75 judges will be published just to be transparent.
Update! Here are the list of the Judges who decided the winners below:
2008 MBKRS Awards Judges
Abba Napa – L’Opera
Amanda Griffin Jacob – Lifestyle TV personality
Anastacio de Alba – Alba’s Restaurante Español
Annie Nisce – Appetite Magazine
Anton Diaz – Food Blogger
Arnie del Rosario – Chaine des Rotisseurs
Audrey Carpio – Metro Magazine
Bel Castro – Manila Bulletin; Enderun Colleges
Boyet Sison – TV Personality
Cacay Moras – Lifestyle and Entertainment Specialist
Carrie Lagdameo – Je Suis Gourmand
Cecile Zamora Van Straten – Chuvaness.com Lifestyle and Fashion Blog
Chad Davis – Enderun Colleges
Chris Lacson – Habitat
Christine Nunag – F&B World
CJ Juntereal – Manila Bulletin
Coco Anne & Baby Imperial – B+C Design
Colin McKay – Sala and People’s Palace
Cristina Metelmann – Palato Fino
Cyril Ermita – Enderun Colleges
David Pardo de Ayala – Discovery Group
Dr Efren Vasquez – Café Juanita
Ed Quimson – Chef
Edward Simon – Photographer, Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets
Eri Neeman – WAVE 89.1 FM
Eric Kahn – Future Trade International
Ferdi Salvador – Discovery Group
Gabby Licauco – Powerbooks
Gene Gonzalez – Café Ysabel
Gwen Cariño – GJC Public Relations
Hossein Sohrabi – Hossein’s Persian Kebabs
James Aspinall – Call Search
Javi Berenger-Testa – Renaissance Makati City Hotel
Lexi Schulze-Testa – Media Personality
Javier Infante – Enderun Colleges
Jermaine Brown – Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets
Johnny Litton – Inquirer, Lifestyle Columnist and Host
Jenny Serrano-Silverio – ABS-CBN
Jose Mari Ugarte – ROGUE Magazine
Joshua Tiu – Zong
Katrina Tuason Cruz – ROGUE Magazine
Kimmie Assad-Lamata – Di’ Mark’s
Kitt Schroeder – Lemuria
Koby Parcell – Chocolate Fire
Lori Baltazar – Food Blogger
Lorraine Belmonte – Appetite Magazine
Louie Ysmael – Manila nightlife mogul (NUVO, Members Only, Silk)
Luis de Terry – Specialty Foods Expert
Mari Ressa – ABS-CBN
Marivic Diaz-Lim – Apartment 1B
Mark Jentes – PTFJ Ad Consult
Martin Wisniewski – Discovery Group
Mila Tan – International Food and Wine Society (Women’s Chapter)
Nino Laus – In Yo
Paco Magsaysay – Tuesday Dinner Group
Paul Huang – Fire Lake Grill
Pazzy Navarro – Pazzy Manila
Peter Jentes – Schwarzwalder
Pilar Barrenechea – Catholic Women’s Club
Rachelle Ismael – Appetite Magazine
Raymond Rufino – The Net Group
Rene Baltazar – Harbor View
Robert Spakowski – Restaurant Consultant
Rosanna Escudero – Cancer Research Advocate
Roxs Cailao – Katre
Santi Picornell – Entrepreneur
Sau Del Rosario – Kingdom
Sec. Joseph Durano – Department of Tourism
Sergi Rostoll – Barcino Gourmet
Sergio Menendez – CEMEX
Teddy Montelibano – Food and Travel Columnist
Thomas Wenger – Enderun Colleges
Tina Pamintuan – Celebrity Chef
Tita Trillo – Titania Wine Cellars, La Vigne
Tricia Tensuan – Enderun Colleges
U-Sec Oscar Palabyab – Department of Tourism
Vanessa Conanan – Enderun Colleges
Vanessa Fernando – Zafra Motors
Vanessa Vitrano – Galileo Enoteca
Werner Berger – Werdenberg Group
The MKBRS Awards Night Venue in Enderun Colleges
1. Best Italian Restaurant - L'Opera
2. Best French Restaurant - Je Suis Gourmand
3. Best Spanish Restaurant - Terry's Selection
4. Best Continental Cuisine - Lolo Dad's
5. Best Steakhouse - Elbert's Steak Room
The pioneers behind my favorite magazine, Rogue :)
6. Best Japanese Restaurant - Sugi
7. Best Filipino Restaurant - Abe
8. Best Thai Restaurant - People's Palace
9. Best Chinese Restaurant - Zong (fort)
10. Best Central European Restaurant - Old Swiss Inn
I can't wait to go to Thai Kingdom by Chef Sau!
11. Best Specialty Restaurant - Hossein's Persian Kebab (Makati)
12. Best Bistro - Sala Bistro
13. Best Enoteca - Barcino Gourmet
14. Best Fusion Cuisine - M Cafe
15. Best Newcomer - Aubergine
The lovely Vanessa of Galileo Enoteca (leftmost).
