Bahay is a buzzy food venture by Irish-Filipino chef and Humanistic Psychotherapist Richie Castillo and partner in life and business, Digital Strategist and IMAGE Magazine Food Writer, Alex O'Neill. For them, food is a way to explore identity, culture and understanding, and see it as a universal way to connect. They wanted to share these incredible, bold and exciting tastes, as well as highlighting the rich Irish-Filipino culture, through food, music and art.

Bahay, which means home in Tagalog, first found a niche popping up in unique venues across Ireland, finding locations and spaces to bring their adventurous menus to life, and make it feel like home, but have now expanded into much more as they saw first hand the power of food in opening up conversations on topics such as identity, belonging and shared human experiences.

"Food was a key way for Richie to explore his cultural identity, growing up as a third culture kid in Ireland whos only real connection to one half of his identity, was through food and sharing meals. Richie’s perspective as an Irish-Filipino chef, whos finishing his 4 years of postgraduate study (MSc in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy) and mine as a food writer specialising in Irish food history, allows us explore personal conversations and stories, aiming to break down barriers, traverse the stories on the plate, breaking down typical emotional / social defences, through sharing a meal. We want to get people cooking more, to take care of not only their body but their mind, through the ritual of preparing food, either for themselves, or others. " - Alex

Bahay are regulars on Channel 4s Sunday Brunch, are known for their engaging demos across many of Ireland's biggest food and music festivals,. They specialise in creating a familiar “Bahay buzz” with warm hospitality, delicious food and carefully curated dining experiences in these spaces, where they introduce diners to bold and unique Filipino flavours using the very best Irish ingredients. Bahay released their very first cookbook in October 2023, to critical and widespread acclaim.