(5 June 2020, Honolulu, Hawaii) – Before the onset of COVID-19, the Philippine Consulate General planned this June to host its second installment of Filipino Food Week, a week-long event where restaurants in Hawaii take part by featuring at least one Filipino dish for the duration of the event. Last year, various restaurants participated including non-Filipino establishments such as Chef Chai, Eating House 1849 by Roy Yamaguchi, Mariposa, Merriman’s Honolulu, and Stage Restaurant. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Consulate decided to holdoff the restaurant version of Filipino Food Week and instead take its culinary promotion online.
On June 14-20, 2020, various content about Filipino culture and cuisine will be uploaded in the Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube Page of Filipino Food Week Hawaii. Each day of the week will feature a theme. On Day 1 (June 14), viewers will be introduced to Filipino cuisine and how it has evolved in Hawaii. The various ingredients used in making Filipino food will also be shared to equip viewers with information about the basic things they need to buy in order for them to start making Filipino dishes. The following day will be about “Family Gatherings and Fiestas”. Filipinos love to eat together and the Monday segment will showcase how we create communal meals that can be shared by many. On June 16, viewers will be able to catch cooking tutorials from Maui-based chefs. The next day’s episodes will explore the long-standing linkages between the Philippines and Big Island, where many of the first Filipino sugar plantation workers lived. As both Hawaii and the Philippines share the tradition of coffee farming, viewers will be treated with an online coffee tasting of beans sourced from the Philippines. Tasting notes will be provided by a coffee connoisseur from the Big Island. On Thursday, June 18, Oahu-based chefs and homecooks will have the opportunity to showcase their special Filipino recipes. Friday is all about winding down and restobars and breweries will share their special concoctions inspired by flavors of the Philippines. The last day of Filipino Food Week will delve on passing culinary traditions to the next generation and celebrating the bright future of Filipino cuisine in Hawaii.
Some of the Hawaii-based chefs who confirmed so far are Mely Ballocanag of Dana’s Restaurant, Bryan Gremillion, Sous Chef of Ruscello, Joey Macadangdang of Joey’s Kitchen, Lanai Tabura, Adam Tabura, Dayne Tanabe of Hilton Waikoloa Village, Bella Toland of Banyan Tree, and Tantes Urban of Tante’s Island Cuisine. More chefs are expected to be added in the line-up. The final viewing schedule of episodes will be listed next week at the Facebook and Instagram of Filipino Food Week (@FilipinoFoodWeekHawaii).
The Online Edition of Filipino Food Week is presented by the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, in partnership with the Philippine Embassy and Consulates in the US, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center, Philippine Tourism Board, and the Philippine Agriculture Office in Washington DC. Some of the segments are co-produced with CIH Events, Jun’s Awesome Sauce, Kape, Panda Eats, Mama Sita’s, Seafood City, Supreme Wedding Films, The Select Few LLC. Community partners include the Filipino Junior Chamber and the Hawaii Alumni of the Filipino Young Leaders Program.
By organizing the Filipino Food Week, the Consulate hopes to generate more awareness and interest among locals and restaurants to try Filipino food, learn more about the culture and heritage of the Philippines, and celebrate the diversity that makes Hawaii special. (END).
PRESS CONTACT
ANDREA CHRISTINA Q. CAYMO
Vice Consul and Economic Officer,
Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu
2433 Pali Highway, Honolulu, Hi 96817
Phone: 808-429-4458
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Facebook and Instagram: @filipinofoodweekhawaii
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcxaimqIAgww2gQSnHYHXbA
PRESS ARTICLES:
Videos about Filipino Food Week 2020:
Filipino Food Week Teaser - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xYsoQCDR6A
Things to learn about the Philippines during Filipino Food Week - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1nZMFpeRyQ
Diversity and Inclusion: This is what Filipino Food Week stand for - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7rAk2x_8LE
Articles on Filipino Food Week 2019:
Frolic Hawaii - https://www.frolichawaii.com/stories/finally-hawaiis-getting-filipino-food-week
Honolulu Magazine - http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/Biting-Commentary/June-2019/Here-Are-More-than-52-Things-You-Should-Order-at-Hawaiis-First-Filipino-Food-Week/
Star Advertiser - https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/06/04/food/filipino-food-week-hawaii-highlights-flavors-of-the-philippines/
Articles on Filipino Food:
About Filipino culinary heritage - https://www.splendidtable.org/story/filipino-food-a-cuisine-of-many-influences?fbclid=IwAR3wCCp-VN8Sy6SKbgoATIrzdzB0cmrvg4sWgnm9I5FjnrA-VuNv0e9Jhos
Emergence of Filipino food in US culinary scene - https://www.vogue.com/article/filipino-food-philippines-cuisine-restaurants?fbclid=IwAR1HKf3jYkhl2tsyRnIg7mI7r79Oit70wuTK28OthMEXpb1JKYE955fnlrA
Famous Fil-Am Chefs - https://share.america.gov/meet-history-making-white-house-executive-chef/?fbclid=IwAR2R2yFukk7P-0Qo5yOdY7sgreAcmOvVcrQJ5V5Lxzc8Nq972fsMQEtnH90
Photos of Popular Filipino Food:
Sisig a dish which originated in the town of Pampanga and is usually made with parts of pork’s head and fried in a sizzling plate
Pinakbet is a mixed vegetable stew which can be topped with fish or pork and flavored with bagoong or shrimp paste
Dinuguan is a pork stewed in pigs blood. A must try for the adventurous soul!
Pork guisantes is another popular Filipino dish in Hawaii made of pork, tomato paste, and green peas
Pandesal is an everyday bread that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and meryenda (snacks). It is light and fluffy and seasoned with a little bit of salt
Daing na bangus is a popular breakfast dish made of fish (bangus) marinated in vinegar
Photo credits: Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu
Adobo uses soy sauce and vinegar and comes in several forms – chicken, pork, vegetables, even fish
Some of the commonly-used Filipino products and brands available in Hawaii
Kamayan is a style of eating wherein you use your hands and the food is served family-style on a banana leaf
