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Tagaytay eats: Cebu's Mediterranean restaurant Anzani opens at Ville Sommet

Article (news)

Jeeves De Veyra

Chef Marco Anzani reaches new heights as he brings Mediterranean cuisine from Cebu to Tagaytay.The chef, who has worked under legends like Alan Ducasse and Paul Bocusse, recently launched his namesake restaurant inside Ville Sommet. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767168547213INTERIORS - MAIN.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Inside Anzani at Ville Sommet. Jeeves De Veyra</div>Anzani started life in the kitchen at the age of 16, and went on to work at five-star hotels and resorts around the world. He ended up in the Philippines after joining the Shangri-La group. This is where he met his wife Kate, and they opened the original Anzani restaurant in the upscale locale of Nivel Hills right outside Cebu City. The restaurant served as a platform for their community-driven culinary development advocacy, which led to Kate&#x27;s involvement with the Cebu Food and Wine Festival that has now spawned several sister gatherings all over the country to promote gastro-tourism and Philippine cookery.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767168472472kate and marco.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Marco and Kate Anzani. Jeeves De Veyra</div>While Ville Sommet is more known as a wedding venue, a hotel is actually being built on its premises. Because of this, the Tagaytay Anzani is quite different from the one in Cebu as it will also be the all-day dining spot of the property. On top of that, this version of Anzani has two outlets: Gusto Café and Anzani Neo Mediterranean. Gusto Café is a pizzeria-gelateria-pasticceria rolled into a comfortable coffee shop located just a couple of steps from Ville Sommet&#x27;s parking entrance. It&#x27;s an ideal stop for a quick snack or breakfast while doing the touristy rounds of Tagaytay.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17671689834940 - CAFE - coffee with biscuit 4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Coffee and biscuits at Gusto Café. Jeeves De Veyra</div>Coffee is pulled with a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans prepared by a roaster from nearby Amadeo. A cup of espresso or a latte, paired with lengua de gato like biscotti, is just perfect in the cool weather. Have the coffee poured on their Fior Di Latte gelato for a rich creamy affogato.You can also munch on Café Gusto&#x27;s croissants, kouign amann, pain de chocolat, and Danish pastries made fresh at the café’s bakery wing.  The café&#x27;s highlight is a pizza oven specially imported from Italy. The Neapolitan-style pizza is properly chewy and slightly crunchy with those darkened puffy edges.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17671690949750 - CAFE - Baked Pastries.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Pastries at Gusto Café. Jeeves De Veyra</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17671691935340 - CAFE - Pizza Oven.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>The pizza oven. Jeeves De VeyraFurther inside is the main restaurant where Anzani flexes his culinary experience, creativity, and playfulness.</div>Anzani Neo Mediterranean has a chill, classy vibe. Start at the bar for a cocktail to warm up before a meal, and bring it outside to breathe in the cool surroundings. In the evening, drink by the fire pits that are an ideal place for chit-chat. Inside is the main dining room with a view of the open kitchen, where one can see Anzani and his team being busy at work. Off to the side are enclosed spaces that can be booked for private events. Of particular note is the wine gallery where they occasionally hold wine pairings and more exclusive gatherings.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17671693493941 - RESTO - Tasting Room.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>One of Anzani Neo Mediterranean&#x27;s private spaces. Jeeves De Veyra </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767170571361marco 1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Anzani in action. Jeeves De Veyra</div>What exactly is Neo Mediterranean? At first glance, the menu here is mostly Italian -- but look further and one can see touches of Spain, Greece, the Middle East, and Africa. Anzani added Filipino flavors to the recipes, sourcing produce from the area for his dishes.There are certain signature touches that the chef brings in from Cebu. Breads are baked in pots and come with a trio of light pomodoro, extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17671694994161 - RESTO - breads with dip.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Breads and dips at Anzani Neo Mediterranean. Jeeves De Veyra</div>Have some of Anzani Neo Mediterranean&#x27;s mezze like hummus, olives, feta cheese, or artichokes in herbs and extra virgin olive oil.There are also filling meals good for one, such as an open-faced sandwich with porchetta and in-house made focaccia. It&#x27;s like a margherita with tomato sauce, basil, and cheese accented with that crackling skin of pork.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17671696860131- - RESTO - mezze.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Mezze. Jeeves De Veyra</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17671696998141 - PORCHETTA on Focaccia.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Porchetta on focaccia. Jeeves De Veyra</div>There is a flair for the dramatic when presenting the food at Anzani Neo Mediterranean. The tuna tartare, for instance, is served smoked under a glass dome while on top of crispy bread, making this a cut above the usual.Citrus and dabs of mango jam, on the other hand, add a fruity touch to the polpo carpaccio with paper-thin slices of octopus.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17671698549361 - RESTO - smoked tuna tartare 2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Smoked tuna tartare. Jeeves De Veyra</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17671698922151 - RESTO - Octopus Carpaccio.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Octopus carpaccio. Jeeves De Veyra</div>The salmon wrapped in crispy potato threads tasted as good as it looks. Dressed up in the juice from the tomato it rests on, plus the added crunch from the cracking the antennae of fried dry spaghetti, this is a playfully complex dish.Anzani was already making infused pastas long before they became popular. On the practical side, putting the squid ink in the pasta instead of the sauce won&#x27;t give diners black teeth. This gives the chef more options to add flavors -- in this case, tomato sauce -- to further enhance the dish.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17671701788551 - RESTO - SALMON.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Salmon in crispy potato threads. Jeeves De Veyra <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17671702127971 - RESTO - SQUID INK PASTA.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Squid ink pasta. Jeeves De Veyra</div>Whether it&#x27;s for their coffee or for a lunch that extends into drinks and dinner to wait out the traffic, Anzani is certainly worth a detour on your next Tagaytay food trip. Anzani Neo Mediterranean Restaurant and Gusto Café can be found inside Ville Sommet at #5 JP Rizal, St. Sikat Rd., Alfonso, Cavite. Operating hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Friday to Sunday. Both outlets are closed on Tuesdays. More details are available <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anzanivillesommet">here</a>.

Chef Marco Anzani reaches new heights as he brings Mediterranean cuisine from Cebu to Tagaytay.

Chef Marco Anzani reaches new heights as he brings Mediterranean cuisine from Cebu to Tagaytay.