Gourdo’s

Gourdo’s flagship store at Fort Bonifacio has just been renovated. Though significantly smaller, the “new” store actually looks better, utilizes the space more efficiently and is staffed with a large crew of helpful salespeople. The first time I entered the store in 2002 or thereabouts, I had come from a meal at a nearby restaurant and spied what looked like cast iron pots and pans. I was thrilled to find the “Lodge” line of cast iron cookware and there was a fairly good variety of pots, pans and casseroles. I have since purchased many cast iron pots and pans and at very reasonable prices. Yesterday, however, I noticed a diminishing number of cast iron pots and pans and I hope they re-stock soon. Beside the retail store is a small cafe.

Gourdo’s also carries a very comprehensive line of Wilton cake and decorating products. They have all of those character or animal pans that yield cakes with the face of a tiger, or bear or cuddly stuffed animal of some sort. Stacks of baking sheets, cake pans and muffin pans are on their shelves. They also have food color in paste or gel form which is much better than the watery food coloring that is typically sold in the grocery. They had an extensive line of sprinkles for cookies, cupcakes and other baked goods. Next to the Wilton stuff is a huge selection of Pedrini cooking and kitchen utensils like ladles, etc. Frankly, I am not familiar with this line but it looked good… They also had other lines of cookware and a cabinet of Wusthof knives.

The store has an entire wall of basic white tableware (mostly from China, some of the platters from Italy) that should be the backbone of any modern household. Plates, serving platters, milk and sugar containers, soup tureens, etc. all in white ceramic at very reasonable prices are stocked in good quantities. They also have glass offerings from water and wine glasses, to cookie jars, pitchers, etc. Last year they seemed to carry an extensive collection of European odds and ends from trays, plates, dishtowels, cruets, etc. Overall, it would be hard for a food and kitchen enthusiast to visit the store without finding an item or two that they would like to take home with them…

In addition to plates, knives, cookware et al, they are now stocking an increasing number of dry, bottled or canned food items. Unusual pastas, Italian peppers, dried mushrooms, etc. are displayed on one large stainless steel shelf. I hope they are able to expand these offerings to reach some degree of critical mass… a new offering is also a house blend of unique teas that are presented (in the small tins in the photo up top) with bright stickers/labels. I purchased the two in the photo and though I was impressed their Earl Grey had blue flower petals and chunks of dried orange peel (presumably from bergamot orange peels) the taste wasn’t quite Mariage Freres… nevertheless, I always encourage people, vendors, stores to bring out new products and a huge bow to Gourdo’s for expanding the variety of goods on offer in Metro Manila. Gourdo’s also has a branch in Alabang, at Glorietta 4 and a big branch under the “Living Well” brand at the Podium Mall at the Ortigas Center. At Fort Bonifacio, they are at the Fort Enternainment Center (where all the restaurants are in the middle of the Fort) and their contact number is 887-0150.