More than eats
The emergence of concept restaurants prove that dining is more than just eating.
It’s no secret that Filipinos love food. In fact, according to F&B World magazine editor-in-chief Marilen Fontanilla, the Philippine restaurant scene has become very dynamic, “with new players coming in, while veterans are constantly coming up with new products [to offer.]”
UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE: Clockwise from top left: Cafe Publico’s selection of great food and fun games (Photo taken from www.cafepublico.com.ph); Epicurious’ shop-cook-eat concept; Cordillera Coffee’s artsy activities and workshops; and Sip and Gogh diners create masterpieces in between bites (Photo taken from Facebook/SipAndGogh)
In Metro Manila alone, conceptual dining hubs are popping up, hoping to catch the attention of the now more sophisticated, more discerning Filipino diner. Some of them even offer activities you wouldn’t typically find in a restaurant like making dolls or painting the next Mona Lisa. Faced with tough competition, restaurants have to raise the bar to lure in the crowd..
As Fontanilla explains, “Every new restaurant that opens should have a unique selling proposition to engage consumers, but it needs to have a solid set of products (food, ambiance, and amenities) that will ensure continued patronage. More than anything, today’s Filipino diner seeks genuine value for money, which does not necessarily equate to a cheap price.”
Coffee and Crafts
Located at Xavierville, Loyola Heights in Quezon City is Cordillera Coffee, a quaint café with an artistic soul and a big heart. The coffee shop hosts various arts and crafts workshops like doll-making, stationery-making, washi-jewelry design, book-making, knitting, and ukulele tutorials. Proceeds from the workshops go to CoffeeAID.
According to Iona Santos-Fresnoza, program coordinator for CoffeeAID, the craft workshops started by accident when a client booked the café for a private workshop. Word got around and soon, Cordillera Coffee has become a venue for these activities.
Eat, cook, and shop
Over at the East Wing of the Shangri-La Plaza is Epicurious, which is a place reminiscent of Whole Foods, an open kitchen restaurant—on steroids. This new gourmet and dining concept by the Cravings Group is delicatessen, food emporium, café, and culinary studio, all rolled into one venue.
Here, diners can shop their way around gourmet selections, with a fine selection of locally and internationally sourced artisan products such as premium breads, patés, tea leaves, specialty coffee, handmade fresh pasta, sauces, cheeses, wine selections, juices, and charcuterie. Soon, Epicurious will also hold classes on topics like gluten-free dressings; wine and food pairing; and making spreads, dips, sausages, and yogurt.
“We wanted to offer our guests the shop-cook-eat experience,” shares Badjie Trinidad, president of the Cravings Group. “They can have what they bought cooked by our chefs in our open kitchen where they can watch their meals being prepared right before their very eyes. They can also interact with our chefs, ask a few tips on cooking, or how best to prepare their favorite dish, among others.”
Have a drink and play
Peter Chua and four of his friends built Café Publico to give diners a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Café Publico was inspired by quaint coffee shops abroad that cater to people who want to just relax, read a book, catch up with friends, or play a game. With leisurely offerings such as board games, including a large chessboard by the window, this café is ideal for those lazy Sunday afternoons. The coffee shop also offers comfort food like gelato, waffles, chips and dips, and even a mean selection of coffees and wines.
Paint and Pour
There is no restaurant in the country that lets you sip a glass of wine while painting a Pollock except perhaps, Sip and Gogh, “paint and sip” studio and dining hub that lets out that creative side.
You don’t have to bring anything. Here, consumers can book a painting session that already comes with an instructor and painting materials. You can dine with an easel and complete your masterpiece before dessert comes. As the owners Christopher Cruz, Carlo De Leon and Norman Santos put it, all you need is “yourself, your creativity, and enthusiasm.”
For more info on Cordillera Coffee, like Facebook/cordillera.coffee or call 482 2515; For Epicurious, like Facebook/Epicurious-Mla; For Cafe Publico, log on to www.cafepublico.com.ph; For Sip and Gogh, contact 0999 8876190 or like Facebook/SipAndGogh
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