Taste of the Philippines is back with an exciting new collaboration at Guevarra’s by Chef Laudico, a Filipino-themed buffet restaurant in San Juan. This year, Chef Jac Laudico teams up with Chef Abi Balingit, the 2024 James Beard Emerging Voice Award winner, to introduce an innovative twist on classic Filipino-American desserts.
For the month of March, Guevarra’s guests can indulge in three delicious reimagined Filipino-American sweets, crafted by Chef Abi Balingit, featured in her debut cookbook, “Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed.”
The Star of the Collaboration: Adobo Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chef Abi’s Adobo Chocolate Chip Cookies stand out as the most popular recipe from her cookbook and take the spotlight in this special collaboration. What makes these cookies unique is the infusion of Filipino flavors such as bay leaf, soy sauce, and pink peppercorn—ingredients typically found in the classic Filipino dish adobo.
Chef Abi shared her excitement over the creation of the cookies, telling GMA News Online, “It was a fun challenge for me, but also, it came about so easily. I was a little bit surprised but so happy that it worked out.” This dessert marries the savory, aromatic qualities of adobo with the indulgent sweetness of chocolate chip cookies—a delightful surprise for the taste buds.
Halo-Halo Baked Alaska: A Filipino Twist on a Classic Dessert
Another exciting addition to the buffet is Chef Abi’s Halo-Halo Baked Alaska, an ice cream cake that pays homage to the traditional Filipino halo-halo, a popular dessert known for its mix of shaved ice, fruits, and sweet beans. This reimagined version consists of coconut sponge cake, shaved frozen evaporated milk with jackfruit, halo-halo mix, and mango and ube ice cream. Topped with torched meringue, this dessert offers multiple layers of flavor, delivering the familiar taste of halo-halo in a whole new form.
Thai Tea Kutsinta: A Surprising Twist on a Filipino Classic
Rounding off the trio of innovative sweets is Chef Abi’s Thai Tea Kutsinta. Kutsinta is a traditional Filipino steamed rice cake known for its chewy texture and sweet, brown sugar flavor. However, Chef Abi adds an exciting twist by steeping the water in Thai tea, infusing the cake with fragrant spices and a vibrant, deeper color. Despite maintaining the classic form of kutsinta, this variation surprises the palate with an unexpected but delightful new flavor profile.
Enjoy the Collaboration at Guevarra’s This March
This exciting culinary collaboration is available throughout March at Guevarra’s by Chef Laudico. Buffet rates range from P599 to P879, allowing guests to indulge in Chef Abi’s reimagined Filipino-American desserts while enjoying the rich flavors of Guevarra’s traditional Filipino buffet offerings.
Guevarra’s is located at 387 P. Guevarra Street, corner of Argonne Street, San Juan, and is the perfect spot to experience the creative blend of Filipino flavors and innovative desserts brought to you by two talented chefs.
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to try these delectable Filipino-American desserts—available for a limited time only this March!
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