Margarita Forés and Arete Tagaytay Deliver Sublime Flavors, Stunning Views for the Grandest Gatherings
This events place with spectacular views will soon be open.
(SPOT.ph) Just when you think you've seen all there is to see in the Philippines’ second summer capital, a new player arrives to the arena: Arete Tagaytay and Resort, the soon-to-open luxury hotel and resort that’ll be home to the best of the best. That extends of course to the food side of things, for which reason they’ve enlisted the help of Margarita Signature Caterer as their exclusive caterer that can be booked for events and celebrations.
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Margarita Signature Caterer and Arete Tagaytay's exclusive partnership
Gatherings are made all the more special by good food, and if there’s anyone who knows many a good thing about good food, it’s Chef Margarita Forés—no less than 2016 Asia’s Best Female Chef known for her discerning, quality-driven eye and love of local cuisine. Through Margarita Signature Caterer, she's served the likes of His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and the King and Queen of Spain at the Palacio Real de El Pardo in Madrid in 2007; former US President Barack Obama in 2015; Their Majesty the Emperor and Empress of Japan; and His Serene Highness of Monaco in 2016.
Forés gushes about being able to partner with Arete: “[It’s the most amazing venue in Tagaytay… I've done a lot of like weddings and events in Tagaytay, but we never really kind of like have control over the venue. So this one for me is an absolute blessing to be able to partner with [Arete Tagaytay’s Antonio Co] for such a great space.” In turn, Arete Tagaytay’s Chief Operating Officer Carlo Co praises Forés’ “caliber [which] perfectly aligns with our goals and vision at Arete.”
Forés’ catering leg promises to give Arete’s guests superb culinary experiences to be remembered in the years to come. And a superb experience they indeed delivered during the recent media preview, which began with Arete arranging to have us flown to the luxury hotel by helicopter (!). More on that soon—but suffice to say, the views it offers of Taal Lake and other bounties of nature are unmatched.
Following a tour of the space, we’re led to the 550-square meter clubhouse where we'd be feasting that day. We're greeted by a grazing table—not any generic grazing table of course, but one that’s distinctly Margarita-fied, brimming with a selection of cheeses, charcuterie, breads, fresh and dried fruit, a selection of fine olive oils, and more. Some different parts of the world—Italy in particular (burrata, mortadella, salame spianata, Tenuta Sant'ilario olive oil)—while some are local (highlights include Davao Malagos La Regina and Bastardo cheeses and locally made ‘nduja).
The meal proper features signatures from Forés’ catering repertoire, and seamlessly melds Forés’ savvy, sophisticated cooking with high-quality ingredients from the Philippines. “I think [the menu] highlights modern Filipino, which is something that I feel very proud of to be able to do with a little bit of Italian touches as well,” she explains.
On the menu that day were Organic Chicken Binakol, a soothing soup with organic chicken, sili leaves, buko strings in coconut water consommé, taken to luxe heights with Italian porcini nuggets and foie gras; “Gifts From the Philippine Seas,” a dish of handmade squid ink pañuelos draped over Bulacan river prawn and Capiz scallops, Negros blue crab colatura cream, and a drizzle of taba ng talangka (Fores’ favorite ingredient!); Braised & Grilled Angus Short Rib Adobo, tender slabs of which were paired with white balsamico adobo jus, papaya-nata de coco atsara, heirloom brown rice sinangag with dried mango, and a kalabasa flower + sigariyas guisado; and Pili-Crusted Hojaldres, with thin sheets of pili-crusted pastry alternating with layers of Philippine cinnamon, vanilla creme Anglaise, langka, pink guava, and smoked Laguna cheese foam.
In serving the said menu, Forés upholds her goal—that is, of “...[highlighting] the beauty of our cuisine and our ingredients, and serving it in a very international way in this beautiful space… If the world could come and see and experience this, the beautiful view of the lake and also being just an hour and a half away from Manila, I think that that caps everything,” she tells us. “We hope that people come and enjoy and visit the space and enjoy our food here as well.”
The dining space and catering service can already be booked for special occasions—weddings, anniversaries, graduation parties, and other intimate events and bigger gatherings. Arete is slated to open in full by late 2025.
Arete Tagaytay is at 9034 Res Tagaytay - Banauan Road, Iruhin South, Tagaytay City. For more information, check out the Instagram pages of Margarita Signature Caterer and Arete Tagaytay.
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