A seat at Chef Sau's table: Hosting with heart and the Martha Stewart touch

Chef Sau del Rosario brings Filipino warmth and French finesse to home entertaining with Martha Stewart pieces from SM Home at SM Store

- By FELICIANO RODRIGUEZ III Photography by RENJIE TOLENTINO

It's not often you find yourself veering off Tagaytay's familiar tourist trail, twisting through winding mountain roads and lush, silent hills, only to emerge before a pristine white structure with warm brown accents, architectural and modern yet unmistakably warm. Perched high above the caldera, 180° by Chef Sau offers a closer, more intimate perspective of Taal Lakeboth in its visual majesty and, as we soon discovered, through the soul of the food served within.

This special afternoon, hosted by SM Home at SM Store, celebrated the launch of the Martha Stewart Collection of cookware and dinnerware in the Philippines. To mark the occasion, SM Home collaborated with renowned chef Sau del Rosario, who welcomed guests into his home of hospitality and heritage.

A heritage of hosting

For Chef Sau, entertaining is second nature. More than muscle memory, it's in his blood. Born and raised in Pampanga, the cradle of Filipino cuisine, Sau grew up in a household where entertaining was both art and ritual. "We hosted everything," he recalled, eyes twinkling with nostalgia. "My mother was an entertainer. She had Limoges, Noritake, all those fine porcelains. Every meal was a production-from the centerpieces to the cutlery."

This upbringing shaped Sau's appreciation not just for food, but for the visual and emotional language that surrounds it. "Food tells a story," he said. "But so do your plates, your glasses, your table." It's this layered storytelling that Chef Sau believes completes the experience.

A meeting of minds: Chef Sau and Martha Stewart