Awesome Wins When you Dine with Australian Grassfed Beef

Red meat consumption is often disparaged due to serious unawareness matters.  I had to admit I am one of those who often dispraise (despise even) eating steaks.  If I am to choose between white meat over red meat, without a doubt, I would easily raise my fork for white meat.  But you see after hearing from meat experts from the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), I have come to know  a definite difference between farm lot red meat and grass-fed, pastured beef from happy cows (those come from The Land Down Under, you know).

In cases that I do want to eat beef, I often go for Wagyu and Kobe beef.   When times that I challenge myself to prepare beef, I often check the marbling on the meat, never really realized that I'm putting my health my health and the family’s to danger.  Many gourmands over time have attested to the delightful flavor and texture of a good marbled steak.  The marbling of the meat is actually fat, not the good fat but the cholesterolific one.

This is also true whenever we dine out.

But you see, far from being the heart-disease causing food it is made out to be, grass fed beef (as opposed to grain-fed such as Wagyu, etc.) is a source of many nutrients and is an important part of a healthy diet.

Enter Australian Grass-fed Beef...


Said to be happy cows, majority of the cattle in Australia are naturally raised on pastures where there is abundance of grass, which is about 97%.  The rest 3 % are grain-fed.  Pasture-grazed animals tend to be healthier, free from chemicals and drugs that are common to cattle grown on feedlots.

Grass-fed meat is the healthier alternative to cholesterol-laden provision.  Why?  Since Australian grass-fed beef gets enough carotene from fresh grass and the cows get to exercise their rumens chewing down grasses, therefore, giving its meat enough fat.

I think it would be  safe to say now that red meat has been unfairly blamed for the ills of modern society. But in case you still have doubts about ordering the steak, here are some more reasons red meat is actually an extremely healthy and nutrient-dense choice:

B Vitamins, Vitamin D, Iron and Zinc

Why red meat trumps white meat?

Some of the benefits I’ve mentioned thus far are not unique to red meat, but apply to animal flesh in general. For example, levels of B vitamins, vitamin D, and most of the trace minerals are just as high in white meat as in red. However, red meat does have significantly more b12, iron, and zinc than white meat, and those things alone are enough to set it apart. Where red meat really shines, though, is in its fatty acid profile.

The fat of ruminants comprises approximately equal parts of saturated and monounsaturated fat, with only a small amount of polyunsaturated fat.  The unique ruminant digestive system ensures that these proportions stay relatively constant, regardless of what the animal eats. This makes grass –fed red meat a better choice than pork or poultry.

Now, that’s all been settled, nothing can stop us anymore in getting our red meat fix.   With all that’s been said let me announce an exciting dining feat for all you meat-lovers out there.

Thirty seven top restaurants all over Metro Manila will be participating in the first ever Australian grass-fed beef promotion.  A culinary experience is bound to hit foodies by storm as these restos showcase the unique taste that is Australian grass-fed beef with tailored menus.

Diners can choose from among a plethora of designer menus, but above all the measure of good taste and flavor, you get a chance to win Php 5,000 dining privileges or round-trip tickets for  2 to Australia via Qantas Airways.  The promotion is jointly presented by the Australian Trade commission (Austrade), Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and the State of Victoria, and is ongoing until August 23 2015.

Participating restaurants include 100, A Steakhouse at Acacia Hotel, Arya, Blackbird. Carpaccio, Casa Roces, Chef Jessie Rockwell Club, Chef Jessie Top of the Citi, Chesa Bianca, Cravings, Cyma, Epicurious, Ilustrado, Kitchen 1B, Lucia Ristorante, One way, People’ s Palace, Prime 101, Sala, Sala Bistro. The Blackbird, The Breakfast Table, The True Grill, the Urban Farm, and The Wholesome Table.

My #TrueAussieMeat Caravan Adventure

Let me give you a sneak peak on some of the featured dishes from four of the restaurants engaged in this effort.

Chef Jessie Top of The City

Roast Australian Grassfed Beef Sandwich with Homemade Country Fries

Australian Grassfed Beef Striploin in Morel Sauce

Australian Grassfed Striploin &Mushroom Roulade

Australian Grassfed Top Blade Salpicao

Australian Grassfed Top Blade Slider

Address: 34th Floor, Citibank Tower
                8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City
Tel nos: (+632) 750 5810 to 11
Monday - Friday
Operating hours: 11am to 11pm


A Steakhouse at Acacia Hotel

For the whole feature on this restaurant, kindly click at the link below:

A Savoring of Australian Grass-fed Beef Specials At Acacia Hotel's A Steakhouse

Creamy Spinach Shrimp

Australian Grassfed Tenderloin 

150g Australian Tenderloin served with Honey Marjoram Roasted Pumpkin,

Suateed Brussels Sprouts and Roasted Fig Dolcetto with Sherry Vinegar Steak Sauce 

Australian Grassfed Rib-eye

160g Australian Rib-eye with Grilled Asparagus, Roasted Potatoes and Chiamti Sauce

For dessert: Profiteroles con Matillas

Lucia Ristorante

Lucia is the service restaurant of Hotel Celeste and is famed from being one of the best Italian Resto in the metro.  It's as authentic as can be as it is owned and handled by Chef Davide Lombardi.  

The place as you can see is a mix of modern and Italian design inspiration same as the vibe of Hotel Celeste.  I was completely magnetized on the light fixture above our table -globelights on simple structured metals.

It is our third resto for the last beef caravan sponsored by the aforementioned company.  Below are the stuff we had.

Bistecca con Salsa Tartufata

Australian Grassfed Beef Brisket with Cream Truffle Sauce

Paglia e Fieno 

Bi-colored Paglia Pasta With Beef Ragout

I love how meaty this pasta dish is and the sauce isn't runny.

For dessert: Tiramisu or Gelato

Address:  G/F Hotel Celeste

               2 San Lorenzo Drive corner A. Arnaiz Avenue

               San Lorenzo Village, Makati City

Telephone No.: (632) 836-0023

Operating Hours: 11am to 11pm daily

Sala Bistro

Australian Grassfed Mulwarra Beef Tenderloin Tartare

A tartare is a  Parisian dish that is composed mainly of raw beef.  The best cut of good quality of beef is needed for this, and hands down to Sala Bistro for this.  It didn't seem like I was eating raw meat for it was savory and seasoning and the notable peppery taste from the wine added to the dressing wa superb.  It was served with homemade fries cooked in duck fat.  In my case I ate it with lavash bread which was also amply served to us.

Rigatoni with Australian Grassfed Beef Shortrib Ragout

Slow cooked beef ragout made this pasta dish rise above the rest and I'm so happy to see an unusual pasta used for this.  The parmesan slices and arugula finish the dish and balanced it with the tomato based sauce.

Let me just convey that the servings presented to us are not actual size servings.  Since we were made to try 5 restaurants all serving their featured Australian Grassfed dishes, we were served sampling sizes, except for the first two food photos I posted from Top of the Citi by Chef Jessie.

Chef Kerwin Go of Sala and Sala Bistro with Ms. Lisa our tour organizer.

Sala Bistro

Address: G/F Greenbelt 3,

                 Makati Ave., Makati City

For more food photos and IG foodies' photos regarding the promotion you can check the geotags #TrueAussieBeef  #letsmeatup  and follow Australian Embassy Manila at FACEBOOK.