#discoveryprimea

Discovery Primea is a breathtaking oasis right in the middle of the bustling Makati business district (Read: Lavish Urban Escape at Discovery Primea). I really enjoyed my previous staycation here, especially with their gorgeous pool and spa (Read: Turkish Bath at Terazi Spa). With the highly awaited reopening of Metro Manila hotels for tourism coming soon, Discovery Primea is now offering its Welcome Back Deals which include flexible stay dates until December 2022 with special rates. Check out their deals here https://bit.ly/352oFNM.

But before they reopen their hotel rooms, guests can now visit Discovery Primea once again to order their favorites at Tapenade. With its high ceilings, spacious layout, and low customer density design, diners will not have to worry about social distancing protocols.

Tables for two are installed with acrylic dividers for those lunch dates and business meetings. For long tables, markers are also available to help guests observe proper physical distancing. The restaurant is also cleaned and disinfected thoroughly before and after every service.

Safety and Contact Tracing questionnaires must be answered by guests even before entering the hotel. Chefs and servers are also equipped with personal protective equipment such as face masks, face shields, and gloves to ensure the utmost health standards.

It was actually the first time for us to meet our friends since March when the lockdown started. We used to see each other on a weekly basis, sometimes even more, for the last five years attending events, launches, and restaurant and hotel openings, so this casual lunch out at Tapenade really gives a sense of normality in this lockdown world.

Menus are now in the form of QR Codes to lessen surface contact, but you can still request for a physical menu if you wish. Tapenade offers a rich and savory lineup of Mediterranean cuisine featuring healthy salads, stone-baked pizzas, and mouthwatering steaks from the grill.

We started with some refreshments from their Beverage Menu including Pineapple Juice and Mango Juice to brighten our afternoon.

For appetizers, diners will be pleased to rediscover dishes such as Shrimps En Gabardina (P540) or “shrimps in a raincoat” battered in a flour mixture then deep fried in hot oil. This Spanish-style tempura is accompanied with Guindilla aioli dip. The appetizers were already served in portions so that guests will not have to share the plate with each other.

The Patatas Crunchy with Mojo Dip (P220) has very crispy potato slices seasoned with lemon salt. Then we also had the Croquetas de Pollo Y Trufa (P320) which has a combination of roast chicken, ham, and black truffle croquettes.

Our salad that afternoon was the Greek Horiatiki Salad (P420) tossed with Kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucumber, oregano vinaigrette, and feta cheese.

Tapenade is well-known for its stone-baked pizzas. Their special dough is designed for high heat as the pizza is subjected to a sudden burst of heat from the stone oven, puffing up and crisping the crust just right, resulting in the pizzas we know and love. The Pizza Carbonara (P590) is always a favorite with its double smoked bacon, parmigianna-reggiano, and cream topped with a soft egg.

They have also introduced new pizza flavors since most of us are still locked up inside our homes. For those who love salmon, indulge in the Smoked Salmon Pizza (P690) with dill crema, capers, and red onion. I liked how the salty smoked salmon combines with the cheese to provide a balance of flavors.

My favorite pizza would be the U.S. Beef Short Ribs Pizza (P650) which has become so popular ever since it was launched for Tapenade’s takeout offers. This meaty and beefy pizza is complemented by roasted tomato sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan cream.

Tapenade also offers its lineup of pastas such as the Spaghetti Alla Bolognese (P850) with classic meat ragù and the Spaghetti Carbonara (P700) with creamy double-smoked bacon and parmesan sauce.

I tried their delightful Penne Al Funghi (P700) with its creamy portobello, shiitake, and oyster mushroom sauce. This would be a perfect option for a mid- afternoon snack.

For heavy eaters, I recommend ordering their Paella plates which can be good for one or two persons, depending on your appetite. The Roast Chicken and Chorizo (P800) paella is a flavorful combination which comes with green beans and rosemary.

But the highlight that afternoon was definitely the Wagyu Beef and Mushroom (P1200) paella with black pepper aioli. The tender wagyu just bursts with beefy goodness. The paella rice is also infused with savory flavors so you have everything you need all in this plate.

To end our lovely lunch, we sampled on a medley of their colorful desserts. We each had a portion of their heavenly Blueberry Cheesecake (P260), Dulce de Leche (P260), Sans Rival (P260), and the Celebration Cake (P260). Everything was so good and it was a sweet finish to an eventful afternoon. For those who prefer to dine at home, Tapenade On the Go remains available for takeout and via foodpanda, GrabFood, and LalaFood. To view the full menu of its takeout options, visit www.discoveryprimea.com/tapenade-on-the-go which is offered daily from 11:00am to 7:00pm. I’m really hoping that the hotel industry can fully reopen soon so that it can get back on its feet. I really miss my staycations so Discovery Primea will surely be one of my first options.

