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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Food devider Filipino flavors take flight on Qatar Airways' new business class menu

Filipino flavors take flight on Qatar Airways' new business class menu

Chefs Jordy and May Navarra introduce reimagined Filipino classics on flights between Manila and Doha, with the return route to follow in 2026

Published Feb 3, 2026 06:50 pm
MASTER CHEF Chef Jordy Navarra at his one-star Michelin restaurant in Makati, Toyo Eatery (Photo from IG @jordynavarra)
MASTER CHEF Chef Jordy Navarra at his one-star Michelin restaurant in Makati, Toyo Eatery (Photo from IG @jordynavarra)
Filipino cuisine has found a new stage in the skies as Qatar Airways rolls out an exclusive Business Class menu created by husband-and-wife chefs Jordy and May Navarra.
Now available on flights from Manila to Doha, the five-course dining experience presents familiar Filipino dishes through a modern lens. The menu is set to expand to Doha-to-Manila flights starting July 2026.
The Navarras, who lead the Michelin-starred Toyo Eatery in Manila, designed the selections specifically for in-flight dining, adapting flavors and textures while staying true to Filipino culinary roots.
The meal begins with chilled, seared scallops paired with mustard leaf, shrimp buro, radish and salted egg. The main course features braised beef short ribs in tiyula itum, a dark, coconut-based stew, served with charred coconut, eggplant and heirloom Tinawon rice.
For a lighter option, passengers can choose pansit noodle ensalada with chayote and pomelo. Breakfast service includes a smooth purée of arroz caldo with chicken, anchovy and egg. Dessert highlights a classic sans rival cake complemented by Philippine chocolate sorbet.
KILAW REFLECTION A tasting menu course from Chef Jordy reimagines kinilaw in varied forms, using regional ingredients from across the Philippines to highlight the dish’s enduring tradition and diversity.
KILAW REFLECTION A tasting menu course from Chef Jordy reimagines kinilaw in varied forms, using regional ingredients from across the Philippines to highlight the dish’s enduring tradition and diversity.
Qatar Airways said in a press statement that the ingredients were selected with attention to seasonality and local sourcing, reflecting sustainable practices while highlighting Filipino produce.
The collaboration continues the airline’s focus on elevating onboard dining through partnerships with celebrated chefs, reinforcing its reputation for premium in-flight experiences.
For the Navarras, the project offers another opportunity to introduce Filipino cuisine to an international audience, translating the flavors of home into a refined meal served thousands of feet above ground.
The exclusive menu is currently available in Qatar Airways Business Class on Manila-to-Doha routes.
Watch Jordy Navarra talking about his collaboration with Qatar Airways here: 

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