thinks... what is a Deli...
With the help of Wik!pedia...
Reference works state that the word delicatessen comes from German Delikatessen, and that this German word is the plural of Delikatesse, which in turn comes from French delicatesse and means "delicious things (to eat)". The word delicate is recorded in Latin as delicatus, with the meaning "giving pleasure, delightful".
An alternative (although wrong) popular etymology supposes that the -essen part of the word is in fact the German word essen (= English: to eat, German: das Essen = English: the food). This would mean that the word is a portmanteau of the German words "delikates" (delicious, nominative case) and "Essen". "Delikat essen" (with delikat as an adverb) is also a comprehensible phrase in itself in modern German, meaning "to eat delicious things".
Anyway, moving on... last Friday I was in Swiss Deli and Bistro. My colleague's band had a gig there and coincidentally, one of my closest teammate from college wanted to hang out. To hit two birds with one stone, I suggested to have dinner at the Deli along Pioneer and Sheridan St, Mandaluyong City. We did not have a difficult time finding the place, with my "research".
The ambiance was nice (for a lack of my vocabulary). It had a homey feel. The Deli offered many products... from hams, sausages, beef and other authentic ingredients they utilize.
When we sat down, they served us with "complimentary" bread. We got a Caesar Salad --- super filing, Raviolli in Tomato Sauce and some Sausage dish --- forgot the name, decided to get this cause it looked like Sausage dishes were their specialties. For dessert we got heavenly truffles! *yum* I do not know why, but I enjoy Swiss/Belgian or whatever you call those chocolates with description. I guess it adds a little excitement... It was great. We were so stuffed. Good value for our money.
Sidenote: I feel kinda guilty tho that I wasn't able to watch my officemate sing.. but in fairness, I heard her sing. :) I wanted to shout like how a typical "groupie" would react, but I still have my manners... then again, maybe I chickened out because I was shy and that I might make a fool out of myself.
---
Awhile ago, I had my second Deli experience. A friend of mine invited me to have dinner at Galileo Enoteca. I had no idea what kind of restaurant that was, so since I sit in front for like 8 hours, I decided to research on it to avoid any humiliation.
The real thing did not fall short based on what I saw online. The place had an Italian theme and I felt I was in a totally different place. I am not good with words and bad with describing, so I suggest you go to their Mandaluyong or Makati branch to see it for yourself. :)
Let me go to the food instead...
I think in Deli's they really serve bread... (sorry naman...) It had three dips along with it: pate, tomato salsa and this green thing (balsamic) swimming in olive oil (forgive me for not knowing what it is called). Then we got a feeling healthy garden salad and mushroom risoto along with our chilled white wine. The salad was tasty while the risoto looked like sticky rice. It was heavy. But of course, we had space for dessert... Gelato After Eight -- a mint and chocolate gelato cake with chocolate bits. It was soooo good like O.
We paid already, but guess what... there was more! They gave us this dessert wine. I do not know what its called --- it was a light white wine with a fruity taste. But man, ang lakas gumuhit ... like traitor margarita. (hahaha hirap na hirap mag explain) I thought that was all, but lo and behold... they gave us this thicky velvety hot chocolate! It was just right. Not too bitter and not too sweet! Panalo!
So there, ang haba na nito.
Hmm, whats next kaya?
Hehehehehe
