MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Leading Asian restaurant operator, Mango Tree Worldwide, has revitalised its flagship restaurant in Manila with a new interior design, additional facilities and an innovative new menu that reflects the increasingly adventurous appetites of modern diners.
Mango Tree has been established in the Philippines for eight years and operates a series of full-service restaurants and bistros in Manila and Quezon City. Now, as part of a global strategy to enhance the quality and originality of Thai cuisine worldwide, the company has selected the Philippines as the launch pad for a bold new culinary concept.
Following its landmark upgrade, the Mango Tree restaurant in Metro Manila now features a unique solarium to maximise the outdoor area and a full bar. Diners will now enter through the casual elegance of the solarium and immediately see the stylish bar which connects to a high-ceiling restaurant full of plants and greenery offering a sense of escape and tropical tranquillity.
Other features include a stunning show kitchen, special wine room to present vintages that pair well with Thai food, a rattan centrepiece in the middle situated on uplifting black and white tiling, semi private booth seating ideal for restaurant views and an upstairs that has been enclosed for private functions of up to 50 people. A touch of modernity is also introduced in new uniforms for staff with colourful sash belts.
“We know dining is not just about the food – but the experience – and we are looking to stay ahead of the curve, innovate, evolve and create more and more exciting experiences for our existing and new customers,” said Trevor MacKenzie, Mango Tree’s Global Managing Director.
Following the revamp of Mango Tree in Manila, the company’s flagship outlet in Hong Kong will be the next location to be refreshed.
The culinary side has also been given a major re-fresh with a menu that is defined by personality and preference. One section is for the ‘Purist’, defined as diners who appreciate the traditional tastes of Thai cuisine and seek to experience the dishes loved by the world; and the ‘Adventurous’ diner, or those who seek to go beyond boundaries and are in search of new tastes from the four regional cuisines of Thailand.
“Many culinary enthusiasts in the Philippines have travelled to Thailand and experienced Thai cuisine first-hand, and they now want to enjoy the same dishes back home. Our refreshed Mango Tree restaurant in Manila will reflect the trend towards genuine Thai dining, with an exciting, quality menu that is faithful to the regional flavours of the Kingdom,” said Mr MacKenzie.
Purists will love the classical flavours of Crispy Rice Crackers with ancient Thai relishes (Khao Tang Na Tang and Nam Prik Noom) from Central and Northern Thailand served on house-made rice crackers; and Pomelo Salad, consisting of Pomelo fruit mixed together with a lime dressing that is a balance of sweet and sour, grated carrots, crushed peanuts and topped with cooked butter.
For Adventurous diners, dishes such as Watermelon Salad with Dried Shrimp Floss (Tangmo Goong Haeng), are included. This was served in the royal palaces of Thailand as a refreshing palate cleanser of fresh watermelon and shrimp floss mixed with a tad of sugar.
Other dishes include Green Mango Salad “Isan Style” (Tum Mamuang), an imported Thai green mango salad from the northeastern region with bird eye chili, shallots and crushed peanut sesame brittle; Northern Thai Style Curry Stew with Kurobuta Pork Belly (Gaeng Hung Lay Moo Sam Chun), a Chiang Mai style aromatic curry with slow roasted pork belly and pickled garlic; and Jungle Curry Reduction with Kurobuta Pork Belly (Gaeng Pa Moo Sam Chan). From the mountains of Kanchanaburi province, this is a spicy jungle curry reduction of red curry paste, finger root, kaffir lime leaf, fresh Holy Basil tossed with slow roasted Kurobuta pork belly. There are also vegetarian and vegan options.
“We are hugely excited about offering the pure-play and adventure seeker categories on the menu. All are of the highest quality and offer true insights into the culinary culture of one of the world’s great cuisines,” added Mr MacKenzie.
Mango Tree Worldwide has enjoyed a hugely successful year in 2018, opening 12 new outlets worldwide. It now operates approximately 70 restaurant outlets in 14 countries under a series of distinctive brands, all of which specialise in authentic Thai and Southeast Asian cuisine. Mango Tree is now on track to achieve its target of reaching 100 restaurant outlets worldwide by 2020.
