Sizzling Sinigang, Lechon Oyster Sisig, and Kare-Kare Wings are fondly remembered and often recreated by many in the metro.
These dishes are but just some of the tributes to Filipino cuisine you will find in Locavore in Kapitolyo and now in Bonifacio Global City.
Locavore is the brainchild of four couples (including power couple Speedy and Alta Lyttle) with the help of a daring, young chef by the name of Kel Zagguire. Their plan was to take the essence of home-cooked Filipino food and reinvent classic staples to a broader, more diverse palate.
Speedy and Alta Lyttle intimate, “We have a group of friends and we’re always eating out, and decided, ‘let’s put up a restaurant!’ We just wanted to have fun and that’s what happened.”
Take one step through its doors in Kapitolyo, Pasig City, and one is greeted with the familiar aroma of home-cooked meals, of food that speaks to the soul. But even then, with sight of kitchen staples spread across every table, there’s still something different, something that’s unidentifiable until the first bite.
Within months, Locavore’s Kapitolyo branch developed a steady clientele of people looking for a welcome addition to their community bistros. From office workers in the middle of their lunch breaks, to foodies on the hunt, or even a barkada unwinding from a long, adventurous night, there’s always something for everyone in Locavore.
“We are the Filipino restaurant (with food) you wouldn’t be able to eat at home”, says head chef Zagguire. “Our menu is playful and different, but does not forget the essence of straightforward Filipino flavors.”
True to its name, one Locavore’s most defining qualities is their dedication to serving dishes with nothing but fresh and locally grown and raised ingredients. Their commitment to offering organic fare to customers extends to the relationship they foster with farmers and growers. This ensures that every bite from each dish tantalizes the senses with a taste that’s not only daring but organic and sustainable.
“It’s our way of giving back and helping farmers and their businesses”, says Speedy Lyttle.
Word over this fresh, ambitious approach to Filipino cuisine has spread through the metro. For the restaurant to cope with demands, Locavore opened a second branch in Bonifacio Global City. The launch of Locavore’s second branch opened the restaurant to a new, bigger market that proved that Filipino cuisine can have an incredible presence to a bigger, global pallet.
“We want to introduce Locavore to everyone”, says Speedy Lyttle. “Its Filipino food that caters to the foreign palate – everyone can appreciate Filipino food.”