SNACKISH
THE WHOLESOME ISSUE
NOVEMBER 2017
SNACKISH
Miso Glazed Salmon
Food Beyond Goodness Live consciously and dine consciously at Bianca Araneta-Elizalde's The Wholesome Table. Text & Photos by Ching Dee
Just when you thought the food revolution can't get any better, The Wholesome Table brings healthy food to the next—yummier—level. When model and host Bianca Araneta-Elizalde conceptualized her own restaurant, she already knew what she wanted. "I conceptualized The Wholesome Table a few years before we actually started putting it together. It was based entirely on the lifestyle my husband and I led as a family, and was influenced heavily by our travels to California, specifically San Francisco, where the food
industry is all about going organic, sustainable, and local," Elizalde shared, adding that while she came up with the concept, her husband Juan is in charge of the business end of the enterprise. Being exposed to better choices and accessible options when it comes to organic produce abroad inspired Elizalde to open up The Wholesome Table. Aside from helping people eat better, she also considered those who are having a hard time sustaining their healthy diet while in the Philippines. So when a space opened up in Taguig, she knew it was time.
NOVEMBER 2017
SNACKISH "[Expats] are the ones that understand this [concept] the most, possibly because they're more used to this kind of food where they're from. In fact, they are exactly who I was thinking of when I created this concept," she shared. "I thought about how easy it was to for me to eat this way every time I traveled. So foreigners who come to the Philippines must find it difficult to find this kind of concept when they are here. And it's true! I have been approached mostly by expats, who've all thanked me so much for opening such a place!" Yes, the business was doing well, but like any other enterprise, the power couple had to deal with certain challenges along the way. "One of the challenges we faced in the beginning was supply," Elizalde said. "Given the nature of the ingredients we source, supply was a bit of an issue, especially during the rainy season. We had to work closely with our suppliers and preorder a lot of things. We have them grow certain things specifically for us." Another challenge was changing misconceptions about organic and healthy food, especially in the Philippines. "Most people have misconceptions about organic food and think that it's automatically vegetarian or vegan fare. We weren't sure if it would work but I decided to give it a go. Luckily, it clicked right away, became really popular so we decided to open two more branches by the time we turned one," said Elizalde. She adds, "I wold like to showcase the fact that we are not just a vegetarian restaurant. The Wholesome Table doesn't discriminate against any sort of diet. I wanted it to be place for everyone! Vegans, vegetarians, meat eaters, children... Everyone can come and find something good to eat! It's a perfect choice for large groups and families because I made the menu so diverse, there's something for everyone to choose from." With such a diverse menu, one might have a hard time choosing which one to try first. Bianca has some tips about her favorites and their bestsellers.
Gluten-free Waffles with Strawberries
SNACKISH "We're definitely known for our pork chops, meatloaf, vegetarian Powerbowls, huge salads, burrata, and our amazing Superfood Smoothies made without dairy, or refined sugar!" she shared. "My favorites at The Wholesome Table are the breakfast offerings such as the gluten-free pancakes and waffles, acai bowl, superfood smoothies, roast chicken, all our salads—I can't pick just one!—and our coffee. We strictly use local coffee beans and they are delicious!" Here are some of Executive Chef Mon Palmez's recommendations at The Wholesome Table. CARROT & PUMPKIN SOUP Their Carrot and Pumpkin Soup with Goji Berries is light and creamy to the last spoonful.
NOVEMBER 2017 YAKITORI RICE BOWL Japanese-inspired Yakitori Rice Bowl has sweet and smoky pork yakitori that's absolutely tender and so morish. To compliment the flavors, there's irresistible chicken skin crisps and a poached egg on top of brown rice sautéed in flavorful yakitori sauce. The added crunch comes from the sprinkled edamame and roasted black sesame seeds on top. (see front cover) MISO-GLAZED SALMON Miso-glazed Salmon is perfectly cooked, pink and tender salmon served on a bed of freshly cooked brown rice and topped the with alfalfa sprouts. The sweetness of the fresh salmon goes well with the savory miso glaze, flavoring the brown rice with deeper flavor.
Acai Bowl
NOVEMBER 2017 When asked why people should try The Wholesome Table, Elizalde answered, "The Wholesome Table is very different from other restaurants because of the process we take in preparing your food. We don't just use organic produce and grass-fed, free-range meats. We make sure we don't use anything canned or processed and all our sauces are made from scratch because of all the chemicals and sugar you find in bottled sauces. We also choose good quality coconut and olive oil for cooking your food. Aside from the care we take in choosing the ingredients, we also make sure that the cookware we use is completely non-toxic. And aside from all that The Wholesome Table is also an excellent choice for people with dietary restrictions. Our chefs are trained to cater to most people's needs, taking into account food intolerances our customers may have. So if you've got celiac disease, or if you're avoiding sugar, carbs, or meat, we will have something in the menu for you and will be able to tweak things to accommodate your requests as best we can." The Wholesome Table is perfect for a festive family gathering, a power lunch with colleagues, or an intimate dinner with your loved one. Whatever the reason and craving, The Wholesome Table has some for you—healthier and tastier than ever before.
Carrot and Pumpkin Soup
SNACKISH Gluten-free Waffles with Peaches
Cubano Sandwich with Hand-cut Fries
The Wholesome Table has branches in Salcedo Village in Makati City, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, and Estancia Mall at Capitol Commons in Pasig City. For the complete contact details and business hours, visit www.thewholesometable.com. CHING DEE Š NOVEMBER 2017