Capisce

Being based in Manila, I’m never too far away from barbecue. But a good barbecue, I find, is hard to find. A lot of them tend to be dry or drowned to death with ketchup. That’s why I always thank the fate that leads me to the one with smoky flavor, slightly seared edges, and that fat-trimmed last piece that is perfectly toasted and caramelized – such as the one I found at Capisce.

Capisce is an Italian word that means “Get it?” or “You understand?” What I don’t understand of course is how liempo got into the picture. To be fair, the restaurant does serve Italian food, but most people head for the charcoal grill. The basting sauce for the BBQ is a good blend of sweet and sour but should you prefer a little more sweetness or kick, you can get that from either the sweet or the spicy dip.

I didn’t care much about the liempo. If I want grilled food other than barbecue, I’ll go for the inihaw na spareribs at JT’s Manukan. Forget the inasal. Spareribs is your best bet at JT’s.