Mercedes-Benz Philippines celebrated a groundbreaking milestone by hosting a special soirée, aptly entitled Welcome Home: A Culinary Journey Through 140 Years of Innovation, at the heritage automobile brand’s flagship showroom in Greenhills, San Juan.
Bringing together automotive innovation, heritage, and contemporary gastronomy, the evening presented a collaborative interpretation of two disciplines united by precision, exquisite craftsmanship, and the pursuit of excellence: Mercedes-Benz’s 140-year history of innovative engineering and the culinary artistry of Chef José Luis ‘Chele’ González.
His restaurant, Gallery by Chele, recently earned both a Michelin Star and Michelin Green Star, while his second dining gem, Asador Alfonso, has also received a Michelin Star. Known for combining local produce and culinary traditions with contemporary techniques, González continues to champion Philippine gastronomy through his restaurants, collaborations, and international culinary engagements.
This exceptional Mercedes-Benz x Chele González collaborative dining experience, however, pushed the envelope on the cuisine he is known for as he explored how the characteristics and highlighted features of the most storied Mercedes-Benz automobiles through the years could be translated into flavor, technique, and presentation, creating a considered albeit unique journey from car to table.
The evening began with a celebration of Mercedes-Benz heritage, as guests were welcomed with three tantalizing bites as a delightful prelude to what Chef Chele González had prepared for the night.
The Crab Tartlet reflects Safety and Comfort, its crisp shell protecting the delicate crab within. The Tuna and Pâté Roll expresses Innovation through an unexpected pairing. And the Abalone Salad celebrates Technology through precision in preparation and balance.
A significant highlight of the night was the six timeless and sophisticated Mercedes-Benz models proudly parked at the showroom’s facade, each one historically significant in its own way. These were the 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE W108 SWB, 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL (Pagoda), 1981 Mercedes-Benz 200 W123, 1982 Mercedes-Benz 380SL, 1984 Mercedes-Benz W124 Cabriolet (Final Edition), and the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G550 W463 LWB.
The collection offered a nostalgic look at the marque’s evolution through the decades, while setting the stage for an evening centered on innovation and its enduring relationship with design, engineering, and craftsmanship.
As guests were ushered into the main dining venue, they were greeted by two remarkable models on stage: the sophisticated and innovative Mercedes-Benz GLE 400e Plug-In Hybrid and the supercharged and highly aggressive Mercedes-AMG SL 55 4MATIC+.
Distinguished TV personality and Welcome Home host David Celdran officially launched the night’s festivities, acknowledging Inchcape’s members of the board, dealer partners, brand partners, and Mercedes-Benz Owners Philippines car club right before introducing a film on Bertha Benz (wife of Mercedes-Benz founder, Karl Benz) and the historic journey that helped demonstrate the possibilities of the film’s motoring star, the world’s very first automobile, the Patent Motorwagen.
This epoch-making Patent Motorwagen film showcase was followed by an informative yet touching presentation on the heritage carmaker’s 140 Years of Innovation by Mercedes-Benz Philippines business unit head Jun Cajayon.
During his speech, Cajayon shared significant milestones for the brand, including future plans. Cajayon shared that before the year ends, two dealerships will be unveiled: Mercedes-Benz Alabang and Mercedes-Benz Cebu. Both dealerships will adapt the latest brand identity, Mercedes Architectural Rendition (MAR 20X), and will feature a homey and open layout design that reflects a modern and digitalized brand identity, elevating the Mercedes-Benz consumer experience.
For 2027, Cajayon also invited everyone to watch out for official announcements as the German carmaker will be bringing in exciting new models and relaunching Mercedes-Benz Greenhills, its flagship dealership sporting the latest MAR 20X brand identity.
On the heels of Cajayon’s presentation, guests were then invited to watch a special film featuring González and the Mercedes-Benz GLE PHEV. The film officially introduced González as the newest Mercedes-Benz Philippines Brand Ambassador, marking a partnership grounded in shared values of innovation, precision, craftsmanship, and excellence.
In his Welcome Home address, the decorated chef and restaurateur spoke about the collaboration before joining Celdran for a brief exchange around his model of choice, the recently-launched GLE PHEV, including its convenience for family use, electric driving capability, sustainability credentials and—González’s favorite feature (he also is a talented DJ)—the Burmester Surround Sound System. The friendly banter culminated in a toast led by Celdran to Mercedes-Benz and its milestone, 140 years of innovation.
A moment to highlight in the Welcome Home program was the photo opportunity with González and Cajayon alongside Inchcape Philippines head of marketing Georgette Barrera-Jalasco and Inchcape member of the board Frankie Ang, commemorating the occasion and the new collaboration between Mercedes-Benz Philippines and its brand-new ambassador.
The main event and at the heart of the evening, of course, was the two-hour curated fine dining experience by none other than the newly minted ambassador, through which five über-iconic Mercedes-Benz models were paired side-by-side with five of his original culinary interpretations.
Each chapter began with a film introducing the character of the featured Mercedes-Benz model, followed by a dish introduction film that revealed how the talented chef translated that character into ingredients, technique, and flavor.
The journey commenced with the Patent Motorwagen, and the amuse-bouche entitled Ignition, inspired by the automobile’s place as the origin of everything. Here, foie gras torchon was paired with langka, toasted pili nuts, and cacao, bringing together tradition, patience, and craftsmanship in a dish that reflects the significance of Mercedes-Benz’s first patented automobile.
The next dynamic duo moved on to performance with the Mercedes-AMG SL and Adrenaline. Reflecting the roadster’s combination of heritage, power, and open-air exhilaration, the dish brought together palate-tickling mango, calamansi, and Hokkaido scallops with hibiscus-chilli dressing, pickles, and shiso oil.
The third pairing turned to one of Mercedes-Benz’s most recognizable silhouettes: the G-Class and The Icon. Inspired by the model’s bold, rugged, and timeless character, González reinterpreted the German Maultaschen with delicate ravioli filled with local lobster, complemented by butter and currywurst sauce, and finished with caviar. A contemporary expression of German culinary tradition, much like the G-Class itself, which continues to evolve while retaining its unmistakable identity.
The evening’s centerpiece (together and individually), the S-Class Maybach and The Sovereign, was a dish inspired by the model’s position at the summit of automotive luxury and refinement. Bresse pigeon was flown in especially and paired with pickled beetroot purée, an adobo sauce built from the pigeon’s own juices, fondant potato, and slow-cooked pigeon leg, bringing together depth, tradition, and modern technique.
The grand finale paired the up-to-the-minute GLE 400e PHEV and EQE Sedan with Evolution, reflecting the convergence of combustion and electric power, tradition and innovation. González translated that idea into a reimagined Black Forest dessert, combining streusel, local red berry and mango, silky coulis, local chocolate crunch, and a light chocolate-cardamom foam.
Across all five courses, the dishes were not to be enjoyed as literal representations of the cars, but culinary interpretations of their distinct personalities, reflections of how innovation can preserve heritage while continuously moving it forward.
As Barrera-Jalasco gave her closing remarks, it was evident that through the thoughtfully curated Welcome Home program, Mercedes-Benz Philippines and González were able to bring two worlds of craftsmanship together in a single experience. One shaped by 140 years of automotive innovation, the other by the discipline and creativity of contemporary gastronomy.
Together, they offered an exploration of how enduring ideas about precision, technology, comfort, innovation, and an uncompromising pursuit of excellence can take different forms while remaining unmistakably connected.
