CHAMPÊTRE: Boutique & Restaurant with Chef Marc Aubry and @LifestylePhilip

CHAMPÊTRE is an authentic French restaurant owned by the family of French Chef Marc Aubry. Formerly known as “Je Suis Gourmand” when he initially ran the resto with some partners, it’s one of the best authentic restaurants in Manila loved by both Filipinos and French alike. 🙂

(Related Blog Post: Aidan’s Je Suis Gourmand Birthday Dinner)

The ambiance and the food is inspired by its name, which means “Country Living”. It has that down-to-earth feel and has consistenty served good French food over the years.

I was invited as a guest by Philip Abadicio on his show “Philip, Lifestyle Guy” to have a nice French Dinner in Manila, with wine pairing designed by Chef Marc himself. 

CHAMPÊTRE is located at the ground floor corner of the Net One building along 3rd Ave. & 26th St. in BGC.

It has an outdoor al fresco dining area which also serves as a smoking section.

CHAMPÊTRE A LA CARTE MENU: Appetizers, Soup | Main Course | Dessert 

You are greeted by a mini-deli setup and warm golden lighting upon entering.

WINE MENU: White and Red Wines 

They have a good selection of French Wines.

The ambiance is casually romantic and very welcoming.

I like the way they shoot the show with a three-camera setup and in one continuous take. 

LOIRE VALLEY
✮ VOUVRAY: DEMI SEC-CUVEE FONDREAUX 2011 [chenin blanc]
Gold in color, has aromas of lavender, grapes, honey and marzipan. This is translated in the palate with a slightly sweet finish.

We started the meal with a fruity sweet Vouvray white wine. Very refreshing and a great way to start the meal.

Complementary bread is served in a country-inspired triangle basket.

APPETIZER

✮ Homemade Duck Foie Gras Terrine with Salad & Toasted Baguette (P740 +10% service charge)

The Foie Gras terrine, made into a pate, is spread on top of the baguette and best eaten with the fresh greens.

Roasted Smoked Bacon, Roquefort Cheese, Walnut & Boiled Egg Salad with Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette (P490 +10% service charge)

A nice, simple salad with French blue cheese, boiled eggs, walnuts, and bacon. 

It’s easy to get comfortable with Philip. The shooting of the segment is really just like having a nice chat over good food.

 
Chef Marc served an off-menu item because he only serves it when he has a fresh supply of Chilean mussels. 

✮ French Bouchot Mussels Mariniere Style with Fries

I love the classic way of serving this dish, with a light creamy sauce with white wine.

  
Chef Marc showed us the right way to eat it Champêtre style…with your hands.

 
You break open the mussel and use a shell to scoop out the meat and some of the cream sauce before you eat it. 🙂

One thing nice about the show is we get to share the food with the crew! The food was wiped out. 🙂

SOUTHERN RHONE
✮ COTE DU RHONE: LES QUARTZ 2009 [grenache, syrah] (P2,700)
Deep red color with dark violet reflecs. Aromas of dark fruits, cinnamon and vanilla. Full and silky in the mouth, accompanied by complex retro nasal of cherry, berries, licorice, cinnamon and nutmeg.

I love the full taste and silkiness of this red wine from Southern Rhone.

The red wine is properly decanted to separate the sediments…

…and to make it breath before drinking it.

As a courtesy, they let you taste it first and see if it is good. You can actually reject the wine if it tastes funny, which happens with wines that have been open for some time.

MAIN DISH

Chef Marc served us his signature classic French dishes… 

✮ Grilled US Lamb Chops with Garlic Cream & Mushroom Risotto (~P1,400 +10% service charge)

The lamb is just perfectly cooked medium without the malansa taste. I like the light cream sauce and the al dente risotto. 

✮ Traditional Coq-au-Vin with Sauteed Marble Potatoes (P530 +10% service charge)

I also like this traditional French chicken dish using Pamora Farm’s organic chicken. 

It resembles an adobo except that this is braised in wine, lard, and mushroom. 

Sarap to the bones! 🙂 

PRE-DESSERT: CHEESE PLATE

According to Chef Marc, a French meal is not complete without having a cheese course.

Assorted French Cheese Platter. Brie de Meaux, St. Maurc Goat Cheese, Morbier, Roquefort, Secret du Couvent, Tomme de Savoie

I personally like the Roquefort (French blue cheese), the goat cheese, and the French brie cheese.

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON
FAUGERES: NOS RACINES 2007 [caringan, grenache]
Blackberry fruits and blackcurrant flavors, this wine combines concentration and freshness with soft tannins.

A fruity dark red wine to pair with the cheese.  

DESSERT

Fresh Baguio Strawberry Fraisier Gateau with Sauces & Whipped Cream (P280 +10% service charge)

When Fresh strawberries are in season, Chef Marc likes creating this rich dessert.

This was paired with a nice bubbly French wine to complete the meal. 🙂 

LOIRE VALLEY
✮ VOUVRAY: BRUT METHODE TRADITIONELLE [chenin blanc] (P2,050)
Pale wine with honey and quince, accentuated by lovely green and grassy notes. Fresh and delicate flavors but robust in the mouth. Has appealing bubbles that play with the palate.

✮ Warm Thin Apple Tart with Caramel Sauce & Grand Marnier Ice Cream (P290 +10% service charge)

I enjoyed this dessert better — imagine a crisp tart with the flavors of green apple, caramel, and grand marnier ice cream. 🙂

I’ve always been a fan Chef Marc Aubry’s authentic French cuisine and it’s great that his food has been consistent over the years. I love the new CHAMPÊTRE brand compared the old Je Suis Gourmand because of its more down-to-earth and welcoming vibe. 

I recommend the French Bouchot Mussels Mariniere Style, Grilled US Lamb Chops, Coq-au-Vin, and Warm Thin Apple Tart. I also like the Vouvray: Demi Sec-Cuvee Fondreaux 2011 and the Cote Du Rhone: Les Quartz 2009.

Price is a bit on the high side because of its BGC location. Budget at around P2,000/head with wine.

life·style noun ˈlīf-ˈstī(-ə)l, -ˌstī(-ə)l
: a particular way of living : the way a person lives or a group of people live 

Philip Abadicio has been writing about lifestyle. He is behind the successful campaigns of his clients’ lifestyle products and brands. As a PR man, he established RPA & Communicate where he mastered the ropes of the lifestyle industry.  He is the editor-in-chief of the online lifestyle source, StyleRPA.com. RPA is an acronym for real, personal and all-that style.  He has hosted a lifestyle news program for the Global News Network, “Style RPA TV,” and a lifestyle magazine talk show called, “It’s More Fun with Philip,” on TV5’s news channel Aksyon TV.  And his latest offering is the recently launched lifestyle TV show, “Philip, Lifestyle Guy,” airing on TV5 every Sunday 11 a.m. to 12 noon.

Philip, Lifestyle Guy is directed by Dave Hukom and produced by Yanna Acosta. It airs on TV 5 every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12 nn. Set to provide more fun, information and entertainment to your TV viewing experience, get ready to travel Metro Manila and other parts of the country with style, as lifestyle guru Philip Abadicio shows you how to celebrate and live a good, happy and stylish lifestyle, whatever status, situations and circumstances you have right now. 

You can also find out about the contests, winners and other announcements on their social media accounts: Philip Lifestyle Guy on Facebook, @LifestylePhilip on Twitter and @PhilipAbadicio on Instagram.