Bolero opens in BGC: Come for the cheesecake, stay for everything else

Bonifacio Global City, famously referred to as BGC, continues to prove it is home to some of the finest dining concepts in the Philippines. Among its latest, and finest additions is Bolero, an upscale dining concept focusing on modern European cuisine.

Contrary to its name, the people behind Bolero are not just sweet talkers. Its head chef, Fernando Alcalá, is Michelin-recognized for his Spanish restaurant Kava in Marbella, Spain. And Kava’s cheesecake offering was named the Best Cheesecake in Spain at the National Championship of Cheesecakes in 2019.

Alcalá brought the same recipe Bolero. You could say the cheesecake is the restaurant’s pièce de résistance. The flourless dessert is anything but typical. It features a toasted buttery crust and once sliced, has a  runny texture inside. It’s soft, smooth, and creamy, all thanks to several kinds of soft cheese, most notably mascarpone. In Bolero, a slice of the award-winning Spain Cheesecake costs P560.

But we’re getting ahead of the story. Bolero’s menu is nothing short of a celebration of European cuisine. 

Starting with snacks and appetizers appropriate for “pika pika” options, the Green Onion Waffle with a Ricotta dip (P650) caught this writer’s attention. It’s similar to Hong Kong’s famous egg waffle, but  elevated by its pillowy texture and onion bits. Dip it in a plate of Ricotta and it’s the perfect explosion of playful flavors in the mouth: Savoury, sour, and sweet all at once.

Another Bolero must-try? The Skipjack Tuna, Ajoblanco, and Grapes (P690). It features a slice of grilled skipjack tuna with a charred exterior and a raw interior. It is laid over a bed of cold almond cream peppered with infused oils. The finishing touches include sliced grapes, fish roe, and watercress.

For the mains, Bolero offers a variety of dishes under its meat and seafood selections. For the meats, you can choose from Whole Grilled Chicken (P1,380), Duck with Meatballs (P2,490), and Iberian Pork Chop (P2,980), among others.

Then we go back to the cheesecake. The dessert alone makes Bolero worth a visit. But lucky us, the new restaurant has many unique dishes on offer.

GF, Verve Tower 2, High street south, 26th 27th Street, Taguig, +639171201228

— LA, GMA Integrated News