Press Release No. - 05 - 2021
(17 February 2021) – The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, in partnership with the Filipino Food Movement, hosted on 8 February 2021 the Savor Filipino Summit-Hawaii, an online event connecting chefs, restaurant owners, food vendors, food influencers and other stakeholders in the promotion of Filipino cuisine.
The Food Summit consisted of a keynote address by Mr. Eddie Flores, owner and founder of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and one of the most successful Filipino-Americans in the restaurant industry, and several breakout sessions where experts shared their insights on topics ranging from the past and future of Filipino cuisine in Hawaii, branding Filipino cuisine around the globe, Filipino food in media, and starting and sustaining food businesses through a pandemic.
Among the panelists were chef Sam Choy, a co-founder of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine, a style of cooking which makes use of locally grown ingredients and blends ethnic influences; Lanai Tabura, Emmy Award-winning host; Dr. Pia Arbodela, Executive Director of the Center for Philippine Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Alexandra Dorda, founder of Kasama Rum; Cheryl Tiu, Cheryl Tiu, lifestyle journalist and founder of Cross Cultures; Patrice Cleary, chef and owner of Purple Patch restaurant in Washington DC; Alexandra Cuerdo, director and producer of “Ulam: Main Dish”; Eric Baranda, contributor at Frolic Hawai’i; Queenie Laforga, local food influencer; Peter Oshiro from the Hawai’i Department of Health; Eric Elnar, Philippine Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles; and Joel Navasca, chef and owner of Tiano’s Restaurant.
Representing the organizations co-hosting the Filipino Food Summit-Hawaii were Deputy Consul General Angelica Escalona for the Philippine Consulate General and Sonia Delen and PJ Quesada for the Filipino Food Movement. Emmy Award-winner Keesa Ocampo hosted the Summit.
The event was supported by by AcuGlobal Endeavors and Ramar Foods, with the participation of Chibundles, East-West Marketing, Joey’s Kitchen, Lacosta Chocolates, and Tuktuk Box.
The Filipino Food Summit-Hawaii may be viewed at the Youtube channel of the Filipino Food Week (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcxaimqIAgww2gQSnHYHXbA).(END)
Deputy Consul General Angelica Escalona delivered the Welcome Remarks
Sonia Delen, President of the Filipino Food Movement, gave the Opening Remarks
Keynote Speaker Eddie Flores, Jr., owner of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
(From top left-right) PJ Quesada, Chair of the Filipino Food Movement; Dr. Pia Arboleda, Executive Director of the Center for Philippine Studies; and Sam Choy, Co-Founder of Hawai’i Regional Cuisine during the session on Identity: A dive into the past and exploration of the future of Filipino cuisine in Hawai'i
(From top left-right) Keesa Ocampo, Vice President of the Filipino Food Movement; Patrice Cleary, Chef and Owner of Purple Patch; Cheryl Tiu, founder of Cross Cultures; and Alexandra Dorda, Founder and CEO of Kasama Rum during the session on Branding: Breaking the stereotypes of design & popularizing Filipino food around the globe
(From top left-right) Jennifer Fergesen of Global Carinderia; Alexandra Cuerdo, Director of Ulam: Main Dish; Mitzi Manzano, Producer of Kulinarya Live; Queenie Laforga, food blogger and influencer; and Eric Baranda, contributor at Frolic Hawai’i during the session on Media: How can we get more representation in food media?
(From top left-right) Michael Ang, Managing Director of Planet X; Eric Elnar, Philippine Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles; Joel Navasca, Chef and Owner of Tiano’s Restaurant; and Peter Oshiro, Environmental Health Program Manager from the Hawai'i Department of Health during the session on Business: Starting and sustaining food businesses through a pandemic
(From left-right) Lanai Tabura, Host of Cooking Hawaiian Style, and PJ Quesada, founder of the Filipino Food Movement during the Kitchen Conversation of the Savor Filipino Summit
