Traveling to Europe again is the dream — to revel in its captivating cities, mind-expanding museums, exquisite retail finds and, oh, the diverse cuisine!
Savoring memories of breakfast in Paris with café crème and an oeuf à la coque (nothing more than a perfectly boiled egg served with sourdough), yearning for spaghetti at a ristorante in Rome, and craving for tapas and wine in Madrid.
Perhaps it’s the atmosphere, the centuries-old culture seamlessly woven into daily living that makes Europe such a sublime, sensorial experience.
But all these wonderful thoughts would have to stay in the back burner for now, as travel would have to wait for a later date.
What a delight, however, to learn that everyone’s favorite Vikings Group — yes, the creator of Vikings buffets, undeniably the GOAT in smorgasbord eating in malls — has opened a new dining concept.
Bom Gosto! is a casual dining restaurant with a Southern European vibe at The Podium in Mandaluyong City.
To heighten its gastronomical appeal, the owners of Bom Gosto! tapped the services of chef Chele Gonzalez, creative and culinary director of his consultancy group, Adviche; chef Carlos Villaflor; and entrepreneur and sommelier Cyril Adison.
At its opening on 8 August, top executives of the Vikings Group and SM Supermalls were on hand to gather for an easy evening of sampling Bom Gosto! dishes and wine.
Foodies felt transported to a higher gustatory dimension.
Here’s a peek of the Bom Gosto! opening menu that will surely pique the tastebuds of bon vivants reading this now.
What’s in a name? Bom Gosto means “good taste” in Portuguese. That evening, that’s what everyone enjoyed — good-tasting food.
Starters: Coquille Au Four (baked scallops with bechamel and Gruyere cheese) from France; Gambas al Ajillo from Spain; Lulas Grehaldas (grilled squid with olive oil, garlic and lemon butter sauce) and Insalata di Pomodoro from Italy.
Mains: Herb-crusted fish with lemon butter sauce — baked in the restaurant’s masonry oven, popularly used for pizzas; Filet Mignon A La Bernaise Truffe Et Jus de Boeuf (beef tenderloin with truffle bearnaise, au jus, with mashed potatoes) from France; Arroz de Pato (Portuguese duck rice with garlic, onion, lemon and coriander) from Portugal.
For a sweet-ending dessert: Torrija de Chocolate (caramelized brioche soaked in milk and sugar and topped with chocolate) from Spain; and Tiramisu from Italy.
But this isn’t the only culinary elevation we’ll be seeing — and tasting — from the Vikings Group before the holiday season comes. Watch out for The Alley and Niu —two more restaurants where more tasty collaborations with Manila’s top chefs are cooking.
Bom Gosto! is open Mondays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Contact 0917-576-0888 for reservations or message Facebook or Instagram @bomgosgph!