Uma Nota in BGC Teaches Us the Art of Brazilian-Japanese Cuisine

Uma Nota 
Shangri-La the Fort, 30th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City
Contact: 0917-307-2766
Facebook: www.facebook.com/umanota.manila
Open from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. (Sunday to Tuesday) for dinner; 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Sunday to Tuesday) and 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Wednesday to Saturday) for the bar

(SPOT.ph) On paper, Brazil and Japan are miles apart with massive differences in their culture and defining flavors. But fly to São Paulo and you'll find a Japanese population, and with it, a segment of the local food with clear Japanese influences. Uma Nota gives diners a glimpse of this Brazilian-Japanese flavor union—and from their outposts in Hong Kong and Paris, they've landed on our shores, bringing the vibrant and hearty plates they've come to be known for to Shangri-La the Fort in Bonifacio Global City.

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Here's your first look + what to try at Uma Nota Manila:

Japanese cuisine in Brazil—also called Nipo Brasileiro cuisine—has roots in the Japanese mass immigration to São Paulo's coffee plantations via the steamship Kasato Maru in 1908. You see the remains of this piece of history today: São Paulo is home to numerous sushi spots and is noted for the prevalence of Japanese cuisine—one they've made their own, anyway, what with distinctly Brazilian twists like having corn or cassava in place of rice. 

It's this culinary marriage that Uma Nota pays homage to—and brings to our side of the world this time around. The recently opened Manila branch can be found by the corner of 30th and 5th streets in BGC, where Ministry of Crab used to be located. Never mind that it looks rather plain from the outside; a whole different world awaits once you've passed the tunnel-like entrance and gone down the birdcage-esque staircase.

Though dim in the later hours of the evening, the Manila branch excites with its spaciousness and interiors designed by Asmaa Said of Dubai-based The Odd Duck Studio. It can seat up to 174 people all in all, and is divided into four main parts: the Living Room with a "hanging tree" installation; the Bar from which you can order a drink or two; the Tropicalia, inspired by the Tropicália movement of the '70s; and the Meiji Room with a Japanese mural.

Brazilian and Japanese elements dance the samba across their menu. Some are more exclusively one or the other: representing Brazil are Coxinhas de Frango (P700) filled with chicken and okra, and the Dadinhos de Tapioca (P600), or crisp-chewy "dices" of tapioca pearls and cheese. Japan, of course, is repped by their stellar sushi selection: try the Salmon Roll (P800) lent creaminess by wasabi cream cheese and avocado, or their premium nigiri with Otoro (P1,900), Hamachi (P600), or Hotate (P600).

Elsewhere, Uma Nota marries flavors from both cultures. Slices of seared beef tenderloin are underscored by smoked ponzu, black garlic mayo, and crispy shallots in the Tataki de Carne de Sol (P950); the meatless Avocado Roll (P450) delivers zesty bites with its fillings of grilled asparagus, pickled radish, and vegan herb mayo. And for the splurge-worthy main that is the A4 Kumo-Oh Japanese Wagyu Striploin (P8,500), Uma Nota pairs its namesake—grilled your way, of course (do yourself a favor and get it medium-rare)—with molho à campanha, a Brazilian tomato salsa that brightens every forkful of the buttery beef.

Turn up the heat of the night by ordering a cocktail or two to go with these bites—the Maracuja is a simple but enlivening mix of lime, sugar, passion fruit, and Cachaça, while the the Red Flag is a four times mischievous thanks to Arette tequila, Mancino Rosso Amaranto, Mezcal Durango, and togarashi rum—plus a photo of you as the “red flag” attached to the glass. Don’t leave without trying the Abacaxi Churrasco, a dessert of roasted pineapple and a whisky-caramel sauce, or the Matcha Layered Cake hiding under a cloud of cotton candy that they torch on your table as it's served.

Compared to its Hong Kong and Paris counterparts, co-founder Alexis Offe shares that Uma Nota Manila will be "elevating the experience" by holding "big events" in their swanky space. "Uma Nota has always been a celebration of cultural harmony, a symphony where Brazilian and Japanese influences dance together. Our journey into Manila is more than just an expansion; it's an immersion into
the rich tapestry of flavors and experiences unique to this vibrant city."

Uma Nota first opened in Hong Kong in 2017, followed by their Paris branch in 2018.

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