Cover Taco hits at the La Chinesca pop-up (Photo: Courtesy of Pol Divina and Jae Pickrell)
Taco hits at the La Chinesca pop-up (Photo: Courtesy of Pol Divina and Jae Pickrell)
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Chef Bruce Ricketts and Jae Pickrell roll out new Mexican dishes at their latest pop-up, Half Saints heads from Quezon City to BGC for a café pop-up, and more
Keep up with the latest food buzz and stay in the loop with our Dining Radar—our monthly round-up of the newest restaurants, cafés, bars, and more to tick off your list.
While La Chinesca’s stall at The Grid Food Market is closed for renovations, the team heads downstairs to The Balmori Suites Chef’s Table, armed with exclusive new dishes. Hotel Okura Manila flies in the group’s grand chef of Japanese fine dining to present a seven-course tuna kaiseki experience, complete with a champagne and sake pairing. A new bar opens in Poblacion, offering a 5-course cocktail degustation with bar bites to complement each tipple.
All this and more, below:
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1. La Chinesca at The Balmori Suites Chef’s Table
Above Toro and tuna tostada (Photo: courtesy of Pol Divina and Jae Pickrell)
Toro and tuna tostada (Photo: courtesy of Pol Divina and Jae Pickrell)
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Location: The Balmori Suites, Rockwell Center, Makati City
Chef Bruce Ricketts and Jae Pickrell take over The Balmori Suites Chef’s Table until July 21, bringing you La Chinesca signatures and many exciting exclusives to look forward to. Indulge in your go-to favourites, or try out new additions like the toro tostada, pato tetelas, and mole enchiladas—great for lunch, dinner, or even a mid-afternoon snack as they are open from 11am to 9pm daily!
Read more: The best Spanish restaurants from the Tatler Dining Guide 2024
2. Half Saints Bakes x Miele
Location: Miele Flagship Showroom, Twenty-Five Seven McKinley Building, BGC
Quezon City-based restaurant and bakery Half Saints heads to BGC for a pop-up in collaboration with Miele, featuring their pastries, cakes, coffee, and other treats. Opening on the 10th of July, the pop-up café will be open from 10am to 5pm, Mondays to Saturdays for a limited time only.
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3. Jasmine: Breakfast Menu
Above Braised vegetarian mushrooms, bean curd skin (Photo: courtesy of New World Makati Hotel)
Braised vegetarian mushrooms, bean curd skin (Photo: courtesy of New World Makati Hotel)
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Location: New World Makati Hotel, Makati City
Jasmine broadens its dining offerings with an all-new breakfast menu: a blend of Chinese and Malaysian favourites, available 7am to 10am every Sunday. Highlights include kaya toast with soft-boiled eggs, pork century eggs congee, and of course, Jasmine’s famed steamed and fried dim sum.
Related: 10 Malaysian street food you have to try when visiting
4. Yawaragi: The art of tempura
Location: Hotel Okura Manila, Newport World Resorts, Pasay City
Tadashi Sawauchi, Hotel Okura Group’s grand chef of Japanese fine dining, brings his culinary expertise to Yawaragi this July, bringing guests a seven-course tempura kaiseki experience. The menu includes a selection of tempura like saimaki-ebi, anago, and Japanese Wagyu, as well as other bites such as duck loin and eggplant with sesame vinegar and marinated tuna toro with thinly sliced yam.
The art of tempura, crafted by chefs Sawauchi, Takashi Karasawa of Tempura Karasawa Tokyo, and Keiichiro Fujino of Hotel Okura Menu, takes place this July 22 to 25, complete with a champagne and sake pairing.
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5. S Maison x Auro World Chocolate Fair
Location: S Maison, Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City
The fifth World Chocolate Fair by S Maison and Auro Chocolate is now underway! From July 3 to 7, 10am to 10pm, the main atrium at S Maison will be filled with Auro Chocolate’s award-winning cacao, featuring delectable chocolate treats by Half Saints, Bubu Bars, Daniel Barker, But First Coffee, and many more.
6. Bizarre
Above Ian Libang, head bartender at Bizarre (Photo: Facebook / Bizarre PH)
Ian Libang, head bartender at Bizarre (Photo: Facebook / Bizarre PH)
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Location: 5925 Algier Street corner Jacobo Street, Poblacion, Makati City
True to its name, Bizarre brings you a unique bar experience: a five-course cocktail degustation by bartender Ian Libang, complete with bar bites by chef Mikel Zaguirre to complement each drink. The strictly by-reservation-only operation officially opened its doors in May and is now on its soft opening, with an ever-changing menu that keeps guests on their toes.
