The goal it seems for many food entrepreneurs and brands is to let more people eat well. As we near the end of the first half of 2024, three F&B figures—from an influential Filipino chef to an award-winning cafe—dish out an ambitious array of showstoppers that focus on flavors, textures, and trends.
Chef Tatung’s killer Korean adobo chicken hits hard
Filipino-style Korean fried chicken or Korean-style Filipino fried chicken? Call it what you want but we’re claiming this delicious collaboration brash and energetic.
Just in time for Independence Day, celebrity chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou is bringing a local twist to a Korean classic, as he transforms the seasoned Korean staple into a celebratory gesture fit for, well, any special occasion.
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His collaboration with BB.Q Chicken—a first for the Korean fried chicken franchise—unmistakably sets the tone for how successful partnerships go: fun, seamless, and justly representative of two cultures.
The adobo chicken is coated in a viscous sauce that’s equal parts tangy, sweet, and salty, which gives the juicy chicken a prominently unique mouthfeel. It also opens the door for a “Filmaek” culture that’s inspired by South Korea’s chimaek (fried chicken and beer) and somaek (a beer cocktail made with soju and beer) eating habits.
Filipino-style fried chicken and beer, anyone?—Eric Nicole Salta
The exclusive offering will be available from June 12 to July 12 only.
Yardstick Coffee, Oatside Milk launch plant-based cafe pop-up in Makati
Fresh off the heels of their successful collaboration with Rebel Bakehouse, Yardstick Coffee launches a new pop-up—this time in partnership with plant-based milk brand Oatside.
Called Oatside Cafe, the three-month-long pop-up located at the Greenbelt 3 cinemas offers an exclusive selection of coffee-based drinks, alongside several Yardstick classics. All drinks are crafted dairy-free by default, with the aim of showcasing the versatility, flavor, and sustainability of oat milk.
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Yardstick’s signature coffees and Oatside’s plant-based milk come together in unique beverages with global influences, like the burnt Basque cheesecake latte, Aussie iced coffee, ube latte with matcha, sakura latte, and houjicha latte. The cafe also offers Oatside soft serve, which can be enjoyed with toppings like espresso, matcha, kinako and caramel, or even local honey and sea salt.—Pau Miranda
Doodle & Co. lights up Poblacion
While its name sounds childlike, there’s some serious credibility housed within Doodle & Co.’s cozy, softly-lit space in Poblacion.
The cafe/wine bar is from the same team behind Run Rabbit Run, taking customers on an ecstatic exploration of Old World and New World wines as well as modern yet casual cuisine that is exhilarating on its own or when paired with the range of drinks.
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Co-founder Michael Hearn’s goal is to keep everything friendly and approachable; hence, straightforward dishes like tomato soup, charred Caesar salad, and amatriciana populate the lean menu. Elsewhere, their “Doodle board” features a flavorful selection of charcuterie, cheese, and condiments that go well with the range of wines from France, Austria, Uruguay, and Spain.
It’s quite basic at its heart and restrained in its approach but Doodle & Co. hits the right spots in a neighborhood that benefits from its brand of casual dining.—Eric Nicole Salta