Discovery Primea

6749 Ayala Avenue, Makati City

7955-8888

www.discoveryprimea.com

Terazi Spa perfects the art of blending luxury, privacy, and excellent service. It features their signature Turkish bath or Hammam treatment and a menu of traditional and natural healing therapies which were carefully designed to restore the body’s balance and rejuvenate the spirit. The spa can be found on the third floor and is open daily from 1:00pm to 11:00pm. Hot tea and cold face towels were served to us before we were led to our room.

Intimacy marks the Terazi Spa experience with its limited number of treatment rooms, exclusive steaming facilities and soaking tub. We first went to our shower room which was connected to the Hammam area. After leaving our things here and showering, we then went to the next room for our Turkish bath.

The Hammam is Terazi Spa’s version of the near-mystical traditional Turkish bath. This method of cleansing and relaxation became popular in Western Europe during the Victorian era. The specially designed facility houses a traditional marble-lined bathhouse which is the only one of its kind in Makati. The treatment begins with a full-body steam as the room became one big sauna where we couldn’t even see each other. The room is heated by a continuous flow of hot, dry air, allowing the bather to perspire freely. This was followed by a dousing of cold water to prepare us for the relaxation ahead.

We both laid down on the heated marble bed where the therapists proceeded to do a “wet massage.” This is a deep body exfoliation using the traditional ‘kese’ mitt to cleanse every inch of your body. We were both covered in a cloud of soapy bubbles, to wash away dead skin cells.

The treatment was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was like I was floating on water, with soap and bubbles all around me. However, due to the heightened temperature, the Hammam is actually not advisable for those suffering from hypertension, heart disease, skin ailments, and asthma or those who have recently undergone a surgical procedure. Good thing I was already more than 6 months away from my hip replacement surgery so this was doctor-approved.

After our Turkish bath, it was now time for the dry portion of our treatment. We were led to the couple’s massage room where our memorable experience continues with the Terazi Signature Massage.

This air-conditioned room was a welcome retreat from the warm Hammam area. We were both given cold refreshing drinks to relax our bodies and get it ready for the massage. A warm foot bath was given first before we laid down on the massage tables.

Guests are given a choice of treatment oils for their massage. The treatments use naturally-sourced ingredients from flowers, plants and fruits, all prepared and administered by well-trained expert therapists. The delicate strokes had me falling into a deep and relaxing slumber.

After the treatment, hot tea will be served at the The Terazi Tea Lounge. This was truly a unique spa experience that no other hotel can offer. If you are looking for a memorable activity to spend with your significant other, then the Hammam with Terazi’s Signature Massage (P5,800++, 120 mins) is probably the best gift you can find. They also offer the Hammam (P3,800++, 45 mins) by itself if you prefer to skip the massage. Come to think of it, this would be a nice birthday gift to my fiancé (and me) once the community quarantine is lifted.

Discovery Primea

6749 Ayala Avenue, Makati City

7955-8888

www.discoveryprimea.com

Happy Hour was made more special with my fabulous girlfriends who were all ready for a night of overflowing drinks and endless stories. We took a seat near the lounge’s famous Gin Library which is where all the fun happens.

Considered as the trailblazer for gin appreciation in Manila, Gilarmi Lounge’s repertoire features a vast assortment of more than 70 gins from around the world, ranging from cult favorites to rare labels, and local brews to imported brands.  

From 5-9pm on weekdays, guests can avail of unlimited servings of Premium gins for only P800++ per person which comes with free-flowing gins, tonics, botanicals, and a selection of mixers. Access to all gins including the Deluxe labels is also offered at P1,300++ per person.

With so many choices available, gin aficionados will definitely enjoy having all these premium brands at their disposal. I am not exactly a gin expert but the bartender was very helpful. I like the fruitier drinks so he prepared this Four Pillars Syrah Gin with Basil Tonic for me. This is a sweet and refreshing G&T, just exactly what a girl like me needed. Guests can mix and match whatever gin and ingredients they want and these are all unlimited.

If you will be staying all the way until dinner, Gilarmi Lounge’s food menu highlights a selection of the hotel’s signature brick oven pizzas including the Gilarmi, Salumi, Quattro Formaggi, and Margherita which are offered with a 30% discount during the Gin Library hours. 

But we weren’t done yet because our next stop was at Edge, the hotel’s 16th floor roofdeck bar with a gorgeous view of the Makati Skyline. This garden lounge is the ideal setting for casual night outs with its creatively crafted cocktails and contemporary mixology. 

The drinks at Edge are a mix of famous sips, revived classics, playful original creations and sophisticated mocktails. But Edge takes unwinding a notch higher with their Happy Hour promotion offering unlimited prosecco daily from 5:00pm to 9:00pm priced at P1,500++ per person.  

Guests can also create their own free-flowing prosecco cocktails with a selection of fruit juices and mixers. I just love sparkling wines so I tried their strawberry and mango-infused prosecco which were both so good.

