Online delicatessen shop collaborates with Philippine industry leaders for a variety of causes

As Christmas draws closer, we start to feel the festive cheer. The Bow Tie Duck, online delicatessen and groceries delivery in Metro Manila, reminds us of the essence of the holiday—giving. “What brings us joy and what we are all looking forward to are heaps of food that we share with those we spend the Yuletide season with,” opens the host Bambina Olivares Wise, journalist, and director of PR and programming of Manila House at the recent gathering, The Fine Art of Giving and Dining.

Co-founder and chief executive officer of The Bow Tie Duck, Julien Marie opens the program with his childhood Christmas memories of the South of France. Every le réveillon de Noël or Christmas Eve dinner, part of French tradition, was to prepare an extra setup of plates and cutlery on their dinner tables in anticipation of an unexpected guest.

“At Christmas, the Germans, Brits, French, everyone, would suddenly stop fighting, get out of their trenches, and share cigarettes, tobacco, and food. There was no race, only humans,” says Julien, citing the First World War as a prime example that the Yuletide is all about love and unity. “Christmas is not about ourselves but about sharing with our neighbors, community, and loved ones. This is the season we give more than usual.”

Julien and his company wanted to do something meaningful this year, prompting the conceptualization of “Christmas in a box.” “It is everything you could imagine that means Christmas. It is the taste, smell, and gesture of Christmas.”

Christmas in a box features seasonal items enjoyed all over the world. These are packaged in chest-like white boxes whose minimalistic design is drawn from the brand’s signature case from its first run back in 2014. Each box follows a theme, from indulgent luxury picks to sweet seasonal treats.

‘Christmas is not about ourselves but about sharing with our neighbors, community, and loved ones. This is the season we give more than usual.’

A specially designed Christmas postcard featuring the signature Mallard Duck and a limited-edition canvas tote bag that displays either the majestic Mandarin Duck or Spectacled Eider Duck is also included in the package. Duck art designs were meticulously created by self-taught rising artist, Nikka Reyes-Aligaen, whose focal subjects are nature and birds.

For each box sold a donation will be made to purchase food ingredients for Kawa Pilipinas, a non-profit that aims to fight hunger one meal at a time through food drives within Metro Manila, providing nutritious, filling meals to the homeless, locally stranded individuals, urban poor, Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), disaster victims, seniors and orphans, kids with special needs, even frontliners.

In collaboration with local industry leaders, The Bow Tie Duck presents the perfect opportunity to commemorate the holiday with gift boxes both lavish and purposeful. Sales from these items would partially go to different advocacies.

“Food is always about sharing. Now that we can’t gather, we can only be together by helping everyone around us,” says Julien.

In its biggest fundraiser yet, the “VIP wish list and corporate gift-giving initiative,” The Bow Tie Duck is joined by many partners, who have each curated their own baskets in aid of their respective foundations.

Nina Corpuz bundle

Broadcast journalist Niña Corpuz’s curated basket is in a Binakol (twill) fabric design, characterized by geometric lines. She is, after all, the founder of Nina Inabel, a clothing line that uses Philippine indigenous fabric to create stunning wearable pieces. In it is Gran Reserva Manchego, along with18-month-cured prosciutto, Australian premium Angus striploin, Casa Rinaldi minced mullet roe Bottarga, Pecorino Romano, Casa Rinaldi spaghetti “Trafila Al Bronzo,” Echire butter, Auro 70 percent Dark Chocolate - Paquibato Single Estate, Pinkie’s farm classic pancake set, and Speri Valpolicella Ripasso D.O.C. Classico Superiore 2017.

The proud Ilocana supports the Bin-I Foundation whose mission is to send underprivileged youth to school and improve the livelihood of Ilocano weavers and potters. “I grew up in Ilocos Norte, so this foundation is very close to my heart,” intimates Nina. Having three kids of her own, she adds, “I want young children to appreciate tradition because it is rooted in values and values are timeless.”

Karla Delgado bundle

In her punnet, Karla Delgado, director at Kai Farms, presents locally-made Pyur honey, a big bottle of Cultur’d MNL’s Paraiso kombucha (limited) made with mangoes from Guimaras, Malagos fresh goat cheese from Davao, pinipig bread from Panaderya Toyo, Auro Chocolates 50 percent Dark Milk Chocolate – Luna Single Estate 60g and 68 percent Dark Chocolate Freeze Dried Mango, Kai organic casuy vinegar, and RC Gift Pack - botanical gin, barrel reserve gin, and lava rock vodka for the spirits.

Karla’s chosen foundation is the Slow Food Sari-Sari Store, a coalition of farmers, urban growers, community organizers, and other like-minded individuals who advocate for food justice. A portion of the sales would go to the most vulnerable people living in Payatas. Kai Farms teaches the less privileged how to grow their own food and supplies the disadvantaged with organic permaculture soil to help them get started with their gardens. “Our hearts are full when we share and we see kids who are just so over the moon to have a simple toy. Also, it is sharing that makes you feel the spirit of Christmas,” says Karla.

