Dean & DeLuca | ORE Central Tower BGC

I remember visiting the Makati branch of Dean & DeLuca with my office friends years ago. Our office then moved from Makati to BGC, that’s why we were ecstatic when we found out that Dean & DeLuca would be opening a BGC branch, which is just a very short walk from our office. Unfortunately, we started working in different shifts, and then the lockdown happened, which forced us to work from home. Mitch, Jen, and I had been planning a lunch date ever since we started going back to the office. Our company adapted to the hybrid setup which requires us to only be in the office for four times a month. We go to the office on different days, but we made sure to find a common day before the Christmas break last year. We were finally able to pay Dean & DeLuca a visit!

We were fortunate to be seated right away even if we went on a Friday. It took us a while to choose from their menu because we were distracted by the breads and pastries behind us! Haha!

We jumpstarted our lunch with an appetizer – Crispy Calamari. This dish is a tricky one. It requires perfection, otherwise the squid will be chewy. I had high expectations given its hefty price tag.

Crispy Calamari PHP590

I’m glad it didn’t disappoint! It was cooked to perfection. I tried it without any of the dips, and it was good on its own. I had no idea what the reddish, powdery topping was, but it gave a nice kick to the squid. The arrabbiata sauce looked so refreshing. But don’t be deceived as its rich and spicy flavors enhanced the calamari. I loved the creamy remoulade because I could taste all the spices which notched up the flavors of calamari! This appetizer was the perfect way to wake up our taste buds.

We also got Green Goddess Pesto which cost PHP550. We opted to add chicken for PHP100. This one received mixed reviews from our table. It wasn’t my favorite, but Jen loved it. Don’t get me wrong. It isn’t bad at all. Dean & DeLuca’s version is quite subtle for me. I cook pesto at home, and mine is on the strong side. I requested for more parmesan cheese, and it did help elevate the flavors.

Green Goddess Pesto PHP550

Unlike the Green Goddess Pesto, the Chorizo Kimchi Rice was the runaway winner! We were all eyeing something from the Grain Bowls section of their menu until we finally decided to have the Chorizo Kimchi Rice. It was the best decision ever!

We love Korean food, so it wasn’t hard for us to appreciate the complex flavors of this dish, especially coming from the kimchi and the fermented vegetables. I loved the garlicky and spicy chorizo. Its pungent flavor was a real treat for my palates. The kimchi and vegetables didn’t only provide more layers of flavors, but also contrast with the textures. And those perfectly cooked sunny side eggs made the dish even better. I mean, everything is better with fried eggs! Haha! Each bite of the Chorizo Kimchi Rice felt like an explosive party of flavors in my mouth.

Chorizo Kimchi Rice PHP590

Food is on the pricey side, but I really loved the Crispy Calamari and the Chorizo Kimchi Rice. Service could have been better. It wasn’t bad, but getting the attention of the servers was such an arduous task.

Dean & DeLuca
Ground Floor, ORE Central Building,
31st Street Corner 9th Avenue,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City