Chismis & Co. popups Pop-up dinners only Worth a mention, and an experience you need to have before you kick the bucket – a kamayan-style feast hosted by Chismis & Co. The former Armature Works resident have thrown a handful of popups since leaving its post, and is something that every foodie should take part in. Photo via Jenna Rimensnyder Credit: Jenna Rimensnyder
It’s finally time to roll that big ol’ banana leaf back out.

For the first time since 2019, the owners and chefs of Chismis & Co. will host their all-you-can-eat Filipino kamayan feast—a large family-style meal eaten with your hands.

This rendition takes place at downtown St. Pete’s Scott Andrew Fischer Design Studio (stylized as “SAFDS”) on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. In addition to a variety of traditional Filipino eats, the event will feature a live DJ,  a welcoming cocktail, a cash bar, and a few sweet treats after the meal.

What won’t be there are forks and spoons.

“There’s going to be a $200 up-charge for utensils, but if they ask nicely we’ll waive it,” Chef Cruz of Ichicoro and Chismis & Co. tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay with a laugh.

This kamayan’s $95 ticket can be purchased on eventbrite.com, and comes with a complimentary cocktail in addition to the all-you-can-eat Pinoy spread. After Thursday, Dec. 1,  tickets to this exclusive feast will cost $105 each.

The meal starts with a few cocktails and appetizers, like lumpia, crispy pork bites and a tangy sinigang broth, which acts as a palette cleanser. Main dishes include whole fried snapper, deep fried pork belly or lechon kawali, aromatic braised chicken thighs, and kare kare, a peanut-based curry with tender short ribs. These main proteins will be joined by a wide spread of sides like roasted squash, garlic rice, braided green beans,  savory eggplant frittata and salted duck eggs.

The feast will be accompanied by a variety of sauces and condiments as well, in addition to a few desserts like puto and biko—two traditional Filipino sweets.

And although there are a few plant-based items scattered throughout the feast, this probably isn’t a meal for all of the true vegans out there. For more details on the kamayan menu, head to chismisandco.com.

While they haven’t hosted this feast in a few years, the same group of rambunctious chefs—Noel Cruz, Ron Vicencio,  Ruby Mahal and Phil Ruperto—are back to prepare this intimate and immersive dining experience. Next month’s kamayan will also be in honor of the late Chef Branden Lenz.
For more information, head to @chismisandco on Instagram.

Related Stories

This article appears in Nov 10-16, 2022.

Kyla Fields is the food critic and former managing editor of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay who started their journey at CL as summer 2019 intern. They are the proud owner of a charming, sausage-shaped, eight-year-old...