It’s a story that began in a home kitchen back in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, preparing home-cooked meals for the community during the long days of the quarantine experience. For Lesley Ngo and Chef Jackie Isanan, the uncertainty of the times unlocked a dream that would lead them from a dedicated curbside pick-up location for their signature pizza baked fresh from their home kitchen to two brick and mortar locations in Parqal and Capitol Commons. And the journey continues as Lesley Ngo and Chef Jackie Isahan unveil the festive flavors of the holiday season at Gianetto, a contemporary Italian inspired bistro created and built around the timeless idea that good food is best shared…In both good and challenging times, there’s nothing like good food to bring us all together for memories remembered long after the last bite. At Gianetto in Capital Commons, founders Lesley Ngo and Chef Jackie Isanan share their repertoire of comforting and rustic Italian specialty dishes from pizza and pasta to exquisite savory mains and decadent expressions of Italian desserts for a fresh and exciting new chapter in a culinary journey that began amidst uncertainty during the quarantine experience. Six years later, the inspiring story that began with fresh-baked pizza and a dedicated curbside pick-up point has blossomed and evolved for the good times ahead. Read on for a tasty peek at the Christmas 2026 Holiday Offers at Gianetto…Located at Maven in Capitol Commons, the distinctive teal green-hued doors of Gianetto is a visual cue to a sumptuous feast of comforting Italian flavors……leading to an elegant space where memorable dining experiences anchored on an extensive menu of Italian classics are celebrated. And with the holidays just around the corner, these are the moments when Gianetto becomes home where good food shared with family and friends are woven into a colorful thread of cherished memories. “At Gianetto, we believe the best moments happen when people come together to share great food and meaningful experiences,” said Chef Jackie Isanan, co-founder and executive chef of Gianetto. “This Christmas, we are excited to offer guests delicious ways to celebrate, connect, and create unforgettable holiday memories.” And Gianetto may just be the space for your holiday get-together…It was my first time at Gianetto, and the best way to ease yourself into the cozy warmth of the space is with a freshly brewed Cafe Latte. Gianetto offers a full section of specialty brews from Cappuccino and Espresso to Caffé Mocha and White Chocolate Latte. Meanwhile, Chef Jackie Isanan and her team are adding the final touches to a lavish grazing spread for a festive holiday feast at Gianetto. The arrival of the BER months formally opens the grazing season as Gianetto showcases a sweet and savory pasture with exquisite savory nibbles like the Salami, Olive & Orange Cheddar Skewers……an elegant Cheese Board with Brie and Camembert Wheels, pretzels and fresh grapes……Sweet Onion Bruschetta and Tropical Pepper Jack and Shrimp Skewers……to sweet and indulgent shots of Biscoff & Salted Caramel Coffee Mousse Shooters and Matcha and Dark Chocolate Mousse Shooters. And there’s more…Imagine a tempting spread of Savory Salmon and Herbed Cream Cheese Rounds, Brie Prosciutto Bruschetta, Prosciutto Marble Jack & Cucumber Ribbon Skewers, Nut Crusted Cranberry Cream Cheese Truffles, Almond and Chocolate Biscuit Sticks and a Tropical Sunset Fruit Board for your holiday get-together at Gianetto. Just leave it to Lesley Ngo and Chef Jackie Isanan to prepare your holiday feast with their Gianetto Party Trays and grazing spreads delivered directly to your home, office or event venue so you can enjoy the moment without the fuss or stress. Then, Gianetto served some of their signature pizza creations with the savory duo of Eats Me Spinach with Bacon topped with creamy white sauce, Mozzarella, Cheddar, spinach, cream cheese and bacon on a crisp and rustic crust with beautifully charred blisters around the edges for intense notes and delectable textural contrast……and the Beer Buddies with pepperoni, Italian sausage, Mozzarella, Cheddar, green bell peppers, mushrooms, artichoke, jalapeño and Parmesan on rich red sauce for deep and bold savory flavors. Each rendition reveals Gianetto’s masterful play on flavors with the lusciously creamy and fresh clean notes of the Eats Me Spinach with Bacon lingering long on the palate while the flavorful tandem of pepperoni and Italian sausage are perfectly complemented by the smoky sweetness of the green bell peppers and earthy hints of mushrooms finished by the richness of the cheese blend and tart red sauce for a satisfyingly complex yet delicately balanced medley. Gianetto also has other popular variants on the menu like the Pescatore with fresh seafood and pesto and the Ulta Tartufo with truffle and shiitake mushrooms. Chef Jackie Isanan knows her pizza. Mentored by master pizzaiolo Chef Giorgio Bucciarelli, Chef Jackie Isanan also bagged the top prize from the real California Milk Pizza Innovation Competition in 2023 with her 6-Cheese & Crab Tomalley Basil Pizza. But there’s more surprises from the bag of tricks of Gianetto. Pizza becomes a blank canvas for some kitchen wizardry at Gianetto with creative and even unexpected and refreshingly inventive renditions…This holiday season, Chef Jackie Isanan unveiled Gianetto’s creative take on holiday flavors with the La Festa Tropicale. The inspired spin on savory holiday flavors brings comfortingly familiar and even nostalgic notes into play with Christmas ham, crisp bell peppers and red onions over creamy Mozzarella and Parmesan layered with a flavorful soy and honey glaze on a crisp crust. Each bite takes you back to memorable childhood holiday feasts with its inventive spin on traditional Christmas flavors. The contrasting sweet, salty and savory notes all come together for a “delight in every bite” delivering a flavorful burst from the Christmas ham, the sharpness of the Parmesan elegantly smoothened by the Mozzarella, the pronounced notes and bite of the bell peppers and red onions with the sweet and salty soy honey glaze completing the flavors. It’s Christmas on a slice, inventively reinterpreted