Familiar Flavours

Three top female chefs share their personal recipes that give them a taste of home

- Isabel Martel Francisco

MIKO CALO

Metronome

When it comes to a memorable meal, what tops our lists are usually linked to beautiful moments in life. We asked Tatler Dining’s Chef of The Year, Miko Calo of Metronome to share a nostalgic recipe.

This Filipina powerhouse melds her background with an international perspective, pouring her creativity out onto every dish. Chef Miko Calo trained in classic French techniques at Ferrandi in Paris. Then, this gourmand went on to cook under the mentorship of the legendary chef Joël Robuchon. She honed her skills in La Table de Joël Robuchon in Paris, at L’Atelier in London and then in Singapore. She has since taken her talents home where she now holds court at Metronome.

In the Philippines she has impressed diners with her command of classic French cookery and the way she is able to meld Asian and European influences into a cohesive dish.

During the lockdown in the years past, Metronome created the brand Lazy Oeuf, an off-shoot which produced sophisticated bistro-fare with a menu that mainly featured sandwiches. Here, Calo proved to diners that, besides having thrived in the realm of fine dining, she and her team had conquered delivery-only meals too.

Chef Calo believes that a menu and a meal is successful when she is able to infuse a part of herself into it—and of course by how clean the plates are after service. Be it her life experiences, favourite flavours, or unique skillset, making cooking personal can truly bring a dish to life.

At Metronome, she certainly runs a tight ship. With her dedication to excellence and penchant for speaking her mind, you can be certain that she always prioritises quality, aiming to produce dishes that are deliciously memorable.