Julia Montes has traded in her script lines for spices and sauces as she dives into the culinary world with her own food venture called Take Out. Known for her acting chops, Julia now brings the same passion to the kitchen, channeling her love for cooking into a business that’s close to her heart.
Her interest in the culinary arts dates back to childhood, where preparing meals became her way of expressing love to her family. In a feature video released by Coco Martin’s CCM Film Productions, Julia spoke about how cooking evolved from a personal passion into something she wanted to share with others. That desire sparked the idea to bring her dishes to more tables beyond her own home.
Designed with busy lifestyles in mind, Take Out aims to serve quality, home-style meals without the hassle of prep time. Julia emphasized the everyday struggle of working individuals who come home too tired to cook, and she hopes her offerings can be the solution. With convenience and flavor as the core of her brand, she envisions Take Out as a way to bring people together over good food.
“We, Filipinos, are known for gathering at the dining table, so that’s really my goal with ‘Take Out’ – to reach people,” she said.
Behind the venture is the guiding hand of chef Allan Mertola, also known as Chef A, who has mentored Julia through every step. What began as a casual conversation about business dreams quickly turned into sessions of testing recipes and building a brand. Since its inception in mid-2024, the project steadily developed into a fully operational kitchen by 2025.
For Julia, the endeavor carries sentimental weight, as the idea of a food business was something her family—especially her grandmother—had often dreamed about. Starting with a commissary setup, their goal is to gradually expand into catering, food carts, and possibly a future restaurant. Through this step-by-step approach, Julia is blending family legacy, personal passion, and practical strategy into every plate served by Take Out.