Cover Basti Escalante, son of the lauded chef Tonyboy Escalante, enters the F&B industry and family business with Pedro the Grocer
Basti Escalante, son of the lauded chef Tonyboy Escalante, enters the F&B industry and family business with Pedro the Grocer
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Skip the road trip—simply get your Antonio’s favourites and speciality produce at Pedro the Grocer, its dedicated food retailer stocking piaya, longganisa, ice creams, and more
The reputation of the Antonio’s Group is inimitable. Led by the eponymous chef Tonyboy Escalante, the restaurant titan effortlessly lures city folk over an hour’s drive beyond the metro. Whether it’s for a sumptuous brunch spread at Breakfast at Antonio’s, fresh piaya from Balay Dako, or a spectacular repast at the exemplary fine dining establishment Antonio’s, making the journey to Tagaytay for Escalante’s delicious spoils has become routine practice. Now, Escalante brings his treats to you.
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Above Pedro the Grocer opens its doors at San Antonio Plaza, Makati City
Pedro the Grocer opens its doors at San Antonio Plaza, Makati City
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Meet Pedro the Grocer, a chic new food retail market helmed by the chef’s eldest son, Basti Escalante. Located in San Antonio Plaza Arcade, Makati City, Pedro the Grocer functions as the group’s dedicated brick-and-mortar store for Antonio’s prepared, frozen, baked, and ready-to-eat products in Metro Manila—yes, that means your favourite piaya and ensaymada, artisanal jams, and savoury goods like beef tapa and bulalo are now just a hop and skip away. Even Antonio’s famed ice creams, formerly only available for dine-in, will now be sold in pints at the store.
Above Antonio’s fresh-baked goods like the fan-favourite ensaymada are now available at Pedro the Grocer
Above Pick up some of Antonio’s speciality jams at Pedro the Grocer
Antonio’s fresh-baked goods like the fan-favourite ensaymada are now available at Pedro the Grocer
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“During the pandemic, we saw that there was a real want for Antonio’s products,” reveals the young entrepreneur. While the opening of Pedro is indeed a momentous occasion for Basti, it also marks Antonio’s expansion beyond the restaurant business, establishing itself as a diversified F&B group. Moreover, it also sets the foundations for Antonio’s as a legacy empire.
“I was presented this opportunity to build on what my father has built and I took it,” Escalante beams. In fact, even the name of the grocer, Pedro, is another family reference. “My younger brother, Pedro, loves going to supermarkets. It’s great to see him being happy in any market he visits. And I thought, 'What better way to have him involved than naming the store after him?'”
See also: 8 Major Restaurant Groups in the Philippines You Need to Know
Fresh-baked bread from Pedro the Grocer
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Beyond Antonio’s greatest hits, Escalante shares that he’s most excited to showcase regional produce on their seasonal display, highlighting the craftsmanship of the suppliers they’ve worked intimately with throughout the years. “Because of our close relationships with farmers from Benguet and Tagaytay, we have access to really unique and hard-to-find produce,” he beams. White ampalaya, fresh strawberries, preserved etag, and heirloom rice are but a whisper of what’s to come.
“Right now, the focus is on making this one Pedro the Grocer work, and work well,” declares Escalante. “We do have plans and goals for the store. You’ll just have to wait and see.”
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Pedro the Grocer is located at 2/F San Antonio Arcade Plaza, Mckinley Road, Makati City. For inquiries, please contact +63 2 7003 5586, +63 939 987 7550, or pedrothegrocer@gmail.com. To stay in the loop with the latest updates, follow Perdo the Grocer on Instagram at @pedrothegrocer.ph
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
