A taste of authentic Italian steak in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – It started in a small town in Rome, Italy. Finestra’s Executive Chef, Alan Marchetti, shared that his love for cooking started when he was 14. “[What I love about cooking is] the interaction you have with people inside the kitchen, outside the kitchen. You meet new people, visit new countries [and] you get in touch with different cultures. It was fascinating for me when I was very young and now I travel around the world,” he shared.

Today, he is determined to share what Italian cooking and dining is all about. Finestra, the first Italian Steakhouse in Manila, serves a wide selection of premium steaks like Australian Blackmore Wagyu beef, Snake River Wagyu beef and USDA Omaha Angus beef. To complete and complement their masterpiece, they also serve delicious antipasti, seafood and pasta dishes and melt-in-your-mouth desserts to complete the Finestra dining experience.

EXTRA FLAVOR. Fresh herbs, salt, and pepper are used to give marbled steaks extra flavor. All photos courtesy of Angie de Silva/Rappler

“I like to see what people like to eat in the countries where I am, then I will adapt a little bit of my cuisine to their taste. I don’t really [veer] away from my roots. When someone comes to my restaurant they want to try what I do, not what I can manipulate,” Marchetti said.

Finestra only uses the freshest ingredients handled by its world-class chefs in the open kitchen.

FRESH INGREDIENTS. Chef Alan shares that for every dish he makes, he uses only top-quality ingredients to give his customers the best dining experience.

Most people associate Italian cuisine with pizza and pasta. “But we are much more than that,” Marchetti said. With Finestra, he’s determined to change how Filipinos perceive Italian fare. “Filipinos are crazy about their meats. Let them discover how we do it in Italy,” he said.

OCTOPUS CARPACCIO. Flavorful and thinly-sliced octopus topped with cherry tomatoes, brined olives, spring onions, basil and fresh olive oil among other quality ingredients.

AGNOLOTTO TARTUFO CARBONARA. Handmade pasta parcels filled with creamy carbonara stuffing, crispy bacon, zucchini and black truffle will leave you in awe.

LINGUINE. Fresh New Zealand clams paired with linguine, cherry tomatoes, rocket, chili and garlic.

THE PORTERHOUSE. Tender beef with just the right amount of spice and topped with freshly grated horseradish as the final touch.

According to Marchetti, steaks in Italy are served during special occasions, so he wanted Finestra’s take on it to be extra-special as well. “We want it to be a centerpiece in [the] restaurant, it has to be a celebration in a way. When I was young we go to restaurant if we celebrate so I translate it to this menu too,” he said.

FINESTRA GRAND DESSERT. Warm chocolate syrup melts over a ball of chocolate to reveal – what else – decadent chocolate cake and ice cream. A must-try for all chocolate lovers.

The Italian steakhouse restaurant is just starting to make its mark in the Manila dining scene. Solaire Outlets Manager Girald Manuel says that ever since they rebranded Finestra from an Italian restaurant to an Italian steakhouse, it has been a big hit. From the usual 60 covers a night, they now serve more than a hundred.

On top of their standard menu, they also hold Aperitivos, a classic Italian tradition of light drinks and meals at the end of a work day. They will also be offering special set menus for the holidays, perfect for family dinners or get togethers. For inquiries visit their website here. – Rappler.com

Finestra Italian Steakhouse is located at Solaire Resort & Casino, Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Paranaque City.