Prominently located at the luxurious Bonifacio High Street Central is Stella Wood Fired Bistro which opened at the latter part of May 2012. It has inviting and colorful facade which to me equates to a home I dreamed of. Equally captivating is the al fresco area where it is so nice to dine and lounge especially during lazy days. It has an air of sophistication which stands out from the rest of the restaurants around the area.
Stella is open to serve you from 11:30 AM to 12:00 MN.
ROCKET ROOM is the neighboring restaurant of Stella which also belongs to the Raintree Restaurants, known to innovate hospitality here in our country. It is considered a bar lounge-cafe that offers wide array of organic dishes and a variety of antipasti plus remarkable selection of liquors. It has eclectic and retro vibe suitable for either quick coffee break or late night out. I never got the chance to shoot a photo of its interior or dining area because our group was immersed in the pleasant ambiance of Stella. Rocket Room has longer business hour, open from 11:30AM to 2:00AM. So be there for the booze and some fun!
The meaning of the name Stella is 'STAR' and it follows that this place offers five star quality service and high quality dishes too. Yeah, it should follow. If you are observant enough on your first visit, you will easily notice a simple five pointed star situated at the center of the dining area above the production area window. It certainly brings significance to the business being the most powerful symbol in the history of mankind.
What caught my attention too are huge and colorful flower vases, Twinings jars and old-school flat iron. The restaurant has fine taste of slow and moving music background. Staff were prepared and looked very professional from the managers, supervisors down to its chefs, cooks and servers.
So what makes this place unique from other bistro in the area? The fact that they make use of natural wood in its dishes responsible for imparting the most flavorful aroma which will leave anyone drooling for more. Taste is true to the West Coast, the Mediterranean and South America. Allow me to share some of them to you. By the way, the following are a combination of Stella and Rocket Room offerings. So come and eat with me.
These are Stella's Blended Fresh Juices and Shakes and I must say they have better concoctions and options unlike other bistro restaurants that I have encountered. Quench your thirst with either of the following: Watermelon & Green Mango, Buko Lychee and Berry & Banana for PhP150. However, others preferred to order homemade real iced teas like Four Red Fruits, Passion Fruit, Mango & Orange and Raspberry Echinacea worth PhP95.
Melted Spanish Chorizo "Bruschetta" PhP195
I almost missed this Rocket Room's Hot Rocket Plate, good thing that my seatmate Kenny asked the waiter for another serving as it became an instant hit when this landed our long table. Toasted bread topped with shishita peppers, malagos pecorino and melted Rizal dairy was such an awesome way to tease your afternoon appetite. A savory hot appetizer you surely cannot miss.
Pressed "Excellente" Special Ham PhP375
Included in the Panini Pressed sandwiches of Stella which is made with crispy pears, arugula, thai basil, tomatoes and passion fruit vinaigrette. Panini was made more flavorful with the assortment of fine and organic ingredients. Rich in taste and aroma. For a sandwich lover like me, this one is definitely two thumbs up. Additionally, this plate is sided with home-made fries and roasted garlic aioli for dip.
Spicy Gambas "Chino" PhP350
Another Rocket Room's Hot Rocket Plate that was appetizingly good. If I was not aware to leave more tummy space for more offerings, I probably have finished half of the serving of this delicious Gambas! Made with river prawns, chiles, pimenton dust, szechuan black pepper, fried garlic and fresh lemon. Make sure you squeeze it with lemon and lime for a more citrus kick.Ohhh the unique spiciness still lingers in my mouth.
The Stella Salad PhP295
It is not a secret anymore how I appreciate leafy salad recipes- with or without meat. This one brought delight to my meal because of its unpretentious way of presenting itself. A serving is good enough for sharing. Made with butter lettuce, crispy bacon pieces, sundried tomato bits, candied rosemary, pistachios, buttermilk chive-ranch dressing and malagos pecorino. Salad lovers, go get this one okay?
Bone Marrow PhP395
Caution: Serving platter is extremely hot! So don't get too excited with the sinful bone marrow. This one is from Stella's Wood Fired Small Plates & Snacks, served with the heart attack-forming bone marrow; chopped herb condiment made of lemon zest, garlic, and parsley known as gremolata; rosemary sultana compote and herb garlic focaccia crisps.
I assembled one for myself undaunted of its health effects (make sure you don't overeat this). So here's my macro shot of focaccia crisp topped with incomparable flexible tissue found in the interior of animal bones, then with zesty gremolata and rosemary sultana compote. The sum total is ecstatic taste you cannot find anywhere. So gooooooood! Although bone marrow is naturally fatty, surprisingly it did not leave sebaceous feeling in my mouth. Wow!
Stella's Porchetta PhP395
I know right, your eyes eat first. So prima facie, this one is already excellent. A pork belly roll stuffed with double bacon, fennel, herbs and served with warm rosemary sultana sauce. Another time for a little indulgence huh?! The sauce was very rich to the point that it somehow overpower the taste of stuffed pork belly. Meat texture was just right, with the right level of doneness. I was actually needing rice as I chew on this magically roasted viand.
