It’s been 217 days since the government announced going out was no longer something we could freely do. Since then, we’ve said goodbye to a lot of our favorite bars and restaurants and hello to new coping mechanisms (hello, houseplants and making a mess in our kitchens).
This weekend, Futurist (the recently closed TodayxFuture’s Poblacion location) and chef Trisha Katipunan will be holding a (socially distanced) pop-up dinner event entitled “Have You Eaten Yet?” for the benefit of Futurist and PAGASA PH.
The event, which is an offshoot of chef Trisha’s newsletter of the same name, will be held on Oct. 24 and 25 where 100 percent of proceeds will go directly to Futurist’s rebuilding efforts and PAGASA PH, an organization dedicated to feeding daily wage earners who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic.
For chef Trisha Katipunan, the fundraiser serves as her way to cope with the times and reach out to others in need. “I’ve been cooking a lot in the kitchen as a form of distraction three months into quarantine. I would post meals I’ve cooked in my stories, and people would often ask for a recipe or tell me that they’ll try it out, ask what can they swap for x ingredient if they don’t have it, etc. So I decided to archive that into a weekly newsletter project which is called “Have You Eaten?” as sort of a contribution to help with this collective anxiety we’re all dealing with through cooking,” she said.
“I would post links to organizations, and F&B makers and online protests at the end of my entries to encourage contributions from readers but it always felt like there is only so much we could do you know? After a while, I posted an open invitation for anyone who needs a meal and is struggling to just DM so I can cook and send food their way. I don’t make six figures and can only help so much. Plus I have a day job so I’m very limited to just small contributions when I could afford it,” she continued.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGjgmMkp7VH/
The opportunity to serve a wider audience came when the people behind Futurist came knocking.
“[W]hen the folks at Futurist asked me if I could do a kitchen takeover when they reopen, I immediately knew that we had to make it a fundraiser and I’m grateful that they were so on board with the idea! Finally, a platform where we can raise money and feed people at the same time,” she added.
The pop-up fundraiser will consist of a four-course, prix fixe menu influenced by Asian and Mexican flavors. She said that these were just some of the nourishing dishes she turned to during quarantine. According to Katipunan, “There’s a good amount of veg, starch, and meat throughout the whole dinner which makes for a balanced and filling dinner.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFWRwCWpR6k/
For Katipunan, holding the benefit dinner also comes from the desire to share food with familiar faces. “Honestly, from a selfish point of view, I just wanna cook and have an excuse for old and new friends to see each other again and catch up over food but from a safe distance,” she mentioned.
“Last year we hosted Breaking Bread at Annex [House] and it was a family-style, communal dinner gathering! Obviously, we can’t do that now, but this is the closest we can get to bringing people together over food and drinks,” Katipunan concluded.
Tickets to “Have You Eaten?” are priced at P1,000 per person. The seats for the first night are sold out, but there are still (very limited) available slots for the 25th. For reservations and inquiries, you can reach out to Futurist or Trisha Katipunan to reserve a seat.
Header image of salsa verde courtesy of chef Trisha Katipunan’s “Have You Eaten?” newsletter
Get more stories like this by subscribing to our weekly newsletter here.
Read more:
Missing Poblacion nights? These New York-inspired tacos can help
These upcycled lamps from popular Poblacion hangout Annex House are up for sale
Writer: ANDREIANA YUVALLOS
