Bistronomia Restaurant Series:
• RUMBA // NEW Mediterranean Resto at The Shops at Ayala Triangle (A REVIEW) (2022)
• LAS FLORES Alabang: Best Spanish Restaurant in the South! (2022)
• Las Flores Dining+: Is Intimate Dining the New Normal? (2021)
• Introducing… LAS FLORES Degustacion by Spanish Chef Ignacio Alcala! (2019)
• Rambla Salcedo Makati: Best Tapas Bar in the Salcedo Neighborhood (2019)
• BCN by Rambla: Charcoal-Grill Barcelona-Inspired Restaurant in Makati! (2018)
• TOMATITO MANILA: How Sexy is this 80’s-inspired Spanish Tapas Bar? (A Review) (2016)
• RAMBLA Rockwell: Spanish Mediterranean Cuisine by Chef Pepe Lopez @RamblaPH (2013)
• LAS FLORES: Modern Spanish Resto by (former) Barcino + Andilana (Spain) Group (2012)
There’s a new Spanish chef in town, Chef Ignacio Alcala, at the helm of the Las Flores group that foodies are raving about. In the recent Rambla Salcedo 6-Hands: Chef Josh x Chef Alfredo x Chef Ignacio, most people were all praises for the courses made by Chef Ignacio.
Chef Ignacio Alcala was the executive chef of Fonda Alcalá, his grandmother’s 100-year old restaurant located in a small village in his hometown Calaceite (Teruel) in Aragon, Spain. He honed his culinary skills in the competitive Barcelona food scene before he and his girlfriend succumbed to the allure of going to Manila to learn English and to find success in Asia.
Las Flores is now offering a degustacion (7-course tasting menu) by Chef Ignacio Alcala strictly by reservation only.
LAS FLORES BGC
G/F One Mckinley Place 25th Street corner 4th Avenue BGC, Taguig City
Telephone: +(632) 552 2815
Mobile: +(63) 916 619 3365
Facebook: Las Flores
Instagram: @lasfloresph
Book a table at www.bit.ly/las-floresph
Another branch:
G/F The Podium Mall, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Telephone: + (632) 940-5142
Mobile: +(63) 915 654 5231
First Things First
You have to reserve the private chef’s table at Las Flores where you will be personally taken care of by Chef Ignacio.
Menu: Lunch Menu, Especiales | Charcuteria, Tapas Frias | Tapas Calientes, Sopas, Verduras | Arroces, Pastas, Pescados, Carnes | Postres | Drinks Menu: Drinks List | Gin & Tonic
Budget about ₱3,500 for the tasting menu plus drinks. They accept a minimum of 2 persons.
Las Flores Degustacion
The first course was a savory air baguette topped with manchego cheese to contrast with the saltiness of the anchovy.
Classic raw salmon cones—with a bit of truffle, umami from the roe and spicy kick from the wasabi mayo—eaten in two bites.
Thick cut of steak topped with foie gras with sweet tangy contrast from the apple, served on open-faced mini pan de sal. Sarap!
Las Flores is known for their Gin & Tonic, and I suggest you order the Las Flores signature using The Botanist gin.
The octopus, crunchy on the outside and still tender on the inside, was presented on a bed of eggplant salted with honey and kimchi aioli.
Once you taste the Vermut sauce with the Sea Bass, you’ll know why Chef Ignacio is the Spanish chef to watch out for in Manila!
Chef Ignacio introduced the food personally, and the food tasted more delicious with every interaction with the chef.
Finally, rack of lamb with rosemary, lime, basil spice sliced table-side with lamb jus reduction and butter creme mashed potato.
This is not your ordinary apple pie a la mode, thin crusty layers of apple slices topped with just the right creamy sweetness.
Final Thoughts
It’s rare to have a chef who is good at both savory and pastry. The Bistronomia team really knows how to find Spanish chef talents and how to constantly innovate the food at Las Flores. Congrats!
We are now fans of Chef Ignacios Alcala’s food, and we can’t wait to taste more of his cooking. Congrats to the Las Flores team!
Just a suggestion: Can we have a Las Flores X Fonda Alcalá night featuring the food of Calaceite (Teruel) in Aragon, Spain?
LAS FLORES BGC
G/F One Mckinley Place 25th Street corner 4th Avenue BGC, Taguig City
Telephone: +(632) 552 2815
Mobile: +(63) 916 619 3365
Facebook: Las Flores
Instagram: @lasfloresph
Book a table at www.bit.ly/las-floresph
Another branch:
G/F The Podium Mall, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Telephone: + (632) 940-5142
Mobile: +(63) 915 654 5231
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Our degustacion was courtesy of the Bistronomia Group. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions and insights.
P.S. Yes, ladies, he is committed to his mysterious Spanish girlfriend who works at the Google office here in Manila.