New eats: Hey Handsome chefs set to conquer Poblacion with rooftop restobar | ABS-CBN
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New eats: Hey Handsome chefs set to conquer Poblacion with rooftop restobar
New eats: Hey Handsome chefs set to conquer Poblacion with rooftop restobar
Vladimir Bunoan,
ABS-CBN News
Published Nov 19, 2018 03:54 PM PHT
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Updated Nov 20, 2018 12:08 AM PHT
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MANILA — The timing seemed perfect.
MANILA — The timing seemed perfect.
As Hey Handsome, the well-received restaurant of chefs Nicco Santos and Quenee Villar, winds down its operations this month, the two are rolling out their latest concept, the intriguingly named Essential Goodness for the Pilgrims, which-soft opens on Monday, November 19, at Lub d Makati in the hip Poblacion district.
As Hey Handsome, the well-received restaurant of chefs Nicco Santos and Quenee Villar, winds down its operations this month, the two are rolling out their latest concept, the intriguingly named Essential Goodness for the Pilgrims, which-soft opens on Monday, November 19, at Lub d Makati in the hip Poblacion district.
But Villar quickly clarified that this new restaurant isn’t a replacement for Hey Handsome, which will have its last dinner service on November 30.
But Villar quickly clarified that this new restaurant isn’t a replacement for Hey Handsome, which will have its last dinner service on November 30.
“Definitely it’s not. This has nothing to do with that,” Villar told ABS-CBN News at a special preview of Essential Goodness for select writers.
“Definitely it’s not. This has nothing to do with that,” Villar told ABS-CBN News at a special preview of Essential Goodness for select writers.
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Essential Goodness is actually a “consultative collaboration” between Santos and Villar and the Southeast Asian hotel chain. Since Lub d opened last January, the two chefs have been doing the food for the Makati Avenue hotel, albeit limited to “simple” dishes and mostly of the grab-and-go variety like rice meals and pasta at the lobby.
Essential Goodness is actually a “consultative collaboration” between Santos and Villar and the Southeast Asian hotel chain. Since Lub d opened last January, the two chefs have been doing the food for the Makati Avenue hotel, albeit limited to “simple” dishes and mostly of the grab-and-go variety like rice meals and pasta at the lobby.
But the food at Essential Goodness is definitely not simple and more in line with the often-complicated and bold flavors Santos and Villar are known for since opening Your Local in Makati several years back.
But the food at Essential Goodness is definitely not simple and more in line with the often-complicated and bold flavors Santos and Villar are known for since opening Your Local in Makati several years back.
The restaurant’s head chef is Mark Sanchez, who was previously the head chef of Your Local.
The restaurant’s head chef is Mark Sanchez, who was previously the head chef of Your Local.
For the soft-opening phase, Essential Goodness will initially have a 25-item all-day brunch menu.
For the soft-opening phase, Essential Goodness will initially have a 25-item all-day brunch menu.
“We wanted sana in the morning, a cafe with a brunch feel, a breakfast feel,” Villar said, adding that the restaurant will also cater to the hotel guests.
“We wanted sana in the morning, a cafe with a brunch feel, a breakfast feel,” Villar said, adding that the restaurant will also cater to the hotel guests.
People shouldn’t expect to find a full breakfast buffet, though. Instead, hotel guests are given options from the menu like the Essential Breakfast, Overnight Oats, House Granola, and Homemade Longganisa.
People shouldn’t expect to find a full breakfast buffet, though. Instead, hotel guests are given options from the menu like the Essential Breakfast, Overnight Oats, House Granola, and Homemade Longganisa.
“We’re pushing for sustainabiity and kapag breakfast [buffet], to be honest, ang daming nasasayang,” Villar explained.
“We’re pushing for sustainabiity and kapag breakfast [buffet], to be honest, ang daming nasasayang,” Villar explained.
More exciting dishes await guests when Essential Goodness unveils its dinner menu in time for the restaurant’s grand opening in mid-December. Villar shared that they will be serving modern Thai street food, mainly because Lub d is a Thai brand. Think Pad Krapow Gai or spicy stir-fried chicken with Thai basil.
More exciting dishes await guests when Essential Goodness unveils its dinner menu in time for the restaurant’s grand opening in mid-December. Villar shared that they will be serving modern Thai street food, mainly because Lub d is a Thai brand. Think Pad Krapow Gai or spicy stir-fried chicken with Thai basil.
“Nicco is really good at Asian and Thai is one of his strengths,” Villar said.
“Nicco is really good at Asian and Thai is one of his strengths,” Villar said.
The 90-seater Essential Goodness is located at the rooftop of Lub d and consists of two distinct spaces: an al fresco bar section that overlooks the rest of Poblacion, and the main dining room with a view of Makati Avenue and an open kitchen dividing the two areas.
The 90-seater Essential Goodness is located at the rooftop of Lub d and consists of two distinct spaces: an al fresco bar section that overlooks the rest of Poblacion, and the main dining room with a view of Makati Avenue and an open kitchen dividing the two areas.
That’s why, Villar explained, they wanted more of a tapas-style for dinner with some of the “less brunchy” dishes from the all-day menu carried over. They are also looking at doing more food-and-drink pairings.
That’s why, Villar explained, they wanted more of a tapas-style for dinner with some of the “less brunchy” dishes from the all-day menu carried over. They are also looking at doing more food-and-drink pairings.
“It’s spicy. Mas bastos ‘yung food,” she teased.
“It’s spicy. Mas bastos ‘yung food,” she teased.
As to what really happened to Hey Handsome, Villar cited problems with their lease.
As to what really happened to Hey Handsome, Villar cited problems with their lease.
Since they consider Hey Handsome and Your Local as their babies, she said: “Both of them we love so much, and we just cannot let it die eh. So we’re actually finding a place.”
Since they consider Hey Handsome and Your Local as their babies, she said: “Both of them we love so much, and we just cannot let it die eh. So we’re actually finding a place.”
In the meantime, they are embarking on another culinary journey with Essential Goodness, the latest stop for the metro’s food pilgrims searching for gustatory heaven.
In the meantime, they are embarking on another culinary journey with Essential Goodness, the latest stop for the metro’s food pilgrims searching for gustatory heaven.
Here are some items you can try from the all-day brunch menu:
Here are some items you can try from the all-day brunch menu:
Essential Goodness for the Pilgrims is located at the rooftop of Lub d Makati, Makati Avenue, Makati. It is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. onwards.
Essential Goodness for the Pilgrims is located at the rooftop of Lub d Makati, Makati Avenue, Makati. It is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. onwards.
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