MANILA, Philippines – What was once Balai Palma – a private tasting menu concept by Chef Aaron Isip – is now its more casual, ala carte counterpart called Kasa Palma, which opened its new home last April at the same Palma Street in Poblacion, Makati City. WELCOME TO KASA PALMA. Steph Arnaldo/Rappler Kasa Palma is its more spacious sister, now with a separate outdoor dining area but still imbibing Isip’s love for the tropics and flair for Tulum-inspired design.
One step inside and it feels like you’re whisked away to a tropical oasis, and rightfully so – Kasa Palma is inspired by Isip’s stay in El Nido, Palawan, where he initially planned to open his restaurant before COVID-19 hit. WELCOME FOYER AND BAR. Steph Arnaldo/Rappler Chef Isip’s culinary journey is rich with influences from various cultures and regions, particularly flavors from Mexico, Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and the Caribbean, rooted in his learned French techniques.
CHEF AARON ISIP. Steph Arnaldo/Rappler “My greatest culinary influences are French and Filipino cuisines. I grew up in the Philippines and spent many years as a young professional in Paris.
Cooking there taught me how to respect the seasons and work with only the very best locally available produce that I can find,” Chef Isip said, who became Chef de Cuisine at Dix-Huit and received the Trophée Espoir from French restaurant guide Gault et Millau in 2018 – a first for a Filipino chef. On an island in the (M.