New on the Menu: Stella's Spicy Sesame Chicken, Cured Bacon Pizza + more

Stella
G/F Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City
Contact: 621-3222, 621-3111
Open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

(SPOT.ph) When did we start describing food as "Instagram-worthy?" Thanks to the photo-sharing social media app, almost everybody now catalogs their meals with the earnestness of seasoned food writers.

Restaurants have noticed this phenomenon and kitchens are always making sure that their dishes are, indeed, worthy of that perfect picture. Bonifacio Global City bistro Stella, for instance, has always been known for their beautiful plating. However, these dishes aren't just pretty faces, thanks to the mad skills of Raintree Group Executive Chef and resident pretty boy Kalel Chan. He understands that a good-looking package has to be backed by a more superb core, and Stella's California-inspired brick-oven offerings are innovative, comforting, and most importantly, tasty. 

Crispy Walnut Beef and Arugula Salad

The new dishes have a refreshing touch of Asian flavors and exotic spices. For example, the Crispy Walnut Beef and Arugula Salad (P350) topped with nashi pear, Gorgonzola bits, sweet and spicy gochujang dressing, and toasted sesame. The crisp pear and strong cheese is a classic combo pumped up by the nuttiness and spice from the Korean soy paste.

Piri-piri Chilean Mussels

Hands get dirty with the Piri-piri Chilean Mussels (P550), but you wouldn't mind. After sucking the tender flesh from the shell, it is a must to dunk the toasted crusty bread into the spicy, tangy wine sauce. Yes, a must.

Cured Bacon Pizza

Stella's brick-oven churns out amazing pizzas, and the Cured Bacon (P350) is already a certified hit. It's carbonara on a pizza crust. "But it's not Asian! You said the theme is Asian," you say. When was the last time you went to a local cafe that failed to serve some sort of creamy, bacon-y pasta? Exactly. 

Black Pepper Crab Cream Pasta

Speaking of creamy pastas, prepare to fall in love with the Black Pepper Crab Cream Pasta (P295). Squeeze some lemon on top to cut through the richness, even seafood lovers will be pleased with this comfort food.

Roasted Spicy Sesame Chicken

Cauliflower Rice

Looking for something high in flavor minus the guilt? That's what the Roasted Spicy Sesame Chicken (P495) is for. The tender meat is stuffed with wakame (the same seaweed floating around your miso soup), then drizzled with gochujang sauce. Soak up all these flavors with the low-carb Cauliflower Rice with Peas and Roasted Cashews (P120).

Crepe a la Stella

For those who opted for a guilt-free main course: go ahead and reward yourself with the Crepe a la Stella (P250). Served a la mode with a mantecado ice cream, the paper-thin pancakes are soaked packages of bacon bourbon bananas then topped with cookie crumble walnuts. It's sweet, smoky, dense, and sinful. For something less complex yet equally satisfying, go for their homemade ice creams. The bubblegum flavored scoop transports us all the way back to grade school—it was Bazooka bubble gum with marshmallows. Quite brilliant, we must say.

Stella's new dishes are refreshing and bold, yet oddly comforting. It caters to a young and adventurous palate that expects to be impressed and captivated. Thankfully, these beauties have substance.

Photos by Hans Fausto