Australia-based Pinoy chef opens modern ‘dampa’ in QC

After spending years in kitchens in Australia and other parts of the world, Chef Oliver Buenviaje is finally pursuing his passion for cooking in his homeland. 

The Filipino chef recently opened Seafood 8 by Olio’s, where he honors his roots and the bounty of the sea using the skills he has acquired as a globe-trotting chef.

Located at the ground floor of Gateway 2 in Cubao, Quezon City, the restaurant is a modern take on the “dampa,” where diners handpick fresh seafood and have them cooked their way. 

Buenviaje went for a bistro-style space instead of the traditional open-air setup, with a blue and white color scheme to match the mall’s upscale feel.

The seafood here, which are mostly sourced locally (although there are a few imported items as well for variety), can be steamed, grilled, fried, or baked. You can then choose from eight sauces: Kalamansi Hollandaise, Chili Caramel, Asian Sweet and Sour Sauce, Olio’s Chili Supreme XO Sauce, Miso Butter, Inasal Citrus Ginger and Soy, Latin Chimichurri, and Gambas Roja.

The sauces range from smoky and spicy to sweet and tangy, and reflect Buenviaje’s global influences. The chef has worked in renowned establishments such as Alain Ducasse’s Le Meurice in Paris, Al Mahara in Dubai, Le Normandie at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, and Caprice at Four Seasons Hong Kong. 

“For our sauces, we want the flavors to be deep but not heavy. We want to let the seafood shine by adding flavor just to accentuate, not bastardize,” he told ABS-CBN News.

For those who can’t make up their mind, Seafood 8 has a lineup of signature dishes, both seafood and meat, which are ideal for sharing. 

Familiar items such as Kinilaw, Braised Beef Rendang Short Ribs, and Pork Lechon are sure to please, while the Bicol Express Crab Linguine is a creative nod to Buenviaje’s Bicolano roots. 

There are also Aklan, Pacific, and Irish oysters, which can be served as Rockefeller or freshly shucked, and even the prized diwal or angel wing clams.

While Buenviaje is currently based in Perth, where he runs a catering business, he is nevertheless happy to have finally set up shop in the Philippines. 

For the Sorsogon-born chef, Seafood 8 feels like a full-circle moment. After moving to Australia as a teenager and honing his culinary skills around the world, he is now able to share his love for cooking with his fellow Filipinos while also supporting local fishermen. 

“These dishes show my journey,” he declared.