MANILA, Philippines - A fine dining restaurant in Tagaytay City is the 5th top restaurant in Asia, according to the latest edition of a regional dining guide released this month.
Antonio's, housed in a one-hectare compound tucked away in the countryside, is the only Philippine entry in the Asia's Top 20 for 2010/2011 list of the Miele Guide, which covers 450 restaurants in 17 countries.
Among the dishes served in the restaurant are steak tartare, duck leg confit on mesclun salad with pan-seared foie gras, grilled porterhouse steak, and dark chocolate souffle with cardamom creme anglaise.
"Antonio's is a well-established restaurant whose gastronomic selection contributes to the overall charm of the locale, rather than vice versa. Chef-owner Antonio Escalante prepares excellent dishes by combining Western ingredients with the freshest local produce," the list read.
It added, "His salads, for example, are a melange of fresh, crisp vegetables harvested from his own garden, and exquisite imported cheeses. They make the perfect side dish to a perfectly glazed foie gras or a succulent Black Angus steak."
This is the 3rd time that Antonio's made it to the Miele Guide, which was only created 2 years ago to better recognize and celebrate Asia's best chefs and restaurants.
It landed in 17th place last year and 10th in 2008.
The only other restaurant in the Philippines that saw its name on the Miele Guide Asia Top 20 is Aubergine, a French restaurant established by the International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management (ISCAHM) that aims to give students a chance to hone their skills in a professional kitchen. It reached the 18th spot in 2009.
This year, Iggy's in Singapore reclaimed its crown as the top dining spot in Asia, trading places with L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Hong Kong, which came in 2nd.
Coming in 3rd and 4th place are 3 Michelin-starred Robuchon a Galera in Macau and Jaan in Singapore, respectively.
China had the most number of restaurants in the Miele Guide's Top 20 with 8, followed by Singapore, which had 5. India and Indonesia each had 2 restaurants on the top 20 list.
Copies of this year's Miele Guide, which features the complete profiles of all 450 restaurants, are available online for $15 each and at bookstores across Asia.
To view the full list of Asia's Top 20 for 2010/2011 restaurants, visit the Miele Guide's website here.
Photo taken from Antonio's Restaurant's website, www.antoniosrestaurant.ph.