Michelin-starred Chef Jason Atherton's restaurant in Cebu

On July 26 Michelin-starred British chef Jason Atherton and his wife Irha Atherton opened their first restaurant in the Philippines, The Pig & Palm. Located in the MSY Tower, Cebu Business Park, the 57-cover restaurant offers a modern Spanish tapas menu with a focus on pork dishes. Its 25-cover stand-alone bar serves innovative cocktails and bar snacks.

The Pig & Palm is the 16th restaurant worldwide of the Atherton's critically acclaimed restaurant group, The Social Company, which holds three Michelin stars and spans London, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dubai, and Sydney. The restaurant has been created in collaboration with their business partners, Cebu-based property developers Chris and Carla McKowen and architect Lyndon Neri, with the aim of bringing a taste of Spanish gastronomy to Cebu in an informal, contemporary environment.

Jason says, "It has always been Irha's dream to bring some of the success of our restaurant group back to her hometown of Cebu. As my wife and co-director of the company, it gives me no greater joy than to open a social destination here as my love letter to her."

The McKowens add, "Cebu is one of the best islands to live in the Philippines and a foodie destination in its own right. We're having fun taking inspiration from our surroundings and creating a space where people can enjoy all treats Cebu has to offer, redefined by the creative taste buds of Chef Jason Atherton and the design eye of Lyndon Neri."

Together, Jason Atherton and Manila-born head chef Tim dela Cruz have developed a menu of modern tapas-style sharing dishes, interpreted using the best of Filipino produce. As suggested by the restaurant's name, its dishes celebrate Cebu's reputation as a destination for pork, with ingredients sourced from local farms in Cebu. Dishes on the menu include jamon and manchego toastie with quail's eggs, lechon de leche with spiced pork-fat roasted carrots and herb dressing, and pulled pork burgers with spiced tomato chutney and avocado. In addition, there is a brunch menu with a range of inventive egg-based dishes.

With a reputation for award-winning and innovative cocktail bars, group bar executive Jaime Jones has created a drinks menu for The Pig & Palm's bar that blends traditional Filipino fruits and flavors with British cocktail styles. The McBanDaq combines locally produced rum and root beer with carnation cream and fresh banana blended and served in a milkshake cup.

The Pig & Palm is set to raise the bar for dining and drinking in Cebu, for locals and international diners alike. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are now accepted. One may e-mail to [email protected] or call (032) 255-8249. The reservation line is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.