At the height of APEC, after detouring from Makati to Taguig just to get back to Makati again, I found myself on my feet, wheezing from Dasmarinas Village through closed roads and bumper-to-bumper traffic just to get to Don Chino Roces Ave. Ext. aka Pasong Tamo Extension– (apparently, US President Barrack Obama was literally around the corner at Green Sun for the APEC SME Summit)– in the slippers that I packed (thank goodness!)… to get to the first jamoneria in the Philippines, Txanton.
Now you’re probably asking, what on earth possessed me to risk possibly being stuck in traffic for HOURS (when any other day, it would have taken me 15 minutes) to be at Txanton on that very specific day. Well two things: 1) a very special intimate lunch with Hubert de Billy, the great-great-grandson of Pol Rogers, who founded his eponymous champagne house in 1849, and 2) the opportunity to have a special private dining experience at the casual jamon shop.
Txanton is owned by wine distributor AWC Philippines, birthing a food concept to complement their wines. Here are a few things you need to know:
1.The heart of Txanton = jamon + wine. “It’s important to make clear that Txanton is not a restaurant,“ says general manager Besay Gonzalez. “We are a jamoneria and cellar.” They carry only one brand of jamon, Enrique Tomas, and three kinds of ham: Jamon Serrano Gran Reserva (white pig), Jamon Iberico (Iberian pig; sometimes cross-bred as long as they are at least 50% Iberico) and Jamon Iberico de Bellota (acorn-fed pure breed Iberico). They are reasonably priced, and also differ in price if machine-cut (cheaper) or hand-cut (a little pricier), which are indicated in the label.
2. Txanton is all about education. The bellota jamon is classified according to D.O. (denomination of origin)— Extremadura, Pedroches (Cordoba), Jabugo (Huelva) and Guijuelo (Salamanca)– just like wine. Gonzalez and his team will come and explain each of the properties to you. They also offer a wine pairing option. “Six years ago the wine market int he Philippines was very small; today, things have changed.. more people are starting to get in into wine,” says Gonzalez. “For many months, I worked on the idea of combining the wines and jamon in the best possible way.” Talk about jamon (x wine) appreciation right here.
3. Txanton is divided into three areas: La Tienda (The Shop), La Sala de Cata (The Tasting Room) and La Gran Añada (The Great Vintage). If you are hungry and want a quick bite, there is a casual dining menu, incorporating all sorts of jamon, for all-day dining.
4. For special occasions, you can book their private dining room, La Gran Añada for PHP60,000 for up to 10pax (including wines already!) Chef Justo Rodrigo Lopez, who hails from Bilbao (but had a restaurant in Madrid) can create a special menu for you– with each dish integrated with… jamon, of course. (PS The scallops were my favorite!)
5. You can conveniently drink and enjoy, or likewise purchase to take home the wines and champagnes from AWC Philippines. My personal favorite is Pol Roger champagne, which was Sir Winston Churchill’s favorite champagne as well. He drank so much Pol Roger (it is believed he drank 42,000 bottles of Pol Roger champagne in his lifetime!!!) that they named their cuvee after him. Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill is a gorgeous pinot noir-forward champagne rounded by the elegance and subtlety of chardonnay, that’s robust, full-bodied and mature. AWC also carries the brut reserve, blanc de blancs and rose.. all really beautiful champagnes. It was such an honor to meet and dine with Hubert de Billy, whose great-great grandfather founded the champagne house and was a very good friend of Mr. Churchill.
Txanton is located at 2294 Smithbell Building, Don Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Makati. It’s open Mondays to Saturdays from 11 AM to 11 PM. On Sunday, only the shop is open until 6 PM. For inquiries and reservations, phone (02) 812 20 40 (loc 112). Visit their Facebook page here.
