Marvelously Marbled
My personal preference when it comes to eating steak is its marbling --- lots of it! And, when it comes to marbling, Wagyu is definitely on top of my list.
Wagyu (pronounced 'wag-you') is "a breed of cattle native and unique in their genetics to Japan. 'Wa' pertains to Japanese and 'gyu' means beef. This beef is highly marbled which means that the muscle is finely interspersed with fat that is an 'intra-muscular' deposit of energy. When cooked, the marbling is absorbed into the muscle and gives the beef its "melt in the mouth" moisture and tenderness as well as its intense flavor", according to an internet source.
The good news is that the marbling in Wagyu is found to contain monounsaturated fats. Research has shown that these fats can actually assist in reducing cholesterol levels in the body.
Highest grade beef
Recently, I was pleased to discover that my elusive bachelor-friend, Glenn Yap, took his passion for steak to the next level by opening Marbled Restaurant and Bar specializing in Wagyu A-5 beef, no less, the highest grade given only to the finest beef.
"I love steak!", shares Glenn with a twinkle in his eye. "Marbled, a name coined by a witty friend, is three years in the making. I didn't rush opening this restaurant because I wanted to consider every factor. We wanted our restaurant to be known for its reasonable price and good service", he continues.
With Chef Richie Mearns, a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, as its consultant, Marbled's menu showcases lip-smacking family-friendly dishes with the Wagyu A-5 beef as its piece de resistance.
"In Manila, most steak houses sell their Wagyu at Php800 to Php1,000 per ounce but here at Marbled, we sell it an affordable Php450 per ounce only", shares Glenn.
Young restaurateur
Marbled is not Glenn's first foray in the food industry. He has been a franchisee of the popular Cebu restaurant chain Chikaan at Abreeza Mall Davao for four years and also operates Pollo Porco Cebu Lechon.
"Running a resto is never easy. It is a challenge but it really depends on your mindset. Chikaan has a system we followed which made it easier", recalls Glenn.
From Chikaan, he learned that to be able to run a great restaurant, good food shouldn't be profit-based. Instead, the focus should be on the quality of food and service", explains Glenn.
'Straightforward' dishes
That's why with Marbled, Glenn made sure that they presented value-for-money choices for their clientele. My family and I were pleased with the options they offered --- Japanese, American, and Italian dishes that Glenn describes as 'straightforward'.
During our family's first visit, we ordered their delectable French Onion Soup (Php210); Seafood Chowder (Php250) and Spinach Dip (Php140) as our soups and appetizer.
The kids absolutely loved their mouth-watering Spaghetti with Spanish Chorizo (Php250) and Fettuccine with Tomato Cream Sauce and Chicken (Php180). If the pasta tastes a tad familiar, you would be happy to know that it is because Chef Richie owned the former Boyd's Pizza House of Kidapawan and Davao.
My sister-in-law and I had the Grilled Pork Chop (Php250) and Seared Salmon with Caper Sauce (Php595). They filled our tummies and did not disappoint with their generous servings and side dishes of seared potatoes and vegetables in season.
Marvelously Marbled
Other family members had US Prime Rib-Cowboy Steak (half-inch 500g steak at Php1,350) and US Rib Eye - Choice 320g (Php950). The steaks' huge portions were more than enough for sharing as I caught my mom discreetly leaving huge cuts of her meat on my plate.
And, finally, the main reason why we were gathered at Marbled --- the Wagyu!
True to its claim, the Wagyu A-5 beef (Sirloin 150g at Php1,900 and Chateaubriand 200g at Php3,200) --- perfectly cooked medium well, and sprinkled with salt; melted in our mouths and boy, was it divine!
Marbled Restaurant and Bar is at JJ Commune, Loyola St., Bo. Obrero, Davao City with telephone number 2243594. Open Sunday-Thursday from 1030am-10pm and Friday-Saturday from 1030am till late.
E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit www.momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com.