and executed by Chef Jackie Isanan at Gianetto. The pizza offerings remain a big part of Gianetto’s origins and DNA, but that’s just part of the story. You can expect the same unrestrained creativity with the pasta dishes at Gianetto too like the Sausage & Cherry Tomato Rigatoni. Juicy with bold and pronounced flavors, the Italian sausage gives this dish the flavorful punch complemented by the rich tartness of the fresh and succulent cherry tomatoes on soft yet firm al dente rigatoni pasta draped in a thick tomato vodka sauce capped by luscious and creamy Stracciatella cheese. Fresh and premium ingredients drive all the rich and clean flavors in this rendition for another must-try dish at Gianetto. The popular Creamy Aligue is an homage to local flavors with an indulgent and velvety smooth cream sauce infused with decadent crab fat and shrimps for that deep, savory and rich briny finish. And this pasta dish doesn’t hold back……with each bite teasing the palate with its unapologetic richness. From that first bite, the dish is purposeful in its intent, and that’s pure pleasure. A fresh squeeze of lemon cuts through the the richness preparing your palate for yet another bite. The succulent shrimps then brings a a briny sweetness to the already indulgent dish. You’ll find many variations of this uniquely local pasta in the metro, but Gianetto’s version makes a strong case for being one of the top picks in the dining scene. Inspired by her travels to Thailand, Chef Jackie Isanan recreates the distinctive flavors from the Land of Smiles with the Halibut Lime in Coconut Milk. The buttery and flaky halibut with its delicate notes are complemented and made even richer with smooth coconut milk sauce on a bed of mashed potatoes with cherry tomatoes and French beans with lime. The indulgent savory dish is another masterful play on layered flavors and textures with each ingredient complementing the other for elegant and balanced flavors. The lime tempers the richness of the coconut milk sauce without overpowering the delicate notes of the halibut. The dish is a rich rendition yet delicately nuanced for a light yet satisfying savory main course at Gianetto. The dish is also a reflection of Gianetto’s kitchen’s depth and range in terms of tasty and tempting menu options. For the much anticipated finale at Gianetto, the USDA Prime Ribeye Steak was served to cap the savory holiday feast. This is 500 grams of pure USDA Prime goodness served with seven sides and three condiments like Creamed Spinach, Chicken and Walnut Salad, Mashed Potatoes, Corn & Spinach, French Beans and Mushrooms, Sour Cream Potatoes, Roasted Garlic, Rosemary Truffle Salt, Salt and Chili and Himalayan Salt & Pepper. You can also request for some demi-glace sauce, but the steak is good as is. A pinch of the Rosemary Truffle Salt or the soothing kick of heat from the Salt and Chili is all you need to enjoy the pure beefy and uncluttered flavors of the premium ribeye. Pure, clean and beefy notes, the USDA Prime Ribeye is as good as it looks and the perfect ending to a lavish holiday feast at Gianetto. And it’s exactly how I love my steak, uncluttered by the sauce with just a pinch of salt. The tender beef has just the right bite, releasing a flavorful burst draping the palate. A good slab of beef doesn’t need much, and Gianetto does it right. But the proper ending to a holiday feast at Gianetto is about to be unboxed with the Il Grande Tiramisu. You’ve seen it on social media, you’ve heard hushed whispers of amazement from friends and you’ve been curious ever since. And it’s the total presentation and seamless alignment of indulgence and packaging that makes this holiday treat work. Measuring an impressive 15.7 inches long, the Il Grande Tiramisu is a decadent statement in itself. And with convenient straps built in with the package, it’s the ideal gift for friends and family too. Lifting the top cover reveals the intricately layered dessert stacked with espresso soaked biscuits on the bottom topped with silky smooth and creamy Mascapone and generously dusted with cocoa powder. When you have the perfect packaging and the perfect dessert, how do you get the picture perfect slice? Fortunately, Gianetto has thought of that too. Inside the lid, a clear acrylic slicer is included with each box for that clean straight slice all the time. And that perfect clean slice leads to an indulgent bite. The moist and creamy Il Grande Tiramisu just melts in your mouth releasing decadent bursts of pure Tiramisu bliss on the palate. From the packaging to that first bite, the Il Grande Tiramisu by Gianetto has to be one of the top holiday picks of the season. And it gets better. Skip the mad holiday rush and place your order in advance with the promotional price of P 1,999 versus the regular price of P 2,299 for unbeatable value. And that’s a good deal you just can’t pass up. This holiday season, fill all your potential memories this Christmas with good food shared with family and friends. There will be countless other options, but Gianetto deserves a place on your list. What began in a home-based kitchen six years ago has now blossomed into the culinary mainstream with two brick and mortar locations. It’s a narrative that continues to warm and inspire as we celebrate another season of joy and giving. For Lesley Ngo and Chef Jackie Isanan, the new 2026 Holiday Offerings by Gianetto represents another chapter in their culinary journey. From exquisite bites of the impressive grazing spread to sumptuous pizza, pasta and savory mains to dessert, Gianetto is more than ready to be a part of your story this holiday season…Gianetto is located at the Ground Floor of Maven, Capitol Commons, Oranbo, Pasig, 1605 Metro Manila. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/gianettoph and https://www.instagram.com/gianetto.ph/ for more update and information or call 0917 132 7413 for inquiries.Dude for Food is now on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, check out these social media accounts for regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click “Like” and “Follow” and enjoy the ride…just look for the FB and IG widgets on the right sidebar.
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