Ministry of Crab – one of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants – opens in Manila, Philippines. Following the opening of Ministry of Crab in Shanghai only a few months ago, co-owners Kumar Sangakkara and Chef Dharshan Munidasa launched Ministry of Crab at Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila by hosting a media dinner followed by a grand opening event.
Addressing the media, in absence of Mahela Jayawardene, Co-owner of Ministry of Crab Kumar Sangakkara said: “Ministry of Crab is a Sri Lankan restaurant and our food philosophy is very simple; we offer you the best produce cooked with love and passion!
This will be carried forward by our caretakers, and guests will be able to experience this in practice when dining at Ministry of Crab, Manila.”
Housed at Shangri-La at the Fort, in the heart of dynamic Metro Manila, guests can expect a no-frills, unique experience as they step into Ministry of Crab, Manila, set against a colonial architectural backdrop inspired by the Colombo flagship restaurant at the 400-year old Dutch Hospital.
The hotel features 576 contemporary and spacious guest rooms and suites, and a variety of innovative cuisines from around the world with seven dining concepts of which Ministry of Crab is the latest addition.
On being the custodians of Ministry of Crab in Manila, Shangri-La at the Fort General Manager John Rice said: “Ministry of Crab has a great history and such a strong reputation around the world. We are very fortunate to have teamed up with Dharshan, Kumar, and Mahela who are true professionals in the industry and are honoured to be Ministry of Crab’s second branch outside of Sri Lanka. We will continue to uphold its legacy through Ministry of Crab, Manila.”
While the signature flavours of Ministry of Crab such as the Pepper Crab and Garlic Chilli Crab take centre stage on the menu, the restaurant in Manila will also feature a selection of Filipino favourites like guinataan (coconut milk and chillies) and pinakurat (spiced natural coconut vinegar) as well as Filipino crab-based dishes such as sisig and lumpiang ubod with crab.
A component unique only to Ministry of Crab, Manila is the restaurant’s curated beverage programme, created by Shangri-La at the Fort’s Executive Mixologist Ulysse Jouanneaud, who pays homage to Sri Lanka’s rich history with cocktails incorporating cinnamon and ginger, as well as special homemade ginger beer that are inspired by sea travel and the concept of paradise.
Sharing a few thoughts at the opening event, Co-owner Chef Dharshan Munidasa said: “We’re really excited to open Ministry of Crab in Manila. Sri Lanka and the Philippines have so much in common. Apart from being island nations, we’re also united by the majestic mangrove crab and to be able to plate these crabs from a local source in a restaurant is truly a privilege for us! After having conducted many pop up events with Shangri-La Hotels across the globe including Tokyo, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. we’re happy to be partnering with Shangri-La at the Fort and I’m thankful to the team for keeping the DNA of Ministry of Crab alive in Manila.”
About Ministry of Crab
Sri Lanka’s first restaurant dedicated to serving export quality lagoon crabs is the brainchild of celebrated chef and restaurateur Dharshan Munidasa, who partnered with Sri Lankan cricketing legends Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. Sourced and served in Sri Lanka, there is no way these crabs could be served to you as fresh anywhere else in the world.
In fact, the restaurant employs a daring no-freezer policy, sourcing all its produce locally with daily deliveries, as the co-owners believe that freezing both detracts from the taste and renders redundant the use of fresh produce.
Located at No. 4, Old Dutch Hospital, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka, the restaurant is open for lunch (from 11.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.) and dinner (from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.) seven days a week. (Closed on Poya Days.)
For more information or to make a reservation, contact Ministry of Crab on +94 112 342722 or email them at reservations@ministryofcrab.com or find them online at www.ministryofcrab.com.
