“Fast-paced living” is such a cliché, but it rings truer than it did a couple of decades ago. Wherever Pinoys live in the world, we all have to get things done quickly and be somewhere else right away that we forget to slow down for basics, such as eating.
The upside is that in the past few years, Filipinos have started to move back toward local produce and heirloom recipes, rekindling the awareness of farm-to-table philosophies and even becoming more familiar with the situation of local farmers (check out local markets that support them in our article “Where To Shop Locally-Sourced, Organic Produce While In The Philippines”).
While we still have a long way to go in continuously and sustainably achieving “slow food”—a movement promoting a food system that is wholesome, equitable, and fair—many restaurants have been bringing local produce and meat and fish products to the forefront of their menus, practicing clean and sustainable farming, and offering a boost to local producers. If you’re visiting PH, try some of our favorite spots:
1. The Wholesome Table
Locations: 30th St. cor. 7th Ave., Bonifacio High Street Central, Taguig; CF Infinity Tower, H.V. Dela Costa cor. Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati
Contact details: +632-88670000, +63917-5686645 (BGC branch); +632-88487777, +63917-8857520 (Salcedo branch); +63917-1353551 (reservation concierge), [email protected]; thewholesometable.com. Reserve a table by filling out this form.
View this post on Instagram
When talking about places that serve organic produce and free-range meats, The Wholesome Table is usually the first that comes to mind. This farm-to-table restaurant features international cuisine and local products, all coming from places that produce food sustainably.
If you’re very keen about watching what you eat, you’ll be happy to know their chefs refrain from using high fructose corn syrup, MSG, margarine, and hydrogenated fat. The Wholesome Table is very accommodating of guests’ eating habits and dietary restrictions, allowing for substitutions that not all establishments offer. They have a wide menu that includes breakfast meals and a must-try bakery, so it’s definitely a place you’d want to visit whether you’re up for brunch or a long dinner.
2. Organico Gourmet
Location: 180 A. Mabini Street, Addition Hills, San Juan, Metro Manila
Contact details: +63962-5779788, [email protected]
Tucked away from the busy business districts and commercial areas of San Juan and Mandaluyong is Organico Gourmet. As the name connotes, the restaurant uses hand-grown, non-GMO ingredients. The brainchild of Chef Gloria de Vera, the menu consists of both Filipino and international fare, with rich local dishes cooked in a healthier way—who would think, after all, that Bulalo Steak can actually be made more wholesome?
View this post on Instagram
Chef Gloria’s Bulalo Steak is an heirloom recipe, which calls for grass-fed beef cooked for eight hours and served with organic rice. It’s the restaurant’s most popular dish, but they also offer other Pinoy meals, pizza and pasta, and vegetarian options. Also be on the look out for meal deals!
3. Guilt Free Food
Locations: Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati (in La Latina); online
Contact details: +63966-9587020 (via La Latina), guiltfree.ph
Guilt Free Food started as an online delivery service aimed at offering delicious yet healthy meals during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-founded by Isabel Calvo, who is also behind the popular Spanish restaurant La Picara in BGC, the goal was creating delicious, low-calorie food that are sourced from local, organic farms in municipalities such as Rizal.
The menu is extensive and includes gluten-free, keto-free, sugar-free, vegetarian, and vegan choices. There are also choices for those who love meat and fish. One of the differentiating factors about Guilt Free Food is that they never fry or use oil in their food, which is great, especially if you’re watching your calories or managing health issues.
Guilt Free Food is available online, but their dishes are also available in La Latina in Greenbelt 5, which is another resto run by Isabel Calvo.
View this post on Instagram
4. Kitchen 1B
Location: G/F The Plaza, Arya Residences Tower, 2 McKinley Parkway, Taguig City
Contact details: +632-88167083, +63917-5291512, [email protected], kitchen1b.com, [email protected]
Located within Apartment 1B is Kitchen 1B, a restaurant that not only promotes whole foods and sustainability, but also zeroes-in on nutritionist-crafted dishes that do not compromise on taste. With a goal of inspiring “unapologetic healthy eating,” their menu is constantly evolving, with something new coming up almost every week.
View this post on Instagram
They feature plates from different cuisines, including hero dishes such as Skinny Phad Thai & Chicken Sate, Sambal Cauliflower, Lamb Pochero, and Samurai Matcha. Menu entries may change without prior notice, as they create dishes using only seasonal fruits and vegetables, all harvested at the right time to achieve peak flavor and nutrition.
5. Corner Tree Cafe
Location: 150 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City
Contact details: cornertreecafe.com, [email protected], +632-88970295, +63906-5586177
Corner Tree Cafe is an institution when it comes to healthy, organic meals. Launched by Chiqui Mabanta in 2009, the restaurant started as a passion for organic and vegetarian food and currently has a huge menu that offers dishes inspired by different cuisines from around the world. The cafe accommodates food restrictions and offers alternatives when you ask.
Corner Tree Cafe doesn’t serve purely vegetarian and vegan meals, however, and it also has meat and fish dishes. There’s everything for everyone, and the cozy, old-home ambiance is also a definite plus. Feel free to order a bottle of wine and relax al fresco.
