Cover Inside the dining area of Loralee Soong
Inside the dining area of Loralee Soong
1 / 1
Loralee Soong, a working mother of twins, brings warmth and personality to intimate gatherings through home-cooked meals and travel-inspired tablescapes
Travel is believed to promote growth, a concept that entrepreneur Loralee Soong strongly believes in. Growing up, summers were spent in the US, where her family had a home. But what really sparked Soong’s love for exploration was when her grandmother gifted her with a European vacation for her 18th birthday. “The three of us [Soong, her grandmother and mother] drove across several countries, with my Mum behind the wheel and me navigating using paper maps, long before Google Maps,” she recalls.
Another memorable trip was when her mother turned 60; they chose to celebrate it with Soong’s sister on a trek to see Mount Everest. “We were inspired by a story of a young woman who had travelled to every country in the world, and since then, my mum and I have made it a point to visit new places whenever we can,” Soong shares. “She has now been to over 100 countries, and I’ve visited around 80. Together, we’ve explored all seven continents and seen the Seven Wonders of the World.”
Above Loralee Soong at the dining table
Loralee Soong at the dining table
1 / 1
It was also whilst living abroad and studying for grad school that Soong decided the course of her career. “At the time, the only way to receive a strong fashion education was to study abroad. While my flatmate Amina Aranaz-Alunan and I were studying fashion in Milan, we realised we could bring that same world-class education back to the Philippines,” she explains. This was 18 years ago, when they co-founded SoFa Design Institute, which is now one of the premier design schools in the country. “We wanted to make it more accessible, especially for those who didn’t have the opportunity to study overseas, and at the same time help professionalise the Philippine fashion industry,” says Soong. “From the beginning, our goal has been to create a school that balances creativity, business and technical skills, because all three are essential in building a sustainable career in design.”
With this robust background in design and an almost devout passion for travel, one would think that Soong has a taste for the extravagant. Quite the contrary. “My style is very much about entertaining on a budget, with a love for DIY details,” she discloses. “I also enjoy incorporating home-cooked meals, especially those prepared by my husband, which makes gatherings feel more personal and warm.” Apart from her value-driven attitude, she is mindful of the vibe (“I always start with the mood I want to create”); she likes to incorporate her personality and interests in her tablescapes. “I love that every piece I use tells a story. Many of the items I collect are from my travels or are gifts from dear friends. When I set a table, it becomes a reflection of those memories, each element has meaning beyond just aesthetics.”
See also: How Holly Graham went from covering Asia’s bar scene to running one of its best
Above Canapes by Loralee Soong
Above Loralee Soong’s pica pica spread
Canapes by Loralee Soong
1 / 2
For the mother of twins, it is clear what her priorities are when it comes to entertaining: ease, comfort and a distinct sense of style that offers a peek into her treasured memories. Soong believes that hosting at home need not be overindulgent, and the focus should be on the quality time spent with the people who matter most. As a design expert who has travelled the world, her advice to hosting novices is practical and simple. “Collect tableware when you travel; it adds personality and meaning to your table over time. Most importantly, have fun with it. There are no strict rules when it comes to hosting, just stay authentic to your style and create an experience that feels true to you.”
Tatler sits down with Soong to talk travel and table a little bit further.
How has a life shaped by travel informed the way you host? Do you find yourself recreating atmospheres, rituals or fleeting moments from places you’ve been?
Yes, definitely. Travel always finds its way into how I host, whether it’s a cocktail I’ve tried somewhere, a dish my husband ends up recreating, or little mementoes I use on the table. It’s not intentional all the time, but it naturally comes together.
In what ways can a home gathering echo the sensibility of a well-travelled itinerary, considered, layered, yet seemingly effortless?
I tend to mix and match things I’ve brought home over time, pottery from a local artist in Quezon, glassware from Egypt, hammered silver from Thailand, linens from Sri Lanka. They’re all pieces I love and they remind me of different trips so the table ends up feeling layered but still very personal.
See also: Tatler’s ultimate guide: where to order the best Vietnamese food in Metro Manila
Above Loralee Soong’s bar area
Above Loralee Soong setting up the cocktail area
Loralee Soong’s bar area
1 / 2
Can hosting become a form of “travel” in itself, where guests are transported without ever leaving the table?
Yes, especially through food. My husband loves to cook, sometimes it’s Italian, other times a full Korean menu or even Chinese dishes using his grandmother’s recipes and that alone already shifts the mood. It doesn’t have to be over the top, just something that makes the evening feel a little different from the usual.
What distinguishes a memorable gathering for you from a merely well-executed one?
For me, it’s the thought and care behind it. I enjoy doing things by myself from buying flowers from the market, putting the table together, and having a home-cooked meal. Add good music and the right group of friends, and it just feels more special.
Having experienced different cultures of hospitality, what practices have stayed with you, and which have you chosen to reinterpret at home?
I’ve realised I’m drawn to things that feel more personal and less formal. I like when there’s effort, but not in a way that feels forced. So I tend to keep things a bit DIY and more relaxed.
How do you approach restraint when entertaining, and at what point does simplicity become its own form of luxury?
I think simplicity feels like luxury when you’ve had the time to really prepare, like cooking something yourself or setting the table properly. It doesn’t have to be complicated to feel special.
See also: The 12 best steak restaurants in Metro Manila, as featured in the Tatler Best Philippines Guide 2026
Above Loralee Soong’s table setting
Loralee Soong’s table setting
1 / 1
How do you balance preparation and spontaneity? What must be controlled, and what do you leave open to chance?
I usually make sure the ambience is set, lighting, music, the overall mood. After that, I let things flow. I don’t mind if things aren’t perfect, sometimes the best moments come from that.
In an age of convenience, what role does the home-cooked meal play in creating meaning and connection?
It adds a very personal touch. You can really feel the effort, and it naturally brings people together in a different way.
What details do guests remember most: the setting, the food, or the feeling?
Probably how everything comes together, but more than anything, the feeling. That’s what people remember.
When does a house truly become a place of hospitality rather than simply a place to live?
When people feel comfortable enough to just be themselves, when they feel at home.
Topics
Jaclyn Clemente Koppe is a food and lifestyle writer, as well as a consultant to some of the country’s beloved food and beverage brands. Her passion for food and drink is only surpassed by her devotion to her family, most especially to her soulmate, Pepa the poodle.
