"A small Filipinx restaurant with eight seats and a five-person team led by owners Amber Manuguid and Aaron Verzosa, it relies on a broad community of fishmongers, farmers, ceramists and other local suppliers. The restaurant’s signature Anak Ni Bet—a seasonal take on the Ilokano pinakbet that traditionally includes bitter melon, squash and eggplant—illustrates how many hands and ingredients go into a single dish. When the pandemic hit, owners saw a domino effect across their supplier network, underscoring both the fragility of the local food system and the restaurant’s deep ties to regional producers." - ByPriya Krishna