Metiz June 2022 Tasting Menu Review

I’ve always liked the novelty of tasting menus, but invariably am disappointed after because I end the course hungry. But still, I never learn and I continue to go back, in part because it really is super interesting to see how the chefs are able to reimagine different food pairings and ingredients to come up with something completely new. Whether the dish they create is actually good is a whole different story.

For today, I’ll walk you through my experience at Metiz – which boasts a 7-course tasting menu that’s proudly Philippines (aka uses locally sourced ingredients to create Filipino dishes – with a heavy emphasis on vegetables, fermentation as a cooking method, and all the savory and tangy flavors that make up a Filipino dish).

1️⃣ Manibalang mango, mangosteen sorbet, cucumber

The sorbet and cucumber combo was super refreshing. The manibalang mango was a bit too tart for me, but I supposed it jolted my palate awake 🤣

 

2️⃣ Lettuce, cured egg, tuyo

Never a veggies fan, but this had interesting texture. The star for me was the tuyo that wasn’t a tuyo, all the strong flavors without any of the fishiness

 

3️⃣ Tofu, lumpia, fermented mangosteen and mushrooms garum

Tastes like stinky tofu, and yet I prefer the street version to this

 

4️⃣ Kakanin, egg jam, muscovado, burnt nyog

Super interesting flavors! The egg jam was delectable, and the burnt nyog and muscovado added a symphony of flavors 🤔 But hmm, not something I’d keep coming back to

 

5️⃣ Squid, bulalo, strawberry, cured shrimp

Delicious! Star of the night for me. Squid amazingly tender, bulalo sauce tasted like bone marrow at its finest. Kagutom!

 

6️⃣ Chicken, green tomato boshi, green papaya

If the previous dish overwhelmed in the intensity of its flavors, this one feels like the warm soup that welcomes you home. The chicken skin was delicious and oh-so-crispy

 

7️⃣ Ubod, saba, gatas, bilo bilo

The fancy version of bananacue! Yumyum, I never say no to dessert, but I did find this a tad cloying halfway through

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So how did Metiz fare? I thought the food was good – couple of hits, couple of misses – but all provided interesting contrast in texture and flavor. I thought each one was distinctly unique and powerful in flavor – although this may or may not be a good thing. I would have liked more explanation on what I was eating as I find myself enjoying the dish better when I know what goes into my mouth.

Serving size, as always, is small; and I really wanted to pop by a McDo afterwards 🤣

At PHP 3600 per person, it certainly isn’t cheap, although this would be considered a decent price for a tasting menu here in the metro. Hmmm. Would I come back? Maybe. But I’ll probably try the other tasting menus on offer first.