Ziggurat, SaGuijo and Sound

05Jan06 - It was an unexpected night of funk, bossa, jazz, whisky and curry in Makati last Thursday. This night out with family and friends was planned on a whim based on a frivoluos tip found in ShoutBox, a tag board in euroscoot.com, that "Jazz night is on SaGuijo". And since Londoners Dee and Pia are still home for the holidays, decided to put two together and let them experience a unique Filipino Bohemian evening. Good thing we were all free that evening.

Tigris and Euphrates is where Ziggurat is. What you say? Duon tayo kakain sa Ziggurat. This cozy little mideastern restuarant seemed to be the perfect entre to start a soulful night out. Relaxed, authentic, very very good curry and loads of pillows on the floor. Sitting downing sir? :)
You'll know if the food is very good when the people you shoot won't look at your camera. Above from left; Wendy, Pia and Dee. Center; Beef red curry, and nan topped with spicey veg and chicken. Below; the 3 happy eaters and our second course, mixed kebab and veggie couscous.

After that awesome dinner we arrived in SaGuijo early enough to get a good table and just in time to see the first band, JazzPhill Ensamble. They started with pieceful renditions of Brazzilian songs then...

Sound, not DSound of Europe, played awesome sets of original bossa/funk/jazz tracks. Their name does not give as much impact as their original music, too bad, but they do "sound" good to me mate! I was blown away specialy when they covered Space Cowboy by Jamiroquai. If you like Jay Kay, Steely Dan, and select funky 70's tunes from Sesame Street, you'll dig Sound.

This is the return of the space cowboy...

SaGuijo is definitely 'the' underground joint of the millenium in Metro Manila. Placed in two old sixties style apartment units in a quite street in San Antonio Village, Makati, Guijo Street, like Tigris and Euphrates are off the beaten path, not easy to find. But word comes fast and in the island of music loving Pinoys, places like these are always and somehow known instantly without advertisement.

Both places are situated in the innards of old town Makati. Find them at zigguratcuisine.com and saguijo.com