Regina Troy Barrios

Article (news)

DGF Food Writing Award

<p>Coffee beyond the cup? It might sound like a gamble. But on September 20, Rockwell’s Palm Grove will play host to five of Manila’s most inventive chefs, each turning beans into something far more than a morning ritual. A <strong>Five-Star Collab: A 10-Hand Degustation by 5 Culinary Wizards</strong> isn’t just a meal—it’s a full-sensory journey through coffee-infused flavors, anchored by a new book, a legacy food writing award, and the debut of a short food video prize. For anyone skeptical that coffee belongs beyond the cup, this is the tasting that could change your mind.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758164024248viber_image_2025-08-11_11-42-54-367.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><h3><strong>The Degustation</strong></h3><p>The menu is, in a word, ambitious. <strong>Bettina Arguelles</strong>, who made history as the first Filipina executive chef of a five-star hotel in the Philippines, will open with her <strong>Coffee Beef Belly Cuapao</strong>, transforming tender, slow-cooked pork belly into a coffee-kissed revelation. <strong>Patrick Go</strong> of <strong>Your Local</strong> and <strong>Lazy Susan</strong> will follow with <strong>Kape Pork Asado Tostada</strong>, a dish that layers smoky, sweet pork atop a crisp tostada while coffee threads subtly through each bite. </p><p><strong>Don Baldosano</strong>, whose kitchens include <strong>Linamnam</strong>, <strong>Bombvinos</strong>, and <strong>Offbeat Bistro</strong>, presents <strong>Mindanao-Style Biko with Coffee Cremeaux</strong>, a modern take on sticky rice that balances nostalgia with elegance. <strong>Penk Ching</strong> of <strong>The Pastry Bin</strong> offers her<strong> Barako Buko Salad</strong>, a dessert that teeters on the edge of whimsy and precision. <strong>Christian Valdes</strong> of <strong>CMV Txokolat</strong> concludes the tasting with Barako Bonbons—tiny, intense chocolate bites that distill the essence of Philippine coffee in a single mouthful. </p><p><strong>Commune</strong> will anchor the tasting with a curated coffee flight, ensuring each sip heightens the story on the plate. The meal promises surprises, contrasts, and a careful choreography of flavors that only ten hands working in concert could deliver.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17581641537263.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><h3><strong>The Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Awards</strong></h3><p>Beyond the table, the afternoon celebrates the craft of food writing itself. The <strong>22nd Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Award</strong> honor writers who illuminate Filipino cuisine with clarity, wit, and passion. This year, the awards expand into new territory with the inaugural <strong>Short Food Video category</strong>, acknowledging the way storytelling now moves at the speed of the scroll. Together, the awards and the video prize mark a rare convergence of tradition and innovation: paying homage to a legendary figure in Philippine food journalism while celebrating the fresh formats that bring cuisine to life in the digital age.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758164188509viber_image_2025-08-12_09-56-22-197.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><h3><strong>The Book Launch</strong></h3><p>Anchoring both the degustation and the awards is the launch of<strong><em> BREW: Cafe, Coffee. Kape, </em></strong>a book curated by the <strong>Food Writers Association of the Philippines</strong>. More than a catalog of beans and brews, it traces the rich heritage of Philippine coffee, from farm to cup, revealing its role in daily rituals and elevated culinary creations alike. The book—and the tasting—invite guests to reconsider coffee not as a utilitarian beverage, but as a flavor, a story, and a medium for artistry.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>Tickets for this one-of-a-kind afternoon are ₱2,000. It is an invitation to witness coffee in its most unexpected forms, to see chefs push boundaries, and to celebrate the writers, filmmakers, and artisans who ensure that Filipino cuisine—and its stories—are never anything less than compelling.</em></div>

<p>Five of Manila’s most inventive chefs come together for a one-of-a-kind coffee-infused degustation, paired with a new coffee book launch and the debut of a short food video award, promising an unforgettable afternoon of flavor, creativity, and Filipino culinary storytelling.</p>

Five of Manila’s most inventive chefs come together for a one-of-a-kind coffee-infused degustation, paired with a new coffee book launch and the debut of a short food video award, promising an unforgettable afternoon of flavor, creativity, and Filipino culinary storytelling.

Coffee Like You’ve Never Tasted: A Five-Chef Experience

People

Fashion

Beauty

Wellness

Travel

Culture

Living

Food

Weddings

Food

Coffee Like You’ve Never Tasted: A Five-Chef Experience

Troy Barrios

Published Sep 14, 2025 11:00 AM PHT

|

Updated Sep 18, 2025 11:21 AM PHT

Read More:

Doreen gamboa fernandez

dgf food writing award

michaela fenix

manila chefs

barako coffee

philippine coffee

rockwell events

10 hands degustation

Metro.Style is your go-to destination for all things chic and stylish—featuring the latest in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, celebrity news, and inspiring stories. It's your curated guide to living your best life.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.