A TASTE OF ITALY
A traditional yet unique food experience offers authentic tastes of a well-loved culinary destination
Manila’s wine-and-dine scene has been on a surge. It seems like every two weeks, a new restaurant is opening around Fort Bonifacio or at the Makati Business District. This is wholly driven by more and more people enjoying dining out, wanting something new to try as the Filipino palate becomes more discerning and sophisticated. That is why, even though Manila’s dining scene has had its share of Italian restaurants, Cicchetti and Mazzo, a new and unique Italian duo restaurant concept, was introduced for Italian-loving foodies. North of Fort Bonifacio, Cicchetti and
Mazzo are away from the hustle and bustle of everything, situated on the 8th floor of MDI Corporate Centre. The restaurant and bar occupy half the floor. A cozy indoor Italian restaurant, Cicchetti, has modern and industrial chic styled interiors with a pop of color. Outside is Mazzo, a long al fresco bar, with relaxing lanai-like seating, pretty potted trees, and a nice skyline view.
This place offers a sophisticated but casual Italian dining experience. I must say that the food was absolutely scrumptious and I truly enjoyed it. Good food, well-crafted drinks and cocktails, a well-curated wine selection, and a nice ambiance one would enjoy with good
company constitute a tried and tested formula for a wonderful feast with friends and family.
The food selection was thoughtfully created for small groups to savor. Their traditional Italian cooking with a twist in taste exceptionally satisfies the distinct Filipino palate. The food is simple and well-executed, unlike those complicated plates of pasta over-embellished with fancy ingredients and ultimately confusing our taste buds. If you're wondering why you need to put your attention to this Italian resto, the answer is simple—the food is delicious and the ambiance has no pretenses.
At Mazzo, they offer casual finger food, perfect for relaxed drinking. You can pair the food almost with almost any of their tasty concoctions or your good old favorite mixes. You can also order food from Cicchetti at the al fresco area to go with your drinks.
I was able to try several of the food on the menu, and some instantly became my favorites. Let’s start with the appetizers and finger foods. I couldn’t get enough of the Mozzarella and Prosciutto Balls with basil on top. I loved the generous serving of mozzarella and how the cheesiness blends so well with the other ingredients. The basil adds tanginess to it, giving it a little punch. I had to stop myself from eating more so I can try more dishes.
The Manzo Bruciato, otherwise known as torched carpaccio, was very soft and chewy, and tastier than your usual beef carpaccio. Prime tenderloin with a slight sweetness on the meat, combined with capers and garlic made for a tasty one-of-a-kind treat. It is perfect to pair with bread and your cocktail of choice. Their flatbreads, or as some would call thin-crust pizzas, are oven-cooked to perfection. I love the crisp base with some areas of softness. The Prosciutto Flatbread with arugula and balsamic crème certainly did not disappoint.
The Chicken Cacciatore, a classic Italian comfort food, was cooked with a slight tinge of spiciness, which I love. Chicken breast dishes that are fried or broiled become dry and chewy, but this one is moist. The rich and rustic sauce seeps through the chicken making each bite flavorful. Certainly, this is something that you should order.
The pasta. I love pasta but I tend to not order any because it is loaded with carbs. Theirs, however, is worth breaking your diet for. The Carbonara, indeed, is one of the best I’ve ever tasted. It is cooked traditionally
without cream but still tastes fantastic without it. I assume it has fewer calories because of this. It was delicious without the heaviness. It is topped with guanciale, to give it a degree of saltiness and to balance the taste. This dish is divine. Although I wish they could add more guanciale in it, just because I love it.
The Bucatini al Amatriciana composed of cherry tomatoes, chili, and guanciale, not only because of my bias in anything with guanciale, is another must order. Very few, if not none, of the Italian restaurants serve this type of pasta in Manila. This pasta is a Roman delicacy that has a sharp tomato taste balanced by the rich and salty taste of the guanciale. The thick bucatini pasta absorbs the flavors, fusing the rich taste of the tomato, guanciale, and chili resulting in a tasty and classic Italian flavor from Roma.
The Beef Braciole was cooked in the authentic Italian way, but wrapped in prosciutto and paired with potato and carrot purée. The beef was quite tender and the prosciutto added a salty taste, making it a perfect combination. This dish is hearty and definitely worthy of your appetite.
Their Cannoli is the best in town. It transported me back to Italy. The granola around it made it more interesting. The taste was delectable in every bite. I already forgot how much calories I've had by the time I finished the whole thing. Need I say more?
For those who love undeniably Italian flavors, Cicchetti and Mazzo will not fail you. It’s cozy and stylish industrial ambiance
is sure to be enjoyed with a small group of friends, over some old fashioned Italian dishes with an innovative twist and paired with their specially concocted cocktails. to sample the menus consisting of cicchetti or Italian "small bites,", specialty pasta, gourmet starters and salads, and scrumptious mains and desserts.
Food packed with flavor, made with high-quality products, and presented in an innovative way is an impeccable homage to Italian comfort food cuisine. They have perfected the art of innovating national dishes by adjusting to the Filipino palate to make food more delightful. It is certainly worth the trip to this side of Fort Bonifacio and I will surely go back to bring friends and enjoy the delectable Italian food offerings.
CICCHETTI AND MAZZO are located in the 8th Floor of MDI Corporate Center, 10th Avenue, 39th St, Taguig City
Interior Photos LUTHER ABCEDE