Yoly Crisanto bundle

Yoly Crisanto, chief sustainability officer and senior vice president at Globe Telecom, has in her bundle premium Echire butter, TPK&B classic sourdough baguette, a pack of frozen black tiger prawns, a jar of Pyur PH Genmaicha tea, Casa Rinaldi Mezze Maniche, a can of Danesi special ground coffee, and a bottle of Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Estate Riesling Trocken.

Yoly is doing this for the CRIBS Foundation, which provides an alternative home for neglected children as well as nurtures a healing environment for sexually abused women. “When I was asked to choose a personal advocacy, I immediately said I wanted to help children and I know that Christmas is for kids,” she says. Currently, the foundation cares for 54 kids, even as it faces challenges navigating the health crisis.

Nilo Divina bundle

For lawyer Nilo Divina of Divina Law, it is Bahay Kanlungan ni Maria, a home for destitute elderly women. “I feel so sorry, knowing their situation,” says he, who believes that women of all ages should be empowered. “By this gesture of giving, we’ll make their Christmas brighter, more cheerful.”

Nilo’s hamper consists mostly of spirits like the Pol Roger Brut Reserve N.V., Aspirant de Beychevelle Saint-Julien, Joselito Hand-Carved Jamon Gran Reserva, and H by Hine VSOP. There is also Australian premium Angus ribeye, Pyur PH Earl Grey tea, and Lucaffe espresso bar whole bean coffee.

Spanky Enriquez bundle

Spanky Hizon Enriquez, communications director at Resto PH, is helping medical frontliners through Frontline Feeders PH, a community-led initiative to provide nourishing meals for medical center workers. “Things are starting to normalize but the need for support for hospitals, frontliners, doctors, nurses have to continue,” he says. Frontline Feeders PH and Spanky have been able to give tens of thousands of meals to hospitals in and around Metro Manila. “We’re focusing on the smaller hospitals as well, up to Pampanga, and even some homes for the aged,” he says.

Spanky is from Pampanga, a culinary capital in the Philippines. A foodie, he came up with a complicated gift hamper. “I wanted to give you everything that’s crazy,” he confesses. There’s Époisses de Bourgogne, as well as a slab of Roaring Forties premium lamb tenderloin, Castaing whole goose foie gras truffled at three percent, a Satchmi (coffee olive oil cake) by Casa Saporzi, and a bottle of Château des Tours Brouilly, Beaujolais. His bundle is currently out of stock, but you may leave your mobile number on the website for when it is available again.

Vanessa Ledesma and Rj Ledesma bundles

Vanessa Ledesma, honorary co-consul of Monaco and Montenegro as well as co-founder of Mercato Centrale, wants to give various micro, small, medium, enterprises (MSME) vendors a shot in the arm. “My heart and soul always go to the food industry, the MSMEs,” she says. Mercato Centrale for the past 12 years has been helping food start-ups. “Sharing everyone’s basket here is really what Mercato is all about,” she says.

Her box, co-curated with her husband RJ Ledesma, whose chosen beneficiary is Virlanie Foundation Philippines, contains Señorio de Montanera Lomito (Presa) Iberico, frozen Marinella Mozzarella di Latte di Buffala and Latteria Sorrentina Burrata Campana, Conservas de Cambados Sardinillas (Baby Sardines) in olive oil, Chocolate X Chocolate Mousse, PYUR PH Rose Buds tea and infuser, Villani Prosciutto di Parma 16 months, and Château Roubine La Vie en Rosé.

Mica Tan bundle

Mica Tan, CEO of private equity firm MFT Group, named her box “Simplicity.” She admits, however, that the contents—such as live Maine lobsters, Castaing whole duck foie gras with juniper berry and Jurancon wine, Vacherin Mont D’or, Champagne Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles Bouzy Grand Cru—are not exactly simple.

Mica advocates for the PGH Medical Foundation, which helps the state-owned hospital with funding so that it can provide healthcare for its indigent patients. “Our biggest heroes the past few years are doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists. They are the heart and soul of this war against COVID-19,” she says.

Amor Maclang bundle

Last, but not the least is Amor Maclang, co-founder of GeiserMaclang Communications Incorporated and Convenor of Digital Pilipinas. “I feel so privileged that Julien curated my basket,” she says. Her bundle comprises of cheeses Vacherin Mont D’Or, Époisses, Comté, as well as pastries 36 hours loaf of Naked Bakery sourdough bread, Portobello Cake by Casa Saporzi, and rosemary, garlic Cheddar Boule from Baked by G. There is also Echire butter as well as Pyur PH honey.

Amor champions the Autism Society of the Philippines, a non-profit that supports the wellbeing of persons on the autism spectrum. “I want to tell all the parents out there who have children on the spectrum that the limitation is mostly in our heads,” she says.

Also launched was a new food community program, “The Pond,” where members of The Bow Tie Duck get to enjoy premium privileges, including a consumable membership fee, yearly culinary travels, private chef services, a direct communication line to the founders, access to exclusive events, 10 percent off on regular items on the website bowtieduck.com, and a waived delivery fee for their purchases.