Hapag reopens in Rockwell with intriguing 10-course tasting menu Metodolohiya

Much like its Katipunan outpost, Hapag remains hidden in Rockwell in Makati City. Nestled on the 7th floor of Balmori Suites, a condominium complex beside the Powerplant Mall, people will only come to know they have arrived in Hapag when they've seen the unassuming wooden door with “H” sign  

The fine dining restaurant continues to offer authentic Filipino cuisine, except they now do so in "a bigger space, where the team could further grow and let their creativity flourish,” says Hapag’s Operations Manager and Sommelier Erin Ganuelas.

While best-selling dishes like Kare-Kare, Pansit Negra, and Laing continue to be on offer, taking front and center is Metodolohiya, Hapag's a 10-course tasting menu that features unique Filipino cooking techniques and methodologies.

“Metodolohiya or Methodologies, highlights the influences and essential principles that have shaped Filipino culinary traditions. Here, our emphasis is on the methodology, while applying our cooking philosophies,” Hapag founder Chef Kevin Navoa tells GMA News Online.  

“In Metodolohiya, we explore new culinary horizons while remaining true to our heritage and roots, with a focus on fermentation to showcase the deep, unique flavors that define Hapag,” he added. 

Started as a private dining company in 2017, Hapag operated from their homes welcoming only a few guests. In 2019, Hapag’s founders Chef Thirdy Dolatre and Chef Kevin Navoa decided to open its first location in Katipunan.

“[It is] initially conceived as a commissary for our private dining venture and a creative space with a very small seating capacity, aimed at accommodating groups of less than 10 interested in experiencing our cuisine. However, due to overwhelming demand, the intended commissary evolved into a fully-fledged restaurant,” Dolatre told GMA News Online.

In Makati, Hapag opens for dinner servers at 6:00 p.m. where it can accommodate up to 40 people. It also has a lounge called AYA that serves cocktail drinks and beers located at the mezzanine floor of the Balmori Suites. 

The 10-course Metodolohiya course costs P6,000 per person.

7/F, The Balmori Suites, Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati. Website. +639178885757

— LA, GMA Integrated News