Chef Miko Calo Parts Ways With Metronome

(SPOT.ph) For the past month or two, food industry insiders have been whispering about the exit of a celebrated chef of a well-loved local restaurant. It's confirmed—Chef Miko Calo formally resigned from her position as executive chef of Metronome on March 18. This is in effect today, April 18.

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What we know about Chef Miko Calo leaving Metronome

In a statement from EAT Public Relations, Calo expresses her gratitude to the restaurant for giving her a "stage to showcase her creative talents." "While her resignation was a difficult decision, Calo felt the need to explore new paths for her personal and professional well-being."

"I have always advocated for women in my industry to find their own space—a place where they can freely express their creativity and find fulfillment in their craft,” says the chef. "Today, I walk the talk."

"It is with regret that we confirm Miko Calo’s departure from Metronome as Executive Chef effective today, April 18, 2024," Metronome's President and CEO Elbert Cuenca shares. "Please note that she continues to be a shareholder of Metronome French Restaurant Inc. The managing partners and employees of Metronome French Restaurant Inc. continue to operate and the restaurant will be business as usual. We are also in the planning stages for new and exciting things to come. Please stay tuned for that."

Calo was born to a food-loving family in Butuan; at 13, she moved to Manila, where she would live in—and be greatly inspired by—her aunt and media personality, Susan Calo Medina. After studying Hotel and Restaurant Management at St. Scholastica’s College and working at the likes of Tivoli Grill (at the Mandarin Oriental Manila) and Hyatt Hotel Manila, she had the opportunity to study at the prestigious FERRANDI Paris, also known as Ecole Grégoire-Ferrandi, in Paris, France. Following this, she scored an internship at LA TABLE de Joël Robuchon, helmed by Chef Joël Robuchon himself—and from there got to work at Robuchon's restaurants at Paris, eventually becoming junior sous chef at L’ATALIER de Joël Robuchon and Restaurant Joël Robuchon in Singapore. Today, she helms her French-Mexican taco spot, Taqueria Franco.

Metronome opened in 2019 and was quickly hailed for their topnotch modern French fare, where traditional techniques meet local and global ingredients and more current flavor combos and plating styles. The restaurant was included in 50 Best Restaurants’ 50 Best Discovery list in 2022.

UPDATED (April 18, 2024, 4:02 p.m.): The article has been updated to add a statement from Elbert Cuenca of Metronome.

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