Christmas is just around the corner and we all know what that means—back-to-back reunions and get-togethers with family and friends. While traditionally celebrated at home, it’s becoming more and more common to celebrate these at a restaurant—I, myself, contribute to this growing trend (no need to wash the dishes after the party? Count me in!)
With Metro Manila’s growing food scene, I love looking for new places to hold these get-togethers in and I particularly adore restaurants with cozy interiors. I’ve been eyeing Nono’s with their retro 60’s interior when they opened their first two branches north in UP Town Center and in Podium and was happy to see them finally open a branch towards the south at Three Central in Makati.
The team at Nono’s probably also thought of the upcoming holidays because they recently launched 7 new dishes—just in time for the holidays 😉 The new menu, called Wine Pairing, stays true to Nono’s comfort food offerings and pairs well with their new wines from Happy Living Philippines. These seven new dishes are: Burrata Cheese Platter, Fresh Burrata Salad, Sole and Chips, Pizza Pull Apart, Steak and Mashed Potatoes, Penne with Stracciatella, and Beef Burgundy.
Burrata Cheese Platter (Php455)
Pair with White Wine
Suggested Wine Pairing:
Chateau Gantonnet Bordeaux Blanc (Bottle – Php1,200)
When this arrived on our table we wondered if we had ordered ice cream with chocolate sauce but quickly realized that what was in front of us was actually a generous serving of Burrata served with fresh tomatoes, basil, grilled sourdough, and walnuts. Nono’s Burrata, while tasty on its own, is best topped on the sourdough and accompanied by all the fresh ingredients.
Aside from the Platter, Nono’s also serves their burrata in a salad tossed with strawberries, cherry tomatoes, arugula, and raspberry vinaigrette dressing.
Sole and Chips (Php475)
Pair with White Wine
Suggested Wine Pairing:
Beringer Main & Vine Chardonnay (Glass – Php250; Bottle – Php950)
Comfort food at its most extreme—a timeless plate of fish and chips. Nono’s take on this classic dish replaces the common Dory with Sole and coats the fish in beer batter. The fish and the fires were tasty, tender and crispy—but I felt falls behind compared to the other dishes in the new menu.
Pizza Pull Apart (Php355)
Pair with Red Wine
Suggested Wine Pairing:
Beringer Main & Vine Cabernet Sauvignon (Glass – Php250; Bottle – Php950)
The Pizza Pull Apart filled with Chorizo, Mozzarella Cheese, and Herbed Tomato Sauce was easily everyone’s favorite dish. Aside from oozing mozzarella cheese (I don’t think anyone can get enough of mozzarella), its playful take on the crowd-favorite margherita pizza made it a fun dish to share with everyone else at the table.
Penne with Stracciatella (Php375)
Pair with Red Wine
Suggested Wine Pairing:
Beringer Main & Vine Cabernet Sauvignon (Glass – Php250; Bottle – Php950)
Penne pasta cooked al dente, heaped with a generous serving of Stracciatella and parmesan cheese, and topped with a delicate leaf of arugula makes for a cheesy and rich red-sauce pasta. Recently I’ve been watching Frankie Celenza’s pasta videos on YouTube and seeing how Nono’s pasta sauce has a nice sheen immediately tells me that their pasta is cooked just right 😉 (it tasted just right too and the sauce had just the right consistency!)
Beef Burgundy (Php455)
Pair with Red Wine
Suggested Wine Pairing:
Domaine de Mauperthuis Pinot Noir (Php 2,750)
A red wine infused dish paired with red wine has never been a bad idea—but, while the beef was cooked to incredible tenderness, I felt that the taste of red-wine was a bit too faint and could be made a bit stronger.
In case you do visit Nono’s, don’t forget to check out the cakes they have on display! Fun fact, before Nono’s came to be, it was originally called Classic Confections and served cakes, pastries, and cookies. Nono’s Chocolate Oblivion (the two chocolate cakes on the top shelf) is my absolute favorite and I’d buy a slice or two back when Classic Confection was still at Greenbelt 5
CONTACT
Nono’s by Classic Confections
Address: Ground Floor, Three Central, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Phone Number: +63 2 901 6748
Average Cost: Php800-1000 for 2 persons