CHEF DU PARTIE (CDP): A Global Table Restaurant by MMF, KKA, & KGL (A Review) @PowerPlantMall

As featured in MAKATI: 10 Most Awesome NEW Restaurants in Makati 2014! @MakeItMakati 

CHEF DU PARTIE (or CDP for short), is a restaurant offering global cuisine by Malou Fores (MMF) of Mamou & Recovery Food fame, Katrina Kuhn-Alcantara (KKA) of Mesclun & Chuck’s Deli, and Kristine del Gallego-Locsin (KGL), formerly of Lu.

They offer dishes inspired by Paris, New York, and Manila. They also specialize in cocktails and have a well-curated wine list by their partners. It’s a great destination for foodie dates or food and wine pairing.

I took my wifey out on a date in CDP for the first time since giving birth to our youngest son, and here’s what we think about it… 

Chef Du Partie (CDP) Global Table Restaurant
148B Level R1 Power Plant Mall, Lopez Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City 1200
Telephone: +632 556-4454
Contact Anne Berges +63 917 832-9828, anne@cdpglobaltable.com
Operating Hours:
Sunday to Wednesday: 12.00nn to 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 11.00pm
Thursday to Saturday: 12.00nn to 3.00pm, 6.00pm -2.00am
Notes: Credit Cards Accepted. Reservation is a must.

CDP is a quaint restaurant beside Mamou in Rockwell, which is the former location of Achiote.

Since the space is a bit small, it’s best to get the seats near the window (it feels cramped being seated in the middle).

The bar is a good place to hang out for cocktails and small bites. The acoustics are bad inside the resto though–you can hear the conversations happening in the other tables.

For a group of 10, it’s best to reserve this corner table for some added privacy and a comfortable space to move around.

CDP MAIN MENU: About CDP, Shared Plates | Greens, Bowls | Hot Plates | Sides, Sweet Plates | Beverages

Complimentary bread served with butter was a bit heavy to eat. The menu is cute, and the serving sizes of the dishes are also in small plates.

ANJOU (P445). Crémant, crème de cassis, angostura bitter, lime.

Try out the crémant-based bubbly cocktails. This has a berry-lime flavor with a bitter aftertaste.

DRINKS MENU: Bubbly Cocktails | Bubbly Cocktails, Spirits, Corkage, Global Beer | Whites | White Wine 1 | White Wine 2 | White Wine 3, Reds | Red Wine 1 | Red Wine 2 | Red Wine 3 | Red Wine 4 | Red Wine 5, Rose | Rose 1 | Port Wine | Bubblies | Bubblies 2 | Novelties

CHEESE PLATE (choice of 3 cheeses from the cart P1,180, choice of 5 cheeses from the cart P1,590) served with dried figues, dried mangoes, candied pill, grapes, housemade breads.

A great choice if you want to start your meal with pica-pica and cocktails.

✮ MANUKA CHEVRE (P460). Sorrel, roquette, lola rosa, dried strawberries, fuet, almonds, Malagos chevre, cherry tomatoes, red wine vinaigrette, manuka honey, extra virgin olive oil.

A nice salad to start, sweetened with manuka honey sauce that contrasts with the Malagos goat cheese. We loved the small but flavorful pieces of Catalan cured sausage or fuet. 🙂 

It was interesting to listen to the story of Anne Berges, manager of CDP, who is a French lady from Bordeaux, and how she decided to be part of the vibrant dining scene here in Manila.

FRENCH ONION SOUP (P295). Caramelized onions, beef broth, gruyere, emmenthal.

My wife liked the soup. It’s not too thick but also nothing great. Should be lovely in cool weather though.

All the dishes are served on small plates, but the table space is still a little small for two people.

✮ BLACK STEW (P455). Baby squid, chorizo, tinta, aioli, bread.

We loved this dish of squid and chorizo in squid ink! 🙂 The squid was cooked just right–not chewy–and the sauce was so good we had to wipe it off the plate with the bread. Sarap!

✮ MAINE LOBSTER VONGOLE (P1,135). Maine lobster tail, Manila clams, fennel bulb, spaghettini.

Vongole done right, with al dente pasta and fresh, flavorful clams and lobsters. 🙂 The serving size is just enough for sharing between two people.

✮ GOAT SHEPHERD’S PIE (P575). Goat meat stew, mashed potatoes, fontina.

The shepherd’s pie was good too, but the 3/4 layer of creamy mashed potatoes was a bit much compared to the amount of goat meat stew in the dish (although it had a nice, balanced flavor). Good to share with a big group.

✮ TRIADE (P455). Saffron panna cotta, red wine chocolate pudding, salted caramel pot au creme.

I like mixing the panna cotta with the chocolate pudding, and using the salted caramel creme as a palate cleanser in between bites. The dessert concept looks simple, but it gets addicting over time.

Overall, CHEF DU PARTIE is an excellent place for foodie gatherings that offers a great selection of cocktail and wine. Just remember to reserve seats in advance because the place is quite small.

We recommend getting the Manuka Chevre or French Onion Soup for starters, Black Stew or Maine Lobster Vongole for your main, and the Triade for dessert. Also check out the for-sharing appetizer plates.

While there’s really nothing that stands out, you can be assured that the food is good. Dishes are a bit expensive at an average price of P450 per order and with small serving sizes. I wish the restaurant was a little bigger to accommodate wider breathing spaces between tables.

Still, there’s something about the combination of the food, ambiance, and drink selection that makes for a perfect venue for hanging out with foodie friends, a reunion with the old gang, or a nice family gathering this Christmas season.

Budget P1,500/head for a 3-course meal with cocktail or wine. 

Let me know what you think of CDP in the comments. Any recommendations on what to order next time?

Chef Du Partie (CDP) Global Table Restaurant
148B Level R1 Power Plant Mall, Lopez Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City 1200
Telephone: +632 556-4454
Contact Anne Berges +63 917 832-9828, anne@cdpglobaltable.com
Operating Hours:
Sunday to Wednesday: 12.00nn to 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 11.00pm
Thursday to Saturday: 12.00nn to 3.00pm, 6.00pm -2.00am
Notes: Credit Cards Accepted. Reservation is a must.

Related Blog Posts:

• Cheryl Tiu | Malou Fores, Katrina Alcantara and Kristine Locsin’s new CDP Restaurant at Rockwell
• Jane Chua’s Between Bites | Chef Du Partie Restaurant (CDP) in Power Plant, Rockwell

Live an Awesome Life,

Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com 

Disclosure: We paid for our meal. I wrote this article with my own biases, opinions, and insights. Read Our Awesome Planet Complete Disclosure Policy here.  

P.S. Restaurant prices in Manila may be going up, but there’s still a market for places that offer good food, better drink selections, and an awesome experience.