I thought at first this was about Terpe's kitchen !
Nestled at the back of a small courtyard in the north of Manila, there is a little restaurant with an unusual name and an even more unusual concept.
It is called Van Gogh is Bipolar, in homage to the Dutch painter who is believed to have had a life-long battle with mental illness, much like the restaurant's owner, Jetro Rafael.
Mr Rafael believes that certain foods can make you happy, and everything on the menu has been created with this in mind.
Ingredients such as salmon, honey, turkey and cabbage - all of which are thought to have mood-enhancing properties - have been worked into the dishes to create what Mr Rafael refers to as his "bipolar diet".
This is a very personal project. Mr Rafael said he developed his recipes after years of struggling with mood swings and depression.
"I started to look in books to learn how to manage my condition, and I found out about the properties of different foods. And now I want to share that knowledge," he said.
It is not just people with mental illnesses whom Mr Rafael aims to serve.
He also says his food can help those who just want to be a bit happier and calmer - perhaps they have had a stressful day at work, argued with their partner, got caught in Manila's terrible traffic or just feel a bit down.
"I see people come here who are tired and stressed, and when they leave I can see the difference," he said.
"The diet that I serve is designed and created to activate specific neurotransmitters in the brain, so these are neurotransmitters responsible for our feelings - feeling happy, feeling calm. “
Read more …
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17471626
