When traveling to different countries, trying the local cuisine is a must. Putting the spotlight on the Philippines’ variety of cuisines can gain us so much recognition. For one, our country is home to numerous cultures, a rich history and delectable flavors. Many Filipino restaurants are opening abroad. Bringing our cuisines — with so many flavors, texture, and colors — to other countries is one of the easiest ways to let more people understand and relate to our culture.
Filipino food is awesome, inviting, and festive in so many ways. Food will always be fun and interesting. As you read this article, I hope you’ll have a different and greater appreciation for Filipino food because it can bring different people together.
On any occasion, food will always be present on our tables — from family bonding to hanging out with friends. There’s nothing more satisfying than eating your most favorite and craved food.
The Crawl, a show that brings one of the most authentic culinary experiences television can deliver, visited some of the most popular and successful Filipino restaurants in the city.
Joining a Filipino Food Crawl this year at New York City were chef Margarita Fores, Asia’s Best Female Chef for 2016, and Edu Manzano. Here’s what we found at The Big Apple:
• Maharlika, the first restaurant that we visited, has been serving classic and treasured Filipino food in NYC for over eight years. Their dishes — like laing, dinuguan and sinigang na sugpo — are authentic and inspired.
• The Ugly Kitchen, a Filipino-American bar and restaurant, serves traditional Filipino food like bangus belly sisig, sweet and sour fish, and beef bone marrow salpicao.
• Mama Fina’s House of Filipino Sisig, as the name suggests, serves the best sisig in New York’s East Village and other Filipino favorites.
• Jeepney brought our Filipino style of eating — salo-salo or “boodle fight” with its Kamayan Nights where their customers share a meal on a large banana leaf.
• Karenderya, one of the Best 20 New Restaurants in the whole of America in 2018, serves both traditional and modern Filipino dishes from kare-kare to pork adobo and other Pinoy comfort food. The Filipino-inspired restaurant derived its name from our affordable roadside eateries.
• Flip Sigi, owned by Filipino-American celebrity chef Jordan Andino, serves tacos, burritos, rice bowls, and burgers, and bao buns.
• Tsismis, a newly opened restaurant in the city, describes itself as a “Filipino American restaurant and wine bar offering an eclectic menu promoting the use of local and sustainable ingredients.” It serves caesar salad with tuyo flakes and halo-halo made more special by using coconut sorbet instead of usual shaved ice.
True enough, even if you are far away from the Philippines, you can still satisfy your craving for Filipino food. More and more cooks and chefs are transforming our dishes into innovative recipes. Coming up with new delightful creations, changing some ingredients and combining them with other culinary traditions and techniques offer a different twist to our classic and traditional dishes the world will surely love.