The Brun Bear Feast: A Filipino Triumph in Four Acts

Award winning gastronomy and generosity combined at April's Filipino supper club

If you ever doubted that food could both seduce the senses and serve the soul, you clearly weren’t at The Brun Bear Foundation’s Filipino supper club, an evening where community spirit met serious culinary craft.

It began, as all fine things do, with a drink. A crisp, welcome cocktail that sparkled with tropical intent and politely reminded you that this was not going to be a normal charitable dinner. The air hummed with conversation, the aromas of garlic, vinegar and coconut transporting diners several thousand miles from London.

Then came the first act: Kinilaw. A raw market fish “cooked” in citrus and gin, as bright and bracing as a sea breeze. For the vegans, its equally charismatic cousin, Young Jackfruit Kinilaw, delivered the same clean, tangy thrill with clever coconut depth. Alongside were Lumpiang Gulay, those mischievously crunchy spring rolls that make restraint impossible. It was the kind of opening that silences a table... the hush of concentrated delight!

The main event was pure theatre

The main event was pure theatre. Pork Belly Adobo. Soft, sticky cubes of soy‑and‑vinegar‑braised bliss. The sort of dish that makes you believe in second helpings. Its vegan understudy, Tempeh Adobo, held its own beautifully, earthy and full of purpose. Supporting acts included Ginataang Gulay, roasted butternut squash and green beans luxuriating in coconut milk and, for that sweet tang, Ensaladang Kamatis, a tomato and rocket salad laced with coconut vinegar. Every plate knew exactly what it was doing.

Every plate knew exactly what it was doing

Before dessert, a perfectly judged Calamansi Granita cleansed palates and reset appetites. A frosty masterpiece that made everyone grin like children.

Then dessert arrived, a two‑part finale. The silky Leche Flan, glimmering under its golden syrup and latik curds, was unapologetically rich and nostalgic. Its vegan counterpart, the Pandan Pannacotta, floated on coconut and perfume, light yet indulgent. Conversation and laughter stretched well into the night.

Conversation and laughter stretched well into the night

But what truly lingered was the feeling that this wasn’t just a dinner. Every bite supported children’s hospitals, education projects, medical research and animal welfare.

And this is only the amuse‑bouche for what’s to come. The Foundation’s calendar overflows with not just more supper clubs but a range of other adventures: heritage walks through Bath, Winchester and Hadleigh; a scenic Seven Sisters Cliffs coastal trek; and a Picturesque Isle of Wight Journey that promises salt air and spectacular views.

Come autumn, adventurers swap boots for clubs at the Annual Golf Day on Friday, 25 September 26 at Nizels Golf and Country Club — a day where generosity and good humour square off on the fairways.

Behind the scenes, new cookbooks, children’s titles, a biography project, and some exciting charity collaborations are all bubbling away.

If this inaugural Filipino Supper Club is anything to go by, next year’s will be impossible to miss. In fact, mark it down now: Saturday, 10 April 2027.

Expect inspiring food, inspiring causes and inspiring company!

And as always, Everyone's Invited!