Purple Feet, N. Garcia (Reposo St.), Makati

Trina, one of the BT's bloggers recommended this restaurant in Makati called Purple Feet.  Myles, also another member, mentioned this place in the forums when she was talking about Vittoria coffee. 

So what was a lonely girl to do on a Wednesday night? I dragged my mother out (sigh, where are all the men in the world?) to eat in the restaurant of course.

I read up a little on the place beforehand and was intrigued by the presence of rabbit in the menu. I've never had rabbit meat before and was curious about its taste.

"Tastes like a meatier chicken." Was what my mother replied when she overheard me musing about it out loud.

When we got to the restaurant, there were two tables occupied.  Outside were two foodie-looking guys smoking and eating cheese, while inside was a big group of yuppies talking very loudly and swishing wine inside their glasses.  I spied a familiar-looking girl and my heart sank when I realized who she was-- one of those preening, prissy girls from back in college--  the kind that my dirty hippie friends and I detested .  When our eyes met, we promptly sneered at each other's direction then looked away.  The night wasn't starting out very well. 

Once we were seated, my mother looked around in such a way that was getting me nervous.

"What is this place?" She miffed, glaring at the crates of wine and the scrawlings on the wall.  I tried explaining that Purple Feet was the backdoor restaurant of Wine Depot, one of the largest wine retailers in the country.  They were going for that casual and austere look that foodies adore, hence the dark wood, clay plates (I recognized some as Pettyjohns), and lack of cushions and table linen.  

The menu is written on a blackboard. There's basically a list of meats and cuts and you choose one and decide how you want it prepared.  Unfortunately my rabbit wasn't on the available. Instead the waiter offered ostrich, which for some reason, I found extremeley unappetizing. I settled for seared duck breast with raspberry reduction and mushroom rissotto. Mother chose the leg of lamb and told the chef to surprise her.  We also ordered a cheese platter and a bottle of white wine (mother doesn't drink red, I don't know why). 

The cheese was good. They had parmegiano reggiano, brie, blue cheese, and a creamy goat cheese. Thin slices of French bread, almonds, apples, and raisins, pomelo, and olives were also included.  I forgot the wine, but it was pale, straw-colored and went surprisingly well with the food. 

My duck was delicious. The skin was crisp, the meat tender, and the raspberry sauce tart and sweet at the same time. It went supremely well with the mushroom rissotto and the fresh chunks of vegetables.  My mom didn't fare so well. The chef sent out an ordinary lamb stew over couscous. Thankfully he cooked it perfectly medium rare, but the sauce itself was nothing special, despite the slightly exorbitant prices.

We wanted to try their panna cotta but mother had enjoyed the wine a little too much too quickly and wanted to go home and watch "The Price is Right."

All in all Purple Feet (if you have not made the connection between wine, wine-making, and feet, then you should seriously consider reading some more-- or renting "A Walk in the Clouds.") was an all right restaurant. Perhaps we went on an off night, but I don't think we will be coming back there anytime soon-- not until my mother gets over her linen fixation that is.