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第3回目の今回は、フリーペーパーVol.5（P12）とウェブ要約記事でご紹介した地中海レストラン、Sinbad’s Food Station（シンドバッド・フードステーション）の記事をご紹介します。
～Cross the Seas for Sinbad’s Food Station～
Walking into Sinbad’s you will instantly feel comfortable in the cozy atmosphere. This homey spot is a haven for tired office workers during their lunch break, but more than that, it provides cultures a taste of a unique Mediterranean.
The mood lighting paired with the nature-inspired walls (orange representing the sunset, blue, the sea and yellow for lemon, which accompanies almost all Mediterranean dishes!) and colorful throw pillows gives a fun characteristic to the whole restaurant. The 45-seating capacity also gives you a feeling that it is your own private place. Various art pieces by local artists as well as traditional Syrian house display occupy the walls and ceiling of Sinbad’s. You will never be bored once you step into it! There are so many interesting things to look at!
Ms. Cheryl Gunzapelicke – Pineda, chef and owner of Sinbad’s explain that their cuisine is a fusion of the East and West Mediterranean. Having a Syrian father and a Filipina mother, she grew up eating typical Syrian dishes cooked at home by her dad. With the passion for cooking as an inspiration, she opened up her own restaurant, with the hopes of educating her fellow Filipinos about Mediterranean food. To her surprise, it was not only Filipinos who loved her cooking, but also various nationalities who favor a quick but authentic Mediterranean bite.
We were served the Hummus bi Tahini (Lentil Dip) (P110.00) made with the local “garbanzos”. It was not overpowering at all. It has a smooth texture and has just the right amount of saltiness in it. It goes great with Kebab or just dipped with khobz (flatbread). After that we had the regular Shawarma (P95.00) which made us full right away! It is served with their house sauces and you have a choice between the garlic sauce and chili sauce (the chili is not so spicy, it just gives enough tang to the Shawarma).
Next came the Kebab Platter (P652.00 good for 3-4 persons) which consists of three meats: beef, chicken and lamb. All meats were so tender and flavorful! Although they belong to the same platter, each had a distinctive herbal taste to it. And would you believe, the beef and lamb that they serve are Halal meat which comes straight from Australia! What surprised us is the lamb, which usually has a “lamby” smell and taste – there is no weird taste that will distract you while you are eating it.
The platter was served with a fresh vegetable salad with tomatoes, zucchinis, cucumbers and various herbs and spices, it was so refreshing! A great compliment to the Kebab Platter was the Vegetable Pilaf (Rice) (P180.00 good for two people). The Pilaf was fluffy and was full of spices, herbs and vegetables. It is really a great match to the grilled meats of the Kebab. Aside from the Eastern Mediterranean dishes, there are also foods dedicated to Italian and Greek cuisine (the Western Mediterranean). Sinbad’s offer an array of Italian pastas and Greek vegetable dishes that you will surely enjoy!
The colors of the store are not enough to match the diversity and uniqueness of Sinbad’s cuisine. Be sure to visit them to enjoy a truly unique Mediterranean experience!
Sinbad’s Food Station
Operation Hours: Monday to Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Telephone Number: 894-5909
G-9 Valero Plaza, San Agustin St. or Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City
