(SPOT.ph) The deal isn’t final, but we heard a certain restaurant group is in talks to open Eataly in Manila.
A purveyor of high-quality food and drink, Eataly is an upscale market-food court. Their stores are usually very large spaces divided into retail counters for meat, fish, produce, cheese, pantry essentials, pasta; a bakery; a wine bar; and boutique eateries. From their 10-fold mission statement, Eataly promises not only to be a one-stop shop for quality, value-for-money eats, but to really push for good food as a lifestyle. An Eataly usually has a culinary bookstore, a houseware section, a small cooking school or culinary center, and even empty areas for food events.
Italian businessman Oscar Farinetti founded the first Eataly in Turin, Italy back in 2007. Since then, it’s become a global chain with branches all over Italy, Japan, Dubai, Turkey. Eataly in New York and Chicago is owned by world-renowned chef Mario Batali and restaurateur Joe Bastianich (FYI, he’s the guy who’s always throwing away food on MasterChef US). Joe’s mother, celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich, also co-owns the New York branch.
The plans aren’t concrete yet, but having an Eataly MNL shouldn’t be too far off, especially with the setup of similar concepts like Todd English Food Hall and the yet-to-open Dean & DeLuca.
Photos courtesy of www.eataly.com and www.mariobatali.com.