16. Best Restaurant/Bar - NU-VO
17. Best Wine List - CAV
18. Best Hotel Restaurant: International Buffet - Spiral (Sofitel)
19. Best Hotel Restaurant: Fine Dining - Tivoli (Mandarin Oriental) and Prince Albert (Intercontinental)
20. Best Hotel Restaurant: Specialty - Benjarong (Dusit)
21. Best Chef - Chef Ariel Manuel (Lolo Dad's)
22. Lifetime Achievement Award - Larry Cruz
Text and Photos by by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627)
Email: anton@diaz.ph
November 27, 2008 in 13. Awesome Happenings in Manila circa 2005 onwards | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/183075/36286614
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Award Winners:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
I agree! Zong as Best Chinese Resto: Major HUUUUH?!?
Posted by: Tinny | Nov 27, 2008 10:37:17 AM
Ok no offense to the owners of Zong, but... seriously. At least they got it right with the Best French Restaurant category, and pretty much everything else. But, yes, quite shocking that Antonio's was not recognized...
Posted by: chinkee | Nov 27, 2008 11:08:01 AM
Zong is just a couple of notches above Chinese fastfood level. To be named best is a travesty. Absolutely ridiculous. Sugi best Japanese? Maybe 15-20 years ago (but, then, Tsukiji and Furusato were also around), but certainly not now. Nowhere near the best. No recognition for Tonyboy? Come on.
Posted by: Noel | Nov 27, 2008 12:01:46 PM
I'm quite surprised with the results of this awards. I can't believe that Gaudi was not even nominated in the Spanish restaurant category when the chef/owner Xandra Cacho is from San Sebastian, the place with the most number of Michelin restaurants in the world.
Also, I have lived in Central Europe and even georgraphically speaking, it does not mean Germany, not even Switzerland! As much as I enjoy the food of Old Swiss Inn and it does bring me back to my visits in Zurich, it is not Central Europeam food.
Whoever sorted out the nominees must at least do more reading if they can't actually travel to the categories the restaurants claim to represent.
Posted by: Tintin | Nov 27, 2008 3:36:47 PM
Zong? Are you kidding me?? That's bull! Its not even authentic! Tsk.. Tsk.. Tsk..
I browsed through the book before and found it silly that they claimed Som's as having authentic Thai food. Have they ever been to Thailand? The taste and quality is so faaaaaar from being authentic! Tsk.. Tsk..
Posted by: Didi | Nov 27, 2008 3:44:42 PM
whaaat? ZONG?? ABE??
Posted by: rj | Nov 27, 2008 7:23:14 PM
siguro kung ung ZONG 2-3 years ago pwede pa, but now? try eating there again and for sure you'll be really disappointed!! just ate there again last sunday argh!
Posted by: rj | Nov 27, 2008 7:25:24 PM
Thanks Anton for posting and thanks for coming! I know in the end not everyone's gonna agree with the winners (I felt terrible when Gwyneth Paltrow won for best actress back in 99! ha ha!)
Next year we hope to expand our panel of judges to hopefully more than 200 hundred foodies, resto owners, media personalities, and hotel staff, and get more input on the nominees! The more people we get involved, the better this event will be for years to come :) It's opinions from the people that help us build up our credibility and list of awardees.
Till next year!
:)
Posted by: Ines Cabarrus | Nov 27, 2008 7:57:39 PM
Ya Im wondering why Gaudi was not even nominated. I lived in Spain 20 years and I think Gaudi is one of the more authentic Spanish restaurants in Manila.
Posted by: miguel | Nov 27, 2008 9:42:43 PM
regard to the comment of mr. noel, where do you think the central of Europe?! if you really lived in Europe as what you have said...Spain???!!!...just respect you should see the map of europe first...Swiss inn is the best...i even had my wedding reception there!
thanks!!!!!
Posted by: cherry | Nov 27, 2008 9:51:08 PM
The whole thing should not be taken seriously. To start with, what makes the authors food authorities? One is a DJ, the other an instructor at Enderun College who claims to be a 'sommelier' (really now!).
What people have failed to realize is that the book's entire premise is wrong. The title states 'best kept secrets', but the restaurants listed are hardly hardly that, especially the ones in malls and hotels. Some of them are not even in Manila.
Who were the judges? I heard from one of those who voted that even the nominees themselves were asked to vote, which to me is so wrong.
More importantly, who came up with this short list? If only there was an online selection, just like with the recent Miele Guide, then maybe they could've come up with a list that would not include Zong.
Lastly, Sugi Greenbelt is partly owned by one of the book's author's father. Restaurant 101 is owned by Enderun, where the same author works.
I really wish blogs like this would stop giving them any more importance and attention. It's making a couple of heads really swell and the rest of us food fans in Manila look really bad.
BTW, I was there last night and I just want to rant that it was just way too hot, everyone was sweating!
tintin, Central Europe consists of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Europe
Posted by: Santos Smith | Nov 27, 2008 10:58:37 PM
It's Spiral, not Spirals
Snubbing Antonio's is the greatest sin any local citation body could ever commit.
