The Foodie’s Airbnb: Plato.ph

In a world that’s slowly being taken over by apps like Uber and Airbnb comes an interesting concept that ties food and technology together—Plato.ph. The moment I received an invite from Chief Financial Officer, Miggy Azurin, I knew I couldn’t pass up on the chance to explore what it was.

Plato.ph basically allows you to book a professional chef and have a scrumptious meal in his or her home. I actually thought it was a strange idea at first, especially because the Cupcake and I love dining out and discovering new restaurants together. But the more I thought about it, the more I was sold by the concept.

There are so many talented chefs and home cooks in Metro Manila, and Plato.ph gives them a platform where they can showcase their signature dishes in a more intimate setup. If hosts at Airbnb let you book their spaces temporarily, hosts at Plato.ph let you book their services so they can whip up an exciting feast for you and your friends. It’s a great way for foodies to discover amazing food, and for chefs and home cooks to be doing what they’ve always been passionate about.

A couple of weeks ago, I was introduced to Chef Earl and his partner, Alyssa. Chef Earl previously worked at The Renaissance Orlando, Seaworld, Marriott, and Aboyeur, and he specializes in Fusion, Creole, Mediterranean, and Asian Cuisine. On the other hand, Alyssa is a home cook and a former restaurant supervisor who shares the same passion for food. Together, they call themselves the dynamic duo of Quezon City.

Chef Earl and Alyssa at work

Chef Earl’s house is located near the Tomas Morato area, which wasn’t hard to find. We were joined by Plato.ph’s intern, her two friends, another blogger, and his sister (the duo can accommodate up to 10 people in Chef Earl’s house). What I initially thought to be a quiet dinner turned out to be an entertaining one! Conversations moved around from beauty and makeup, to travels, to how it was like working in corporate (the Cupcake and I were the oldest ones in the bunch).

Chef Earl and Alyssa were both very sweet hosts who made sure we didn’t leave the place without feeling full. I was actually surprised by the generous servings, which were all very delicious (I still can’t stop thinking about it).

The menu included:

1. Chicken Liver Pâté served with Turkish Bread and Tomato Jam
2. Wild Garlic Chicken Kiev served with Mashed Potato, Cream Cheese, and Onion Ash
3. House Croatian Meatloaf served with Pepper Cheese Sauce, Beetroot Puree, Smoked Carrot Puree, Local Vegetables, and Mint
4. Avocado Ice Cream with Coconut Tapioca and Lime Soil

Chicken Liver Pâté served with Turkish Bread and Tomato Jam

Wild Garlic Chicken Kiev served with Mashed Potato, Cream Cheese, and Onion Ash

House Croatian Meatloaf served with Pepper Cheese Sauce, Beetroot Puree, Smoked Carrot Puree, Local Vegetables, and Mint

Avocado Ice Cream with Coconut Tapioca and Lime Soil

I cannot tell you which one my favorite dish is, because they were all so good. There were certain aspects I liked about each one (like the buttery-ness of the Wild Garlic Chicken Kiev, and the flavors of the puree of the House Croatian Meatloaf. Don’t get me started on that mouth-watering dessert).

My only regret is that my appetite isn’t big enough to completely devour each dish (that’s how generous the servings were), but if I had the same appetite as the Cupcake’s, I would definitely finish everything. I also wish we had more time to share stories with Chef Earl and Alyssa, but the Cupcake and I told each other we could always book them again separately (for Php 875 per head) so that we can also try more of their dishes.

If you and your friends are all foodies, I think you’d enjoy discovering the hosts over at Plato.ph. They’ve already got 10 chefs waiting to be booked, and I’m super sure they’ve got a lot of exciting dishes up their sleeves. To know more about Chef Earl and Alyssa, you can like and follow their Facebook and Instagram account @kitchencreativesph.