On this episode, we're gonna find out what five people say when we ask the question, "what does Filipino food in Toronto look like today?"
We'll meet Isabelle, Mila, John Paul, Shannon, and Gabriell, and learn about how their families came to Canada, how they got involved with food, where they grew up and now live, why the city's a great place to be for exploring our food and culture, and how their experiences have shaped their identities as Filipino-Canadians in the diaspora.
We talk about festivals (and how much we miss them), restaurants we can't wait to visit, desserts I just can't get enough of, why street food hits the spot, and how innovative menus from virtual pop-up kitchens are some of our best bets to sampling regional cuisines.
We also take a look at land acknowledgements, and why learning about Indigenous peoples, and their histories on the lands we live on today, is important to me. Everything we eat comes from the world around us.
Show notes
05:25 Food as a cultural marker
10:10 An introduction to land acknowledgements
11:55 "How a new generation is bringing Filipino flavours to Toronto"
18:55 Regional cuisine and the Kusinera pop-up
22:50 A city of neighbourhoods
26:00 On festivals and community spaces
30:20 A world in Nations and pandemic cooking
34:15 Rural Ontario in the 60s
40:55 Trips to the Philippines
45:00 On artistry and hospitality
50:00 We're not "just" having Filipino food
56:20 Jollibees of Toronto
58:55 Touring at local festivals
1:04:15 Betamax on Instagram Live
1:07:00 Delectable desserts (and their makers)
1:11:30 On immigrant support networks
1:13:30 Dad's backyard lechon and camping trips
1:15:00 Making kinilaw
1:20:15 Hamilton in the 90s
1:22:40 On TOYO and the Philippine restaurant scene
Links for this episode
Our guests were Isabelle Docto, Mila Nabor-Cuachon from Casa Manila Restaurant, John Paul Abejo from Eskenita Foods, Shannon Nocos from KWENTO, and Gabriell Cruz from Pamana Kitchen. Thank you for sharing your stories!
Check out Kusinera, an exciting pop-up by Keanu Francisco. Toronto Life (among others) had great things to say!
Learn more about the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Find a youth-friendly guide to these actions here, and visit Beyond 94 to glimpse where we are today.
Read "'It tasted like my childhood': How a new generation is bringing Filipino flavours to Toronto" from the Toronto Star.
For a taste of my favourite desserts, follow Ruru Baked, Tito Parley’s, Adobar, The Night Baker, Made by Mree and KWENTO. And then follow similar accounts and make plans to visit the city! #TorontoDesserts