We also had some of their other signature cocktails like the La Generacion from mixologist Martin Ben Protacio, awarded as the Bacardy Legacy Philippines 2019 Most Promising bartender.

Edge also has some amazing pica-pica and bar chows courtesy of the property’s executive chef Luis Chikiamco. Some of these include the Fried Chicken and Pancakes plus the Warm Salmon Nigiri.

Other savoury options are available like the Shrimp Ceviche and the art-like Wagyu Beef (P450) with sesame soil and garlic slivers. The soft and tender beef cubes are just heavenly! 

It was an awesome night for everyone as we enjoyed all the bubbly beverages at The Gilarmi Lounge and Edge. We ended up staying way past Happy Hour but it was no problem because we had so much more stories and conversations on hand with friends who have become my family. Thank you Margaux Hontiveros, Director of Marketing Communications for Discovery Primea, for hosting this much-needed break. See you again soon!

Discovery Primea

6749 Ayala Avenue, Makati City

955-8888

www.discoveryprimea.com

The Women and Tipple Series is a set of tasting events that foster spirited conversations led by women about what women like to drink. There are a lot of misconceptions and stereotypes about why, what, and when women drink, especially from men who feel like drinking whisky or gin is their territory. While most tasting events in Manila are generally catered to men, the Women and Tipple Series is created for women who are also interested in spirits, without the intimidating and sometimes unruly presence of men.

As a treat to the guests that night, we were all pampered by Benefit Cosmetics Philippines, a brand founded by women and led by women. Some even got to have an individual brow consultation from Benefit's National Brow Artist Celina Fernandez. The Benefit Brow Bar makes a refreshing addition to the usual activities during spirit tastings. So what do you think about my brows?

DrinkManila’s editor-in-chief Tatum Ancheta kicked off the event with a short talk about the evolution of Women and Tipple Series, the current state of the male-dominated beverage industry, as well as loads of trivia on the role of women throughout booze history. DrinkManila, being founded and run by women, wants to create events to accommodate the needs of women who want to know more about the wonderful world of spirits. Women and Tipple seeks to create a safe and supportive environment for women to enjoy, explore, and learn about spirits free from judgment surrounded by like-minded people. Thanks to their male speakers and the men behind the bar who encourage the learning space, the supportive atmosphere emboldens women to examine the spirits more closely and explore the nuances of each bottle.

The second leg of Women and Tipple series introduced three gins to the guests. Led by Booze Online’s Chester Cabrera, he presented the history and taste profile of Hanami Gin, Langley's Old Tom, and Empress 1908. Booze Online Inc. is one of the Philippines' leading companies engaged in importing and distributing global wines, spirits, and premium beers. For the past ten years, it has led in the distribution of beverages to different channels and is considered to be the largest imported beer distributor in the Philippines. 

After guests had a taste of the featured spirits, DrinkManila’s resident mixologist, Icy Mariñas, went behind the counter to mix the cocktails specially created for this event. The gins were used in fun cocktails together with Monin gourmet flavored syrups. 

First up was the pretty Purple Unicorn featuring Empress 1908 Gin, topped with sweet cotton candy that guests got fresh from a cotton candy machine. This playful 'pretty in purple' G&T is like drinking candy from our youths with a grown-up twist in. 

We all got our glasses and headed to the cotton candy machine for our sweet topping! The Purple Unicorn is a fun, colorful drink that balances the earthiness of Empress 1908 Gin with the sweet goodness of cotton candy and the crisp notes of fresh citrus, tarragon, and floral herb ice cubes. Look at how pretty it is!

Our second cocktail was the Lady Macbeth featuring Langley’s Old Tom Gin. This is made with aquafaba (chickpea brine) instead of egg white, making it a creamy, foamy vegan cocktail. Named after one of Shakespeare’s most famous female characters, Lady Macbeth is cunning and ambitious and is a force to be reckoned with. This drink is fragrant, textured, and complex, just like this strong woman.

Some guests were also given a shot at mixing and shaking their own concoctions behind the bar. Recipes for all the cocktails that evening were also given to the guests afterwards, which are quite easy to follow and make at home. 

Last but not least is the fiery Furiosa featuring Hanami Gin, which intrigued guests because of its kimchi flavors, giving it a sour spiciness that is not often experienced in cocktails. Furiosa takes its name from the brave and fearless female lead of the dystopian film Mad Max: Fury Road. The fiery cocktail mixes sweet with sour and spicy in one sip. Hanami Gin’s floral notes anchor this drink as it adds fruity sweetness and spice to it. The kimchi’s sour, spicy, and umami flavors add complexity and intensity to Furiosa, resulting in a cocktail that truly reflects its name.

DrinkManila will also be scheduling a series of workshops and tasting events starting this April. Interested attendees can subscribe to their mailing list at DrinkManila.com for updates on the next schedules. Women are encouraged to join as they build a network of like-minded women with a taste for a good tipple and growing curiosity for the cocktail culture.