RICE & SHINE AT ESCALA
FILIPINO BRUNCH & BEATS

During a wet and rainy recent Saturday morning, Chef AC Boral's touring Filipino Soulfood restaurant pop up Rice & Shine brought its rich flavors to Los Angeles for the first time at Ktown's EsCala. 

Taking traditional brunch items but giving them a Filipino take, guests, including Top Chef Brian  Huskey, feasted on Boral’s savory Adobo Fried Chicken and Garlic Rice Waffle, Fluffy Maja Blanca Pancakes and drink specials. Guests enjoyed brunch and live beats by DJ Erok and WaveGroove.

Brunch just isn’t brunch without a mimosa and Chef created a fine one with his Calamansi Mimosa featuring Calamansi-citrus juice blend (think Filipino lemonade with Triple Sec) and champagne. It wasn’t too sweet and went down so easy. For anyone looking for a caffeine start, the Kape Espesyal, with coconut cream, coffee, Milo chocolate mix and dark rum offered sweet coffee goodness but with a surprising kick.

Starter items included Filipino bread rolls served with ensaymada butter and ube cream cheese schmear, as well as the fantastic Longganisa Scotch Egg, which featured an egg wrapped in scratch-made Filipino breakfast sausage, as well as Calamansi-dressed greens and garlic rice. This was a fine dish.

Bigger brunch selections included the Maja Blanca Pancakes with corn and coconut milk syrup served with blueberries and coconut curd (latik), which were hearty with just the right amount of sweetness.

The Kare Kare “Eggs Benedict” were a favorite served with peanut butter short rib and coconut milk-braised bok choy with poached eggs over pandesal, topped with peanuts and a side of bagoong aioli. And not to be undone, Chef also served his Adobo Friend Chicken & Waffle with crisp adobo-infused fried chicken, savory garlic rice waffle, adobo gravy, and a fried egg. Delicious!

For anyone looking for a liquid dessert, the Pearls of Disorient, made with tapioca pearls and agar agar (sago’t gulaman), molasses, amaretto, and dark rum hit the spot to satisfy anyone with a boozy sweet tooth.

Chef AC Boral’s So Good & Delicious private supper clubs and pop-up restaurants creatively re-package both traditional Filipino dishes and ingredients from different countries across the globe. Word has it he’ll be doing another pop-up in the coming weeks so stay tuned.

Escala is located at 3451 W 6th Street.

Photography Courtesy of: Brian Figueroa

Story by Jose Martinez