Toyo Eatery is Asia’s rising star

A MANILA restaurant that pays tribute to traditional Filipino cuisine in inventive, modern ways has been named the rising star of Asia’s gastronomy scene for the 2018 edition of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

The win comes just two years after chef Jordy Navarra opened Toyo Eatery ( right), which quickly attracted the attention of the food world in Asia in part thanks to Navarra’s impressive culinary acumen.

The chef cut his teeth at some of the top dining destinations in the world, including The Fat Duck in England, and Bo Innovation in Hong Kong.

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ One to Watch award is presented to a restaurant identified as the rising star of the region.

Toyo Eatery’s dishes are progressive interpretations of local ingredients, traditional flavours and cooking methods.

Perhaps one of the best examples of its culinary philosophy is Garden Vegetables, based on a traditional folk song that lists 18 local vegetable varieties.

Like the song, the dish features all 18 ingredients in various forms, be they charred, sauteed, crushed or pureed, editors note.

“Toyo Eatery impresses us by taking inspiration from everyday local ingredients and recipes, and bringing them to the level of culinary excellence with passion, expertise and a progressive approach,” said spokesperson Mario Miranda in a statement.

The name Toyo, which means soy sauce, is inspired by a Filipino proverb which translates to ‘soy