MANILA, Philippines – Renowned Filipino chef Miko Calo is teaming up with fellow top-rank chefs for a series of one-night-only dining collaborations!
The former executive chef of Metronome has an impressive line-up that includes chefs Nicco Santos, Quenee Vilar, Aaron Isip, Josh Boutwood, and Margarita Forés for her AVEC Series, which starts on November 18 in the kitchen of Sage Bar at Makati Shangri-La Hotel.
“I’ve been lucky to work with some of the best people in the restaurant industry, and I’m even more grateful to count many of them as friends,” Calo said. She shared that since she’s currently doing her residency at Makati Shangri-La, she decided to invite her friends to join her.
Every Monday — from November 18 to December 9 — Calo will be showcasing a different curated tasting menu, highlighting her and her co-chef’s expertise. Calo was joined by Santos and Vilar on November 18 and Isip on November 25, with Boutwood set for December 2, and Forés on December 9.
Kicking off the AVEC series were award-winning chefs Santos and Vilar, the duo behind Celera, a casual fine dining concept set to open in 2025.
Santos, the Executive Chef of Celera, is known for creating some of Manila’s most recognized restaurants such as Your Local, Hey Handsome, Sambar, and Aurora. Vilar, the Executive Sous Chef of Celera, began her culinary journey in 2014 and rose through the ranks with key roles in Your Local, Hey Handsome, and Sambar.
On the second leg of the series, Calo was joined by chef Aaron Isip, the lead of Makati’s Kasa Palma and Balai Palma.
Known for blending culinary techniques with Filipino, Latin, and Southeast Asian influences, he showcases his Cuisine d’Auteur of bold, smoky, and balanced flavors at the island-inspired Kasa Palma.
Chef Josh Boutwood is joining Calo on the third part of the series. Head chef and partner at Helm, The Test Kitchen, and Ember, Boutwood gained his early culinary experience working in his mother’s restaurants in Spain and Boracay.
He opened Restaurant Alchemy in Boracay, catching the attention of The Bistro Group, where he became corporate chef in 2012. He launched The Test Kitchen in 2017, the Savage and Helm in 2018, and Ember in 2022. Boutwood is set to launch a new gin-focused concept, Juniper, late this year.
Chef Margarita Forés is teaming up with Calo on the last day of the AVEC series. The founder of Cibo, Grace Park Dining, and Lusso, Forés is known for championing Italian cuisine and highlighting farm-to-table, locally sourced ingredients from across the country. She has earned multiple prestigious awards, including Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016 and Italy’s Ordine della Stella d’Italia in 2018.
The star of the series is chef Miko Calo, the first Filipino chef to hold a residency at a luxury hotel in Manila. She is leading an all-women team at Sage Bar, Makati Shangri-La, taking over from October 21 to December 14, 2024.
While rooted in French techniques, Calo’s menu draws inspiration from childhood memories and flavors, reflecting her distinct Filipino perspective and passion for storytelling through food.
Calo is known for her award-winning work at the French fine dining restaurant Metronome, which she departed from in April this year, followed by the establishment’s closure in July. – Rappler.com
Makati Shangri-La’s Sage Bar is open for dinner from Monday to Saturday. For reservations, you can call (632) 8813.8888 or email dining.makati@shangri-la.com.