Roasted Seafood "Firecracker" Fusili PhP395
At first sight, I expect it to be cheesy and spicy at the same time and my hunch was right. A pasta in a bowl from the Rocket Room menu that is made with spicy olive and smokey sundried tomato cream, dried chiles, fire roasted seafood, fresh herbs and malagos ricotta. I especially like those black olives which I once get addicted with. Take this as a unique opportunity to taste as savory pasta as this one. Very different and irresistibly good.
Fire Roasted Truffled Mushroom PhP350
It fascinates me whenever I taste truffle oil or truffled mushroom, it has this prominant taste and flavor that makes any dish excellent. And Stella's Wood Fired Pizza is one that is undeniably good. Made with porcini dust, fresh herbs and malagos ricotta and garnished with micro greens that can only be found in pricey restaurants. Good thing that I can enjoy eating as much mushroom as I want because they are known to be goitrogenic, for I am now goiter-free :)
Butcher's Best PhP325
If the dish dictates that it is the best then it has to deliver. Made with homemade garlic-fennel sausage, double-smoked bacon, pepperoni, red onions, fennel dust and fresh Rizal dairy mozzarella. Since Stella make and bake its own crust in wood fire, the effect was that some portion of the pizza crust are naturally charred and in that case I do not avoid getting a slice even with partially burned surface. It was so yummy to the point that I wanted to get another slice.
At this point I needed a break. Influx of these two Raintree Restaurants offerings were unimaginable. I was not prepared to taste wide array of sumptuous and unique dishes, but then I have to or I miss this favorable juncture of circumstances that I'll never know if could be repeated or not. So cheers for more of their dishes...again, eat with me please.
Wood Fired Cauliflower & Brocoli PhP195
Now, let's shift and eat something veggie and healty. This one was served on a long white slender plate and then topped with malagos pecorino and olive oil. It has sharp cheese taste that perfectly matched the veggies.
Roasted Sweet Tomatoes & "Pesto Rustica" PhP195
I eat any type of tomatoes for as long as they are not rotten and safe to ingest. This one fro Stella was ade with three kinds of tomatoes such aas cherry, beefsteak and native tomatoes and then topped with fresh Rizal dairy mozzarella, malagos ricotta and thai basil. A good and healthy starter for lunch or dinner.
Spanish Chorizo & Garlic Fried Rice PhP95
A rice dish topped with fried garlic and fresh herbs. So natural and revealing at the same time.
Fire Roasted Butter Corn PhP75
A small bowl that is carbohydrate rich as it is made with porchetta bits, green peas and onions.
Braised "Sticky & Sweet" U.S. Beef Short Ribs PhP495
I sure hope I was able to give justice to this flavorful and meaty dish through my food shot. Short ribs were glazed with spicy sesame and sided with grilled leeks and my now favorite kimchi pineapples. True, I fell in love with those spicy and sweet pineappple tidbits! It naturally brings perfection to the braised and tender beef short ribs. You'll be needing either a plain rice or whatever type of rice with this viand.
Salt Baked Gindara Fillet PhP395
I cannot tell when was the last time I've tasted gindara. Up to now it left an indelible mark on me that if you overeat this fish, you'll end up farting oil. And that would be such an uneasy feeling, right? So I only had enough to once again taste this expensive fish dish that is served with light dill-citrus cream and citrus bits. All I can say is that it has fantastic zesty flavor. Quite salty but still manageable. Serving portion per plate is 400g and I guess that is not enough to cause you some discomfort.
Spanish Chorizo Stuffed Prawns PhP520
Serving size is only six pieces per plate. Quite expensive but once you indulge on its garlicky, lemony and aromatic flavor and odor, you'll forget about the price tag. Mixed up with garlic slivers, herb and pernod butter crumbs and fresh lemon.
I cannot help but be lured with another refreshment so I ordered for a glass of Berry & Banana shake plus a glasss of cold water to ease me.
Stella's Wood Fired Chocolate Almond Cookie Dough PhP195
Be sure to regard this dessert with overpowering appeal made with salted caramel, rosemary pistachios, and topped with Mantecado ice cream. Melts in your mouth and truly drool-worthy!
The management team. Thanks for accommodating us :) Special thanks to OpenRice Eat's A Date.
What I love about these two bistro is not just their offerings, store ambiance and excellent service but most especially the kind of relationship that they have with organic farmers nationwide which they strongly maintain and therefore assured its clientele with the best ingredients for their five start dishes. Additionally, the unconventional approach is truly likeable.
Momo Cafe, Museum Cafe, Kabila Filipino Bistro, Chelsea and Mr. Jones are also under the umbrella of Raintree Restaurants.
ROCKET ROOM
7th Avenue corner 30th Street
Ground Floor, Bonifacio High Street Central
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
Facebook Page
mimi@raintree.com.ph
(02) 621 3222
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