TWO OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
powertrain goes into EV mode a split second after the driver eases off the accelerator. The batteries then get recharged as they harvest the kinetic energy from decelaration or braking. It’s amazing how the hybrid system does all these seamlessly. An EV mode button lets you switch to electric propulsion on demand provided certain parameters are met.
JOB WELL DONE BUT HUNGER CALLS
I was expecting the Altis Hybrid to produce good fuel consumption figures and it exceeded my expectations big-time.
In SLEX driving, the Altis Hybrid did well with 32 km/L. This makes the Altis Hybrid one of the most fuel-efficient cars on the road today.
The drive up and down SLEX was fun. But hunger was calling and off to Beso Beso I went.
Second. I arrived at Aleanza Institute on Chino Roces Extension Makati starving and looking forward to a good veggie meal.
“The restaurant anchors its culinary philosophy around the rich and diverse history of the Philippines,” said owner and executive chef Rob Pengson, as he told me about Beso Beso.
For the resto he coined the term “Filipiniana cuisine” based on the philosophy that spans historical heritage cuisine inspired by pre-colonial Spanish occupation to the gastronomic zeitgeist of the present day.
“My main inspiration is the entire Philippine culture, which is part Spanish, part Chinese and part Malay. All the dishes that we create, we flip it on to the Filipino side,” added chef Rob.
As I excitedly waited for my vegetarian meal, which Beso Beso did and can do on request, I learned that the resto opened in December 2019, three months before the city went into lockdown due to the pandemic.
“We had to pivot to survive so we cut down on expenses and opened a cloud kitchen that focused on takeout and deliveries,” he said. “Today, two years later, the F&B industry is starting to recover and we are back to cooking the dishes we love. In the past four months alone, we have seen an incredible amount of business both in dine-ins and catering.”
Finally, the lovely — and oh-so-yummy — vegetarian meal arrived. I fell in love at first taste with the Dark Rye Pandesal with Inihaw na Talong Butter and Tomato Marmalade. It was the start of an exquisitely prepared meal.
As I ate, I learned that Beso Beso’s main offering is a seasonal 10- to 12-course tasting menu that is updated quarterly, as well as a “semi prix fixe” menu supplemented by a creative à la carte tapas selection.
“Our specialties in the current menu include the Bucatini Carbonara, Clam Tostada and Cacao as my personal favorites,” shared chef Rob. “We offer degustation catering for private dinner parties, wedding receptions and corporate functions, as well as customized menus like plant-based dishes for vegetarians and vegans, like you.”
Of course, we know that the Aleanza Institute campus of Beso Beso is a place where guests can book culinary classes for their birthday celebrations, parties and team-building activities.
It was a happy day for me because two of my fave things passed their tests with flying colors.
DRIVE HOME
I got back to the Altis Hybrid and tried its Toyota Safety Sense, a comprehensive suite of passive and active safety features, in the wide-open parking lot.
A Lane Departure Alert gives off a beep and a warning light goes on when the system senses that you are veering off your lane. A Lane Tracing Assist gently tugs at the steering wheel to keep you in your lane.
The Dynamic Radar Cruise Control adjusts your speed to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and can make the car accelerate and decelerate accordingly. The Pre-Collision System helps prevent crashes by alerting the driver that the vehicle ahead has suddenly decelerated or stopped.
Perfect days are made of these and that Saturday was to die for.
For information on Beso Beso, call 0917-179-2562.