A return to the Lechon Diva's table

Dedet de la Fuente serves up a bold, story-driven tasting menu rooted in Filipino tradition and unfiltered joy

- FELICIANO RODRIGUEZ III

"Do you want to hear the best ringtone?" she asked, holding a knife over a fragrant and perfectly brown lechon.

She then methodically cut apart the fresh steaming meat, each slice releasing a sharp crackle—a symphony of crisped skin surrendering to her blade. Around her, the guests leaned in, eyes wide, mouths watering, reverent before the altar of pork and tradition.

After a hiatus from hosting her private dining events, Dedet de la Fuente—better known as the Lechon Diva—has returned to her table. Her seventh degustation, named "Lech*ng Sarap," was hosted inside her own Magallanes Village residence, a setting equal parts private sanctuary and stage for culinary spectacle. It was a feast where laughter, history, and generosity came plated in courses. The meal moved with rhythm and intent, rooted in Filipino flavor yet confident in its reinvention.

It began, as many good things do, with memories: