Holiday pop-up bars have become some of the most exciting hospitality offerings giving both bartenders and guests extra spirited experiences for the season. Noche Buena debuts for 2021 as a nod to the traditional midnight meal that Filipino families celebrate as Christmas Eve turns to Christmas Day. The pop-up brings together heavy hitting industry vets – Roxanne Bangalan (Union Square Cafe, Nomad LA), Ben Rojo (Angel’s Share, Black Emperor), Christian Dominguez (Mace, Mister Paradise), and Darwin Pornel (Nomad NY, Mister Paradise) celebrating their Filipino-American upbringings. Noche Buena will take over the back room of Pretty Ricky’s on the Lower East Side (101 Rivington Street) on 12/12-12/13 and 12/19-12/26.
Ben Rojo, one of Noche Buena’s creators, shares, “I spent the summer working with Christian and Darwin at Mister Paradise, with Roxanne coming to visit most every weekend. We’d cook for each other often and find ourselves ordering Filipino food (from Mama Fina’s or Tsismis or Jollibee) together before our shifts. Our coworkers would eat with us frequently and we started talking about how great it would be if we could share the tastes we love with everyone who walked in the door. Noche Buena was born from that feeling.”
Guests can look forward to seasonal cocktails, Filipino-inspired holiday cuisine, and collaborations with chefs and artists from across the diaspora, including Anton Dayrit of Tradisyon NYC, Aris Tuazon of Ugly Kitchen and Tsismis, and Edie Ugot of Sidney’s Five. Along with super special guest appearances from some bartender bangers – Samantha Casuga, Channing Centeno, Marlo Gamora, Kitty Bernardo, Gelo Honrade, Debbie Lefort, Ryan Te, CJ Lapid, Nathan Khalil, Marc Razo and more surprises to be announced.
Noche Buena Pop-Up
Photo: Ube-a-Salonga – dairy free Coquito riff with Don Papa Rum, Ube, Coconut, Cashew, Topped with Whipped Cream & Pinipig Toasted Rice
For additional information and reservations, follow @nochebuenabar on Instagram
Noche Buena at Pretty Ricky’s Details
101 RIVINGTON STREET
LOWER EAST SIDE, NEW YORK CITY
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