Ever heard of the Chateau group?
February 24, 2007
The Chateau group
n : an impressive country house (or castle) in France
In 1988 along the art deco and hip spots on Adriatico, a small bistro opened with glass doors and windows reminiscent of the glass houses so typical of the chateaus in France opened as Chateau 1771. They opened up directly onto Adriatico st. and welcomed the revelers of every persuasion, from regular habitués of the artsy tartsy set, to the gender befuddled As was the custom at the time, it opened and positioned itself as a small little hideaway with culinary treasures that more often than not were creations of the owners taste. This is where corned beef sinigang first came into the Filipino palate. You take a typically English dish like boiled corned beef, half expecting a serving with cabbage and potato, perhaps a bit of horseradish to help awaken the different curing agents used in creating that slab of beef brisket, but, steep it instead into a sour soup of sinigang and voila! You have it, the original dish which to this day finds itself in the menus and standard fare in most Chateau group operated restaurants, as well as quite a few other locations which, sadly come nowhere close to this original invention.
Alas this gem is now gone and all you see is a remnant of the glass enclosure which once displayed Manila’s society set, in all their glorious finery, glasses clinking and the warm glow of incandescent lighting reflecting against the walls and amidst the conversation.
The Chateau group is open at mealtimes, and often late after that, everyday.
