The Beef Tagliata con Rucola with Porcini Mushroom Sauce, served with an arugula salad, rosemary potatoes and onion gratin sounded like a mouthful of a dish, but one bite speaks of home. There is nothing confusing nor alien with this dish. It’s a simple, well executed piece of meat with a solid, delightful flavor. Drizzled with the sauce or left as it is, it was simply delightful. The potatoes, roasted to a light crisp and the arugula salad, sprinkled with some balsamic complemented the beef well. Served on the side was a cheesy onion gratin, the savory cheese setting off the natural sweetness of the onions.
The cheese course followed; a selection of blue cheese, a parmigiano reggiano, fresh white cheese, and a caramelized brie topped with fruits. The sweet dessert wine served with it set off the flavors of the cheese well.
To cap the meal, dessert and coffee where intwined with a classic affugato. L’Incontru’s version of this classic featured hazelnut gelato, espresso and amareto for an added kick. Finally, limoncello was served as an after meal digestif.
Translated from Italian, L’Incontro means “meeting place.” I got there at a quarter to 12. The meal ended at 4pm. Lots of good food, free-flowing wines paired with the different courses, infectious laughter and interesting conversations in between. With that assessment, I think the restaurant lives up to its name. Ideal for extended meals and engrossing conversations with friends, L’Incontro is a good place to try for your next dinner out.
WIN A L’INCONTRO GC!
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You’re at a dinner with friends you haven’t seen forever. How do you break the ice?
Leave your answer in the comments section. Be sure to use a valid email address when you enter your comment details. Each person may join only once. Entries will be accepted until Sept. 11. Raffle winner will be announced on Sept. 13, 2010.
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More L’Incontro pictures on my Flickr account
L’Incontro Ristorante Italiano
207 Nicanor Garcia formerly Reposo, Makati City
(Steps away from St. Andrew’s Church)
(632) 899.0638 / 899.0642
Lincontromanila@gmail.com
me first!!
I normally catch up with friends i haven’t seen for a long time and normally after all the hugs and kisses, the HIs and Hellos, I start by saying “so how are you?” and the conversation flows from there. It will be a good mix of catching up with each other’s lives and a little gossip here and there. Of course we make sure we’ll have a lot of food to last us all night.
i hope i win and get a chance to visit L’Incontro again
A simple “How are you guys?” should get the ball rolling, so to speak especially among friends.
I always start by sharing a story about my cat (with matching photo slide show on my camera). Works all the time
I’ve found that in that situation, a good ice-breaker is to bring up a past experience together, “Remember when..?”
You’re at a dinner with friends you haven’t seen forever. How do you break the ice?
I will break the ice by giving them some sweet goodies! since i haven’t seen them for ages, i probably haven’t given them gifts on different occasions for years so on that day (or night) i would like to make them feel that i still treasure them and they are still special to me.
I’ll break the ice by talking about food. I’ll probably start by talking about the restaurant we are in then the conversation will definitely go a long way. One night will probably be not enough and we’ll plan for more get togethers in the future.
I’ll whip out some of our old photos via the FB app on my trust android phone. If they’re friends from high school we have class photos uploaded on FB, if they’re college buds, we have those photos on FB too. Then we’ll laugh at our 5-inch bangs supported by loads hairspray and wish we were back to our 20-lbs thinner selves… but then again at the sight of all the delicious food from L’Incontro who cares, right? We’ll probably eat, drink, and be merry with nary a care about a calorie…
I’ll break the ice by saying:
‘Last time we saw one another was…’
That will surely set the ball rolling..
I would start it with a toast … along with good wine and funny anecdotes of our past experiences as a group
Am sure everyone will join in the fun!
I’d probably start with a “So…. who’s getting married?” quip, which would be funny because most of my friends are single, though we are at the marrying age already. :p
Talking about different tourist destinations in the philippines will be a great icebreaker. I could recommend some of the places i have been to and ask for their recommendations and feedbacks.
one round of drinks (hard or coctails for ladies) will be a great icebreaker.
I’d probably start with a compliment to each of them–a nice bag or dress or shoes or their haircut and complexion. Followed by “Big time ka na ah, remember when…” Acknowledging the changes in them and following up with a bit of nostalgia works every time!
a shared experience from years past usually breaks the ice. and then a round of drinks after! alcohol is the ultimate social lubricant. paired with good food of course!
I’d say:
“How are you? It’s been a while since we last saw each other. What have you been doing lately?”
“Hey y’all order anything you want – MY TREAT!”
First by NOT saying anything remotely like “OMG! Tumaba ka!” Hehehe
What works for me is doing a round of “How are you’s” and “What’s up” (the first round is always met with generic “I’m okay” answers) I usually show some pics (via mobile phone, digicam or actual photos) of what’s new with me- lately it’s my baby girl. Before I had a baby, it was my dogs
It’s usually enough to elicit natural reactions from my friends that break the ice 
After a long time of not seeing each other, I would probably break the ice and say..
“So, where were we?” =)
Friendship is about picking up where you left off. Seeing each other again for the first time in a long time is a perfect opportunity to update each other on what has been happening to you. It’s about enjoying each other’s company again and remembering how comforting it really feels when you are with the company of your friends.
I will definitely start with an INSIDE JOKE. It will remind my friends of our good old times. more importantly, it will remind them that they can share anything and everything they want to share throughout the dinner. food, laughter and friendship… my favorite combo!
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“I like little boys. What about you?”
I think I would personally open with an awkward “How are you?” which would lead to a more open discussion – which is the way my own friends are like.
Or possibly something like a laugh and bringing up a random moment from our past.
A simple “how are things going with you?” question should suffice, and the ball should start rolling from there.
How to break the ice?
For me, it prolly depends on the person I’m with. If I’m with friends, I’ll probably say a joke. If I’m not, just a casual, “How are you?” (and then fish for something relevant from his/her answer, then proceed from there).
Just smile politely, and don’t keep your lunch/dinner date feeling awkward and everything would be just fine (I hope so).