Vlad Bunoan

Article (news)

Chip & Chong

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- When Chef Jonas Ng was sent two boxes of cherry tomatoes — harvested by farmers in Benguet and delivered, overflowing and in desperation — he immediately knew what to do with them.They were in the middle of preparations for Chip &amp; Chong, a playful, experimental pop‑up at James &amp; Daughters that’s running for a blink‑and‑you’ll‑miss‑it, three‑day stretch at Estancia Mall until Sunday night. “We were plating the tiger prawn tartare and felt like it needed color,” Ng says, gesturing toward the dish of lime‑tinged local prawns mixed with creamy avocado and now — serendipitously — served with a side of sunburst tomatoes from up north. “It was last minute. They&#x27;re like, yeah, let&#x27;s do something with it. Olive oil, sea salt. It worked.”&#x27;<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751174212725513182148_24113256871640788_5152313606668008715_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Tiger Prawns Tartare. Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</div>That kind of loose, instinctive cooking defines Chip &amp; Chong, a six‑course cocktail‑pairing dinner that doesn’t follow a theme so much as it chases a vibe. It’s the love‑child of four culinary minds: apart from Ng, there’s Chip, his longtime friend and pop‑up instigator; Jim, a former NYC bartender‑turned‑BGC bar owner‑turned‑Netflix director; and an exacting Italian F&amp;B pro.<div>Each dish, conceptually patterned after Spanish tapas, feels like a creative detour that somehow landed in the right place. There’s that tartare with tequila‑avocado shots to start. Then comes grilled octopus, originally a delicate carpaccio until the team found the texture wasn’t working and tossed it on the grill. They paired it with a passion‑fruit sorbet — again, a sudden pivot when a box of Benguet passion fruit showed up days before service.<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751174454063510583791_2628168540850861_4985660943051719339_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Grilled Pulpo. Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</div>“All of these dishes were like last-minute decisions,” Ng admits, adding that they&#x27;d send ideas to each other on a messaging app. “(Today) is the final day of the pop‑up. And then they&#x27;ll do a face‑to‑face — the guest chef bartender and the guest chef.”The tuna crudo, seasoned simply with lemon oil and salt, gets a lift from thin shavings of experimental black radish also sourced from Benguet. It’s not quite ceviche, not quite sashimi. “It’s my favorite,” Ng says. “It’s just... seasoned.”<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751174540982512692050_529098570193806_6697044378061849495_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Tuna Crudo. Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</div>Then there’s the Thai‑inspired chicken spring roll with peanut sauce — not the sweet‑and‑spicy Thai version, but rather a playful, nostalgic riff using good old Filipino Lily’s peanut butter. “That was the request of the chef: I want Lily’s,” Ng says with a laugh. “This Italian guy, he&#x27;s been here for a long time. So he knows what Filipinos like flavor‑wise.”<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751174610684512679097_1067318708828567_4689224989619702060_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Thai Chicken Spring Rolls. Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</div>The beef skewers — tender Japanese saikoro cubes — are served with a base barbecue sauce Filipinos will immediately recognize and freshly grilled veggies, again from the mountain farmers. The beef is a collaboration with a young couple who are trying to break into the local market.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751174665146511475942_1458697332291030_5334862618592029728_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Beef Skewers. Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</div>And finally, dessert: tiramisu. But not quite. Instead of pricey mascarpone, they made their own cheese — a tangy, whipped goat’s‑milk version that lends a fresh, citrusy zing. “It’s a little tart, a little creamy,” Ng says.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751174715485511311077_1518441785682206_3796342585178151750_n.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Tiramisu. Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</div>If you’re the kind of diner who needs a concept tied in a bow, this pop‑up might confuse you. It’s not themed. There’s no clear cuisine. It’s not “Filipino,” though almost everything is local. It’s not strictly fine dining, but it’s certainly not casual either.“It’s just a cocktail pairing,” Ng shrugs. “We&#x27;re trying unique experiences. For us, it&#x27;s just a way to connect food and people, right? But for them, it&#x27;s a way to try ideas. It&#x27;s a way to try different things.”And that’s really what Chip &amp; Chong is: a gastronomic jam session. Three nights only — then it’s finished.<div>The Chip &amp; Chong pop-up runs at James &amp; Daughters in Estancia Mall until June 29 for dinner. The six-course pairing set is priced at P2,695. You can choose to have the food only for P1,390 and cocktails only for P1,695.</div>

Chip &amp; Chong is a spontaneous six-course cocktail pairing dinner at James &amp; Daughters. Running only until June 29 at Estancia Mall, this playful pop-up brings together local ingredients, global sensibilities, and zero rules.

Chip & Chong is a spontaneous six-course cocktail pairing dinner at James & Daughters. Running only until June 29 at Estancia Mall, this playful pop-up brings together local ingredients, global sensibilities, and zero rules.

No theme, just local: Inside the Chip & Chong pop-up at James & Daughters

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Lifestyle

No theme, just local: Inside the Chip & Chong pop-up at James & Daughters

Vlad Bunoan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 29, 2025 01:47 PM PHT

|

Updated Jun 29, 2025 02:01 PM PHT

Read More:

James and Daughters

Jonas Ng

Estancia Mall

ABSnews

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.