When Chefs Edward Buguia of Flipside Burgers and Chris Oronce of Wolfgang's Steakhouse get together for a creative culinary collaboration using some of the world's finest beef for the innovative Happy Hour Series, you know you just have to mark it down on your calendar. It's Happy Hour the Wolfgang's Steakhouse way...
The second edition of The Four Hands Happy Hour collaboration at Wolfgang's Steakhouse featuring the culinary tandem of Chefs Edward Buguia and Chris Oronce brings comfortingly familiar local flavors executed in the elegant style of the renowned steakhouse for a unique Happy Hour experience. Paired with equally inventive cocktails, Wolfgang's Steakhouse brings small plates of exquisite creations for a sumptuous feast redefining the Happy Hour tradition. What's your beef? Read on and find out...
The visionary chef behind some of the most innovative culinary concepts in the metro, Chef Edward Buguia weaves his own inventive style with the elegant offerings from the kitchen of Wolfgang's Steakhouse helmed by Chef Chris Oronce. Showcasing a wide variety of premium grade USDA Black Angus Beef cuts from the savory arsenal of Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Chefs Edward and Chris draw inspiration from both classic and nostalgic local flavors for a next level take on tasty bar bites. The second edition of The Four Hands Happy Hour series is a novel and creative initiative offering new expressions of savory flavors at Wolfgang's Steakhouse (for more on the previous Happy Hour collaboration, see my post What's Your Beef? Small Plates and Libations the Wolfgang's Steakhouse Way with USDA Black Angus Beef from early this year).
The latest edition of The Four Hands Happy Hour collaboration at Wolfgang's Steakhouse features two different sets of menus for Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday similar to the previous concept. Chefs Edward and Chris starts off our Happy Hour from the Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday Menu with the Smash Burger, a savory slider with a juicy and crisp on the edges Angus Beef patty elegantly plated with a dab of Gremolata and the signature Wolfgang's Steakhouse steak sauce. The premium beef delivers bold bursts of beefy notes and a lingering savory richness after each hearty bite.
The delicate crispness of the patty's edges reflects Chef Ed's own personal style on the slider pulling out one of his many game winners from his Flipside Burgers playbook. The "smashed" rendition adds a delectable play on textural contrasts along with big beefy flavors in a bite-sized slider. Chef Ed's burger mastery shines with the opening course for The Four-Hands Happy Hour collab at Wolfgang's Steakhouse. The Smash Burger is available on both the Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday Menu Sets.
Completing the first course are the sides of Duck Fat Truffle Fries, Cold Smoked Onion Rings and Dill Pickle, each one with its own unique flavors and textures for a tempting trio perfectly complementing the Smash Burger.
In between bites, savor a soothing sip from the cocktail selection of The Four-Hands Happy Hour collab like the smooth and refreshing Dalandan Shandy made with premium San Miguel Beer. It is, after all, happy hour right? The light and crisp flavors of San Miguel Beer adds a flavorful depth to the cocktail with the pronounced citrus notes of dalandan for that balanced finish. The beer-based cocktail pairs well with the juicy and crisp Smash Burger, with each soothing sip cutting through the savory richness.
Then, there's the Americano Perfecto with its "Negroni"-like vibe and rounded sweet hints with its blend of Campari, sweet vermouth and beer...
...the Cerveza Espresso Martini with the bold yet soothing hints of coffee for depth...
...and the Beer Margarita with its palate cleansing tartness made even more flavorful with beer. The beer based cocktails offer an interesting alternative from the usual. And if you love beer...
...you just can't go wrong with the San Miguel Cerveza Blanca, a light yet robust and satisfying wheat ale with its balanced finish of smoky, citrus, spicy and minty notes. The silky creamy head is a sure sign you'll want one more round for the next courses in The Four-Hands Happy Hour collab at Wolfgang's Steakhouse. Other San Miguel Beer options include the classic San Miguel Pale Pilsen, San Miguel Light, San Miguel Premium All-Malt, San Miguel Super Dry and San Miguel Cerveza Negra.
Next up on the Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday Menu set is a dish that draws inspiration from nostalgic and comforting local flavors with the Bistek-Style Tataki, a lavish beef rendition topped with tomatoes and onions on mildly sweet and citrusy bistek sauce with just a whisper of salty hints.
The fork-tender and thinly sliced beef drapes the palate with its clean flavors tempered by the flavorful sharpness of the bistek sauce for that perfectly balanced finish. The pure and unrestrained flavors and the quality of the beef comes through capped by the bistek sauce. It's creative and inventive flavors like this coupled with quality beef that always makes The Four-Hands Happy Hour menu different, special and even pleasantly unexpected. The dish also pairs well with the Dalandan Shandy or the San Miguel Cerveza Blanca.
