Secret Menu: Australia Meats Japan With Carmelo's Steakhouse's Secret Dish
There's a wee bit of French in the cocktail too.
(SPOT.ph) From the legendary Melo’s Steakhouse lineage—one of Manila’s OG steak pioneers—comes Carmelo’s Steakhouse, which, this is important: carries the same quality of steaks as Melo's. Now, everyone already knows their Angus steaks and Australian and Japanese Wagyu beef variants are great, but let’s talk about something different.
Enter the Wafu Pasta with Seared Wagyu—a bold creation making its menu debut for the second run of Secret Menu. Curated by SPOT.ph and Esquire, this is a lineup of off-the-menu dishes from Makati’s top restaurants and cafés, exclusively for those with a UnionBank credit card in their wallet.
Also read: The Secret Menu Is Back with More Hidden Eats in Makati City
Carmelo’s Steakhouse just dropped a new steak dish with Japanese-style pasta for Secret Menu
Within the world of wafu—a genre of dishes that meld Japanese ingredients with Western techniques—are pasta dishes with distinctly Japanese flavors. Carmelo's Steakhouse's Wafu Pasta, in particular, is a light yet umami-rich spaghetti dish that delivers the flavor without the heaviness of a cream or tomato sauce. “It’s like aglio olio, but with toasted Wagyu fat that gives it a twist of flavor,” explains Chef Christina Santiago, who helms Carmelo’s Steakhouse and happens to be the daughter of the late, great Carmelo Santiago (read: the Melo of Melo's Steakhouse).
As simple as its components are, the Wafu Pasta is not one to shy away from flavors—and great visuals. The pasta is crowned with red and magenta edible flowers, microgreens, and slices of red chilies for a touch of heat. And yes, there are also bits of Wagyu tossed in there, too.
Priced at P5,000 (note: a very reasonable price considering the quality), the Wafu Pasta is served on a plate with seared Australian Wagyu—roughly 10-12 ounces, cooked to your preferred doneness—plus Carmelo's Steakhouse's soup of the day. Also included in the set is a glass of La Vie en Rose, a cocktail made specially for Secret Menu that ties in with the floral visuals of the pasta. This is a gin-based cocktail in a champagne rose hue with the sweetness of lychee, then dusted with red edible glitter.
Carmelo's Steakhouse's Wafu Pasta With Seared Wagyu is part of the SPOT.ph x Esquire Secret Menu, a month-long partnership that lets you try exclusive items from top restaurants in the city using your UnionBank credit card. Just let the servers know your order and charge the total purchase amount to your UnionBank credit card. Note that restaurant representatives might ask for proof of identification. Only one credit card can be used per transaction, and the promo cannot be combined with upgrade certificates, other promotions, packages, and privilege/VIP cards. These are available for dine-in and takeout; no minimum spend is required.
You only have until April 29 to try Carmelo's Steakhouse's Wafu Pasta with Seared Wagyu and other Secret Menu items from participating establishments. Don’t forget to tag us on socials (@spotph), and use the hashtags #SpotTheSecretMenu #EsquireSecretMenu #UnionbankSecretMenu when you post!
Read more about the SPOT.ph x Esquire Secret Menu. Carmelo's Steakhouse is at 2F, The Proscenium Retail Row, Rockwell, Makati City. For more information, check out Carmelo's Steakhouse’s Instagram page.
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