Chef Nicole Ponseca

I cook to create memories and bring people closer together. Every meal, whether a quiet supper or a grand celebration, is a chance to connect—to tell stories through flavor, texture, and the rhythm of a shared table.My cooking begins with the flavors I grew up with—garlic, coconut, vinegar, and calamansi—and transforms them through balance, restraint, and intention. It’s food that feels both familiar and new, generous yet refined.

For private dining and catering, I create experiences that invite guests into a story. A whole roasted lechon with crisp golden skin, a bright kinilaw kissed with citrus, or a comforting coconut-braised vegetable dish—all express the vibrancy and warmth of the Filipino table. Each event is crafted with care, from the first scent in the kitchen to the last shared toast, designed to linger in memory.

To me, hospitality is an art form—graceful, intimate, and deeply human. I think about the small gestures that make people feel seen: the pacing of a meal, the glow of candlelight, the sound of laughter between courses. Those are the details that turn food into experience and experience into connection.

Cooking, at its heart, is my way of saying welcome. It’s a language of belonging, beauty, and generosity—and the truest way I know to bring people together.