Top of the Citi by Chef Jessie
Chef Jessie Sincioco has come a long way since winning the grand prize in the baking category of The Great Maya Cookfest in 1983. She garnered many awards throughout her career one of which is “Chefs On Parade,” the country’s most prestigious culinary competition, where she has twice bagged the L’Assiete D’Or, or the most coveted gold trophy. Years later, she set up and managed JCS Gastronomie Inc. As president and CEO of her very own company, she is actively running three outlets completely
hands-on: Top Of The Citi by Chef Jessie and Chef Jessie Rockwell Club.
Top Of The Citi is an executive fine dining restaurant located on the 34th floor of the Citibank Tower along Paseo de Roxas. It mainly consists of an indoor dining area that can accommodate up to 120 people and al fresco dining at the terraces. With over 18 sous chefs and 1 executive chef, this restaurant takes its culinary endeavors very seriously. The restaurant has two terraces offering a breathtaking 360-degree view of the metro, perfect for cocktail parties backed by a spectacular view of the city lights and the night sky.
As we went at an odd hour, we were lucky to be the only customers present when we came to visit. The staff was very accommodating and warm, and the posh interior of the restaurant suits the 360-degree view of Makati’s skyscrapers. The tasteful table setting accompanied by a freshly cut rose, the dim lighting, and the serene atmosphere are the perfect formula for a romantic dinner date. Top Of The Citi is an excellent choice for a private dining experience with your significant other.
Now let’s talk about their food. First, they offered Seared Tuna Salad with roasted garlic, peanuts, and sesame seeds in a wasabi vinaigrette. The vegetables were absolutely fresh and crisp. The wasabi dressing was a perfect complement to the wonderfully seared tuna, giving it a very pleasant zing. The tuna slices were fresh and an excellent pairing with the salad. The nori sheets were a perfect accompaniment to the lighter flavors of the dish.
The entrée was Pan Fried Seabass with Goose Liver. No words can describe the dish and truly do it justice, but suffice it to say that it was the best fish I had ever tasted in my life. I would not mind should this be the only food available to me for the rest of my existence. The seabass was cooked perfectly—moist, juicy, and flavorful throughout. While I’m not generally a fan of liver, I very happily made an exception for the Foie Gras. It is very savory and just melts in your mouth.
The meal was capped off with the dessert curiously named “Princess Carmen,” after Chef Jessie’s mother. The cake looks like a sansrival but instead of the usual cashew nuts, it has a generous portion of pistachios instead. Not to over-hype the dish, but it completely made me forget about chocolate. It’s that good. The impossibly thin wafer alternately lined by cream is made from scratch, with a slice of mango on top to brighten the flavor a touch. This dessert is so heavenly, you won’t notice you’ll have gone through the whole slice.
Writer’s Tip: Hands down the best dishes I’ve tried so far in my life.
Price: Php 300 to Php 2,800
Location: Top Of The Citi Restaurant by Chef Jessie, 34th Floor Citibank Tower, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City
Tel no.: 750-5810 to 11