Sink Your Teeth Into 12 Of These New Celeb-Owned Food Businesses
We'll have one each of everything on the menu, please!
If there's anything that's made life under quarantine a little more exciting, it's how many of us finally got the chance to explore (and maybe monetize!) our hobbies and interests that we were once too busy to even think about.
It wasn't any different for a number of Filipino celebrities and society personalities. Many of us associate these famous faces with a single trade, be it acting or modeling, or work in media and the beauty industry, or even event styling and vlogging. So it was great to see them branch out into something we can all relate to—food!
So many of them took the time to build new food businesses and partnerships from the ground up in the last few months, flexing their entrepreneurial muscles that are proving to be stronger than expected. The best part is we all get to try all the yumminess in their menus; their delectable creations are all up for grabs, and all it takes is a few taps of your finger for your dish of choice to be delivered to your doorstep.
Check out what personalities like Solenn Heussaff, Charo Santos-Concio, Sarah Lahbati, Tim Yap and more have to offer through their new food businesses in the gallery below!
Cause Celebre
Cause Celebre
Charo Santos, Chammie PH
Is there anything Charo Santos-Concio can't do? Just a month ago, she launched @chammie.ph, a restaurant in Marikina that specializes in Pinoy favorites. Think different takes on pancit (they offer menudo, lechon, and longgania varieties), lumpiang Shanghai, and BBQ! "Since we really love to eat... My sisters, Malou, Mae, and I ventured into this business with some friends. We were really hands-on especially during the food tasting. Aba siyempre dapat siguradong masarap!" Charo Santos herself said on the day the business opened. | How to order: check out @chammie.ph on Instagram for instructions. (Charo Santos' photo by Rxandy Capinpin / Food images from @chammie.ph)
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Tim Yap, Wok With Yap
This veteran host has several ventures ongoing, but his newest one is unique given it was launched during a very unusual time indeed. Wok With Yap came into existence in August last year when many diners (Tim Yap included) were starting to really, really miss the restaurant experience and all the food adventures only dining out can give. His response? To roll with the times and provide stay-at-home folks with restaurant quality selections to be enjoyed within the safety of their homes. Wok With Yap is all about specializing in unique Asian flavors. In an ABS-CBN interview, Tim explains, "Everything is hearty, healthy and flavorful... I love flavors, so the rice bowls will offer that to our customers.” | How to order: Check out @wokwithyap on Instagram for instructions. Also available via GrabFood and foodpanda. (Photos: @officialtimyap @wokwithyap)
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Sarah Lahbati, Crave Simply
Everyone knows that Sarah Lahbati and her mom Esther are a great team. They're super duper close, and one of the things they learned to love doing together in the past year was to make food together! Sarah discovered that she and her mom could share a handful of family recipes with a wider audience this time, and so they came up with Crave Simply. The food business offered just a few classics in the beginning (ube halaya, biko, their very own family recipe for lasagna), but it's now grown into a full-fledged online restaurant. You can enjoy dishes like roasted chicken, garlic shrimp, chicken curry, potato gratin, and pancit canton and bihon among other goodies. | How to order: Send a DM to @cravesimply.ph on Instagram. (Photos: @sarahlahbati @cravesimply.ph)
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Solenn Heussaff, Solenn.Manila
Solenn Manila isn't a brand per se, but it's a space where collaborators can get their creations out there. They are free to showcase what they've got! Food-wise, Solenn Manila has partnered with Bibingka Manila and Nanay Luisa's. Each specialize in their own special makings (Nanay Luisa infuses familiar queso de bola spread with luxurious truffle while Bibingka Manila lets you experience the Christmas classic all-year round thanks to a great combo of some seriously delicious ham and premium cheese), and hopefully, they won't be the only food brands we see on Solenn Manila. | How to order: Visit www.solennmanila.com (Photos: @solenn @solenn.manila)
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Randz Manucom, Randztisserie
Randz is a fashion stylist and Metro.Style's very own fashion editor, so how did he get into food? He tells us, "I just discovered throughout the pandemic that there’s more other than my day job that I actually enjoy doing. There came my love for cooking which I turned into a small side business in my spare time. I simply wanted to create an opportunity for something I enjoyed anyway so baking cakes was one of them. It wasn’t easy, though. Like any business, big or small, the time and commitment involved entails a mix of dedication and passion for it to thrive. Thankfully, a slew of loyal customers and a good product helped me weather a tricky time for a small-time business like Randztisserie." | How to order: Send a DM to @randztisserie_sweets (Photos: @randzomness @randztisserie _sweets)
