Cheers to the future of Filipino cuisine! Rowena Romulo is the woman behind one of London’s favourite restaurants. Photo courtesy of Romulo Café

16 October 2018 LONDON—London-based Filipino restaurant Romulo Café is in the running for ‘Best Bar or Restaurant’ in the prestigious 2018 Kensington & Chelsea Business Awards alongside other Micheline-starred restaurants in one of London’s most affluent boroughs. The winner of the award will be announced at the awarding ceremony at the Millennium Gloucester Kensington Hotel on 18 October.

“We’ll be at the awards flying the flag high for Filipino cuisine,” said Rowena Romulo, who runs Romulo Café London alongside Chris Joseph. “This is where being involved and participating really counts. Chris and I and all the Romulo Café team, including our Michelin-trained Head Chef Jeremy Villanueva, are doing our very best to educate people on what fine Filipino food tastes and looks like.”

“The achievement of Romulo Café is a remarkable achievement for Filipino cuisine in the United Kingdom,” said Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo. “This prestigious recognition means that Filipino cuisine has found its place among one of the world’s most discerning markets. We hope that this will be a first among many recognitions for Filipino cuisine in the UK.”

The family-owned Romulo Café was selected as a finalist on the basis of its ability to deliver great taste, good presentation, variety of choice, great customer service and value for money. Other finalists include Hawksmoor Knightsbridge and Orrechino Italian, both listed in the Michelin Guide.

“We’re proud to be part of the lively Filipino Food Movement,” said Rowena. “ To be recognised as one of the business champions and to be in the running for best restaurant in a borough as fantastic as Kensington & Chelsea speaks of the area’s diversity but also of Romulo Café’s ability as a business to compete with the best. We just keep trying, every single day. Who knows? Perhaps one day we’ll find ourselves serving fine Filipino food to our royal neighbours!”

Romulo’s Dingley Dell pork belly adobo is a café favourite. The meat is sourced from the Dingley Dell farm in the East Coast of Suffolk, which is known for the production of welfare-friendly pork. Photo courtesy of Romulo Café