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7. Satori: The Flavour Wheel
Location: 27 Canopus Street corner Jupiter Street, Makati City
Satori brings you a coffee tasting designed to deepen your appreciation for your daily cup of joe. Hosted by Carl Abuel, The Flavour Wheel explores key flavour profiles of coffee across 5-courses, allowing guests to improve their comprehension of taste, textures, temperature and other complexities. The tasting takes place on the 19th of July, with slots available from 5pm to 10pm.
See also: Behind the bean: The best coffee-producing regions around the world
8. Joel’s Place (Glorietta)
Location: Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City
Joel’s Place brings its one-of-a-kind “grocer-ant” concept to Glorietta, marrying the best of the grocery and restaurant experience in one convenient space. Expect quality produce, fresh breads and pastries, artisanal finds from all around the world, and a spread of ready-to-eat dishes, too.
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9. Mirèio: Bastille Day brunch and set menu
Photo: courtesy of Raffles Makati
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Location: Raffles Makati, Makati Aveune, Makati City
Say Joyeux Quatorze Juillet and celebrate Bastille Day with a sophisticated feast at Mirèio! Raffles Makati’s distinguished French restaurant commemorates the holiday with a special edition of its popular brunch buffet on the 14th of July, as well as a special four-course dinner menu available until the 31st of July featuring Black Angus filet mignon, pistachio crème brûlée, a selection of wines, and more.
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10. Monkey Eagle: 10 Years of the Happiest Hours
Location: Palm Grove, Rockwell Center, Makati City
Homegrown craft beer brand Monkey Eagle celebrates its tenth anniversary this July! Drop by “10 Years of the Happiest Hours” this July 13, 3pm to 11pm for a fun-filled party with Monkey Eagle and friends including Hungry Homies, Bombvinos, Sabong Fried Chicken, Rebel Bakehouse, and Tattoo Nebula.
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11. Makan at Eliseos x Agave Spirits: Tequila y mezcal flight tasting
Location: 379 St. Jude Village, San Juan City, La Union
Makan at Eliseos and Agave Spirits team up to present an exciting tequila and mezcal experience taking place on July 13, 4pm onwards. Savour their collection of single pours or opt for their tequila or mezcal flights, and indulge in lip-smacking dishes from the Makan team like grilled pork ribs with salsa verde or charred tuna with dark chocolate adobo sauce.
Read more: Chef EJ Lagman of Makan, La Union on “finding your voice and your people”
12. Reyna (Paris): Pop-up at Guest Room
Location: The Coffee Academics, Missouri Street, Greenhills, San Juan City
Chef Erica Paredes brings her funky Filipino restaurant Reyna to Manila for ten days only, July 24 to August 4 with two tasting menu seatings per night. The pop-up will be taking place at Guest Room, a new hidden bar tucked within The Coffee Academics Greenhills, with DJ R3Mi of Paris-based group Starship Loopers on the decks spinning early ‘90s and ‘00s hip hop, R&B, and neo-soul.
13. Ricksha Tandoor x Love, Pierre: Rhone(s) around India
Location: 6 Missouri Street, San Juan City
Sommelier Pierre Addison brings Love, Pierre to Ricksha Tandoor for another immersive and educational five-course wine dinner, marrying the restaurant’s flavoursome Indian cuisine with classic Rhone wines. Dinner kicks off at 7pm on July 18, but do come early at 6.30pm to enjoy some nibbles and get to know your host and fellow guests.
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14. Wine Story Academy: Fête Française walk-around tasting
Location: One Uptown Residence, BGC, Taguig City
On July 27, from 2pm to 5pm Wine Story at One Uptown BGC will put on their annual walk-around tasting, Fête Française. This year, expect 14 different wines from 6 wine regions, allowing you to appreciate further the distinct styles of Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhone, and Languedoc while enjoying some canapés.
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About
Lauren’s love for food came much later in life than one would expect— an obsession awakened in the streets of Melbourne’s multicultural dining scene. Armed with this newfound passion, she returned to the Philippines determined to discover the best eats in her home country, with a personal advocacy to champion local cuisines and homegrown talent. Nothing is off-limits; if it’s delicious, it’s worth celebrating.
Work
As Tatler Dining associate editor, Lauren covers all things food and drink, from listing the latest openings in our monthly Dining Radar to interviewing chefs and bartenders about the biggest obstacles crippling the industry today. Beyond the digital space, she also organises Tatler Dining’s tentpole events, including Off Menu and Tatler Dining Kitchen, as well as the annual Tatler Best Philippines awards night and guide launch, detailing the best restaurants in the country.
For leads and event invites, contact her via lauren@tatlerphilippines.com or follow her on Instagram at @laurengolangco.
Photo: Ralph Mendo