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Laureen Uy, Hungry Homies
Hungry Homies was a literal pandemic-born food baby. Influencer-entrepreneur couple Laureen Uy and Miggy Cruz launched the burger-focused business last year when food-loving Filipinos were at their most stressed out, and it's been on an upward trajectory since! The pair have been serving up burgers in pop-ups regularly (when safety protocols permit) and they also deliver. One of their latest pop-ups was on Valentine's Day this year and Laureen posted this message along with her IG post of the day: "This Valentine’s, we didn’t do anything fancy. Instead, we prepared @hungryhomiesph burgers for our homie customers and made sure they’re happy + satisfied during this special day— and that’s more than enough for us. ❤️🍔 I always look forward to our pop ups because we both enjoy it and every week we always try and improve what we can to give you guys the best quality burgers." | How to order: There's a waitlist form to fill out on @hungryhomiesph (Photos: @laureen @hungryhomiesph)
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Cath Sobrevega, By Cath
It all started in the summer of 2020 when we were two months into worldwide lockdown, but Cath wanted to make herself a pretty birthday cake anyway. Her first creation was a simple lemon butter cake and it turned out to be a crowd-pleaser - for her family and others, too! She expanded her offerings to include blueberry cheesecake (something her mom used to make for her when she was little) and a trendy Basque burnt cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries (a cake as stylish as her). | How to order: DM @bycath.shop (Photos: @cathsobrevega @bycath.shop)
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Effie Iñigo, Effien Good
Makeup artists like Effie Iñigo were one of the hardest hit by pandemic work restrictions, but she was one of the first to bounce back with a food business - Effien Good! It offers a ton of homecooked deliciousness, but nothing the ordinary cook is limited to. Effie makes a mean squid ink shrimp pasta, bacon-chicken-kimchi paella, Hong Kong-style noodles, chicken pesto bake, sriracha poppers and so much more. She's a makeup artist whose also a foodie, so expect that whatever comes out of her kitchen is as amazing as what she's able to do for all her celebrity clients, beauty-wise. | How to order: Visit Effien' Good on Facebook and send them a message. (Photos: Effie Iñigo on Facebook, @effiengood)
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Gela Laurel, Hermanas Kitchen
Gela Laurel is another makeup artist that successfully pivoted to a whole new business. She took another thing she was passionate about - making delectable homecooked meals - and shared it with anyone hoping to taste familiar, comforting flavors during, well, a rather uncomforting time. Baked goods and a handful of stews dominate their menu. Gela co-founded the business with her sister Venisse, with one of their first IG posts sharing a brief anecdote about the sisterhood-turned-business partnership: "Venisse and Gela, roommates since birth and now next-door neighbors, love to prepare hearty meals and desserts for family and close friends. The lockdown has given them a chance to cook and bake everyday and now, they would like to share their favorite dishes with all of you." | How to order: Send @hermanaskitchenph a DM or visit bit.ly/HermanasOrder (Photos: @gelalaurel @hermanaskitchenph)
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Charisse Tinio, Cremosa PH
Charisse Tinio is a name synonymous with beautiful event photography, but in truth, she's a career woman that's not limited to one industry! Last year, she was one of the first to bring us some of the yummiest ube + cheese combos in the baked goods scene. One of her pandemic-born businesses, Cremosa PH, specializes in soft-as-clouds ensaymadas flavored with the uniquely Filipino flavors and the fact it's still going strong almost 10 months after it was launched is a testament to how delicious her recipe is! | How to order: Visit bit.ly/cremosaorderform (Photos: @charissetiniop @cremosaph)
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Tim Tam Ong's mother daughter tandem, Saffron Mommas
The finer things in life are what made Tim Tang Ong what they are today, what with their stunning jewelry designs loved the world over. Come 2020, they went in a totally new direction - food! The mother-daughter team created Saffron Mommas, a food venture whose menu lists specialties like roast beef, laksa, nachos, six-cheese lasagna, plus amazing desserts like sans rival balls, cinnamon rolls, and chocolate cake. Filipino breakfasts are part of the roster, too! | How to order: There's an order form to fill out @saffronmommas (Photos: @saffronmommas)
Photo Credit: ORDER HERE
Opening images from @cathsobrevega @bycath.shop @laureen @hungryhomies.ph @sarahlahbati @cravesimply.ph
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