After the boom in 2023, here is what to expect in the year that follows from some industry insiders
The food and beverage industry came back in a big way last year as both restaurants and the dining public show how much they have missed each other.
Chefs demonstrated profound creativity through tasting menus, and diners proved that they were willing to pay Singapore and Hong Kong prices for a seat at worthwhile collaborations and F&B experiences. Franchises from all over the world have come to join the mix in what is clearly a highly competitive local food scene, proving how the Philippine market is not one to be fiddled with. Filipinos love to eat (and drink), and we know what is good out there, and we want them all.
See also: New year, new restaurants: The most anticipated openings of 2024
Tasting menu vs à la carte
Will tasting menus still be as big this year? Chef Patrick Go of upscale casual Asian eatery Your Local seems to think so, seeing how the options have become a lot more democratic. “Since last year, there were so many offering tasting menus,” he points out, “ ranging from competitive to very high prices.” Go wishes to see more “bistronomy-type” concepts which he describes as “bistro-style food but super refined.” This would feature a “reasonably priced menu, small plates for sharing, and no-fuss food.” Coincidentally, chef Stephan Duhesme—best known for his innovations on Filipino cuisine at his critically acclaimed Metiz—supports this by saying that, basing his forecast on the current economic and geo-political climate, he sees this kind of dining to come into prominence this 2024. “I also believe that with the market saturation of tasting menu establishments, we are going to see more specialised à la carte places open, with food that will be just as good as your favourite tasting menu joints.”
See also: These are the best bar openings of 2023