PH Consulate General in Honolulu Takes Gastrodiplomacy Online

PH Consulate General in Honolulu Takes Gastrodiplomacy Online

(Honolulu PCG photo)

HONOLULU 26 June 2020 – Due to social distancing guidelines because of COVID-19, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu brought the second edition of the Filipino Food Week this year online from 14 to 20 June 2020.

Filipino Food Week is an event where participating restaurants in Hawaii showcase at least one Filipino dish. Last year, 20 food establishments, majority of which are non-Filipino restaurants, featured “Filipino Food Specials” from 09 to 15 June 2019.

For this year’s online event, the Consulate General uploaded videos on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube featuring cooking tutorials from Hawaii chefs, interviews promoting Filipino cuisine and food products, and other features highlighting the culinary traditions of the Philippines (i.e. kamayan, wrapping food in banana leaves, panata).

Each day of the week had a theme. On the first day, viewers were introduced to Filipino cuisine and how it has evolved in Hawaii. The segment the following day was about “Family Gatherings and Fiestas” which showcased how to create communal meals (balon and kamayan) that can be shared by many. On June 16, viewers were able to catch cooking tutorials from Maui-based chefs.

The succeeding day’s episodes explored 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 were treated with an online Kapihan between Kape, a company that source beans from indigenous women from the Philippines, and Rusty’s Hawaiian, an award-wining local coffee grower and roaster.

On 18 June, different versions of Adobo by Oahu-based chefs and homecooks were featured and the segment the day after focused on Filipino desserts and drinks. Bars and food establishments showcased how to do Filipino desserts and cocktails inspired by flavors of the Philippines. The last day of Filipino Food Week highlighted the importance of passing culinary traditions to the next generation.

The list of chefs and home cooks who were featured during the online event includes: Chef and author of “A Filipino Kitchen: Traditional recipes with a Hawaiian twist” Adam Tabura; United States Marketing Manager of Kape Ailene Ponce-Molina; Ruscello Sous chef Brian Gremillion; BJ Chiefe, an 8-year-old student; Life Strategies life coach and entrepreneur Diana Gremillion Succesful; DYNE by Chef Buddha Chef and owner Dayne Tanabe; Chaminade University Professor Eva Washburn Repollo; Gabrielle Mae Chiefe, a 15-year-old student); Banyan Tree at Ritz Carlton of Chef de Cuisine Isabelle Ada Toland; Kape co-founder Iona Fresnoza; Hilton Hawaiian Village Chef de Cuisine Joe Derla; Rusty’s Hawaiian Co-founders Joan and Lorie Obra; Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu’s employees Joel and Grace Bulos family; Joey’s Kitchen Chef and owner Joey Macadangdang; Multimedia personality and Cooking Hawaiian Style host Lanai Tabura; Dana’s Restaurant and Catering Chef and owner Mely Ballocanag; Cinematographer and Supreme Wedding LLC owner Philip Lemoine; Sam Bulos, a student; Architect and writer Rose Churma; Tante’s Island Cuisine chef and owner Tante Urban. The project was conducted in partnership with different Philippine Embassies and Consulates General in the United States, Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) Offices, PTB, Department of Trade and Industry-Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM), and the Agriculture Attache in Washington D.C.

Despite the restaurant version of Filipino Food Week being canceled this year, three food establishments still opted to offer Filipino specials during the Online Edition of Filipino Food Week, namely: Elena’s Restaurant, a Filipino restaurant featured in Food Network’s “Diners, Dive-ins, and Dives”; Dickey’s Kapolei, which is part of a Texan barbecue franchise with 485 branches nationwide; and Beerlab, which concocted a special beer, Pandan Ale, available on Filipino Food Week.

This year’s Filipino Food Week also saw the participation of CIH Events, Tiki’s Grill and Bar, Magnolia Ice Cream and Treats, Joey’s Kitchen, UBAE, Dana’s Restaurant, Wow Baguio, Jun’s Awesome Sauce, DYNE by Chef Buddha, Sticky Sweets, Shortcakes Hawaii, Mama Sita’s, Seafood City, Bahay Kubo Asian Store, and FYLPRO-Hawaii Alumni.

Because of the warm reception from the public and the culinary community, the Consulate General plans to have another online edition of Filipino Food Week this October as part of the Filipino American History Month. Those who are interested to participate in the October run of Filipino Food Week online edition can email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The public is also invited to follow the Facebook and Instagram of Filipino Food Week: @filipinofoodweekhawaii.

All videos of the recently held online Filipino Food Week can be accessed through Filipino Food Week Youtube Channel through this link

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcxaimqIAgww2gQSnHYHXbA/. END

Day 1 introduction