PRESS RELEASE - 26 - 2019
(29 April 2019, Honolulu, Hawaii) – The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, in partnership with the Filipino Junior Chamber, hosted a Kamayan Lunch at Dana’s Restaurant on 27 April 2019 to help introduce the Filipino Food Week happening from June 9-15, 2019. Guests were treated to a kamayan feasts featuring Filipino dishes such as ginataang kalabasa (squash with coconut milk), lechon kawali (deep-fried pork), pancit bihon (noodles with pork and vegetables), pork adobo (pork simmered in soy sauce and vinegar), eggplant adobo, inihaw na manok (barbecue chicken), inihaw na tilapia (steamed fish), pakwan (watermelon), banana lumpia (deep fried banana wrap) and cupcake with coconut flakes. Kamayan, which is derived from the Filipino word “kamay”, which means “hands” in English, is a style of eating where people use their hands to partake of food laid usually on top of banana leaves. This eating style highlights the Filipinos’ communal nature, wherein food is served family-style to be shared by everyone.
The Kamayan Lunch previews what is to come during the Filipino Food Week (FFW) Hawaii which will take place from June 9-15, 2019. During FFW, restaurants and chefs in Oahu, Maui, Hawai'i, and Kaua'i will be invited to incorporate Filipino food in their menu. Participating establishments can either do pop-up events, kamayans, or create special Filipino food items to be sold for lunch and dinner, happy hour, lunch/dinner, or any other combinations at the option of the restaurants. This year’s FFW will highlight Filipino dishes which use coconut as an ingredient. Restaurants will be asked to prepare at least one dish (either appetizer, pupus, main course, dessert, or drinks) inspired by one of the Philippine’s most popular ingredients. Participating restaurants will be given an ingredients basket containing Filipino food products for them to try which includes food mixes, sauces, coconut products, liquors, and beers. The top-selling restaurant during FFW will be awarded two (2) roundtrip tickets to the Philippines courtesy of Philippine Airlines and a special culinary tour to learn more about the diverse culinary heritage of the country.
As of April 29, 2019, the following restaurants have confirmed their participation to the Filipino Food Week Hawaii: Chef Chai, Dana’s Restaurant, Haleiwa Beach House, Lineage, Max’s of Manila, Tiano’s Restaurants, and Tin Roof Maui. More restaurants are expected to join soon. Interested restaurants can get in touch with the Economic Section of the Philippine Consulate General (phone: 808-429-4458 | email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to find out more details regarding FFW.
To get the latest update on Filipino Food Week, you can visit the website of FFW at www.filipinofoodweekhawaii.com. You can also follow the Facebook and Instagram Page of FFW by searching @FilipinoFoodWeekHawaii and hashtags #FilipinoFoodWeekHawaii #FFW2019. The list of participating restaurants can also be found on Yelp using this link: https://www.yelp.com/collection/B1NFW46vZ7kuxxnWnUTFXg
The Filipino Food Week Hawaii is spearheaded by the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu together with its partners, the Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry, and Philippine Airlines with the support of the following companies/organizations: Asian Food Trading Co., Bleeding Hearts Rum, East West Marketing, Filipino Association of University Women, Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Filipino Junior Chamber, KNDI Radio, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Mama Sita’s, PhotoLuxe Hawaii. (END)
Vice Consul Andrea Christina Caymo introducing to the guests the different Filipino dishes featured during the Kamayan Lunch
