New York State of Mind

by France Pinzon/ photos by Brendan Goco

UNO and the ever-cool Kat Alano enjoy a laid-back yet chic dining experience at Borough, Manila’s newest all day all night establishment 

Amidst the multitude of restaurants and cafés popping up in and around Metro Manila, 24-hour establishment Borough stands out: inspired by upscale New York appetites, it serves comfort food any hour of the day, ready to feed the wandering and whimsical palate of today’s taste tourists.

For business partners Patrick Santos, Dodjie Violago, Albert Besa, and Chef Cuit Kaufman (also Borough’s in-house chef ), what makes Borough unique—apart from its 24-hour service—is the variety of comfort food on their menu, coupled with the easy background music and welcoming interiors.

To our delight, Kat Alano, the former VJ (turned commercial model-turned TV host-turned VJ again) and now co-host of KC Montero on FM station Wave 89.1’s “The KC Show,” agreed to sample some of the dishes at Borough with us one afternoon.

Kat shared what’s been keeping her busy other than granting radio requests on a daily basis. “[I’m] working on a movie right now, and getting into producing and working on my music career!” (Her songs sound really nice, by the way—check out some of her music on SNRGmusic. com). This self-proclaimed food lover is certainly one of our favorite dining companions for RAVENOUS to date.

Would you consider yourself a foodie? 

I’m definitely a foodie. I love to cook and enjoy experimenting with different flavors and ingredients!

Had you heard of Borough before today? 

Actually, funnily enough, I was here with one of the owners the week before you asked me to do this!

What do you think of the restaurant scene in the Metro today? 

I think there are such a wide variety of restaurants nowadays, which is great for people like me because I love to try different types of food all the time.

What do you usually like to eat? 

I grew up in Hong Kong so I love Chinese food. Next to that, I enjoy Japanese, Italian, Greek, Mediterranean, and American food, and all kinds of seafood!

What’s your favorite dish? 

I love steamed crab. It’s simple, but it’s my favorite.

What was your first impression of Borough? 

The name is very unique, and it definitely gives it an international feel. I love the decor, especially the roses on the chairs—it reminds me of houses back in the UK.

We ate Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup (P260), Sole Amandine (P420), and Mom’s Milk and Cookies (P190). Which of the dishes was the best? 

All of them were great. I’m a big melted cheese fan, so the grilled cheese was on point—super filled with a great combination of cheeses. The fish was perfectly cooked—so soft, and it was well complemented by the capers and beans, but I have to say the Milk and Cookies were AWESOME. I don’t usually eat cookies with milk (very Santa Claus), but the warm cookies dunked in the contrasting cold milk were superb. It makes for a perfect dessert!

Anything you weren’t so excited about? 

None!

Any other noteworthy dish? 

The Red Velvet cake is also a must-try.

Overall, how did you find the whole Borough dining experience? 

Borough is nice because it isn’t overdone. It’s simple and it has a good space where you can just hang out, have some drinks, or a nice meal with friends. The area is set up well so even if there are a lot of people, you don’t feel crowded. Plus, it’s open all the time!

Are they worth the price? 

Definitely. There are a lot of restaurants that are overpriced, whose food doesn’t meet the mark, but Borough is reasonably priced, and their food is delightfully good.

Any plans of going back? 

Of course, and I think I could bring any one of my friends here. I know they would all enjoy it.

Borough 

located at the G/F of The Podium Mall (beside Gloria Maris), Ortigas Center, Pasig City. It is open 24 hours daily.

Published in the March 2011 issue of UNO Magazine