May 14, 2013

Naci Comfort Food- Feast on Comfort Food and Desserts at their New Home in Fort Bonifacio

Remember Naci Comfort Food and Dessert Bar in Greenhills? I just love the place so much that I was really sad when it closed down last year. D even brought my sister and mom here to celebrate mom's birthday while I was away. 

After one year, here I am at the newly opened Naci Comfort Food which rebranded itself as a fun and modern comfort food destination in Fort Bonifacio. 

High ceilings, colorful chairs, cute and fancy decors, the place looked totally different from their first branch. It was now bright, vibrant and fun which gives a casual and relaxed vibe and dining experience.


Aside from the traditional placemat menu, guests are now offered with tablets wherein they could browse through Naci's food and beverage selections. What's great about using the tablet is that diners could check out the actual look of the dishes they want to order. 


Now, our feast begins..

I am an appetizer type of person,and as much as possible, I want to try a little bit of everything on the menu without going over budget or worrying about left overs. But usually it's just D and me on foodtrips, so that's quite impossible to happen unless we are totally famished. 

Good thing Naci has Nat's Appetizer Sampler (P520) that give customers a chance to choose four of Naci's best-selling appetizers. 


Glazed Chicken Wings (P350)- Chicken Wings w/ Naci’s Secret Glaze w/ Lemon Cream Dip  & Fries
Cajun Mozzarella Balls (P280)Fried Mozzarella Croquettes served w/ Pimiento Salsa and Fries
Beef Taco Spring Roll (P280)- Crispy Springrolls w/ Beef Taco filling, Tomato Salsa served w/ Sour Cream
Classic Salpicao (P380)Sauteed Beef Tenderloin in Olive oil with Chilli fingers and Garlic


It is really hard to choose which among the sampler is the best 'cause each has its own twist to it. But since I  love buffalo wings/chicken wings so much, I'll have to say the Glazed Chicken Wings tops my list with its bold, and sweet-tangy flavors. Next is the Beef Taco Springroll which is a unique take on the classic tacos without the mess. The Classic Salpicao was very tasty and tender while the Mozzarella Balls were crispy and perfect for cheese lovers. I miss their Chorizo and Brie Puffs though.

For healthy eaters, Naci has 4 kinds of salads that will surely tickle your fancy.

Classic Caesar (P200)- Crisp Lettuce tossed in Caesar Dressing w/ Croutons, Bacon Bits & Parmesan Tuile
Kani Mango Crunch (P260)Greens, Kani, Mangoes, Cucumber, Wonton & Vermicelli in Wasabi Mayo
Tofu Green Salad (P220)Greens, Crisp Tofu Croutons and Peppered Calamari in Chinese Black Vinegar
Smoked Salmon Salad (P280)Greens, Smoked Salmon, Onion Rings, Tomatoes, Parmesan Shavings in Honey Lemon Dill Dressing 


The Kani Mango Crunch is still my favorite salad from Naci, followed by the Smoked Salmon Salad. I just love the added texture from the wonton strips and fried vermicelli complemented by the mild and tasty wasabi mayo.

Browsing through Naci's soup menu, we thought that each order is for sharing given its price. But the waiter told us that an order is actually good for one. But even though Naci's soup selection comes in a single-serve bowl, each was equally filling with its rich, thick and creamy consistency and could even be shared by two people. 

Onion Soup (P180)- Caramelized Onion Soup topped w/ French Baguette slices & Mozzarella Cheese
Tita Em's Chowder (P280)Creamy & hearty chowder w/ Shrimps, Corn Kernels & Bacon 


I found the Onion Soup too rich and sweet for my taste though it was loaded of caramelized onions and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Tita Em's Chowder on the other hand was thick, rich and creamy that could be quite heavy and filling for one person. They ran out of bread bowls during our visit so I guess it was already lighter than usual.

Penne Al Fungi with White Shrimps (P360)- Penne tossed in Basil Mushroom Cream w/ White Shrimps served with Focaccia Bread


Nadine’s Adobo Cannelloni (P360)- Classic Flaked Adobo rolled in Pasta topped w/ Bechamel laced w/ Adobo Sauce & Mozzarella served w/ Focaccia Bread


Being a white sauce pasta lover, both pasta dishes we got were equally delicious and tasty. But if I were to choose, I'd probably stick to Naci's best-seller Nadine's Adobo Cannelloni

As for our Pizza, we were served with the Steak and Cheese Pizza (P540) in a perfectly thin crust layer. It was topped with slices of tenderloin, cheese sauce and fresh shitake mushrooms. 


I love how thin and crispy the crust was making it less heavy to eat. Although I still prefer Naci's Asian-inspired Peking Chicken Pizza which I've tried before, this one has a simpler and more kid-friendly taste. 

Moving on with Naci's Specialties, their best selling baked rice dishes were served fresh and piping hot on the table. 

Peruvian Chicken Rice (P420)Slow Cooked Baked Rice w/ Chicken Chunks, Capsicums topped w/ Aioli


Shrimp Jambalaya Rice (P480)- Slow Cooked Baked Rice w/ Curry, Coconut Cream, Shrimps, Eggplant, Tomatoes & Raisins


Both were beautifully served in small paella trays that could probably be shared by 3-4 people. The texture of the dish was a play between paella and risotto, which is creamy, not too dry yet firm to the bite. I personally prefer the simplicity  of the Peruvian Chicken Rice over the complex flavors of the Shrimp Jambalaya

By the time the Entrees were served, we were already full from everything we have feasted on. But that didn't stop us from trying this beautifully plated Grilled Mahi Mahi (P380) topped with dill cream and cherry tomatoes over parsley rice. 


