Estancia's New Bites: James & Daughters

Chef Jonas Ang's James & Daughters is like dining in a fancy version of home. With beautifully curated dishes based on Chef Jonas' family's favorite dishes, it was easy for me to fall in love with this restaurant. And its mix of different cuisines will surely delight everyone! 

Hello, James & Daughters.

I was so thrilled when James and Daughter by Le Jardin opened its first restaurant in BGC. It being just a few steps from me made it an ideal place for lunch or dinner. But it had to move out after 11 months due to the developer wanting its space back. Thankfully, its Estancia store is now open and it has a few new favorites waiting to be discovered. 

Since I was dining alone, I went with a plate of Soft Shell Crab Tempura (PHP475) and a glass of CalaHon Mint (PHP100).

I was given a bowl of fish crackers and vinegar as wait snacks. The staff also lit a candle for me to battle the annoying flies.

The serving of CalaHon Mint seemed to be a bit stingy given that it was served in a wine glass filled with lots of ice and it wasn't even full. However, it was refreshing and had a rich taste that would still be enjoyable when watered down. 

The soft shell crab tempura was also good. Served with fresh greens and thick buttery paste as dip, it was a delightful small plate as snack or starter. I enjoyed this tempura with light crisp more with black vinegar though.

As I was about to head out, Chef Jonas asked if I would like to try one of the dishes under his secret menu. Intrigued, I quickly said yes. And it was balut... served Vietnamese style. 

I have to admit, I am not a fan of balut. I usually just eat the yellow part and drink the fermented egg's soup. But I was surprised that I managed to finish the whole thing!

Turned out that I wasn't eating good quality balut my whole life. The one served at James & Daughters was in a whole different level. Everything was so soft. And eating it with the salt, pepper and dayap (with option of chili) mixture was a game changer! It had that nice zest which I found addictive! And make sure to eat it with the greens it comes with for that divine herb flavor. In Vietnam, it is usually served with Rau Giam. Another option would be mint leaves. 

If you're interested to try this, an order costs PHP200. Make sure to be there early though as James & Daughters only has limited daily supply.

I was told that they are planning to come up with new dishes often and that is more than enough reason for me to be back.

James & Daughters is located at Ground Floor, East Wing, Estancia Mall, Oranbo, Pasig City.

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