6. WILD Plant Based Café Bar
Location: G/F Uptown Parade, 9th Ave., BGC, Taguig
Contact details: +63945-6509170, wildplantbasedcafebar.com
View this post on Instagram
If you want something vegan on the go, WILD Plant Based Café Bar is a food cart located in BGC that prides itself in offering “carefully sourced” plant-based food. Their menu includes burgers, waffles, ice cream, coffee, and smoothies, which are great when you’re suddenly feeling the munchies while exploring BGC or after a night out, as they’re open from 10a.m. to 2a.m. daily.
WILD Plant Based Café Bar is a pretty straightforward, no-nonsense vegan stopover. There are a few tables and chairs available if you’d like to sit down, but we’d recommend just taking a go-bag.
7. Tsokolateria Artisanal Cafe
Locations: Main branch along E. Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City; with other branches at Greenbelt 5 in Makati, SM Aura Premier in Taguig, Igorot Stairs Upper Session Road in Baguio, and D’Mall in Boracay
Contact details: +63927-3236513, happyconceptgroup.com, [email protected]
Tsokolateria Artisanal Cafe has its roots in Tagaytay (within The Boutique Bed & Breakfast) and is known for using local cacao beans in all of its dishes. So of course, you should always start with their homemade tsokolate de batirol, either their Tsokolate Ah (milkier) or Tsokolate E (richer cacao taste). Once you have your feet wet, prepare to jump into the cafe’s more savory dishes, all made from local ingredients—and chocolate of course.
Try their Bacon Lechon Kawali Cebu Style, which features tanglad-marinated (lemongrass) crispy liempo cooked in peppercorns, bay leaf, and cacao nibs, served with native mountain rice. Even their Artisanal Longganisa has cacao nibs. Whether you’re looking for something light and sweet or are in for a heavy and unique lunch, Tsokolateria has something on the menu for you. Since their branches are almost always full, make sure to call their mobile number for reservation inquiries.
8. Farmer’s Table Tagaytay
Location: Nurture Wellness Village, Pulong Sagingan, Barangay Maitim II, Tagaytay, Cavite
Contact details: +63960-9283142, +63905-3877993, +63917-8735943 (Viber), raintreehospitality.net
View this post on Instagram
Farmer’s Table is a farm-to-table al fresco restaurant located within one of the most popular wellness locations in Tagaytay. It sources a lot of their produce from Nurture Farmacy close to the property, as well as from nearby locales such as Batangas and Amadeo, Cavite.
The restaurant is divided into three areas: the Al Fresco Dining Bistro, which is the main dining area; the Artisanal Bakery, where you can purchase freshly-baked goods; and the Boutique Market, where you can buy Nurture Farmacy produce, as well as products from nearby organic farms.
Ingredients used for dishes change depending on the season, but you’re assured that they’re always fresh. Get “A Big Bowl of Salad”—which is literally a big bowl of salad—if you want to sample all of the fresh greens and grains harvested from their farm. The Hothouse Crispy Cauliflower & Broccoli starter is a bestseller, with its spicy buffalo sauce and bleu cheese dip adding an interesting flavor profile to the veggies.
There are also Filipino favorites such as Pancit Hacienda and Beef Kare-Kare sa Buntot. Their pizzas are also a definite must-try. They have an extensive menu that has something for everyone.
Farmer’s Table is open daily from 7a.m. to 9p.m.
9. Sonya’s Garden
Location: Barangay Buck Estate, Alfonso, Cavite
Contact details: +63917-7033442, +63917-7004645, sonyasgarden.com, [email protected]
Located in Alfonso, Cavite, just skirting Tagaytay City, Sonya’s Garden started as Sonya Garcia’s personal garden and has now expanded into a restaurant, bed & breakfast, spa destination, and events place.
The restaurant within Sonya’s Garden gets its fruits and vegetables from the garden and greenhouses within the property itself, while meat and fish are sourced locally. Aside from supporting wholesome and organic food, Sonya herself makes sure that all her employees are from within the community, as she practices what she calls “social fencing,” a term that connotes locals protecting their own spaces.
As with many Filipino restaurants, the menu is a mix of local cuisines and classic international dishes. Sonya’s Classic Menu features an eat-all-you-can fare for P1,065 per head and consists of soup of the day, herbed grilled chicken breast, garden salad greens, bread and dips, pasta, desserts, and drinks. The restaurant also has a huge ala carte menu that won’t leave you wanting.
Reserve a table by calling either of their mobile numbers or leaving a message here.
10. Pesce, Prana, and Alive! at The Farm at San Benito
Location: 119 Barangay Tipacan, 4217 Lipa City, Batangas
Contact details: +63918-8848080, +63917-5722325, thefarmatsanbenito.com, [email protected]
If you find yourself booking a stay at The Farm at San Benito, try their three wellness restaurants, each catering to different diets, but all with a farm-to-table philosophy and focus on organic and wholesome dining.
Alive! is their vegan restaurant that offers a well-rounded, plant-based menu featuring freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and legumes sourced directly from the property. They also offer a detox diet and seasonal chef’s signature dishes.
Prana is a vegetarian restaurant with Ayurvedic influences featuring spice-rich Indian cuisine.
Pesce offers pescatarian dining that takes inspiration from the Mediterranean Blue Zone diet that promotes lessening meat and dairy intake, increasing fruits and vegetables, and adding moderate servings of seafood in a week.
Walk-ins are accepted in these restos, but of course it’s best if you try and book a stay in their wellness farm for the full experience.
