AK Bistro at One Rockwell

Several months ago, I found myself having brunch with friends at this newly opened place in One Rockwell. Seeing that my brain was half dead from lack of sleep and a tad too much wine, it is a wonder that I remember that brunch at all.

Having a live long and prosper moment, courtesy of a nice slice of apple pie

I think, though, that it goes to show just how impressed I was with the food at that place - AK Bistro. Now that I think back, I am pretty sure we were supposed to go to another place, but it was full. So we just went into the first empty place we ran across, and it was great.

Serendipity at its finest.
AK Bistro does not have an extensive menu, but you will already have to go back several times to try everything out. The main thing that struck me as I perused their menu that day - and believe me, it took a while for the words to register - was that I had to draw upon my imagination (the little that was working at that point).

Many of the dishes they serve are Filipino classics with a very interesting twist. How does "Pinakbet Rice with Lechon Bagnet and Chocolate Bagoong" sound? Pinakbet is a Filipino vegetable dish with okra, eggplant, squash, and beans.

I wanted to try this (among many others) but I doubt that my stomach could have handled it. One of our group did order it, and it was amazing (yup, couldn't resist a bite). The chocolate-bagoong mixture was not disgusting, as I thought it might be, mainly because the individual flavors were not too strong and didn't clash. I don't know how they did it, but it worked.

Here is the menu for more interesting options.

In spite of the several dishes that tempted me more, I settled for a simple "Chili Tinapa with Artichoke Pasta". Tinapa is smoked fish, and its saltiness was balanced out by the plum tomatoes and artichoke hearts.

The "Tuyo Pasta", dried salted fish, was excellent as well. 

A member of our group ordered this, which I think is the "Menudo Pot", but I am not so sure. 

This steamed salmon does look good, doesn't it? 

The other night, on Steve Jobs's death anniversary, I somehow ended up at AK Bistro again (that's a story for another post), and since I had Indian for dinner, I only went for coffee and dessert. Now, THIS is what Apple Pie is supposed to look like!

And it was perfect! 

For the money shot...

For the Apple Pie alone, I would go back to AK Bistro, but during my most recent visit, I discovered their frozen food collection. From siomai to shrimp dumpling to lumpia to corned beef to chicken pot pie - they have a vast collection of yummies you can take home, store in the freezer, and stick in the microwave (or oven or steamer) when hunger strikes. The prices of the frozen goods range from 250 to 400, I think. I got chicken pot pie, which I had for brunch yesterday, and yes, I'll buy it again!

Find AK Bistro at:
Unit W-105 One Rockwell, Rockwell Center, Poblacion, Makati City
Telephone No.: 478-9880
Mobile No.: (0917) 813-3763
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Angels-Kitchen/255342177609