As a journalist, I've long had a love affair with documentaries that bring untold stories to life - particularly if they’re about food! So when I learned about a Filipino food documentary called “Ulam: Main Dish”, I knew I had to chat with its director and find out more. Alexandra Cuerdo is a California-raised, New York-based filmmaker who graduated from the UCLA Film School and has worked for places like Buzzfeed. In this episode, Alexandra (or Allie) and I talk about Filipino restaurants, chefs and Filipino food culture in North America - and why community support is vital for the restaurants featured in her film.
There’s no better way to tempt your (visual) tastebuds than with “Ulam”!
Show notes
02:40 A story about avocados
06:45 About Allie
07:20 Growing up in California
10:30 A longing for home
13:00 The question of authenticity
14:25 Food as the gateway to culture
15:50 Social dynamics around shared meals
17:15 "Amboy"
19:00 A need to keep building
20:15 "Will Filipinos go to Filipino restaurants?"
21:15 The power of personal experience
23:05 Letting people tell their stories
25:00 Supporting a new, creative generation
26:25 "Food is a personal subject"
27:05 An introduction to who we are
FIND THE FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT HERE.
Links for this episode
Visit ulamthemovie.com to check out the trailer for “Ulam: Main Dish”, learn about featured chefs/restaurateurs in the film and find links to stellar reviews from the New York Times and more. Also to get tickets to film screenings across the US and Canada!
Learn more about Allie’s work on her website.