![The Past is Present](https://cdn.magzter.com/Philippine Tatler/1674793394/articles/Ppn2pG-wQ1675150554442/THE-PAST-IS-PRESENT.jpg)
It’s a pity that not that many people know of Larry J Cruz now, even as they dine in the restaurants he had founded, and which had blazed the trail in Philippine dining. It doesn’t help that today we are wellGoogled but not well read.
Lifestyle. Ambiance. These were the two elements that Larry introduced in the Philippine dining scene in the late Seventies and by doing so, helped redefine the way Filipinos dined. A turning point—very few people would disagree with me about Larry’s contribution to Philippine lifestyle of the Seventies onwards. Before his Café Adriatico, restaurants, in general, were mere eating places; for ambiance and style, the Filipino diners went to hotels. The newsman Larry Cruz and his father, E Aguilar Cruz—the newspaper editor, essayist, painter who became the diplomat and the Philippine representative to Unesco in Paris—changed all that.
Even as they were in media and walked the corridor of power, father and son were behind one of the leading art galleries in Manila. The art gallery became the precursor of a café inspired by the fine ilustrado (pertaining to high or noble status) home interiors of elegant wood, finely crafted furniture reminiscent of the traditional bahay na bato, paintings and Filipiniana art collectibles. In this setting, the friends and colleagues of Larry and Abe, as the ambassador was known in their uppercrust circle—actually, the cognoscenti—would enjoy their barako or tsokolate eh (strong coffee beans from Batangas or thick native chocolate drink derived from the word espresso) and home-cooked Pampango dishes.
この記事は Tatler Philippines の February 2023 版に掲載されています。
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この記事は Tatler Philippines の February 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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