A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE

Angelo Comsti and Don Baldosano combined their expertise in regional cuisine to establish Offbeat Bistro, showcasing the richness of local culinary traditions

- Jaclyn Clemente Koppe

The vibrant red walls of Offbeat Bistro have certainly sparked conversation—and for good reason. Nestled within The Shops at Ayala Triangle Gardens, this culinary venture is the brainchild of co-chefs and longtime friends, Angelo Comsti and Don Baldosano. Some might describe the bold colour as glaring or even aggressive. Still, for those familiar with this dynamic duo's creative genius and culinary expertise, that striking hue perfectly encapsulates their fiery passion for innovative Filipino cuisine. Step inside and experience a dining destination that's as lively and inspiring as the chefs themselves!

“I've always advocated for regional Filipino cuisine, as evidenced by my cookbooks and published features,” explains Comsti, a respected cookbook author, lifestyle journalist and food contributor to Tatler. “I want to celebrate the diversity and variety of our cuisine and tell people that there's more to Filipino food than sinigang, kinilaw and kare-kare. And what better way to follow up [my cookbook], Also Filipino, than to introduce the dishes I immortalised in that book with a restaurant.” This advocacy is one of the many reasons why Comsti and Baldosano formed a strong bond, a friendship fostered by countless Sundays spent in Baldosano's progressive Filipino restaurant Linamnam, experimenting with dishes they themselves enjoyed over drinks and conversation.