Terry’s Selection: The Always Hidden Deli

I love delis!  They tend to have really quality steaks, an array of selection of quality ingredients, and best of all — cured meat!  I’ve been hooked with cured meat ever since I got a taste.

Now I’ve heard of Terry’s Selection a while back from one of our business partners in my old job.  I visited The Podium branch, but it seems to be always placed in a fairly secluded area. Anyway, I checked it out and more than a deli, it’s actually a Spanish restaurant as well¹.

My first reaction when I was handed the menu was, “Holy fuck!”  Seriously, the prices are not cheap.  600-peso appetizers and 2,000-peso steaks, the price can be shocking.  But after our first order arrived, I guess I could understand the prices² and even justify them to a certain extent.  There’s no substitute really for good quality ingredients.

First dish was Gambas al Ajillo.  Gambas is a Spanish staple of shrimps served in a clay pot with boiling olive oil, garlic, and chili.  The shrimp was really really fresh and the garlic-y flavor was not overwhelming. Lacked a bit of spice from the chili for me.  Too eager for a bite, I actually burnt my tongue.

This is also served with a basket of bread.  Bread was nothing special, but I loved those garlic chips and the olive oil used.  I could’ve ignored the shrimp altogether and just had the bread, dipped it in the oil, and top if off with the garlic.

We also ordered the Super-Paella Parellada, which requires 30 minutes to prepare.  Supposedly an original recipe from Barcelona topped with Piquillo peppers, shrimp, chicken, pork, mushroom, peas, and cured sausages.

The paella was just OK.  It didn’t come in the traditional paella pan, so there were no burnt bottoms³.  Rice was a bit mushy and on the salty side.  I guess the cured meat had something to do with this.  The chicken and pork were a quite dry and the shrimp was not as fresh as the gambas served earlier, which is a bit strange.

If you’re not willing to shell out that much for food, you could go the sandwich route, which can save you some.  They have more than respectable sandwiches.

I’d get the Don Pepito sandwich.  This comes with grilled US Angus beef with Piquillo peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, and Dijon mustard.  Flavors worked well and grilled beef was cooked well.  And I just couldn’t have enough of Dijon mustard.

But since I’m a sucker for salami, I usually go for the Crazy Mozzarella sandwich.  Melted mozzarella⁴, tomatoes, and a generous serving of German pepper salami.  I always go for the Ciabatta bread and this was real winner. The salami was definitely the star of the show!

Service was just OK.  Nothing special, although we got charged for a bottle of wine that we didn’t order.  Good thing I always check the check.  Location-wise Karrivin Plaza is a bit isolated and even The Podium branch is located in the lower-ground level, where few actually venture into.  Still, I can’t complain.  I’d visit Terry’s again just for the sandwiches.

Terry’s Selection: The Always Hidden Deli 2011-07-01

love delis!  They tend to have really quality steaks, an array of selection of quality ingredients, and best of all — cured meat!  I’ve been hooked with cured meat ever since I got a taste. Now I’ve heard of Terry’s Selection a while back from one of our business partners in my old job.  I …