There is probably no other Spanish dish that's deeply interwoven into our local culinary heritage like Paella. The comforting one pot, or one pan, dish combines everything we love in a comforting meal. From the soft yet plump and fluffy rice down to the socarrat, that layer of crisp crust on the bottom of the paellera, the assortment of savory toppings and delicate yet vibrant spices and seasonings, paella deserves a day all its own. And it does...
Restaurant Tapenade of Discovery Primea celebrates World Paella Day with a four-day paella feast starting September 20, 2018 showcasing Executive Chef Luis Chikiamco's innovative paella creations. From World Paella Day on September 20 all the way through the weekend, celebrate one of the world's favorite dishes at Restaurant Tapenade...
To get you in that cool Spanish groove before a paella feast, why not enjoy a round or two of Kalimotxo at the Gilarmi Lounge? A soothing blend of red wine and carbonated cola soda, it also pairs well with the different paella courses at Restaurant Tapenade just a few steps away (for more on Gilarmi Lounge, see my earlier posts, Cocktails, Bar Chow and a Cool Vibe at The Gilarmi Lounge from three years ago).
After a few more rounds, it's time for dinner at Restaurant Tapenade. Known for its Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, Restaurant Tapenade also offers some of the finest steaks in the metro (for more on Restaurant Tapenade, see my posts, Serious Beef. At Restaurant Tapenade on their signature dishes, Rediscovering The Weekend Vibe at Discovery Primea on a recent staycation with a sumptuous lunch at Restaurant Tapenade, and Savor The Flavors of the Mediterranean Summer with Tapenade's All-New Menu from early this year). Cheese and charcuterie before the main course? Absolutely.
One of my favorites at Restaurant Tapenade is their Salad Room offering a wide selection of garden-fresh salads, gourmet cheeses, charcuterie, and fresh-baked bread, just perfect before the main course (for more on the Salad Room at Tapenade, see my earlier post, Fresh: The Salad Room at Discovery Primea's Tapenade)... 
...including the day's freshest catch like succulent shrimps...
...and plump mussels. As much as you want. The Salad Room is just one of many reasons to dine at Restaurant Tapenade. But on this special day, World Paella Day, the paella takes the spotlight.
Named after the pan it's cooked in, the modern paella traces its roots to the Spanish city of Valencia during the mid-19th century. Since then, the dish has evolved and reached as far and wide around the world along with the Spanish colonial experience. Executive Chef Luis Chikiamco shares his own inventive take on the iconic Valencian rice dish with three creative variations starting with the Paella de Champinones made with shiitake, portobello and button mushrooms.
The perfectly cooked and moist rice bursts with deep, rounded and nutty notes of the mushrooms with every bite. The flavors are rich yet delicate, and the texture of the mushrooms gives this paella dish that extra bite.
In contrast, the Paella al Chilindron with chicken and lamb offers heartier and bolder flavors. The savory richness of the lamb and chicken play well with the more intense blend of spices, yet the flavors are all delicately balanced.
Though the variants may not be traditional in terms of ingredients (apparently, there are strict rules on ingredients used for an authentic paella in Spain), Executive Chef Luis Chikiamco isn't confined by these traditions. Instead, he takes the Spanish dish from a non-Spanish perspective and lets it fly. And it works. I can have the Paella de Champinones or the Paella al Chilindron all day. But Executive Chef Luis Chikiamco has one more flavorful surprise up his sleeves...
With the yuletide season fast approaching, Executive Chef Luis Chikiamco weaves his unique spin on traditional holiday flavors with the Paella con Jamon, a dish infused with nostalgic flavors from sweet and salty Majestic Ham and rich Quezo de Bola topped with asparagus and crisp chickpeas for added flavor and texture. That's pure and inspired out-of-the-box creativity with local flair on a plate. Make that a paellera.
This paella creation has a much wider range of distinct notes that just come together perfectly. The bold notes of the Majestic Ham comes punching through, followed by the Quezo de Bola for that familiar yuletide combo. Who would've thought these flavors can come together in a seamless blend, and in a paella dish? Three unique and flavorful expressions of an iconic Spanish dish, it's hard to pick a favorite. But you don't have to, you can enjoy them all with unlimited servings at Restaurant Tapenade for four days starting on September 20 on World Paella Day.
The Salad Room at Restaurant Tapenade with unlimitedservings of paella is offered for both lunch and dinner at a special price of P 1,091 net per person on September 20, and P 1,200 net per person from September 21 to September 23. Now that's a deal that's just too good to pass up. 
Unique and inventive paella creations by Executive Chef Luis Chikiamco with unlimited servings for lunch and dinner, along with even more unlimited servings from The Salad Room, there's just no better way to celebrate World Paella Day. Mas paella? Keep it coming...
Tapenade is located at the lobby level of Discovery Primea, 6749 Ayala Avenue, Makati City or call +63 2 955-8888 for reservations and inquiries.
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