Eat and pray; Celebrate the Pope’s Day

HOLY SEE Pope Francis with Archbishop Paul Gallagher (above) and with Archbishop Charles John Brown (below). —Photos from the Vatican

Last week we had the pleasure of dining at Txoko Asador on Esteban Street in Legaspi Village. This restaurant is still as exceptional as it was the first time I tried it prepandemic, in fact, possibly more exquisite than when it started.

The meal opened with a starter of Pan Con Tomate Y Jamon, which is a brilliant concoction of tomato foam enveloped in Jamon Serrano with a touch of Iberico oil. The sweet acidity of the tomato literally bursts in your mouth as you take a bite of the delicately salty jamon. It is truly a memorable first impression, setting the tone for the excellent experience ahead.

On the same plate is their elegant silver of Patatas Bravas, a rectangular offering of roasted potato whose outer layer is beautifully toasted but delightfully soft inside. And still on the same plate as well is the Canelones Txangurro, which gives a burst of umami from the crab meat stuffed inside.

For those who don’t eat beef, for mains they serve a mean Turbot—a relatively large flatfish that is simply grilled but using the resto’s fancy Josper. If you do eat beef, their steak is also an excellent option, especially if you appreciate it with a good bottle of wine from the restaurant’s selections.

Pan Con Tomate y Jamon at Txoko Asador

The highlight of our meal, however, was the Cordero Paella. Paella in this country is usually Valenciana, which has chicken, or Negra, which usually has seafood. It’s not everyday that you have lamb paella, with two big slabs of lamb leg at that. Interestingly enough, the lamb was not gamey at all but very savory, adding abundant flavors to the paella.

By the time you finish your meal, you will hardly have room for dessert—just maybe more wine!

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Speaking of lamb, of course the first thing that comes from my dutiful Catholic mind is the Lamb of God; hence may I greet everyone a Happy Pope’s Day! This year, June 29, Saturday is the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, which is also considered the National Day of the Holy See.

Yesterday, June 29, a beautiful mass was held at the Manila Cathedral presided by His Eminence Jose Cardinal Advincula and our Apostlic Nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown. Meanwhile, tomorrow, it is expected that His Excellency Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, will arrive for the Holy See National Day celebration with the Diplomatic Corps. He will also give a talk on moral governance and ethical leadership at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which can be viewed live on the FSI Philippine Facebook page as well as the page of Dominus Est (Facebook.com/DominusEstPH).

Cordero paella at Txoko Asador —PHOTOS BY MARGAUX SALCEDO

St. Peter is considered by Catholics as the very first Pope, appointed by Christ Himself as the “chief of the Apostles”. It is said that since then, there has been an unbroken transmission of spiritual authority to Peter’s successors in Rome, who in turn, lead the bishops who are considered “successors of the other Apostles”, and consequently the whole People of God. Meanwhile, St. Paul is one of the greatest saints of the early Church, most recognized for his conversion, which is remembered as “a miracle of God’s grace”. May we all find God’s grace, as St. Paul did.

So today, continuing to honor the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul til tomorrow, and as we welcome Archbishop Gallagher to Manila, let’s all pray for our very dynamic and humble Pope Francis as well as his representative to the Philippines, Archbishop Brown, and for the entire Catholic Church! Happy Pope’s Day!