Your Local’s Rockwell Pop-Up Sets the Bar for Clever Modern Asian Fare

(SPOT.ph) Fact: Fusion cuisine is either a smash hit or very disappointing miss. Many a dining spot over the years has leaned towards the latter end of the spectrum, making it easy to dismiss the whole concept as just a novelty. It’s not every day you find it done right—and by right, we mean with clever concepts and wickedly delish execution—but that’s what you’ll find at the ongoing Your Local pop-up at The Balmori Suites in Rockwell, Makati, open until November 26.

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Here's what to try at the ongoing Your Local pop-up in Rockwell:

Since it opened its doors all the way back in 2014, Your Local has been a champion (and OG cool kid) of modern Asian fare in Metro Manila with its signature spins on classics from all over the continent. And while you may be hankering for a taste of their cult-favorite Chili Crab Buns, take note: the pop-up is serving up a brand new menu you don’t want to miss out on. 

Reserve a table in The Balmori Suites’ swanky space—all gleaming marble, dark wood accents, and a ceiling so high your neck may get a crick looking up too fast—and see if you can secure a spot by the kitchen. You’ll find a big open window into it, where you can watch the team torching, plating, and moving like a well-oiled machine with Chef Patrick Go (who you may know from Black Sheep, Gochu-gang, and Dripp) at its helm.

You won’t go wrong starting with one (or three) of Your Local’s new small plates. If you’re looking to start light, the Tuna Toast (P370) is an umami-sweet bomb—all minced tuna and crunchy grapes served on pillowy, toasted mantou and topped with a generous amount of local Parmesan cheese.

Meanwhile, the Trout Kinilaw (P590) purposefully deviates from the punch-you-in-the-face acidity the dish is known for by balancing out its cured fresh ocean trout with the light sweetness of pomelo and coconut cream—and it keeps it interesting with crispy alamang for texture.

For something a little heftier, don’t miss the ridiculously tender Chasyu Pork Inihaw (P450), which announces itself with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. These skewers are all smoky, meaty, lightly sweet chashu, but walk a mean balancing act alongside the bed of the lightly funky yet umami black garlic it’s sitting on and the lightly tart citrus slaw of cilantro and leeks on top. 

Choosing a main dish, you may find yourself torn in several different directions. When in doubt, try the Pork Kare-Curry (P750), easily the best example of how Your Local takes the stigma of fusion confusion and deftly sets it on fire. A clever take on Filipino kare-kare and Japanese curry, this dish’s fragrantly nutty, spice-filled aromas will hit you long before your server puts it down on the table. The gorgeous roasted pork decidedly doesn’t need a knife, falling apart with a simple jab of a fork. But it’s the rich, thick curry that steals the show with a bright bagoong slaw to give a familiar saltiness and funk to the combo of peanut sauce and Japanese kare.

If you are, however, decidedly the type who’s here for a good time, not a long time and want something utterly indulgent, then there’s no question that you should order the Beef Lechon Donburi (P1,490). Think: beef short ribs that are tender-AF but still with a bit of a bite, given a black vinegar glaze that's just a tad tart. It's served sitting on a bed of toasty truffle rice balanced with lightly sweet corn.

But the main that will likely surprise many the most is the Roasted Halibut (P800). Frankly, there must be some sorcery involved in how that delicate halibut practically dissolves in your mouth. The combination of burnt pumpkin, cauliflower, and coconut water below push just how fresh a dish can taste.

Many of these dishes are perfectly paired with Your Local’s lineup of cocktails, including its best-selling Ukiyo (P480)—which, alongside Chili Crab Buns and Torched Salmon Donburi, is one of the few items available at the pop-up from Your Local’s original menu for good reason. This refreshing combination of gin, lychee, and calamansi has a kick of langka is just the thing for cleansing the palate between dishes. 

As tempting as it will be to try everything on the menu, however, be sure to save room for dessert. Your Local’s knack for clever modern twists extends even as far as this, and it’s front and center in its Mais con Tres Leches (P400). This take on the classic ditches the soggy mess all that milk turns this cake into and presents you instead with a gorgeous corn foam—and it departs from the one-note territory tres leches can sometimes fall into with accents of salt and toasty butterscotch.

Another example of clever dessert: the Choco na Gatas (P450). While it would be easy to chalk it up as a deconstructed chocolate milk, the description completely overlooks how rich dark chocolate mousse complements milk ice cream so toasty that it’s almost reminiscent of pastillas de leche. Topped with banana chips, it’s the perfect cap to a meal.

Your Local’s latest takes on modern Asian fusion cuisine are decidedly a hit—and you can try its brand new menu yourself by reservation at this Rockwell pop-up. But make your move soon: as mentioned, you only have until November 26 to drop by!

The Your Local pop-up is at The Balmori Suites, Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati. For reservations and inquiries, contact 0977-487-9236. For more information, check out Your Local Facebook page.

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