I remember a couple of years back when it was difficult to find that perfect cut of meat but when the dynamic duo of Carmina del Rosario and Carlo Lorenzana opened the doors to Mindanao Butchers and Company, the world of food in Durianburg changed completely.
Today, when one is looking for high quality meats, such as American Wagyu from Snake River Farms, delicious artisanal deli items from Tierra, or fine wines from Lagarde, then the Mindanao Butchers and Company is definitely the place to shop for that beautiful slab of steak or hard-to-find chorizo or jamon serrano.
Carmina shared that initially, the Mindanao Butchers and Company deli located at the K7 strip in Lanang, was supposed to be just an area where they can do some production and office for paperwork. Eventually, the shop grew into a quaint little deli.
“We decided to put up a deli where we can serve tapas and wine plus Carmina’s sumptuous fares, such as her balbacua, at the same time, where we can showcase the products that we locally distribute,” said Carlo.
It was in December of 2018 when Carlo and Carmina, together with their partners Miguel Vecin and Tinchu Gonzales (of Bar Pintxos fame) decided to put up a Tapas 12-seater pop-up called Tapas Y Mas (tapas and wine) showcasing the products that they carry at the deli. The event turned out to be a success with many Dabawenyo foodies talking about the experience, that they decided to offer tapas and wine daily starting January of this year.
The menu is short but sweet, featuring familiar fare such as paella, croquetas, chorizo frito, gambas, and salpicao; as well as pintxos such as Jamon Allioli and Chistorra Brie. For those who wan heavier fare, I suggest ordering their hearty Pork Chop served with brown rice or the Bikini, their own take of a Montecristo sandwich.
Mindanao Butchers and Company also carries Engkanto craft beer, with beer lovers having a wide array of options to choose from ranging from lager, pale ale, and the more potent double IPA. For dessert, they also serve the Carmen Best’s Ice Cream, one of the Philippine’s best artisanal ice cream.
“We just want to give Dabawenyos a different kind of dining experience and hopefully they’ll also enjoy our food as well,” shared Carlo. The good food paired with the cozy ambience is sure to spark some great conversations and from the look and taste of things, Dabawenyos are sure to love some more Tapas Y Mas.
