Celebrating their fifth anniversary, a mano collaborates with Toyo Eatery, honoring Filipino farmers with an extraordinary “Pizza Kamayan” experience.
Founded by Amado Forés, AF Hospitality has made an impact on Metro Manila’s dining scene with its unique flavors and exceptional service. AF Hospitality launched its first concept, an Italian restaurant called a mano, in 2019. Its name means “by hand” in Italian and the restaurant is known for its daily preparation of fresh pasta and pizza, offering traditional and creative takes on classic Italian dishes tailored for the local taste.
50 Top Pizza has recognized a mano as the 12th best pizzeria in the Asia-Pacific region and it was awarded the Best Pasta Proposal in 2024. With three branches already open, a fourth is set to open in late 2024.
In celebration of a mano’s fifth anniversary, Toyo Eatery and a mano have teamed up to bring a special pizza experience called “Pizza Kamayan.”
READ ALSO: Commemorating Five Years: Pizza Revolution At A Mano
As part of an ongoing series of celebratory events, this collaboration will begin in late July and showcase a blend of Toyo Eatery’s innovative Filipino cuisine and a mano’s traditional Italian flavors and techniques. The unique pizzas created from this collaboration will feature the best of both culinary worlds. Throughout this month-long event, all profits will be donated to the Good Food Community, which advocates for an alternative food system grounded in ethical and ecological farming practices. Since 2011, its mission has been to empower consumers as co-producers through initiatives like deliveries, Sunday Markets, and e-commerce, all of which support smallholder farmers. In June 2022, responding to the escalating impact of climate change on small-scale farmers, the Community launched the “Friends of Farmers” initiative. Having raised PHP 1.5 million to date, this climate resilience fund aims to mitigate the effects of climate change on farmers’ livelihoods, ensuring their food security amidst adversity.
Jordy Navarra, a Filipino chef with extensive local and international experience, is inspired by Filipino ingredients, flavors, techniques, and culture. His very popular Toyo Eatery explores Filipino culture through food. The restaurant’s name, which means “soy sauce” in Filipino, reflects the complexities of this simple condiment. Toyo Eatery celebrates humble ingredients, traditional techniques, and intergenerational flavors, offering diners a culinary journey through various regions of the Philippines. It has received numerous accolades for its innovative approach. In 2018, it received the Miele One to Watch Award at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Since 2019, it has been named the Best Restaurant in the Philippines five times by Asia’s Best 50 Restaurants. In 2023, Toyo Eatery was also awarded the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award for its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint through local sourcing and heritage preservation.
Amado says: “We admire Jordy Navarra and Toyo Eatery so much. Toyo Eatery has always championed Filipino ingredients and those who produce them. We agreed that we wanted to give back to those who farm the ingredients we use every day.”
Toyo Eatery and a mano offer three unique Pizza Kamayan options for a limited time. First is the Si Margarita Pizza, which includes a special banana-tomato red sauce, creamy Kesong Puti (Philippine white cheese), FiordiLatte Latteria Sorrentina, and is garnished with sulasi (holy basil) and fresh basil for a delightful aroma. For a fusion twist, there’s the Tortang Talong Pizza, topped with slivers of grilled and charred eggplant, a creamy kesong puti-ricotta blend, a drizzle of egg yolk sauce, and finished with banana-tomato red sauce. Lastly, guests can savor the Lechon & Pinya Pizza, featuring succulent lechon (suckling pig) porchetta, FiordiLatte Latteria Sorrentina, leaves of pinatuyong pinya or dehydrated pineapple, and crispy lechon skin, all on a banana-tomato red sauce base, served with a side of homemade spiced vinegar for an extra zing.
Jordy says: “Because we are a mano diners to begin with, when we were asked if a collaboration pizza was something we were interested in, it was a no-brainer for us to say yes. We never thought we’d get to express Toyo Eatery flavors in a pizza, so we’re really happy we have the chance to do this with a brand we admire. When our team met with the a mano team for the first time, it was pretty fun trying out different flavor combinations together. So much so that we ended up with not just one pizza, but three. ”
These Filipino pizzas are available starting tomorrow, July 26, until August 26, 2024. These pizza specials will be served daily at all a mano branches in Rockwell Center in Makati, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, and Gateway Mall in Cubao.
For reservations, visit the AF Hospitality website at www.afhospitality.com.
Photos courtesy of a mano.
