Gallery by Chele Reopens in October

On October 1, 2020, Gallery by Chele reopens for dine-in service for the first time in seven months.

“The first few months during the community quarantine were a challenge. As we grappled with reality of this pandemic, my team and I struggled to figure out how to keep our Gallery family safe and secure,” says Gallery by Chele’s chef and partner, Chele Gonzalez. “Now, we feel more self-assured. We know who we are as a restaurant, what is important to us and our guests and how we can make dining at Gallery by Chele not only a memorable experience but a safe one as well,” he adds.

Modern Cuisine. Local Ingredients.

Gallery by Chele has always been about exploration and trading of knowledge. Gallery by Chele creates a dining experience that is rooted in Filipino heritage but is not bound by it. It combines ingredients, techniques, cultures and traditions together, weaving cross-cultural innovations that move beyond borders.

While travel maybe limited at the moment, the flavors of the Filipino culinary heritage and the world are evident on every plate. “Dining with us is therapy for the soul. As our guests take a journey around the Philippines, Asia and the world through our menus, we hope to set our guests free,” exclaims Chele.

Guests can make their choice from a five-course (starts at P2,700/person) or nine-course (starts at P3,800/person) tasting menu or simply opt to dine á la carte. They can further customize their experience with the addition of small and big plates or bites. Vegan and vegetarian menus are always available.

The quarantine period also saw the launch of Gallery at Home Spanish Signatures, its takeaway menu option. “Inspired by Chele’s childhood and his mother’s home cooking, Gallery at Home proved so popular that we decided to serve these dishes as part of the private dining experience during the general quarantine. The Spanish Signatures will continue to be part of the private dining and delivery menus even as we return to regular dine-in service,” explains Carlos Villaflor, executive sous-chef of Gallery by Chele.

Health and Safety: A Higher Priority

Gallery by Chele has always maintained the industry’s best practices when it comes hygiene and safety in both the kitchens and front of house. But the new reality has asked that these conventions are taken even further.

The revisited Gallery by Chele experience begins even before guests enter the restaurant.

Kitchen and front of house sanitation at all times is essential. They go through an extensive cleaning process before and after service. Counter tops, pass stations, all kitchen equipment, sinks and floor are brought to a high standard of cleanliness. In the dining areas, tables and chairs are cleaned and sanitized. Frequently-touched contact surfaces such as doors, handles and restroom surfaces are disinfected every 30 minutes. The staff is provided with soap and sanitizers stations are all critical points of the restaurant. A deep cleaning of the entire restaurant is a mandatory practice at the end of every work week.

Gallery by Chele adheres to all government-prescribed protocols: body temperature checks and foot baths upon entering the restaurant, face masks, face shields and single-use gloves for use by all restaurant staff and tables spaced one meter apart.

But it also chooses to go beyond what is required.

Prior to service, guests’ cutlery such as spoons, forks and knives are stored and sanitized in our front-of-house UV box. Each dining table is covered in a sanitized table cloth. For personal sanitation needs, guests will have access to no-touch automatic dispensers at the reception desk, in restrooms and at every dining table. Single-use envelopes are provided for personal face masks. Upon a guest’s request, a QR code is provided to access the digital food and beverage menus. Upon billing out, guests have different contactless payment options, such as PayMaya, GCash, Alipay and online bank transfers. Cash and credit card payments will be accepted after a quick UV sanitation process.

To maintain proper physical distancing in the dining area, all guests are encouraged to make reservations in advance. During the reservation process, guests will be asked to fill out a mandatory health declaration form. Each table is used only once during each service. For now, there will be no second seatings.

An extraordinary dining experience made safe for you is the restaurant’s highest priority.

Gallery by Chele is located at 5/F Clipp Center, 11th Ave corner 39th Street, Bonifacio Global City. Visit gallerybychele.com for more information.