Maginhawa's signature whimsical restaurant, van Gogh is Bipolar, is reopening this September
After talks of its permanent closure amid the pandemic, van Gogh is Bipolar (VGIB) is reopening its doors to the public this September 21.
In a Facebook post, founder Jetro Vin Rafael explained that VGIB is now in the process of reopening after he took a sabbatical break to spend time with his partner, Robert Alejandro, who is recovering from terminal cancer.
The restaurant normally goes on hiatus every now and then, but it took a long break amid fellow F&B closures during the lockdowns.
In case you didn't know, van Gogh Is Bipolar is a mental health-themed restaurant founded by Jetro Vin Rafael that aims to make the gastronomic experience into a multisensory adventure into the whimsical mind of its creator.
It has no staple menu and its decor changes from time to time—all while staying true to serving food made from healthy and organic ingredients for "mood healing nutrition."
"Experiences [at] VGIB changes all the time. I know myself being consistently inconsistent," Jetro explained. "What you see on videos today from the decor, food and offered services may not necessarily be the experience by the time you visit VGIB."
Delving into his process, Jetro also shared that he preferred creating the recipes spontaneously based on his experiences and what inspires him to create at the moment.
"I am greatly inspired by the ingredients that I use and anything that gives and sparks joy and humor - from people that I meet, the weather, the smell of flowers or herbs or clouds formation, dried leaves, decaying branch of [a] tree. anything that represents and expresses life," he writes.
All in all, van Gogh is Bipolar's return is a testament to the need for safe spaces that don't just nourish the body, but the mind and soul. Jetro confirms this through his goal of providing "unconditional love" aside from the restaurant's gastronomical experience.
"Aside from a gastronomical & sensorial feast is the gift of experiencing unconditional love," Jetro concluded. "That I may remind people to continuously be gentle and kind to themselves first and foremost, that may we learn to humble ourselves and that may we learn to embrace, accept and celebrate our imperfections, flaws, and weaknesses with gentleness and kindness, and that we may see them as parts of our own unique magnificent being."
To book a table, you may register here. They are offering the classic dining experience for P1,250 / pax, Signature for P1,750 / pax, The Lovers for P3,850 / pair, and the deluxe offering, Great Supper for P2,750.
To usher in its reopening, they are also holding VGIB Love Project events that accept walk-in visitors from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for P125, with limited slots open.
van Gogh is Bipolar is located at at 154 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Diliman, Quezon City. Check out their Facebook page for further updates.