Chef Cris adds his own twist to the menu with his Bitterballen or Dutch meatballs with Mechado-style sauce instead of gravy. Beautifully plated, the dish with multiple components comes seamlessly together with the pure and clean flavors of the breaded and deep-fried meatballs with its blend of beef chuck and braised brisket combo on grilled mushrooms. The dish is completed by the mildly sweet mechado sauce for the savory winning finishing touch.
The medley of vegetables are what you'd find in a traditional mechado, complementing the savory richness of the dish. Throughout The Four-Hands Happy Hour menu, the flavors of the beef remains consistently rich, fresh and clean. When it comes to beef, you just don't expect anything less from Wolfgang's Steakhouse. Pair this dish with the Dalandan Shandy or the San Miguel Cerveza Blanca, and you've got a winning pair.
For the final course of the Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday Menu, Chef Ed draws deep into his memories of hearty and comforting flavors with the Burger Steak with thick and juicy USDA Prime Beef Patty served with fried rice and fried quail egg. Great as is, Chef Ed makes it even better with a slab of crisp bacon on a tasty duo of mushroom and teriyaki sauces.
As an added touch, Chef Ed sears the fried rice for that lightly crisp socarrat on the bottom for that layer of contrasting texture. Forget about being demure with this dish, there's just no proper or better way to enjoy it than with a heaping spoonful with all the different components coming together into play for a comforting burst of vibrant flavors. From the juicy patty to the garlicky fried rice with its delectable crunch and the tandem of mushroom sauce and teriyaki sauce capped by the quail egg, it just doesn't get better than this. Pair this course with the San Miguel Super Dry or the Americano Perfecto.
The set for both the Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday and Monday-Wednesday-Friday Menus include dessert with the Ice Cream Sundae. The decadent sundae includes three scoops of silky smooth ice cream topped with schlag or German style whipped cream, chocolate-covered bacon and strawberries. Hey, it's Wolfgang's Steakhouse. Dessert has to have bacon.
For the Monday-Wednesday-Friday set, Chefs Ed and Chris starts the feast with the Sinuglaw. An inspired take on the local staple with paper-thin slices of USDA Prime Hanger Steak paired with succulent fresh tuna, vegetables and lime coconut dressing, this creative fusion of flavors is another must-try at Wolfgang's Steakhouse. Think of it as a lavish upgrade on the local staple with USDA Prime beef instead of the usual pork.
The distinct flavors from each component of the dish are more delicate and nuanced, with each ingredient complementing the other for another solid number from the latest edition of The Four-Hands Happy Hour collab. The briny sweetness of the tuna, the tartness of the vegetables and the full-on yet clean flavors of the USDA Prime Hanger Steak combine in an elegant and savory weave best enjoyed with the San Miguel Premium All Malt or the Beer Margarita.
The Pinoy BBQ Skewers is Chef Ed's homage to another popular local staple with fork-tender USDA Black Angus Beef glazed in a sticky sweet sauce. Each bite of melt-in-your-mouth beef drapes the palate with an indulgent richness followed by subtle smoky hints and a sharp sweetness for comfortingly familiar notes.
Masterfully and meticulously executed, the Pinoy BBQ Skewers is another highlight from The Four-Hands Happy Hour collab. The Pinoy BBQ Skewers pairs well with the refreshingly crisp San Miguel Super Dry or the Americano Perfecto.
The savory finale of The Four-Hands Happy Hour collab for the Monday-Wednesday-Friday set is the Manila Pares with tender braised USDA Prime Short Ribs served with Garlic Rice. Roasted bone marrow, grilled leeks and crunchy garlic bits complete the hearty dish.
The dark broth infused with the richness of the beef and aromatics opens the palate with its deep flavors while a bite of the tender braised short ribs delivers bold beefy notes. The buttery texture of the bone marrow brings a savory indulgence as well as even more layers of flavor with each bite. It's an elegant and refined take on a local classic, flawlessly executed.
To complete the course, a bowl of garlic rice, broth and special chili sauce makes this dish an immensely satisfying dish in itself.
Premium beef, specifically USDA Black Angus Beef is a Wolfgang's Steakhouse signature and savoring different creative renditions in a collaborative menu opens up new possibilities. Happy hour? Make that The Four-Hands Happy Hour by Chefs Ed Buguia and Chris Oronce.
The Four-Hands Happy Hour collab between Chefs Ed and Chris is available Monday to Saturday from 3:00 pm to 10:00pm at the bar and al fresco areas of Wolfgang's Steakhouse. A menu set with three beverages is priced at P 1,998 while a set with four beverages is P 2,188 with an additional plate pegged at P 348 per plate. Change up your happy hour routine with that elegant Wolfgang's Steakhouse style with a curated menu anchored on premium beef and handcrafted cocktails, simply pick your day and time. But better hurry. The collab runs only until the end of the month...
Wolfgang's Steakhouse is located at the Lower Ground, One Bonifacio High Street, 28th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City or call 586-4892 and 618-3975 for more information and inquiries.
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