A rustic wooden kitchen table scattered with ingredients for a British-meets-Filipino brunch: a cast-iron skillet of golden garlic fried rice, a plate of flaky buttered scones, a small jar of homemade mango jam, and a cooling rack of mini sausage rolls. Surrounding the spread are flour-dusted measuring spoons, an open notebook with visible but unreadable scribbles, and a small potted herb. Soft morning sunlight streams through an unseen window, creating gentle highlights on the food and warm shadows across the wood grain. Photographic realism, shot from a slightly elevated angle with shallow depth of field, giving the scene an inviting, playful, lived-in café-kitchen atmosphere.

Between Two Kitchens

Explore recipes

Recipes, stories & a life between two kitchens.

Journal

A well-worn café countertop with an in-progress baking project: a large ceramic mixing bowl filled with glossy chocolate batter, a wooden spoon resting on the rim, and a set of lined cupcake tins half-filled and waiting. Around them are cracked eggshells, a stick of butter softening on its wrapper, and a small bowl of dark muscovado sugar. Warm pendant lighting from above creates soft reflections on the batter and gentle shadows beneath the utensils. Photographic realism, captured at eye level with a tight, focused composition that emphasizes texture and movement, evoking the playful, experimental energy of a pastry chef’s daily life between kitchen and café.

Story

A collection of recipes, memories, experiments, and everyday discoveries from a life lived between Oxford and Kabankalan. Some things are carefully tested, some are still experiments, and some are simply things I love and want to remember.

Read story
A bright, compact café corner seen from the perspective of the service counter: neatly stacked ceramic plates, a row of mismatched but charming mugs, and a glass cake stand showcasing a partially sliced Victoria sponge with billowy cream and strawberry jam. In the background, slightly out of focus, are shelves with jars of calamansi marmalade and tea canisters. Late afternoon natural light filters through a front window, mingling with warm interior lighting to create a cozy glow. Photographic realism, shot at a three-quarter angle with a moderate depth of field, conveying a welcoming, slightly playful atmosphere of an independent British-Filipino inspired café.

Wander through snapshots of dough-dusted mornings, rainy-day meals, and sunlit garden beds in Kabankalan City, and sometimes in my hometown of Oxford, a little gallery of the two kitchens, the plates we serve, and the imperfect, everyday magic behind each recipe.

A lush backyard kitchen garden in photographic realism, featuring raised beds overflowing with curly kale, tomato vines heavy with fruit, and a small patch of lemongrass and chilies nodding to Filipino flavors. In the foreground rests a weathered trug basket filled with freshly harvested carrots, herbs, and a few imperfect but beautiful apples. Soft overcast daylight creates even, diffused lighting that highlights natural colors and textures without harsh shadows. Shot from a low, slightly angled perspective with sharp focus throughout, the composition feels grounded and homely, suggesting the quiet satisfaction of growing ingredients that will later appear in comforting bakes and café specials.

Look for flour on aprons, muddy garden boots, café chalkboards, and quiet corners of home; these are the in-between moments that shape the food here, and the memories I hope you’ll taste in every bite.

Pull up a chair in my inbox

A farmhouse-style kitchen scene focused tightly on a pair of flour-dusted wooden rolling pins and a round of shortcrust pastry mid-roll on a cool marble slab. Beside it sit a small bowl of egg wash, a dish of crumbled sharp cheddar, and a plate of golden, freshly baked Filipino-inspired empanadas with flaky crusts just out of frame. Late afternoon sunlight slants in from the side, creating long, warm shadows and a subtle sheen on the pastry surface. Photographic realism, captured from an overhead angle with a balanced composition that feels both instructional and playful, ideal for illustrating a step-by-step baking journal entry.
Shop ebooks
An intimate stovetop scene in photographic realism: a sturdy enamel pot simmering a rich, comforting stew that blends British beef and ale notes with Filipino aromatics like bay leaves and star anise. Wisps of steam curl upward, catching the light. Around the hob are small ramekins of chopped onions, carrots, and green beans, alongside a wooden board holding a halved calamansi and sprigs of thyme. Warm ambient kitchen lighting casts soft glows on the pot’s surface and gentle shadows on the tiled backsplash. Shot from a slightly elevated, three-quarter angle, the composition feels homely and curious, capturing the playful fusion of two food cultures.
Recipe guides
A cozy homestead pantry shelf captured in photographic realism, filled with neatly arranged glass jars of homemade preserves and baking staples. On the lower shelf, jars of bright orange marmalade, deep purple blackberry jam, and glossy ube halaya sit beside labeled containers of strong bread flour, dark brown sugar, and rolled oats. A small wicker basket of freshly laid eggs rests on the wooden surface, with a few feathers nestled among them. Soft, diffused window light from the side creates a gentle glow through the jars, illuminating their colors and textures. Shot straight-on with sharp focus, the mood is calm, organized, and quietly playful, hinting at endless recipe possibilities.
Baking classes

Contact

Have a question, collaboration idea, or recipe story to share? Send a note and I’ll write back soon.

I’m often between Oxford and Kabankalan, so there’s usually something happening in one kitchen or the other.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

A rustic wooden kitchen table scattered with ingredients for a British-meets-Filipino brunch: a cast-iron skillet of golden garlic fried rice, a plate of flaky buttered scones, a small jar of homemade mango jam, and a cooling rack of mini sausage rolls. Surrounding the spread are flour-dusted measuring spoons, an open notebook with visible but unreadable scribbles, and a small potted herb. Soft morning sunlight streams through an unseen window, creating gentle highlights on the food and warm shadows across the wood grain. Photographic realism, shot from a slightly elevated angle with shallow depth of field, giving the scene an inviting, playful, lived-in café-kitchen atmosphere.