Visa unveils Infinite Card suite with exclusive culinary experience at Metiz
MANILA, Philippines — “Wow. That was a flavor journey.”
This is the exact thought—or feeling—Chef Stephan Duhesme wants diners to remember after eating at Metiz.
Renowned for contemporizing Filipino cuisine and championing food preservation practices from across the country, the restaurant rightfully made it to the inaugural 2026 Michelin Guide for the Philippines.
It also recently served as the vibrant setting for an exclusive evening hosted by Visa. There, Chef Duhesme expressed, “I don't want people to come out of here and go, ‘Matabang.’ You can decide not to like it, but at the very least, it doesn't leave you without a thought.”
Delivering on this promise, Metiz served an intimate dinner with infinite possibilities, as a way to unveil the refreshed Visa Infinite card. It became a journey of four courses, which Chef Stephan designed as “movements.”
The journey began with “Discovery,” making unique and unexpected interpretations of gulay and daing. Vegetables came in the form of ensalada mixed with homemade bagoong and topped with gata foam. As an accompaniment, the humble grilled sweet potato was paired with nilupak and locally produced salinas for daing.
The next part was “Elevation,” which took the cherished ritual of merienda into refined expressions of joy and creativity. It transformed the familiar ensaymada into the extraordinary by grilling it with sugar and butter, similar to a banana cue. It was paired with and best dipped in the cheesy Hokkaido scallop.
The main movement focused on “Vitality,” which, true to its name, provided diners with plentiful and soulful food to truly revitalize their bodies.
At the center of the spread was dry-aged Snake River Farms pork rack, slowly cooked and reduced for hours at Metiz. The result was not just melt-in-your-mouth meat, but a signature adobo jus that added richness and fullness to familiar flavors.
Vegetables once again come onto the plate as the familiar ginataang kalabasa is mixed with Alavar sauce. Other traditional methods of buro (fermenting), kinilaw (pickling), and inihaw (barbecuing and smoking) drove this movement forward with unique, flavorful side courses.
Finally, the journey slowed down with “Meaning,” featuring two inventive dessert creations: a fruity mangosteen with pomelo and mushrooms, and carioca with white tea ice cream, ube and soybean. Their sweetness, though subtle, lingered even as the dinner service wound down.
Understanding modern affluence
For Visa, the exclusive dinner gave a glimpse into the evolving facets of the modern Filipino affluent. They move beyond traditional symbols of luxury into deeply personal, meaningful journeys of discovery.
This is consistent across Asia, where affluent consumers’ spending is increasing at nearly three times the rate of other cardholders, particularly across travel, entertainment and retail.1
Demand for wellbeing and more personalized services is also rising, with around 90% of affluent consumers seeking health-focused experiences, and 84% expecting more high-touch, curated experiences.2
The new Visa Infinite has been redesigned particularly to cater to this. It introduces a more flexible and personalized offering, anchored in a three-tier card suite.
Alongside Visa Infinite, the portfolio includes the two newly launched tiers of Visa Infinite Privilege and Visa Infinite Private, each tailored to distinct affluent segments within a unified premium offering.
“In a consumption-driven economy such as the Philippines, payments continue to shape how people dine, travel, shop
and pursue their passions. The modern Filipino affluent is evolving to seek more intentional and globally-connected experiences, prioritizing personalization and meaning over traditional signals of status,” Jeffrey Navarro, country manager for Visa Philippines, said.
“The refreshed Visa Infinite brings together Visa’s scale, innovation and partnerships to deliver relevant and differentiated value for today’s affluent customers,” he continued.
This comes to life through curated experiences built around the passions of today’s affluent, from travel and dining to wellness and entertainment.
From Infinite Tastes: Beyond the Menu, a chef-led culinary programme unlocking deeper access to the stories, craft and culture behind Asia Pacific’s dining scene, to Visa Destinations, a passion-led, global travel platform offering curated journeys and exclusive access.
Each program offers more immersive, behind-the-scenes access and opportunities for deeper discovery.
To learn more about the refreshed Visa Infinite suite, including its benefits and experiences, visit Visa Infinite. — EUDEN VALDEZ
SOURCES
1. Visa Whitepaper, The Changing Face of Asia’s Affluent – July 2026
2. How luxury health and preventive health are intersecting, Forbes
Editor’s Note: This article is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.
