2016 was great for F&B.
We saw a lot of trends this year: From salted eggs to pintxos, from food parks to street food, from craft beer to craft cocktails.
A number of hotspots in the country received international recognition. Gallery Vask ranked 39 in the annual Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. ABV and The Curator were included in the inaugural Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
Even good ol’ Jollibee won hearts in Skokie, Chicago and Winnipeg, Canada, where OFWs waited for hours in line just to get a taste of home.
Adobo was a big thing this year. As well as halo-halo and the purple wonder, ube.
More than ever, we appreciated the uniqueness of dinuguan, the value of calamansi, and even the charm of eating isaw and fish balls on a stick.
Filipino chefs highlighted the importance of loving our own. Agos by Chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou, for example, pushed for a deeper and more meaningful discourse about Filipino food. Chef Myrna Segismundo continued to impress with her Filipino menu.
Dedet dela Fuente and her famous lechon got good words from Adam Richman of the show Man VS Food. Margarita Forés who was named Asia’s Best Female Chef of 2016 by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, showcased the produce we have in the country when foreign chefs visited us for Madrid Fusiòn.
Thanks to The Millennial’s Food Bible (aka Instagram and Facebook) food spots from Angeles City, Iloilo, Palawan and other parts of the archipelago got the attention they deserve.
Ah, but of course we didn’t forget old favorites from our neighbors: Japanese, Korean and Chinese food remained popular.
A number of franchise restaurants from different parts of the world opened in the country this year. We lined up for Denny’s, Pablo, Annam, Makansutra and recently, Mighty Quinn’s.
From brunch to dessert, we were spoiled for choice!
2016 was indeed great, especially for our tummies, don’t you think?
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