Maricel's Kitchen

Maricel's Kitchen stands as New Jersey's premier Filipino culinary experience destination in East Brunswick, founded in 2017 by acclaimed Chef Maricel Gentile who learned cooking from her lola (grandmother) in Manila and built a distinguished 30+ year culinary career in New York City's finest five-star establishments. This unique establishment operates simultaneously as a Filipino restaurant featuring Friday Night Kamayan Tower Feasts and weekend Filipino brunch, a hands-on cooking school teaching Filipino and Pan-Asian cuisines, and a bespoke catering service for private events and corporate gatherings. Featured on Food Network, PBS's A Table for All with Buki, Hulu, and author of Maricel's Simply Asian Cookbook, Chef Gentile created a culinary experience destination at 111 Main Street that welcomes thousands annually to discover authentic Filipino and Asian flavors through interactive cooking classes, exclusive Chef's Table dinners with guest chefs, and intimate dining experiences including the signature Kamayan Tower-a stunning tiered display of scratch-made Filipino dishes served exclusively for each party. The menu showcases Chef Gentile's lola's recipes including chicken adobo, beef caldereta, tinola, sinigang, and specialty items like crispy shrimp balls and grilled pompano, many adaptable for gluten-free diets upon request. With weekend Filipino brunch featuring three-tier Brunch Towers ($59.95 for two people) and lighter platos, plus the traditional Kamayan Feast served on banana leaves for hands-on communal dining, Maricel's Kitchen fulfills Chef Gentile's mission to make Filipino cuisine part of everyday dining conversations alongside Italian, Mexican, and Thai, while honoring her lola's legacy by sharing authentic family recipes with new generations.