Cover Photo: Duane Mendes / Unsplash
Photo: Duane Mendes / Unsplash
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On May 19 and 20, the chefs at Café Aurora and Hapag will be teaming up for a collaborative must-try dining experience
For two nights only, the teams at Café Aurora and Hapag will be teaming up to create an ultra-special menu. To celebrate the summer months, chefs Nicco Santos and Quenee Vilar of Café Aurora and chefs Thirdy Dolatre and Kevin Navoa of Hapag celebrate “gifts of the season” in this one-off tasting experience.
Happening on May 19 (in Hapag) and 20 (in Café Aurora), and at two seatings 6.30pm or 7.30pm, diners can expect an explosion of Filipino and Southeast-Asian flavours and a skilful display of culinary techniques to boot.
“[It’s a] great experience for both teams to be able to build a menu together, learn from one another and be exposed to different cooking styles. It is our first time collaborating again since our last, pre-pandemic with Logy in Taipei. We're pretty excited and anxious at the same time, but good thing we're working with very talented and inspiring individuals,” Chef Santos says.
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He and Vilar have worked together synergistically for years, a team bursting with bubbly energy and a dynamic back and forth that results in unforgettable, crave-worthy meals. From Your Local, to Hey Handsome, and the pandemic’s Sambar, to the current hot spot of Café Aurora and the soon-to-open fine dining Celera, this duo shows no signs of stopping.
The tandem behind Hapag, Dolatre and Navoa have been recognised for their dedication to elevating and re-framing Filipino cuisine and what it stands for. Their experimentation with local produce, flavours, and cooking techniques has put Hapag on the culinary map, and rightfully so.
The 10 courses that will be presented during this two-day team-up are fully collaborative and will put these four talents under the spotlight. From beef, to pork, a range of fresh seafood, and refreshing flavour pairings, foodies should prepare for an exciting (high-flavour) gourmet adventure with off-menu dishes. “We worked on the whole menu together. Something we feel very passionate about. You can expect Filipino, Malay, Thai and Indonesian influences and techniques tied in across all of the dishes,” adds Santos.
Since this is just a two-night experience, take note that the restaurants will not be providing alternatives for dietary restrictions, so do check in advance before confirming your booking.
The 10-course dinner will be PHP 7,000 exclusive of service charge and VAT while the optional 8-course drink pairing will be PHP 2,000 exclusive of service charge and VAT. For Day 1 reservations, book your seats at hapagmnl.com. Day 2 reservations may be made directly through +63 917 104 3672.
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About
Isabel loves to learn, and see things from different perspectives. Connecting with people and engaging in new experiences to broaden her horizons is what inspires this storyteller, keeping her constantly curious, and excited for what's to come. An absolute love for all things F&B ignited a hunger to devour content from this world and keeps her jumping into tasty adventures around the globe. From the beauty of simple bites, to nuanced fine dining tasting menus, street food, and the art of entertaining, the multi-faceted nature of the dining experience is something she can't get enough of. A good cup of coffee or a glass of wine paired with a dash of witty conversation is a quick way to win her over. This editor loves travelling, food, music, skincare, fitness, and is only friends with people who love dogs. Guilty pleasure?: Binge-watching TV shows and movies she has already seen.
Work
Concept creation is the name of the game and branding takes centre stage in Isabel's day-to-day schedule. From producing shoots, conceptualising bespoke projects for our partners, relationship management, to cooking up features and events for Tatler Dining, this editor is a tried and tested foodie at heart. She mainly writes content for Tatler Dining, engaging in captivating discussions with restaurateurs, chefs, producers, and food enthusiasts to tell must-know stories. Aside from that Isabel manages Tatler Dining's flagship events like Off Menu, or Cocktail Festival and puts together the Tatler Dining Guide, our annual listing of the best eats around town.
Follow her on Instagram @isabelvmf.
