3 Michelin-Starred Restaurants in One Evening: Inside the Maserati Legacy Circle

When the invitation says you’ll be picked up in a Maserati from your home and have dinner at three Michelin-starred restaurants in one evening, you have no choice but to accept. It’s not often you get to enjoy a meal at one of the Philippines’ top restaurants, let alone three of them, and much less get there hassle-free and literally in the lap of luxury in a Maserati, so there was no room for hesitation.

The Maserati Grecale arrived at my door at dusk, with the SUV's signature Trident grille catching the last of the fading light as the door swung open. I had driven a Maserati before, but it was a different thrill experiencing it from the backseat. There were supple leather seats, an analog clock mounted on the dashboard, and a Sonus Faber sound system that filled the cabin with music. It was going to be a pleasant ride.

Our first stop was Helm in Makati, where Chef Josh Boutwood said hello to all the guests. There's something immediately reassuring about a chef who greets his guests in person, and Boutwood carries that ease with him. We started with his signature sourdough, then appetizers in quick succession. With small bites packed with flavor, it was easy to understand how Helm is the country’s first and so far only two-star Michelin restaurant.

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After a brief welcome speech from Maserati Philippines president Sam Verzosa and a round of photos with the assembled guests—which included tastemakers, society staples, and business executives and their partners—I was back in the Grecale heading to the next destination. For once, it felt good to just jump into the car and not have to worry about finding parking and then walking far to get to where you need to go. It certainly helped that Maserati provides the ultimate in creature comforts to its passengers.

Located in a quiet street in Poblacion, Kasa Palma offers a wildly inventive take on Filipino cuisine. Trained in classical French techniques, Chef Aaron Isip uses his exceptional culinary skills to create unique but still strangely familiar takes on local favorites. There was Young Corn Kinilaw, where mackerel was mixed with corn leche de tigre, corn mousse, and grilled corn in turmeric oil; a Bicol Tilefish cooked “matsukasa yaki” style (scales left on and cooked in hot oil until they turn crispy) with tomato sauce vierge, calamansi yuzu espuma and eggplant relish; and a Lechon de Lobster, where a Palawan spiny lobster is roasted and wrapped in young pork belly confit and served with glutinous rice and three types of sauces. Needless to say, everyone was more than satisfied.

By this time the small group had loosened up a little and conversation flowed a little more freely. Tessa Prieto asked an ice-breaker question and encouraged everyone to answer truthfully, which further livened up the evening. That and constant raves about the food dominated the discussion before we once again made our way back to our Maseratis for the final leg of our gustatory journey.

Gallery by Chele is familiar to anyone in Manila looking for a refined dining experience, and it made sense that we cap off the evening with dessert and drinks there. For the group, Spanish Chef Chele Gonzalez prepared a trio of desserts, each further divided into bite-sized pieces: Rice Texture presented as an ice cream, a crisp, and glutinous form; Cacao in mucilage, chocolate, and cascaras form; and petit fours made in bibingka and cheesecake flavors.

The restaurant also served cocktails to finish off the meal: Coco Loco (made with Martel VS, Ginger, and Coconut Cream), Banana Old Fashioned (with coconut sugar, bourbon, and lakatan banana), and Tuba G&T (local fermented coconut, vodka, and lemongrass).

I had a few sips because, thankfully, I didn’t have to drive myself home. The Grecale was waiting just outside after we said our goodbyes. The drive home was quiet and smooth, and before I knew it, I was right back at my doorstep where I had been a few hours earlier. I can only wish the Grecale would stay inmy driveway, but I had to watch it drive off before I made my way inside. It was a taste of an exclusive, elevated lifestyle, and it was one that the Italian carmaker promised to its owners. Maserati calls it the Legacy Circle. Spending an evening inside it, it was easy to understand what the good life was all about.