Southern comforts # Ć%*4Ć*!Ć ( -$ )Ć **&$)"Ć "'*2.Ć -$"#/'4Ć /ĆFireside by Kettle. REVIEW BY RYAN FERNANDEZ
I
Fireside House Burger
74
OCTOBER 2015 ÄĆWWW.YUMMY.PH
Buttermilk Fried Chicken Fingers
crushed Ritz crackers and Cajun spiceâa blend which often includes paprika, thyme, oregano, and cayenne pepper. The result is impressive: The meat is tender and crisp, leaving a spicy tingle with every mouthful. Gobble it up with the cornbread doughnutsâthe balls of dough are pure bliss when drenched in maple syrup. Thereâs no shortage of protein options, but two dishes stand out. The ïŹrst is a succulent Double Cut Pork Chop brined in honey cider, and served with roasted vegetables and sweet apples. The second is the Fireside House Burger, Chiloyâs answer to the comfort food pyramid. A half-pound Angus patty is smothered with pepper Jack and cheddar, then stacked high with fried onion and zucchini strings. Russian dressing is dabbed on for a kick of horseradish and spices. Itâs easy to like the chefâs creations. Many are gussied up versions of lunchbox favorites or greasy-spoon specials. As long as the chicken is crisp and the meat is charred in all the right places, Fireside will always be a second home to visit for satisfying comfort food.
in a nutshell
FIRESIDE BY KETTLE 3/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City; tel. no.: 532-1807 MUST-TRIES Buttermilk Fried Chicken Fingers (P489), 50/50 Meatloaf (P389), Fireside House Burger (P449), Double Cut Pork Chop (P519), Homemade Sâmores (P139) THUMBS UP Thereâs more reason to celebrate! Host a party at their private room at the back.
PHOTOGRAPHY: DAIRY DARILAG. PICTORIAL DIRECTION: REGINE RAFAEL.
âll come clean this time: Having never tried Kettle in Shangri-La mall, my mind and palate were blank slates when I visited its younger sibling, Fireside. While I avoided looking it up on blogs, some friends eagerly jumped the gun. âThe buttermilk fried chicken is to die for!â gushed one. âMeat. Itâs all about the meatâŠâ trailed off another. In an industry thatâs tapping almost every possible cuisine, Fireside tickles our brains with the things we intrinsically love: simple but hearty fare, hefty portions for sharing, and savory meats. Chef Chiloy Santos ïŹuently translates these to the hearty food of the American South. This he pulls off with menacing uppercuts of barbecued meats, gratuitous slaw, and heaps of cornbread enough to render your knees wobbly. Thereâs the 50/50 Meatloaf made with Angus beef and bacon. It comes branded with grill marks and effortlessly pulls apart in soft congealed chunks, making it a softer, more tender specimen. You will quickly taste the pork fatâand thatâs a good thing! Hickory barbecue sauce is served on the side. Thereâs also the stellar buttermilk fried chicken ïŹngers, the centerpiece to any Fireside visit. This ode to the famous Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in upstate New York comes in a pile of meaty strips brined for a day. Itâs then breaded with a mix of