Baken 1104, a multi-level dining experience conceptualized by entrepreneur Rachel Carrasco in collaboration with chefs Jordy Navarra of Toyo Eatery and Johanne Siy of Lolla Singapore, honors the essence and potential of Filipino cuisine.
Filipino food gets its charm from the warmth you feel after taking that first bite. Each pop of flavor tells the story of an heirloom recipe or a moment of celebration during fiestas and get-togethers. While Filipino food has been influenced by Spanish, Chinese, and American cultures, the community-building aspect that comes with cooking and sharing these delicacies make it truly distinct.
And yet, for all its richness and soul, Filipino cuisine has long remained underrepresented on the global stage. Its homegrown charm has been too often overlooked as a serious force in the dining landscape. Seeking to change this narrative, Rachel Carrasco—Founder and CEO of Baken, an all-bacon snack brand—sparked a collaboration with Filipino culinary powerhouse Jordy Navarra of Toyo Eatery and Asia’s Best Female Chef of 2023 Johanne Siy of Lolla Singapore, with the mission to spotlight Filipino cuisine in a bold new way through their project, Baken 1104.
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A Flagship Culinary Experience
Baken 1104 features a three-stage tasting trail that highlights Baken’s bold flavors and remarkable textures, transforming the brand into a canvas for creativity and innovation. The number “1104” pays homage to Baken’s humble beginnings, referencing the postal code of its first home.
Building on this concept, chefs use Baken’s products as the foundation for compelling dishes, cultivating a one-of-a-kind experience that elevates snacking to fine dining. From Baken’s Bacon Jam in cocktails to Real Bacon Crisps enhancing savory courses, each gastronomic creation showcases the versatility of bacon and brings the “Better with Baken” philosophy to life.
This culinary artistry comes together in a series of special dinners crafted for the quietly curious. Happening at Toyo Eatery this June 3–6, 2025, the event marks the first time chefs will reinterpret familiar Filipino flavors through bold, bacon-inspired narratives. To reserve your seat, simply purchase a box of six Real Bacon Crisps through The Seven Pantry.
Chef Jordy Navarra sees the collaboration as a chance to experiment and highlight the varied nature of Filipino food. “It’s about exposing ourselves to different perspectives and finding inspiration in diverse cultures,” he says.
“It’s about time we push Filipino culinary innovation to the fore,” Chef Johanne Siy adds. “I think for the longest time, we’ve been hesitant to do that. We always look for validation first before we start talking about it.” Hopefully, the collaboration will bring a new sense of pride—enabling Filipino flavors to stand alongside culinary giants in the gastronomic discourse.”
Siy draws inspiration from Baken’s defiance of current lifestyle trends—fueled by wellness and driven by clean-eating narratives. “Baken is about indulgence, about giving in to cravings without reservation,” she explains.
Baken’s Beginning
Baken was born from Rachel Carrasco’s love for porkalicious meals growing up in the Philippines and her goal to disrupt the (meat) snacking scene. Think home kitchen experiments and humble beginnings that turned into iconic snacks like Real Bacon Crisps, Bacon Cookies, and Bacon Jam. As the brand continues to grow, the entrepreneur is absolutely thrilled that chefs, bartenders, and even your home-cooking bestie can get creative with its lineup of products.
Growing up in a family with a history in poultry farming and food service, Carrasco’s ambition was to create a seriously indulgent snack that would universally capture the appetite of every kind of consumer. For Baken 1104, she and chefs Jordy and Johanne expanded on this vision, imagining a big, warm Filipino feast—a home gathering where every bite honors Filipino culture and the fiesta vibes bring everyone together.
Spotlighting Filipino Gastronomical Excellence
Baken 1104 initiates a broader discussion about food’s capacity to highlight marginalized cultures and challenge stereotypes. It addresses the misconception that Filipino cuisine comprises of unappetizing and shapeless dishes, or that it’s an exotic novelty.
Carrasco’s Baken demonstrates that challenging norms in today’s food scene involves not only expanding flavor profiles, but also questioning established viewpoints. Navarra suggests that introducing fresh perspectives on Filipino food is a way forward, given the multifaceted culinary landscape of the archipelago. He also emphasizes the importance of openness to innovation.
Baken’s Bacon Crisps paired with classic Filipino food
For Navarra, high-quality Filipino products like Baken play a crucial role in the F&B scene. Carrasco agrees, explaining that the brand was created to counter restrictive health food trends and showcase the untapped creativity within Filipino cuisine; through this, she hopes Baken will become a staple for future culinary pioneers.
Siy believes that greater assertiveness on the global stage can be advantageous. For her, this calls for mutual support and recognition of the abundant talent within the Philippines, which deserves international acclaim. The vision is a culinary world where Filipino cuisine stands alongside other global culinary leaders.
Baken 1104 marks a new era for the brand, as it breaks ground and exceeds all expectations. Baken continues to elevate Filipino flavors, its impact already redefining our perception of food as a lasting expression of trailblazing culinary transformation.
A version of this article originally appeared on Rolling Stone Philippines’ The Guilty Pleasures of Showbiz Gossip Issue, published May 2025.
Photography by Ron Mendoza assisted by Nathaniel Viray
Art Direction by Macky Arquilla
Styling by Leanne Ledesma, Geno Espidol, and Jia Torrato of Qurator Studio
Makeup by Effie Iñigo and Tin Albano
Hair by Jan Edrosolan and Sherwin Amodia
Shoot Coordination by Ponce Mercado
Special thanks to Likha Camacho of Toyo Eatery
