Chef Stephen-Escalante did not let an accident nor the pandemic get in the way of him opening his own restaurant in Silay City, Negros Occidental. On December 3, 2021, he opened Stephen's at Balay Puti, which serves international and local dishes inspired by his many travels around the world, his own interpretation of the Negrense palate, and with ingredients sourced locally. The restaurant is great for families and travelers looking to enjoy history, culture, and food all in one place.
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TravelTranscript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:03 When I saw the house, it was so beautiful.
00:21 It was a no-brainer.
00:22 It was already done, and it's the only one
00:24 like this in Bacolod.
00:26 I saw the kitchen and everything.
00:27 So even if it's the pandemic, just go.
00:31 And then after that, I started here
00:34 at Balay Putih, December 3, two years ago.
00:37 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:40 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:44 I'm Chef Stephen, donor of Stephen's at Balay Putih,
01:03 in Silay City, Negros, Sinantan.
01:06 This house was built during 1931.
01:08 During the war, it was owned by General Emilio Ledesma.
01:12 The architect was an Italian architect.
01:14 And then after the year 2014, I think,
01:21 2013, my Lola bought this house.
01:23 And then she repaired it during 2016,
01:27 hoping to have a tenant in mind.
01:29 And then the pandemic struck.
01:33 After the pandemic, the one who was going to rent it
01:36 back down, after that, this house
01:40 was idle for like two years.
01:43 So I started my business as a delivery food service.
01:48 During the pandemic, I got big.
01:51 So there was a time when my mom told me
01:53 that we should go around Silay and look at Balay Putih
01:57 and see what we can do.
01:59 So after that, I decided to come and visit.
02:02 So the manager of this house was my tito.
02:04 And we decided to talk about business and house Balay Putih,
02:08 what happened and everything.
02:11 I think my favorite spot is in the garden.
02:16 You get to see the beautiful plants.
02:19 You get to chill.
02:20 You get to feel the vibe of Silay.
02:22 The old streets, the old houses.
02:25 You see the beautiful places, the nice people.
02:28 You're entrenched with the community.
02:34 I went to school around at the age of 21.
02:37 I studied at ICE Camp across Ateneo.
02:40 And then after my class and studying, I trained in Manila.
02:46 I trained at Intercon, Mandarin, different hotels.
02:50 And then I went to the States.
02:52 I wanted to work there.
02:54 But due to the problem of I didn't have any papers,
02:58 I was not a citizen.
03:00 I went back here.
03:02 So after coming back, I slowly looking for a business here
03:07 in Negros.
03:07 Because Negros was-- during that time was like--
03:12 there were only a few restaurants, like four or five
03:15 that are really good.
03:18 But the restaurant scene at that time was not yet booming.
03:21 So around that place, I didn't know
03:25 what to do until I got into an accident.
03:30 Because at that time, you were devastated.
03:34 Because, I mean, you don't know what
03:35 to do with your life anymore.
03:36 Because at the snap of a finger, everything was gone.
03:39 You can't walk.
03:40 You can't eat.
03:40 You can't do anything, basically.
03:42 You just sleep.
03:43 And you think your life is over.
03:46 By the grace of God and His guidance and undying love,
03:53 He helped me back again to pick up my feet
03:55 and to get back on my feet.
03:58 And He helped me realize that there's
04:00 life after your spinal cord injury.
04:03 And you still can do what you want.
04:07 Because when I was here in the Philippines,
04:11 I got to be honest.
04:12 You got to have money to get good medical services here.
04:17 But again, by the blessings of the Lord,
04:19 I tried everything here.
04:21 And when I went to the States and I went to rehab,
04:23 it was sci-fit.
04:25 You see Americans that are independent.
04:27 You go all around.
04:28 And you see them driving a car, just one of them.
04:32 And then you see, if they can do it, why can't I?
04:36 Why can't I?
04:37 So I went to that rehab.
04:39 It was called sci-fit.
04:40 So I saw different kinds of people,
04:42 like the same as my condition, striving, working,
04:47 being independent.
04:49 So I had the mindset coming back here that if they can do it,
04:53 I can do it.
04:55 And now through, I don't know, hard work, praying,
05:01 and being blessed by the Lord, I just stayed true to my craft
05:08 and just wait for his blessings.
05:09 And it came.
05:10 So I'm so thankful for him.
05:12 [MUSIC PLAYING]
05:23 Basically, I don't really consider myself as a chef.
05:28 I consider myself as an artist.
05:30 Because when you're an artist, you get to paint.
05:31 You get to do something.
05:33 Like for me, the plate is my canvas.
05:35 And the food is my art.
05:38 So I cook with my emotions.
05:39 [MUSIC PLAYING]
05:43 Because I cook with my feelings, I cook the food that I love.
05:50 So it could be risotto.
05:52 It could be steamed fish from Asia.
05:55 It could be Peruvian from Peru.
05:57 It could be kimchi fried rice from Korea.
06:00 Anything that inspires me, you can make the flavors work.
06:05 So that's what I do.
06:07 I don't just stick.
06:08 I don't just limit myself into a box.
06:11 I create something.
06:12 I tweak everything and then make it something that works.
06:18 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:22 Favorite food on my menu, the kola ribs with kimchi.
06:27 Because it has a sweet and spicy sour flavor.
06:31 But everything is dear to my heart.
06:33 I love them all.
06:34 But it's like your children.
06:37 You can't have a favorite, right?
06:38 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:42 I think people should visit my restaurant.
06:44 Because if they want good quality food, excellent service,
06:49 good ambiance, balanced flavors, and to have an experience.
06:54 Get to experience an old house.
06:55 Get to experience what it's like before,
06:58 like eating at a 1931 mansion in Silay
07:01 that was built by a Filipino general.
07:04 You get to see cultures that's not just like Filipino.
07:07 But it's built by a Filipino with an Italian architect.
07:12 You get to feel history.
07:13 You get to feel-- you get to be a part of the history.
07:18 And you get to try to eat good food,
07:21 eat with your family, experience,
07:23 and have a good time.
07:24 [MUSIC PLAYING]
07:28 [BELL DINGS]
07:31 [MUSIC PLAYING]