Cover Bea Ledesma with furry friends
Bea Ledesma with furry friends
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Welcome to Foodie Finds! This is an article series by Tatler, chronicling where and what to order according to the food-obsessed—this time, we talk to PR strategist Bea Ledesma
Welcome to Foodie Finds! This is a series by Tatler, chronicling where and what to order according to the food-obsessed.
Food has a way of bringing people together, whether around restaurant tables, home kitchens or conversations that linger long after the last bite. The places we return to often say just as much about us as the meals themselves—comfort dishes become rituals, neighbourhood cafés become second homes and favourite restaurants become part of our everyday stories.
This time, we catch up with Bea Ledesma, founder of PR and brand strategy agency Blah Blah. Working across fashion, food, beauty and culture, she’s helped shape the identities of some of Manila’s most recognisable brands. Before stepping fully into communications, she also spent time in the kitchen making veggie burgers under the alias A Home Kewk. Equal parts discerning foodie and sharp observer, Ledesma’s recommendations span neighbourhood gems, nostalgic comfort food and a healthy dose of wit.
Read on to learn more.
See also: The Iron Fairies Manila: where nightlife becomes immersive storytelling
Above Bea Ledesma indulging in a decadent spread
Bea Ledesma indulging in a decadent spread
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What is a new restaurant you’ve discovered and enjoy?
Not that it’s a conflict of interest or anything (since I launched it), but I do love Alvin Cailan’s Greenlight Burgers. Their smash burgers are the best in the biz.
Where do you get your favourite dessert?
50 & Co. Their cookies and German chocolate cake are the best, and the strawberry cake is just as good—light, fluffy and gorgeous.
Where is your favourite café?
I’m a creature of habit. Omotesando Salcedo. I order a cappuccino and bring my own cinnamon for a hit of that tasty anti-inflammatory powder.
See also: July 2026 Dining Radar: new restaurants, cafés and bars in Metro Manila
Above A juicy cheeseburger (Photo: courtesy of Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan)
A juicy cheeseburger (Photo: courtesy of Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan)
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What is your favourite restaurant for breakfast or brunch?
June Eatery. I’ve been accused of representing it (lol), but I really just love their egg and salmon dishes.
What is your favourite restaurant for late-night eats?
Krapow. That fried chicken does something to me when I’m watching Top Chef from the sofa late at night.
What regular restaurants do you enjoy going to on your day off?
I love the off-menu items at Marudori. Think rich, creamy chicken broth with bouncy noodles topped with foie gras. It’s comfort food at its finest.
Where do you go for date night?
As I haven’t been on a date in forever, I’d suggest the mortuary to mourn my love life. Plus, imagine all the free food at wakes.
See also: Pinoy Accent: chef Jorge Mendez turns a familiar accent into Quezon City’s newest wine bar
Above A piping hot bowl of ramen (Photo: courtesy of Ramen Marudori)
A piping hot bowl of ramen (Photo: courtesy of Ramen Marudori)
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Where do you order your favourite Filipino food from?
Manam’s crispy sisig is lithium in chopped pig form. Paired with a steaming bowl of garlic fried rice, it can cure most ills. It's not traditionally Filipino, but Milky Way’s macaroni salad might as well be. It tastes exactly like a children’s party in the early '90s.
Where do you order your favourite bread from?
Scratch.
Where do you go for your favourite steaks or meats?
My friend Jasper is a method smoker. He stocks all kinds of meats and uses a combination of smoking, grilling and roasting to produce restaurant-quality food from the comfort of his home. I get to gnaw on a steak bone in my bare feet.
See also: Digámo, a new Filipino restaurant in Marikina, serves much more than a good story
Above Manam’s crispy sisig (Photo: courtesy of Manam)
Manam’s crispy sisig (Photo: courtesy of Manam)
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Where do you go for your favourite seafood fix?
East Ocean. You need an expert Chinese person to guide you through the menu. As I’m only five per cent Chinese, that’s clearly not me, so I happily bow to the knowledge of others.
Where do you go for your favourite noodles, from pasta to ramen?
Mangiamo! Some of the best pasta and pizza in town are hiding in this low-key Salcedo spot. More people need to know about it. I always order the handmade pastas, especially the taglierini tartufati, along with the picante calabrese pizza.
What is your go-to spot for a nightcap?
A gin and tonic at Numbers Bar in Salcedo.
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