Posted by: sinch | Nov 27, 2008 11:10:27 PM
Zong?!! tried eating in trinoma, service is so bad, unlike the fort.. but the food is like your typical "fusion" chinese fast food like north park...
Posted by: David | Nov 28, 2008 12:28:46 AM
To Ms. (I assume) Cherry,
A somewhat careful reading of the comments will show that I am not the one who mentioned Central Europe.
In any event, if you think Old Suisse Inn is the best, good for you. You are certainly entitled to your opinion.
As am I.
I happen to think it couldn't be best in anything.
N
Posted by: Noel | Nov 28, 2008 1:05:02 AM
ohhh!...Mr. Noel,...Sorry!....sensya na ho!..i did'nt saw nasa baba pala yung name.:D
Posted by: cherry | Nov 28, 2008 3:59:08 AM
I never trusted this book. I don't even think the restos noted there are "best kept"...that's why I never bought a copy of this. It never stay true to its title.
- Zong??! Huh?!?
- Abe??!??! Huh again.
- considering the # of nice Japanese restos around, I would have expected some ties or even multiple winners. Judging Sugi is the best is ????
- Btw, what does Enoteca category mean?
Posted by: cathy b | Nov 28, 2008 8:24:45 AM
Anton,
I think we should do our own awards via web-vote. :-)
Posted by: daytripper | Nov 28, 2008 9:10:22 AM
Great Idea, Daytripper!
Sige I will launch Restaurant Awards on the web based on popular votes in Manila :)
Lets brainstorm. I have some ideas.
Posted by: anton | Nov 28, 2008 9:26:12 AM
I can't comment on the restaurants because I'm here in the States but they should use either the Food and Wine system or the Zagat way. The judges should be food writers who know what they're talking about like Mark Bittman of the NY Times (so the equivalent of a major Filipino newspaper) and epicurean veterans who know the difference between Tuscan pollo Rosso and your regular roast chicken or whether a restaurant is really using foie gras (goose liver not duck). What standards or criteria did they use? It sounds like a conspiracy if they did not post from the beginning who will be judging.
Anton, start your own Zagat or Yelp and let the people decide. Then have an awards night based on customer response. Yelp!
Posted by: Zorayda | Nov 28, 2008 10:09:05 AM
Yes maybe we can do our own voting and see what come sout. Doesnt have to be best keot secrets but just best restaurants. maybe we can also do it by price range?? Just some ideas..
Posted by: miguel | Nov 28, 2008 10:14:26 AM
I think enoteca is "used to describe a special type of local or regional wine shop that originated in Italy" (got this from wikepedia)
Posted by: miguel | Nov 28, 2008 10:20:24 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enoteca
The word enoteca literally means wine library or wine repository. It is an Italian word and is used locally (in Italy) to refer to little shops that allow the tasting of wines before bulk purchases. Obviously, the word has been used very loosely by the book authors to refer to a retail wine shop cum wine bar that serves food as well. I have not heard of anyone use the word enoteca for anything other than Galileo, and the rest aren't really like Galileo at all.
Here's what's wrong with the category:
- Barcino is a Spanish wine shop cum wine bar which serves food
- Cav is a wine bar cum restaurant
-.La Vigne is hard to explain, but it's essentially a restaurant cum Tita Trillo's wine cellar
- Terry's Selection Pasong Tamo Extension is a gourmet food and wine shop which has a restaurant called Segundo Piso restaurant upstairs
- Purple Feet is just a small cafe/bistro located inside a branch of Wine Depot, a wine supermarket
Just a few of the many things wrong with the MBKRS.
Let's not make this whole MBKRS a big deal, please. It's not and should not be minded even.
Anton, you can start with creating a set of objectives. Then allow your readers to be the one so suggest categories. After that, allow them to nominate establishments. Then come up with a short list per category for people to actually vote. Allow only one vote per person. Use an independent auditor like an accounting firm to ensure that everything was tabulated properly and fairly. Then reveal the results online. Call it Our Awesome Planet Reader's Choice Awards. Don't limit to just restaurants, include travel destinations and resorts, etc.
I suspect that MBKRS just jumped into it with their own categories and nominees and then mass e-mailed the ballots to everyone in their address book. That's why the results are so questionable. Most of them were Ines' and Elian's friends, naturally the will vote with their friendships considered.
Posted by: Pepe | Nov 28, 2008 10:50:37 AM
Sige, Lets do our own awards. Who wants to volunteer and help out with Philippines' Restaurant Awards (People Choice). Let's do it this December.
Posted by: anton | Nov 28, 2008 10:51:19 AM
I agree with Zorayda's suggestion that the members of the voting panel should be selected for their firm grasp on particular regional cuisines. Otherwise, if just anyone can vote, results such as Zong may very well recur.
Posted by: Noel | Nov 28, 2008 11:06:46 AM
I just want to react to one of the comments above that duck foie gras is not "real" foie gras. It is. Foie gras can come from either ducks or geese. If somebody says a restaurant is not using real foie gras because it is duck liver and not goose liver, that person should never be allowed to judge.
Posted by: chris | Nov 28, 2008 8:36:38 PM
