MANILA – “Eat big, eat fast and eat like a dog,” the grandmother of chef Bernat Playa of new Spanish restaurant Perro Chiko used to tell her guests.
Perro Chiko diners might also heed this tip as the dishes here are really meant to be shared to emphasize the common dining experience that Spaniards share with us Filipinos.
The Lao family, the group behind Perro Chiko is the same behind the former occupants of the Uptown Parade space in Taguig — Choi Garden. It’s no surprise that they accorded the same respect and quality to Spanish cuisine as they did to Chinese cuisine.
For Laotians, the pandemic has been a time of experimentation as they explore other concepts to open and grow their business beyond Chinese cuisine.
Helping connect them to Playa was Chef Colleen Almazon, the daughter of a longtime trusted family employee and Laos scholar. Almazon worked as Playa’s Sous Chef at another high-end Spanish restaurant. Both moved to Perro Chiko, where Playa’s playful take on Spanish cuisine was a perfect fit for the new concept.
Playa is well known for its cuisine and has gained a number of followers. His specialties are the highlight of Perro Chiko’s menu.
Perro Chiko is located on the ground floor of Uptown Parade at BGC. The restaurant’s opening hours are Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.