T. Diningís Best Restaurant Guide is out!

Now in its 14th year as a trusted source of thorough and judicious culinary coverage, palanggas, the Best Restaurants Guide (BRG) was launched alongside T. Dining, Tatler’s multi-platform lifestyle brand comprising the guide; the website (Philtatlerdining.com), which now boasts a new look and broader content; and add to that an exciting series of T.Dining events, which will take place throughout the year.

Philippine Tatler managing director Irene Martel Francisco said that the new T.Dining brand and look is targeted at engaging and re-invigorating the face of the region’s dining scene in her welcome remarks during the launch. This is in line with Asia Tatler’s regional push to dynamically, as well as inclusively invest in the country’s — and region’s — perpetually evolving dining scene. The T.Dining palate is not about what is the most expensive or the most exclusive, dahlings instead, it focuses on what makes an incredible dining experience in establishments across Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Baguio and Boracay, no less.

This year, more than 300 attendees were packed in like a sardine can at the Raffles Fairmont Makati’s Ballroom to celebrate the 173 well-deserving restaurants. This was in partnership with HSBC.

The most thrilling part of the evening, naturalmente, was the grand reveal and awarding of the Top 20 (now in its third year) and for the first time in Tatler history, four speciality “Best of Class” awards were introduced.

From fine dining favorites to casual culinary gems, the awardees this year were Antonio’s, Bar Pintxos, Canton Road, China Blue by Jereme Leung, Cru Steakhouse, Crystal Dragon, Donosti, Enye by Chele Gonzalez, Finestra, Gallery Vask, Inagiku, Man Ho, Mirèio, M Dining, Rima, The Pig & Palm, Raging Bull Chophouse & Bar, Sala, Tsukiji, and Wildflour Café + Bakery.

The four new exciting “Best of Class” categories introduced this year were Best Cocktails, Best Pastry Chef, Best New Restaurant and Best New Chef. The well-deserving recipients in respective order were Raging Bull Chophouse & Bar of the Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila; chef Miko Aspiras; the Star of the Night, talented chef Josh Boutwood (of the excellent The Test Kitchen); and Enye by Chele Gonzalez of Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan.

I. Francisco, together with T.Dining Best Restaurants co-editors Maritess Garcia Reyes and Shauna Jay Popple Williams, were joined in a toast by event co-host Raffles and Fairmont Makati, represented by managing director David Batchelor and director of communications Monique Toda; and Best Restaurant Guide partner, HSBC, represented by SVP and head of retail banking and wealth management Kris Werner to celebrate such an amazing and incredible gustatory evening and launch.

But the dazzling star of the launch was definitely chef Josh Boutwood of the cozy and kinda hidden from the jungle of restaurants Test Kitchen. Chef Boutwood is a brilliant young man who is a visionary in his own rights. A must-go-to resto, palanggas.

Check out to the first T.Dining event titled “Manille-Sur-Mer,” a four hands dinner on Feb. 14 at Mirèio, Raffles Fairmont Makati.

For a donation of P10,000 per person made to the Save Palawan Seas Foundation, guests will be invited to an trés exclusive gustatory experience prepared by renowned top chef de cuisine Aaron Isip, together with Mirèio head chef Herve Claire. One hundred percent of the fundraiser proceeds will go to the Save Palawan Seas Foundation.

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For more info on T. Dining, the Best Restaurant Guide launch and the event, log on to philtatlerdining.com and visit @tdiningph on Instagram or T. Dining on Facebook.

For inquiries, log on to philtatlerdining.com and visit @tdiningph on Instagram.