When my cousin Aileen Abuel invited me to a spontaneous dinner along with her two friends, I said ‘yes’ right away without asking where. It was one of those rare chances when both of us were free. It turned out to be at this much-talked-about Sampiro de Makati on L.P. Leviste St., Salcedo Village in Makati, right across Salcedo Park.
Sampiro recently opened, and this eye candy for a bistro on the ground floor of Escala Salcedo is a must-visit, that is if you still haven’t. If its charming interior, which is a surprisingly easy-on-the-eye blend of pink, yellow, dark blue, and olive green, isn’t enough to lure you in, for sure, its impressive F&B choices will.
Come evening, the pink neon lights and warm bulbs light up the entire place giving it a more inviting look and feel. It is stylish but not intimidating and chill enough for you and your pals to linger in well after the sumptuous foods are consumed because you would want to try their drinks.
The owners, Sandra and Ian Paradies, co-founder of Dark Wing Inc., which owns Polilya bar in Poblacion, as well as the genius behind Engkanto craft beer, shared with us the concept of Sampiro.
“What does Sampiro mean? Why did you choose the name?” I asked.
“There is actually a nice story behind that. Back in the 1600s, the Makati area was called Sanctuario de San Pedro, under the jurisdiction of Franciscan priest Fr. Pedro De Alfaro. When it became an independent town in 1670, it was renamed San Pedro de Makati in honor of its patron saint. The locals, however, gave it a nickname and called it Sampiro, a colloquial yet more welcoming term. We just love the charm and the connection it has for the kind of concept we had in mind for this place,” Ian shared. Sampiro, indeed, is a homage to the hospitality and charm of classic Manila.
Immediately, one will notice the modern European and Asian touches here and there within Sampiro yet there are also some hints of the Old World charm.
Sandra gave us her top recos on the menu, though we were assured everything on the list is worth a try. And then there’s the panaderya. Did I tell you Sampiro has panaderya? There. Check it out.
Papa Rum celebrates Negros Occidental in new animation video
Don Papa Rum, the Philippine premium single island rum, recently commemorated its 10 years in the market with a release of a new animation video called Sugarlandia is Calling. The animation, done in Hedcut style, takes viewers inside the label of Don Papa and into the wonderful world of Sugarlandia, showing a glimpse of this fantasy world, the land between the cane.
At the launch, Don Papa Rum invited friends and family to a special four-hands dinner in Xception, Makati City, and what is normally a lifestyle shop and gallery was transformed into the world of Sugarlandia. Flora and fauna overran the store while Sugarlandia creatures danced in the room, offering Don Papa cocktails to guests.
Heading the dinner are two renowned chefs Cyrus Todiwala of Café Spice Namaste and Patrick Go of Your Local. The menu melded Philippine and Negrense flavors from Chef Patrick together with the Asian and international touches from Chef Cyrus, showcasing where the brand came from as well as how far its reach has gone all over the world.
The event also debuted a new Don Papa cocktail, called the Sampinit Sour, created by Aaron Goodall, the brand’s Manila-based Cocktail Maestro.
When we think of Philippine fruits, we often think of mangoes, calamansi, coconuts, and other tropical fruits. But a lesser-known seasonal berry is also found here; the sampinit, a Philippine wild raspberry. Much like the hidden nature of the Sugarlandia is Calling video, the Sampinit Sour highlights a flavor not often thought of when thinking about the Philippines, and together with Don Papa Rum creates a refreshingly crisp cocktail, perfect for a summer’s eve.
Don Papa Rum has come far, from a local brand launched in the Philippines 10 years ago, to now a well-loved premium rum present in more than 30 countries.
You can get your Don Papa Rum in any of their partner retailers: S&R, Kultura, Ralph’s Wines & Spirits, Boozy.ph, and more.
Available in over 30 countries worldwide, Don Papa Rum is the first premium single island rum from the Philippines, now ranked the third largest rum market in the world next to India and USA.
The namesake of Don Papa Rum is inspired by the unsung hero and mystic, Papa Isio, who was one of the leading figures of the late 19th-century Philippine revolution. Initially a foreman at a sugar plantation, his leadership and courage played a critical part in liberating the island of Negros from Spanish rule. Don Papa is inspired by his legend and captures his spirit and sense of magic in every bottle.
Visit www.donpaparum.com for more details. To reach me, I’m at joba.botana@gmail.com.
