Let's Taste the Love @ The Bistro Group

“Taste the Love is not just about food. It’s about the heart and the passion that goes into everything we do, from our concepts to our locations to our service to of course, our food. By focusing on creating a dining experience that diners will want to repeat and share, we allow our customers to taste the love from the moment they get hungry and think about our restaurants to the time they have polished off every bite.”  This is shared by Ms. Lisa Ronquillo, AVP Marketing of The Bistro Group.

The Bistro Group, the home of the country’s finest international and homegrown casual dining brands, is launching its latest campaign, Taste the Love. The campaign invites diners to taste the love behind every restaurant concept launched and every international chain brought to local shores, in every innovative dish prepared, and with every service rendered with a smile.

The campaign celebrates a series of milestones for The Bistro Group, namely the opening of 50 restaurants spread across 12 concepts, the appointment of Corporate Chef Josh Boutwood, and the launch of its Premiere Card.

The latest restaurant to join the group is Modern Shanghai, which brings authentic recipes from the region and serves them in a homey, comfortable environment. It joins Watami, a top food and beverage restaurant in Japan, the first Village Tavern branch outside the US, and Japanese-Western restaurant Ma Maison. The four are the latest international chains brought to the Philippines by The Bistro Group, rounding out its restaurants.

Aside from new dining locations, the arrival of Chef Boutwood has seen the launch of new dishes, such as Black Pizza, Sesame Teriyaki Chicken Wings, and Fully Loaded Sweet Potato Skins at Village Tavern, and the a la carte Katsu Menu at Ma Maison.

As a way of saying thank you to loyal customers, The Bistro Group is also launching the Premiere Card, which offers multiple discount offers up to 40% off the total bill; complimentary appetizers, coffee, and tea; as well as birthday treats for the cardholder.

In addition, for the month of hearts, The Bistro Group is offering an exclusive deal for Citibank cardholders. From February 4-7, cardholders will receive 50% off food and beverage orders worth at least P2,500, with a discount up to P5,000.

“We invite everyone to Taste the Love at the Bistro Group of Restaurants and to stay tuned as we roll out even more exciting deals, menu items, and restaurants in 2013. We are excited about what we have in store for our customers, and with great food, great service, great ambiance, what’s not to love?” Ronquillo states.

Chef Josh Boutwood is the Bistro Group’s new corporate chef, having been appointed in the position in late 2012 after serving as a consultant. The Filipino-British Chef studied at the Escuela de Culinario Mojacar in Spain, and apprenticed under French Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in England. He has worked in various restaurants in Spain, Denmark, and Sweden, most notably at Noma, touted as one of the best restaurants in the world by San Pellegrinos’ 50 Best. Upon his return to the Philippines, he set up his own restaurant in Boracay before joining The Bistro Group. He also won several awayds at the 3^rd Philippine Culinary Cup. Chef Boutwood is behind such signature dishes at the Bistro Group of restaurants such as Black Pizza, Sesame Teriyaki Chicken Wings, and Fully Loaded Sweet Potato Skins at Village Tavern, and the a la carte Katsu Menu at Ma Maison.

Bistro Group

The Bistro Group is a collection of international hospitality casual dining brands and home-grown concepts unified by a people-focused philosophy that is the backbone of its success. Home-grown restaurant concepts, namely TGI Friday's, Italianni's, Fish & Co., Flapjacks, Pig Out!, Krazy Garlik, The Stock Market, Bulgogi Brothers , Ma Maison, Village Tavern, Watami, and Modern Shanghai.

The company began its operations in 1994 with the opening of TGI Friday’s, the very first American casual dining chain in the Philippines. Within six years, the flagship restaurant of the Dallas-based Friday’s Hospitality Group expanded to five branches. As of 2012, TGI Friday’s has 14 branches throughout the Philippines.

In February 1996, Italianni’s Philippines became the chain’s first international branch outside the US. Its American-Italian cuisine, coupled with its unique shared-style dining concept as essayed by its slogan “Amor de Merrier,” made it an instant hit among Filipinos. Every item on Italianni’s menu is authentically prepared with the finest ingredients and is built on a wide selection of classic American-Italian flavors.

In 2006, The Bistro Group brought in Fish & Co. Seafood in a Pan, a Singapore-based chain with restaurants in Asia Pacific.

Following Fish & Co., homegrown concepts namely, Flapjacks, Pig Out, and Krazy Garlik were opened, giving customers a wide array of cuisines to choose from.

With interiors that are both sunny and fresh and with craveable menu selections available from sun up to sun down, Flapjacks offers customers a range of fluffy pancakes and ultimate omelets as well as American comfort food.

In 2009, Bistro opened Pig Out!, a country-style family grill restaurant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Pig Out! serves meat and seafood grilled specialties cooked just right using quality ingredients.

The following year, Krazy Garlik was launched, “a dining destination that glorifies the taste of garlic.” The restaurant brings together the best garlic recipes from around the world.

In 2011, making dining experience a lot more fresh, The Stock Market was opened in Bonifacio High Street, where everything is prepared “delightfully fresh.” The menu features a complete selection of fresh and flavorful selection of soups and salads, sandwiches and burgers, pastas, seafood and meat dishes, and dessert.

Also in 2011, The Bistro Group launched a franchise, Bulgogi Brothers A Korean BBQ Restaurant, in Greenbelt 5, offering traditional Korean cuisine. The menu offers classic Korean favorites using meat from Australia, such as kimchi, barbecued meats, Korean steaks, stews, noodles, and rice dishes. Since then, three more Bulgogi Brothers branches were opened.

Ma Maison, another international franchise, was opened in 2011 at Greenbelt 2. Offering Japanese Western food, Ma Maison means “my home” in French. It is also famous for its homemade “brown sauce,” which is stewed carefully for 28 days following a traditional recipe that adds a rich taste to meat dishes.

In 2012, Village Tavern opened, its 11th branch and the 1st outside of the US. It quickly made a name for itself with hearty portions of great-tasting comfort food made from premium ingredients and the best customer service. Known for its flatbreads, salads, crab cakes, and its Cowboy Burger, Village Tavern brings people together in a rustic but elegant tavern setting.

In November 2012, The Bistro Group opened Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant in SM Mall of Asia, followed by another branch in Glorietta. The Watami Group is the top food and beverage brand in Japan, with over 700 branches in Asia Pacific. With original dishes and signature beverages, Watami Group’s slogan is “to receive the most number of thank-yous in the world.”

Most recently, The Bistro Group brought in Modern Shanghai, which opens its first branch in January. Stemming from Shanghai’s most original home cooked recipes, Modern Shanghai offers the authenticity of local Shanghai cuisine in a casual and home-like manner, reviving simple but hearty meals that connect customers with traditions and memories.

To date, The Bistro Group of Restaurants has 14 TGI Friday's, 16 Italianni's, 4 Fish & Co., 2 Flapjacks, 1 Pig Out!, 2 Krazy Garlik, 1 The Stock Market, 4 Bulgogi Brothers , 1 Ma Maison, 1 Village Tavern, 2 Watami, and 2 Modern Shanghai in its portfolio of casual dining restaurants – over 50 branches and still going strong.

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