Lately, I do not pass up on food blogger events because of the GCs. They are given for free to invited bloggers and they are usually worth PHP 1,000 to PHP 2,000 (USD 21.68-43.35). Don’t judge me, these gift certificates have fed me in my two months of being jobless. Anyway, I had an invite that I had to pass up because of an engagement with some friends. I love my friends but at back of my head, I was like, “Sayang ang GC.” I know, pathetic, but really when you’re jobless you shrink your pride just a little bit because pride doesn’t put food on the table. But it’s done and I enjoyed the company of my friends anyway and there are other blogger events in the future. Then a few days later my friend Richie (ThePickiestEater) messaged me asking if I wanted to join him during his shoot (he has a Youtube channel, by the way, check it out, it’s awesome). When he said that it’s Salvatore Cuomo, hope is renewed. You see, it’s the same restaurant that I was supposed to go had not friends happened.
At Uptown Parade Mall in BGC you will find Salvatore Cuomo, an Italian casual dining restaurant named after an Italian celebrity chef. It owns a big space dressed up in industrialized theme; the pipeworks exposed on the ceiling accented by contemporary light fixtures, the walls from floor to ceiling are made of glass, which allows natural light to come in, there is an open kitchen with a wood-fired oven in the far middle part of the room, and there is also a bar that offers wine and other alcoholic drinks. There are many servers dressed impeccably in a white long-sleeved button-down shirt under a black vest paired with black trousers. It’s my fancy way of saying that the look and feel of the place may be a little intimidating especially if you don’t frequent posh places. But it’s alright, the staff is nice and would make you feel like a VIP.
I came in and was shown to the table where the other media people and bloggers were seated. I waited for a familiar face before I made myself comfortable (I tend to do that in places filled with strangers). The media people were already eating. While waiting, the waiter offered to get me a drink; I ordered Flat White. You know when you’ve tasted something so good you wanted to cry? That’s what happened upon my first sip of this coffee. The flavor is so rich and creamy and I savored every drop of it. Before this, the best flat white I’ve ever tasted is from Toby’s Estate, but now it comes in second; for me, the best flat white can be found at Salvatore Cuomo.
Salvatore Cuomo’s specialty is Neapolitan (Napoletana) pizza. Don’t know what Neapolitan pizza is? That makes two of us. So I googled and it means pizza made with tomatoes and in some cases, mozzarella cheese (but then again, aren’t most pizza made that way?). It originated in Naples, Italy, hence the name. Unlike the regular pizza though, Neapolitan pizza doesn’t go heavy on the toppings and it is cooked in a special oven burned by wood.
Pizza
So that’s a little Neapolitan 101 for you, now let’s go to the actual pizza. The first pizza that I ate is the Quattro Formaggi (PHP 750 – USD 16.20), which happens to be my most favorite pizza flavor. There was something different with this pizza though, instead of salty, which how most 4-cheese pizza are, this one is sweet. It is so sweet I wondered if there was something wrong with my taste buds. Turns out, they pour honey over their pizza. I’m sure others would appreciate a honey drenched pizza but not me, I want my pizza salty. Sure enough, it tasted better for me when I lay off the honey.
Another pizza that I tried is D.O.C. (PHP 780 – USD 16.84). It looks just like the quatro formaggi only it has basil and cherry tomatoes. I found that I liked it better because of the hint of caustic taste from the tomatoes.
Now if you want meat on your pizza and you are more of a mushroom than a tomato person then order Porcini e Porchetta (PHP 720 – USD 15.55), which is made up of porcini mushroom, roasted pork, basil, and mozzarella.
Meat
We were served Tagliere di Affettati (PHP 960 – USD 20.73). It’s a wooden platter of meat cuts, of fresh parma ham, neapolitan salami, and mortadella ham. Out of the three, the neapolitan salami is the most savory.
You want more meat then get the Tagliata di Manzo (PHP 1,500 – USD 32.39). It’s a platter of beef ribeye steak with basil sauce and parmesan cheese. It’s delicious especially the fatty part. The only reason I only had 2 strips of it is because I was already full.
Pasta
Have you ever met a pasta which toppings taste better than the pasta itself? I just did and it’s Spaghetti alla Spuma di Carbonara (PHP 480 – USD 10.37). Don’t get me wrong, the pasta tastes good, and I like that it’s not too heavy on the cream unlike most carbonara, but the thing that really stood out for me about this dish is those bits of pork that were tossed to it, they were really flavorful.
