Batanes on the table
Grace Park and Fundacion Pacita serve up the flavors of the last frontier
Published Sep 10, 2025 08:55 am
At A Glance
- By Treena Tecson
CRISP TRADITION Day-old Hahay brings cured local needlefish together with crab fat rice and a fried egg.
Batanes is referred to as the Philippines’ last frontier, located at the northernmost tip of the country with the smallest land area and population of 18,000. Batanes is known for rolling hills, stone houses, and rugged coastlines where the Ivatan people have thrived and survived for centuries. This September, Manila diners have the opportunity to experience the flavors of Batanes with a special and significant collaboration between Amado Fores of Grace Park and Patsy Abad, founder of Fundacion Pacita’s Café du Tukon, and niece of the late artist Pacita Abad, of Fundacion Pacita.
Re:gions Batanes highlights the shared vision of Grace Park and Fundacion Pacita in celebrating regional heritage and supporting local communities. Fundacion Pacita which was once the home and studio of internationally-acclaimed artist Pacita Abad, has become a cultural landmark that continues to preserve traditions while welcoming guests to experience the breathtaking landscape.
HEARTY HERITAGE Uved Soup warms with ginger broth, banana corm, fish, and pork meatballs, a comforting taste of Ivatan tradition.
Ivatan cuisine is shaped by resilience, resourcefulness and a connection to the land and sea using preservation techniques such as fermenting, drying, and salting. Root crops such as sweet potatoes and gabi are daily staples, while dishes like Luñis (salted pork) provide nourishment throughout the typhoon season.
Amado recalled the time when Chef Margarita Fores traveled to Batanes to immerse herself in their culture and cuisine—while sharing her own expertise teaching the art of cooking pasta. This month-long event is both a celebration and a tribute to the meaningful collaboration that Chef Margarita began in 2015.
Grace Park, in collaboration with Fundacion Pacita, has crafted a menu that showcases the unique flavors and heritage ingredients of Batanes. Chefs from Batanes have also been invited into the Grace Park kitchen for this limited run. Guests can look forward to traditional favorites alongside reimagined dishes, offering a true taste of Ivatan cuisine.
SAVORY SECRET Yuyuno Puttanesca layers linguine with black olives, capers, and the distinct depth of Ivatan fermented fish infused in olive oil.
The menu draws deeply from Ivatan tradition. It begins with Uved Soup, a comforting ginger broth with banana corm, fish, and pork meatballs (₱270). Pasta dishes include Yuyuno Puttanesca, linguine tossed with black olives and capers and finished with Yuyuno, the Ivatan fermented fish, infused in olive oil (₱530), and Arayu Pinpin Penne Cream Pasta, where dried mahi-mahi is folded into a rich fish-cream sauce brightened with the zest of Ducban, the native Batanes lemon (₱590). Day-old Hahay (₱560) features cured local needlefish paired with crab fat rice and a fried egg, while Luñis (₱530), the slow-cooked salted pork that sustains Ivatans through stormy months, is served with turmeric rice and eggplant salad. For dessert, Diko Fritters (₱290) bring the sweetness of crispy sweet potato, balanced by house-made tablea sorbetes. To drink, Tubho Iced Tea (₱189) offers a refreshing brew of native fern steeped with calamansi and sugar syrup.
ZESTY CATCH Arayu Pinpin Penne Cream Pasta blends dried mahi-mahi with a rich fish-cream sauce, lifted by the citrusy zest of native Ducban lemon.
Adding to the excitement, diners who order from the Re:gions Batanes menu will be eligible to join the raffle to win a trip for two to Batanes, inclusive of roundtrip airfare from Clark to Batanes via Philippine Airlines and a 4-day, 3-night stay at Fundacion Pacita. One winner each will be chosen from Grace Park One Rockwell and Grace Park Araneta, winners will be announced in October 2025.
Re:gions Batanes is available from Sept. 1 to 30, 2025 at Grace Park One Rockwell and Grace Park Araneta City. For updates, follow @graceparkdining and @fundacionpacita on Instagram.