A Spanish Affair - Dining at Terry Selection

I first read about Terry Selection, a Spanish restaurant and gourmet deli, in a book called "Manila's Best Kept Restaurant Secrets." At the time, I had just moved to Manila and was looking for a variety of restaurants that served international cuisine, including Spanish. I had already eaten at a Spanish restaurant in Quezon City (what I call the country's entertainment hub) and had been somewhat disappointed. Terry's, owned by Juan Carlos de Terry, seemed promising enough. I had my first meal there recently. It's probably too early to write a full review, but here's a peek at the food I had.



The meal was satisfying, if a bit heavy. The main plate was a gamey Rioja-braised oxtail, a taste which I normally shun, but it seemed appropriate for the night and the glass of cabernet-tempranillo blend wine I had with it--tannic and fruity--complemented the dish well.

I went to the branch in Makati on Pasong Tamo, which I think is the original one, though there are a couple of other branches. When you enter the Terry Selection building, a flight of stairs leads to the spacious and open restaurant. A piano sits against one of the walls, in between wide, floor-to-ceiling wine shelves, for a little night music. The restaurant has a long list of traditional tapas and Spanish entrees, but the most interesting part of it is the chef specials on the last page. Wine by the glass is offered, though you have a choice of only one red, white and rosé.

Terry's is also a Spanish market and a wine store. The downstairs section of the Terry Selection building houses the store. In addition to the dinner, I came away with a couple of bottles of wine (an Alsatian Riesling and a Burgundy), some Spanish treats (marron glaces and turron with rice krispies, i.e., a milk chocolate bar with pinipig) and canned peppers. As you can tell, the store isn't limited to Spanish wine selections but rather stocks a few choice items from different countries, with Bordeaux occupying a rather nice chunk of the shelves. I'm looking forward to my next visit.