Already packed with a seemingly endless stream of dining options, Poblacion, Makati continues to come alive with more adventurous offerings. The latest addition is an exciting, new restaurant that puts the spotlight on the Filipino taste through the novel concept of offering an avant-garde, chef-driven take on Mexican street tacos. Compañeros Taqueria x Carinderia or simply Compañeros is a hole-in-the-wall taqueria owned by the husband-and-wife tandem of Philip Gonda and Regine Estillore-Gonda.
“We’re lawyers by profession so not only is the name Compañeros a nod to the Mexican influence of our cuisine but also to our day jobs,” Regine noted in a recent interview with BusinessMirror. By their own admission, the couple also considers themselves “hardcore foodies at heart.” When they first decided on taking the startup plunge, they first thought of creating a small food cart offering budget, food truck style tacos.
SINCE they have no culinary background and only rely on their taste buds, the couple figured they would still need outside help in realizing their vision. They found it in Kevin David, a young Filipino chef who not only has extensive experience in Michelin Guide restaurants in New York and San Francisco but also runs his own acclaimed fine-dining restaurant, Idalia Manila. With Chef Kevin on board as consultant, Compañeros went from a budget food cart concept to a full-blown, fast-casual restaurant.
Philip says their restaurant is “inspired by aut.