This Oven Baked Bbq Chicken (P320) over java rice, served with buttered vegetables looked so appetizing with its colorful plating and presentation. The chicken itself was tender and juicy and the sweet bbq sauce was perfect to go along with the java rice. 


And to cap off the feast, we sampled Naci's premium cupcakes and mouthwatering cakes. Aside from comfort dishes, Naci is actually known for their yummy and delectable desserts.

CAKES

Red Velvet Cake (P130)- Classic Red Velvet Cake smothered with our tangy vanilla cream cheese frosting
Pistachio Sansrival (P120)Layers of crispy meringue & rich pistachio buttercream loaded w/ roasted pistachio nuts
Chocolate Ganache Cake (P165)- Melt-in-your-mouth premium dark Belgian Chocolate Ganache sandwiched between generous layers of moist dark chocolate sponge. 


Among the 3 cakes we've tried, the Pistachio Sansrival stood out for me. It was crunchy and chewy at the same time with generous serving of pistachio nuts enough to win me over. The Chocolate Ganache Cake on the other hand was rich and moist perfect for all chocolate cake lovers. My least favorite was their Red Velvet Cake which we found dry and crumbly albeit soft.

CUPCAKES

Red Velvet Cupcake (P75)Cream cheese frosting on top of a dense, red cupcake w/ a hint of cocoa.


Although I didn't much liked the Red Velvet Cake, I totally dig its cupcake version. The cupcake itself was so moist and slightly dense without any hint of crumble and dryness.

Caramel Cream Cupcake (P75)- Light chiffon cupcake w/ a surprise caramel filling topped w/ vanilla cream & caramel fudge.



Another cupcake that I liked was this Caramel Cream Cupcake with soft and airy chiffon base filled with caramel and topped with light vanilla cream and caramel fudge.

Chocolate Ganache Cupcake (P90)Premium Dark Belgian Chocolate Ganache on top of a dark chocolate cupcake

Black and White Cupcake (P90)- Premium Dark Belgian Chocolate Ganache on top of a vanilla cupcake


Just like the cake version, the Chocolate Ganache Cupcake was dense and moist with rich and bittersweet Belgian chocolate ganache topping. Another great cupcake from Naci is the Black and White Cupcake which is a combination of vanilla base cupcake with dark chocolate ganache that cracks and melts in your mouth like truffles.

DRINKS

Grape Shake (P165)- refreshing slush of blended black grapes 
Tamarind Iced Tea (P120)- a nice twist to the classic iced tea


Strawberry Kiss (P235)- fresh strawberries, vanilla ice cream and white chocolate
Mocha Java Chip (P225)Espresso blended w/ dark chocolate, vanilla ice cream and chocolate ganache topped w/ whipped cream and caramel


Naci offers a wide selection of drinks from refreshing shakes and juices to cold and sweet smoothies and milkshakes. I would recommend getting the Grape Shake as it was naturally sweet and refreshing. The glass was also big enough to last until my last course which happens very seldom. 

Overall, I would describe our Naci experience as a wonderful and filling feast! The quality of food was very consistent from before or even better. It was nice that they were able to maintain the delicious creations of the late Chef Ed Quimson and be able to share a gastronomic memory of him with diners. I can't wait to visit Naci with the whole family, perhaps my mom could celebrate her upcoming birthday here again. 


Thank you and congratulations to the management team of Naci Comfort Food, especially to Nadine Nocom and Natasha Villaroman for hosting this gastronomic feast.

It's Beryllicious Top Picks:
Nat's Appetizer Sampler
Kani Mango Crunch
Peruvian Chicken Rice
Nadine's Cannelloni
Grilled Mahi Mahi
Pistachio Sansrival
Red Velvet Cupcake
Caramel Cream Cupcake
Grape Shake
( I know it's a lot, but everything was just so good!)

Naci Comfort Food
Unit 3, Two Parkade, 7th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
Contact number: 847-6224

6 comments:

  1. Leau AndreeaMay 14, 2013

    wow! I have to admit that I never see a menu on tablets. It's really cool idea, but you have to have some couraje to do that. I know in my country, that those tablets will be available one week then most of them will be stolen :))

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  2. wow! its only now I know that even food selection has become techie. I would like to go there and experience that. And I love more the red velvet cup cake, looks yummy!

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  3. They do have a a wide range of foods and drinks to choose from. Will try this when I am in the Fort Area.

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  4. I'd like to try these ones: Cajun Mozzarella Balls, Penne Al Fungi w/ White Shrimps, Steak and Cheese Pizza and Chocolate Ganache Cake.



    But actually, everything looks so yummy. :)

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  5. the food dudeMay 14, 2013

    Now that's a feast! Everything looks great!

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  6. That appetizer sampler looks like a must try! What makes the Kani Mango Crunch salad crunch? I have not heard of this resto before but your pictures make it very tempting to try one day.

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