Drinks
As with their drinks I recommend trying their fresh fruit frozen offerings. Two bloggers ordered Rooftop Blue (PHP 380 – USD 8.21) and Breezy Breeze (PHP 250 – USD 5.40). I, on the other hand, ordered Richie’s recommendation, Passionate Rosso (PHP 250 – USD 5.40), a mixture of fresh watermelon, lemon, cranberry juice, and grenadine syrup. Passionate Rosso and Breezy Breeze are non-alcoholic but the Rooftop Blue has rum.
Desserts
Like I always say, you should always have room for dessert. We were served two delectable desserts, but I didn’t get the name of the one pictured below. My companions loved it but I didn’t. I’m not too crazy about chocolate you see.
But the Tiramisu with the matcha ice cream, now this one is what sweet dreams are made of. You can eat the cake alone, it’s good on its own, but the matcha ice cream enhances its flavor.
And the people seemed to have caught on because Salvatore Cuomo recently trended on Looloo. The food here is expensive as you can see but given the quality service, the beautiful ambiance, great food, and that hi-tech toilet (couldn’t forget that one), Salvatore Cuomo is one of those few places I woudn’t mind spending on.
Oh yeah, no GCs were given, but I still enjoyed it so it was good.
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Comments (17)
Sheri @ A Busy Bees Life
This all looks so wonderful and tasty. I love having different variety in food. I love Pizza with different toppings but sometimes I just like to get a simple tomato mozarella.
Sabine
Wow so much food to choose from. Pizzas and meat looks really yummy. The dessert are typical Italian too. The drinks looks refreshing!
Aldrick 'chiki' Zabala Agpaoa
This post made me hungry, ate! And now I am drooling! And I feel you, too, when you said that you don’t pass on some of food blog invites lately. Me, too! Harhar! Anyway, there are lots of invites there so we shouldn’t worry! Hope to be with you in an event, ate! 🙂
Darlene
Waahh I so want to try this. Especially their DOC and the Porcini e Porchetta! Both looks lovely and made how I want my pizza. I’m not a fan of those deep dish and thick crusts. And I really love brick oven pizzas! They lend a special smoky taste to the pizza. Hungry now!
Rowena Conde
Mouth watering! I’m a pizza and coffee addict so I might drop by this place soon 🙂
Jane Rosewood
OMG! I’m so jelous right now…Everything looks so good and you are so lucky! The only problem I think I would have, if i’ll try to be a food blogger, is keeping my weight normal..I will have to visit the gym every day of the week..Haha. But I won’t mind being invited for an event like this from time to time 🙂
Tamshuk
The pizzas look oh so good. But I wouldn’t like anything sweet on my pizza. And that rooftop blue drink looks quite interesting
Charm Gamboa
I want to visit the place because of the good food presentation but was hesitant because of the price. Then you mentioned the hi tech CR at the end. That I have to see!
Ma.Me.Mi.Mommy
I’ve been passing up on a lot of events lately too since the kids starte school. Now I miss vacation. Haha. Those pizzas looks sooooo yum!
Cykaniki
Wow, being a food blogger is such a blessing, as what you’ve mention gc and indulging with that tasty foods, you made me want to eat pizza now,
Maria
Wow. Just wow. The food and drinks really look well done. The pizzas are just lovely. I hope to be invited for an event there. Hahaha!
ROBERT LEE
Food looks great and tasty. And yes, that is one of the perks of food blogging. I have one question, being a blogger myself, what happens when food do not live up to standards? How do you handle such cases?
Marjorie Gavan
Hi Robert, good question. As with me, I have always been honest about it even if the food is sponsored. But I do it in such a way that I wouldn’t sound too harsh because I believe there is always room for improvement.
Berlin
When there is an invite on restos and food, i usually nod if my sked is free because i would want to experience the place and the food. Getting gcs and freebies is a bonus and highly appreciated. The place indeed spells elegance and quality (food, services, etc).
Ivan Jose
Food-related events are always exciting. I have attended such an event once and it was really fun. Your food photos are making me drool. Wow, maybe we’d have something Italian this weekend.
Arni
I am salivating now. The salami and charcuterie meat platter and those pizzas, ah yum! When you described the flat white coffee there, it makes me want to drink it even though I can only ever drink black. Awesome writing and review as always Marge.
Diego Guzman
OMG! I was not hungry until I read this article… the food looks delicious! Only part that’s kind of sucky is the prices =( even a small snack like the Charcuterie is $20.73… =( dang!