Degustation la Rue Bourbon

Following that afternoon of fine California wines, a degustation dinner followed at Bourbon Street. What else but only the best back ribs in town highlighted the evening’s 4-course menu. Together with the wine connoisseurs of Happy Living Philippines Corporation headed by Kathy Yao-Santos, learning about wine and their respective food pairing continues until the night.

Dinner started with one of my fave soups at the American bistro – Cream of Mushroom and Celery. A rich blend of celery and mushroom flavored with basil and accented with chili. It has shitake mushroom that provides a crunch as well as bite contrasting the creaminess of the soup.

Salad was next on the menu and I again met another favorite – Southwest Salad. A mélange of citrus marinated (and grilled) beef, Romaine lettuce, tomato confit, roasted bell pepper and French Vinaigrette on a crisp and edible shell. I always like the complementary flavors of the tangy beef, the smokiness of the bell pepper, crisp and fresh greens and the sharp with hints of sweetness of the French vinaigrette.

Next proved to be an instant favorite and just by the looks of it, it can yours too! Called Shrimps in a Blanket on the menu, it consists of roasted shrimps wrapped with bacon in (maybe) a balsamic vinegar and olive oil accent. (Maybe since the menu says it was a roasted garlic tarragon crème sauce but since our dinner was “out of the menu”, changes were applied to suit the occasion). Nonetheless, the shrimps wrap in bacon was a delight that one will surely find it hard to stop once he pops on into his mouth – like I did.

And finally, it won’t be a complete Bourbon Street experience without having a taste of its luscious and delectable Backribs - grilled tender pork ribs served with a bold barbecue sauce. While ribs advertise to be “so tender that it falls of the bone” Bourbon Street’s BBQ Backribs still remain intact glistening and beckoning – perfect for persons who can’t help but take photos of what they are about to eat (I wonder who could those be?).

But once the you fork it, off it comes easily from the bones revealing it’s tender side. Still with “a bite in every bite”, you’d find the smoky goodness perfectly complementing the Bourbon barbecue sauce that certainly half a rack might disappear without you realizing it.

Just like the last time, everything seems to be a blur that all the foods right before us seem to have disappeared. But of course, we felt a little heavier as we all left the night of degustation at Bourbon Street. So how's my French?

Bourbon Street is located at The Avenue Complex in Smallville, Brgy. San Rafael Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

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FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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