We don't eat like we used to. When we got our start in NYC, we saw how it was far too easy to alternate between hastily inhaled salads at our work desks, our umpteenth take-out dinner, and the too-rare occasion of fighting influencers for a seat at the hottest new restaurant in town. We aren’t saying things should go back to the way they were when meal preparation took the better part of the day, but we want our meals to be more than just fuel to keep us alive.

We hosted pop-up dinners with an ever-changing roster of venues, crew, and menus. Blending history, arts, culture, and storytelling, our dinners are thought-out experiences. You may meet new people, bump into old friends, discover new tastes, but most of all relax into a fun meal where you can come as you are.  We say outright that none of us are chefs in the traditional sense but we all share a deep love for sharing our stories and food with others.  If you enjoy thinking and talking about your food as much as you do sharing and eating it, then you've come to the right place.  Check out past menus below.

Hidden Apron got its start catering private events and dinners. Our menus are fully customized to your needs and requests. Spanish-Filipino bachelorette party dinner? Done. Poker night in the middle of a hip SoHo mattress store? Sound like a plan! We relished every project so if you had an idea in mind but have never found someone who fit your description or was willing to work with you to try something new, we were always down to try.  The more the merrier!

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B&W Rob

 We believe that regular, nutritious, and affordable meals are a basic human right.  As such, we regularly partnered with organizations looking to solve systemic issues with our food such as Advancement for Rural Kids (ARK). ARK is a for-impact organization that seeks to eradicate poverty in rural areas by empowering farmers and getting kids back to school through their award-winning feeding program, entrepreneurial ventures, and community organizing.

Hidden Apron has helped donate over 100,000 local, sustainable, and healthy school lunches to school children in rural Philippines to-date.

ARK collage

Apart from cooking, we experimented with a bit of food writing, speaking, and podcasting as well. Peep the links below for more of our (non-edible) work.

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Ricky on the Run
 

Hidden Apron Radio - our wide-ranging podcast interviewing the people behind our food. We talk to people who defy definition and span multiple storylines from financiers turned farmers, community activists using food to bridge divisions, and farmers at the forefront of the AgTech revolution. We cover life lessons, tactics to help you build a better relationship with food, and what it takes to break boundaries.

 

The New Filipino Kitchen (available on Amazon) - a unique and best-selling compilation of stories and recipes from thirty Filipino artists, chefs, and writers from across the globe including the White House Executive Chef. The book has been reviewed by the producer of the Emmy Award-winning show “Chef’s Table” Brian McGinn. Paolo’s recipe happens to be on the cover!

 

The Errant Diner by Paolo Espanola - Paolo’s longer-running food blog containing recipes, food eaten abroad, and random musings about life and the things we eat.

 

Seek The Thrill by Ricky Ho - Ricky’s various travel and lifestyle projects around the world.