Prepare for a delightful culinary voyage that stirs nostalgia, celebrates innovation, and brings personal stories to your plate. From June 9 to August 10, 2025, all Café Summit locations across the Philippines will serve up a rotating showcase of “Reimagined Filipino Cuisine,” each dish carefully crafted by six passionate chefs from different regions. It’s a celebration of Filipino flavors reinterpreted through modern techniques and emotional storytelling.
Each day of the week features a different dish—distinct, surprising, and deeply rooted in memory or culture. On Sundays, all six creations come together for a grand culinary reunion.
The Heart of the Campaign
More than just a dining experience, this campaign is a tribute to the evolving Filipino palate. According to Robinsons Hotels & Resorts, the idea behind the initiative is to blend authenticity with innovation, allowing each chef to tell their story through food. Whether through memory, hometown flavors, or cross-cultural experiences, each dish is an expression of identity.
Let’s explore the week’s flavorful lineup—one plate, one story at a time.
Monday: Crispy Lechon Kinunot
Chef Maurito “Mau” Dominguez, Café Summit Galleria Cebu
This dish is a culinary union of land and sea. Chef Mau fuses two Filipino classics—crispy lechon and kinunot—to represent both Cebuano pride and coastal familiarity. Crispy pork belly meets tender tuna belly, swimming in creamy coconut milk enriched with malunggay.
Why this dish?
Chef Mau wanted to bring together two icons—lechon, a symbol of Cebu’s festive culture, and kinunot, a dish often associated with camaraderie along the shore. The result is a dish that feels both grand and comforting.
Tuesday: Maya-maya, Kahel at Lukban
Chef Francis “Kiko” Joseph Tugnao, Café Summit Naga
Snapper (maya-maya) takes center stage in this refreshing dish, paired with citrus elements like pomelo, orange, and saba banana. Chef Kiko highlights local freshness and the natural sweetness of fish with a balanced citrusy twist.
Why this dish?
“I wanted to celebrate the bright, fresh flavors of the Philippines,” shares Chef Kiko. Using everyday fruits and a beloved fish, he creates a plate that feels both tropical and familiar—perfect for warm afternoons and light appetites.
Wednesday: Chicken Hinatukan
Sous Chef Ricky Norcio, Café Summit Tacloban
Chicken Hinatukan is a rich, coconut-based stew made with native chicken, lemongrass, ginger, and green papaya. Chef Ricky offers this as a deeply personal dish—one that echoes the kitchens of his childhood in Eastern Visayas.
Why this dish?
“This reminds me of home,” says Chef Ricky. His version is an emotional bridge to family meals, where comfort wasn’t about extravagance, but warmth, aroma, and the rhythm of traditional cooking.
Thursday: Braised Shortribs Kinamatisan Ravioli
Chef Arvin “Ace” Barsaga, Café Summit Greenhills
This dish reimagines the traditional kinamatisan (a tomato-based Filipino stew) by enclosing it in ravioli. Slow-braised short ribs and tomatoes blend with creamy cheese and fresh kangkong, served as a fusion of heritage and finesse.
Why this dish?
Chef Ace was inspired by two important women in his life: his grandmother and his wife. Both taught him the value of tradition, love, and flavor. Turning kinamatisan into ravioli allowed him to keep the heart of the dish while presenting it in a refined, international format.
Friday: Beef Bulalo Riyandang
Chef Remie Malicy, Café Summit General Santos
This bold hybrid dish combines the bone marrow warmth of bulalo with the aromatic spice of Malaysian rendang. It’s a powerful mix of comfort and complexity, presented with elegant depth.
Why this dish?
Chef Remie’s culinary journey began in Malaysia, where beef rendang was the first dish he mastered. “It became the foundation of my journey,” he says. By merging rendang with bulalo, he pays tribute to both the flavors of Mindanao and his professional beginnings.
Saturday: Crispy Handrolled Palabok
Chef Ernie Baculio, Café Summit Tagaytay
This dish is a modern twist on the well-loved palabok, rolled into crisp, golden shells. It keeps all the classic flavors—shrimp, garlic, and savory sauce—but turns them into playful, bite-sized delights.
Why this dish?
Chef Ernie wanted to preserve the soul of palabok while changing the way it’s eaten. “I wanted a version that excites curiosity,” he explains. The result is familiar yet surprising—perfect for adventurous eaters and traditionalists alike.
Sunday: All Dishes in One Celebration
On Sundays, all six of these creative masterpieces are available together in one buffet-style experience. It’s a perfect opportunity to savor the variety and depth of Filipino cuisine reimagined through different lenses—coastal, nostalgic, festive, and global.
Why You Should Go
- Cultural immersion: Each plate tells a tale of a region—its ingredients, traditions, and innovative spirit.
- Daily variety: Try a new, creatively interpreted dish every day of the week, culminating in an all-star spread on Sundays.
- Nationwide experience: Sample these creations at any Café Summit branch.
- Affordability & style: Enjoy elevated, beautifully plated dishes in a warm, convivial setting at Café Summit.
A Reflection on Filipino Cuisine’s Evolution
Reimagined Filipino Cuisine” shows how deeply rooted culinary heritage can be modernized without losing its soul. Each chef draws from personal memories—whether rooted in childhood kitchens or passed-down family recipes—to bring familiar flavors to life in new and exciting ways. It’s a celebration of identity, creativity, and the rich tapestry of Filipino food culture.
Final Thoughts
The “Reimagined Filipino Cuisine” campaign is more than a series of dishes. It’s a cultural expression, a memory served on a plate, and a forward-thinking movement that keeps Filipino food dynamic and evolving. The chefs behind each plate aren’t just cooking—they’re inviting you into their lives, memories, and heritage.
So whether you’re longing for a taste of home or craving something entirely new, this experience promises to nourish your palate and your soul.
Don’t just dine—connect through food. Visit any Café Summit and savor this flavorful journey before August 10.
Grateful to have joined the Sox Bloggers Society for an exclusive preview of the “Reimagined Filipino Cuisine” series. It was a flavorful and unforgettable experience that highlighted the creativity and heart behind each dish.
Thank you, Cafe Summit at Grand Summit Hotel Gensan, for the warm welcome and the incredible culinary journey!
The Gypsies List 