One is a multi-award-winning restaurant that has become London’s ‘go to’ destination for fine Filipino food. The other is an equally celebrated single-island rum, distilled and aged for over seven years on Negros Occidental (known locally as Sugarlandia) in the Philippines. Now this October will see hugely successful exports, Romulo Café & Restaurant and Don Papa Rum, combine their considerable resources in a unique food and cocktail pairing.
Marking London Cocktail Month, there is another, more poignant, guiding force behind the partnership. On 20th October 1944, Brigadier General Carlos P. Romulo, whose granddaughter is the restaurant’s co-owner, accompanied General Douglas MacArthur and his American troops as they invaded Leyte, one of the Visayan group of islands in the central Philippines.
Commemorating the 76th anniversary of this pivotal moment which marked the beginning of the end of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, and the triumph of the Allied forces in the Far East during World War II, is a menu specially curated by Romulo’s executive chef Jeremy Villanueva. He has also worked closely with Ben Rojo, Don Papa’s US brand ambassador and a World's Best Bars mixologist, to ensure the flavours of both food and spirit complement each other perfectly.
Available from Friday 9th October to Sunday 15th November, this limited-edition, three course Sugarlandia Menu is priced at just £35 per person. A starter of Lime Scented Poached Prawn Kinilaw in Coconut Cream & Maruya Sweetcorn Fritters is followed by a main course comprising Pork Belly Lechon Roll Stuffed with Turmeric (Dilaw) Sticky Rice with Humba Sauce & Served with Grilled Sweet Potato. Bringing a memorable
meal to a close is a dessert of Don Papa Rum Ginger Glazed Pineapple and Otap Mille-feuille Served with Don Papa Rum & Raisin Ice Cream.
These exotic dishes are paired with two equally memorable cocktails, all created using home-made syrups and infusions and featuring exotic ingredients indigenous to this part of the Philippines: Sunshine in Sugarlandia (Don Papa Rum, Lemongrass, Calamansi, Ginger, Honey, Makrut Lime Leaves) and Buko Pandan (Don Papa Rum, Pandan Leaves, Coconut, Chocolate, Sea Salt).
Additionally, anyone who opts for the menu will be entered into a raffle. Each week there will be two 70cl bottles of Don Papa Rum to win and at the end of the period, one lucky person will receive a 4.5l bottle.
Romulo Cafe & Restaurant and Don Papa Rum Announce Unmissable Collaboration
Celebrate London Cocktail Week (or month this year!)
This article is connected to Romulo Cafe
Published Oct 19, 2020